3 Nights, Unlimited Rounds
Bubbling up from the famed natural springs of Vidago, this corner of northern Portugal has drawn spa-goers for generations. Around 90 minutes from Porto, Vidago Palace blends Belle Epoque grandeur with a calm countryside setting, and it has been reborn as a luxury hotel, spa and golf resort. If you want a polished, restorative break without a long haul, it is a smart pick.
This is a place for golfers who like their trips well rounded. Play your round, swap the spikes for a robe and still feel like you are staying somewhere with a real sense of occasion. The service is attentive without being stiff and the pace is unhurried, which is exactly what you want from a short break. Spend the morning on the course, the afternoon in the spa and the evening dressed up for dinner in surroundings fit for royalty.
It also works brilliantly as a two-centre trip. Pair a couple of nights in Porto with a few nights here and you get city energy first, then proper downtime among the hills and spring waters. If you are the one organising the group, that mix keeps everyone happy, whether they travel for the fairways, the spa or both.
Who is this for?
Golfers and mixed groups who want a luxury, spa-led break with grand surroundings and a genuine sense of occasion, without giving up quality golf.
Who is it best for?
Couples, anniversary and birthday trips, and groups where some travel for the golf and others for the spa. It also suits golfers combining a Porto city break with a restful countryside stay.
* Where applicable, the relevant promotions will be applied during the booking process. T&Cs may apply.
3 Nights, Unlimited Rounds
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The foundations of the golf course areimpressive; Mackenzie Ross, the man responsible for restoring Turnberry's Ailsa course to glory following years of neglect, laid out a nine-hole route for Vidago in 1934. These building blocks have were the inspiration for the coursein its present guise, a championship standard par-72 proposition.
The transformation was carried out by the Cameron & Powell agency and it meets USGA specifications that ensure immaculate conditioning. It is the unique and beautiful character of thecourse's surroundings which dictate its style; the designers have allowed the terrain and natural flora and fauna to help create a tranquil and visually impressive course.
| Par | 72 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | Mackenzie Ross |
| Opened for play | 1934 |
| White | 6,898 yards | SSS 73.8 |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | 6,455 yards | SSS 71.7 |
| Blue | 5,964 yards | SSS 75.3 |
| Red | 5,246 yards | SSS 71.3 |
Now more than a century old, Vidago Palace is a Belle Epoque landmark, restored with the kind of detail you notice the moment you walk in. The hotel has been completely redecorated and brought back to its original glory, with period pieces throughout, from rich rugs to beautiful tilework. It feels like a grand hotel from another era, but one that has been looked after with real care.
Around 70 rooms and suites make up the accommodation, which keeps the whole place calm and personal. You will not be queuing at reception or hunting for a quiet corner, and it is easy to settle into a rhythm of breakfast, golf, spa, dinner and repeat. For a group trip, that smaller scale means you will bump into your playing partners at breakfast rather than lose them in a sprawling complex.
The rooms are fresh and natural in style rather than fussy, with custom-made furniture alongside the five-star essentials you would expect, including WiFi, satellite television and exclusive bathroom products. After 18 holes, you will appreciate a room that feels elegant and comfortable rather than formal. Standard rooms suit couples and solo golfers nicely. If you are staying longer, or fancy a bit more space to unwind in the evenings, a suite is well worth a look. Tell our Golf Travel Experts how many are in your group and what your budget looks like, and they will match the right room types to the trip.
The spa is the real headline. Its minimalist, Zen-inspired design is a deliberate contrast to the palace feel of the main building, and it is a calm, design-led space with an extensive treatment menu that suits post-round recovery perfectly. The natural atmosphere encourages real wellbeing, and given the area's long reputation for its spring waters, it is a spa experience worth building time into your itinerary for. If you are playing several rounds, book a treatment between them and you will feel the benefit by the time you are back on the first tee.
The hotel's heritage, the intimate scale and the spa all come together to create a stay that feels like a treat from the moment you arrive.
Neil
✓27 Sep 2025
Wonderful hotel with nice spa and pool facilities. Staff were all excellent, engaging and friendly. Rooms were smallish , with no coffee and tea facilities, but very well presented.
Heather
✓7 Sep 2023
A beautiful truly 5 star hotel. Stunning location, great food and the room was outstanding. The decor was beautiful and we loved the signature items in the room. Plus all Molton Brown products
Elena
✓30 Aug 2023
Fabulous old school hotel very well maintained and with excellent service about 1hr motorway from Porto. The hotel looks big, but the number of rooms is limited and it did not feel crowded even if it was full. Excellent service with efficient, friendly staff. Superb facilities with SPA ( book ahead because it is popular) with indoor and outdoor pools and nice gym. Breakfast was very good and served in the old library. Chaves is 20m away and offers a number of good dining options. Highly recommended if coming to Northern Portugal.
Neil
✓27 Sep 2025
Nice course in beautiful location, tree lined in places and undulating back nine. Some areas browned by summer weather with sparse fairways. Absolutely the quietest golf resort course I have ever visited. Played at various times and had the course to ourselves! Really helped us, as our group had some inexperienced players who were able to take their time without affecting anyone else.
Heather
✓7 Sep 2023
We were underwhelmed by the course and the club house. We were behind some extremely slow players who did not have the thought to let us play through. So we did lose our momentum. Took 4.5 hours and that was with a buggy
Elena
✓30 Aug 2023
Stunning course with first nine holes flat with lots of trees, water and bunkers and second nine very ( very!!) hilly with a number of blind holes and dog legs. Might want to take an electric cart. We played 2 rounds: on the first day it felt like we were the only people on the course; on the second day, there were many people, but we never had to wait or felt pressured to speed up. The green were on the slow side with lots of sand ( but we played early in the morning) and the fairways very luscious. There was no water to clean balls on the course or facilities to clean the clubs at the end and we did not see the Master Caddy (but he had a room at the clubhouse). Stunning views of the parkland and countryside. There are a number of very steep holes so beware. The club house is very close to the hotel so easy to reach by foot in a few minutes. Would come again.
Tony
✓26 Feb 2019
Beautiful course but over two hours drive from Porto
