Quinta do Valdalágea: An Affordable, Charming Place to Stay in the Douro Valley

Staying in a quinta is one of the most popular ways to visit Portugal’s Douro Valley, and fortunately, the region has no shortage of quintas to choose from. But that also creates a problem for prospective visitors: With so many to choose from, which one should you pick? Quinta do Valdalágea is one you should definitely take a look at.

Quinta do Valdalágea may not be as well known as some of the bigger quintas in the Douro Valley, but that’s all the more reason to consider it for your stay here. It’s quaint, charmingly rustic, has a great location near Peso da Régua, is relatively affordable, and has stunning views of the region. And that doesn’t even mention the excellent breakfast included in your stay!

This post dives into all those reasons and more as to why I think Quinta do Valdalágea should be where you stay during your visit to the Douro Valley.

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Quinta do Valdalágea’s Location

Quinta do Valdalágea is located off A24 as you approach the town of Peso da Régua. This location is right on the western doorstep of the Douro Valley, which also means it’s close to other popular towns like Porto or Coimbra.

That proximity to Porto is a major reason why we picked Quinta do Valdalágea. Being close to Porto and, in our case, Tomar (about an hour south of Coimbra), meant less driving time on travel days, maximizing our time visiting the Douro Valley.

Quinta do Valdalágea’s location is also nice in that it’s just a few minutes’ drive from Peso da Régua, one of the two main towns in the Douro Valley. Peso da Régua has lots of restaurants and wine bars, making it easy to find places to sample the region’s popular wines. You can also check out the Douro Museum, where you can learn more about the region’s history and its winemaking heritage.

Another benefit of Quinta do Valdalágea’s location in the Douro Valley is that it’s located near plenty of wineries to tour. In fact, one of the region’s top wineries, Quinta da Pacheca, is only a short drive away. If you don’t want to do tastings but just want to see the region’s stunning landscape, you can drive east along Rua de Bagauste to see all the vineyards sprawled along the valley’s hills.

Our Room at Quinta do Valdalágea

We didn’t spend much time in our room, which was a bit of a shame because it was quite nice.

Depending on which side of the building you’re on, you either have a view of the Douro Valley or of the garden and parking area. We had the first room on the right when exiting the common room, which gave us the latter view. It wasn’t much to look at, but that’s the only major complaint I have about our room. Despite being next to the hotel’s parking lot, we never heard any noise from outside.

Apart from that, our room was more or less perfect. The bed was large and comfortable with two antique nightstands on either side. We had two large windows that let in sunlight and air if we needed it. Each window also had seats next to it if we wanted to sit in the sun.

Attached to the bedroom was a spacious, private bathroom. The bathroom had a large walk-in shower, as well as a separate bidet. Perhaps my only other complaint was with the walk-in shower. With a toddler in tow, it was hard to keep her out of the shower since there was no door. Of course, if you don’t have an infant with you, this won’t be an issue.

Breakfast at Quinta do Valdalágea

Included in the price of your stay at Quinta do Valdalágea is breakfast each morning you’re here. Breakfast is held in the lodging’s common room, where you can sit at antique furniture with a view of the Douro Valley.

These breakfasts are sure to be among the highlights of your stay at Quinta do Valdalágea – it certainly was for me. Besides the charming, rustic ambience of the dining room, the food was very good each morning. Everything was fairly standard as far as European hotel breakfasts go, but the quality is what set it apart from our other stays.

Each morning had scrambled eggs, bacon, various fruits, meats and cheeses, rolls, bread, homemade jams, honey, and a pastry. Everything was top-notch. Even the scrambled eggs were tasty, which I usually consider a barometer for how good a hotel breakfast is.

My favorites were mostly simple things: the jams and rolls. The rolls, in particular, were delicious. They were a traditional Portuguese roll that we had throughout the country, and these were some of the best.

I can’t forget to mention the pastéis de nata the staff at Quinta do Valdalágea served on our second morning. While I didn’t get to try as many of these exquisite Portuguese pastries as I would have liked, the ones made for us here were exquisite. They weren’t the best we had in Portugal (that honor goes to Pastéis de Belém in Lisbon), but they were pretty close.

The Grounds at Quinta do Valdalágea

It’s a shame we only had such a brief time at Quinta do Valdalágea, because the property is beautiful. The grounds aren’t especially vast, but they have plenty of places where you can sit among pretty flowers and shrubs while admiring the Douro Valley as it stretches out below you.

Quinta do Valdalágea impresses as soon as you turn down its driveway. The drive to the main building takes you under a tunnel of grape vines attached to a whitewashed stone wall. It’s both appropriate and pleasing to the eye.

The front of the building is adorned with manicured shrubs and various flowers. There’s also a table in this small garden to while away the hours.

The front is nice, but it’s not a spot I would spend too much time because it lacks the views of the backside of Quinta do Valgalagea. This is where Quinta do Valdalágea’s location really shines.

When you first walk around the side of the Quinta do Valdalágea to check out what’s on the other side, your eyes are immediately drawn to the view below. The view from here follows below and across the way from you all the way to the Douro River and the town of Peso da Régua to your right.

By itself, it’s breathtaking, but Quinta do Valdalágea has plenty of pretty flowers and benches to make the view even more picturesque. They also have a small plunge pool on the property where you can cool off in the hot Portuguese summer.

Tasting the Wines of Quinta do Valdalágea

For an additional fee, you can book a wine tasting at Quinta do Valdalágea or purchase bottles of their wine to have during your stay.

Quinta do Valdalágea offers two wine-tasting experiences at €30 and €35. Each tasting features their red and white reserves and two of their ports. The more expensive option includes their late bottled vintage port.

While we didn’t do a wine tasting, we did purchase a bottle of their wine to have during our second evening at Quinta do Valdalágea. We opted for the White Reserve 2019. I really enjoyed this wine, and it ended up being one of my favorite whites from the Douro Valley. It was clean, fruity and just complex enough to keep me coming back for more.

Individual bottles at Quinta do Valdalágea cost about €20. So, they’re a little pricey but if the White Reserve 2019 was any indication, they’re worth the price.

Frequently Asked Questions About Quinta do Valdalágea

How do I get to Quinta do Valdalágea?

Getting to Quinta do Valdalágea is fairly easy, but it does require a drive up a steep, windy road. The quinta is right off A24 as you head towards Peso da Régua. You’ll see a tunnel on the cliffside of the road that leads you up to the quinta. You can’t miss it.

If you’re using GPS, it should take you right to the hotel, but at the time of our visit, iPhone’s GPS wanted us to go the wrong way down a very narrow road. We reported this issue to Apple, and it seems to be fixed as of this writing.

How much time should I spend in the Douro Valley?

We stayed in the Douro Valley for two nights because this part of our trip was meant to be a more restful break before finishing in Porto. Two nights were nice to have for this purpose, but I’m not sure that length of time is necessary, especially if you’re in a rush. Just make sure to arrive early on your first day to maximize your time if you only visit the Douro Valley for one night.

Many people also visit the Douro Valley as part of a day trip tour from Porto. I don’t think that’s a bad idea for people who don’t have much time in Portugal as long as you leave enough time in Porto. I personally loved Porto and feel like two full days are needed there to appreciate it.

Is Quinta do Valdalágea child friendly?

Yes! We visited with our 13-month-old daughter, and the accommodations at Quinta do Valdalágea were everything we needed for her. The breakfast area had a high chair with plenty of space for her to sit without feeling like we were infringing on other guests. The two ladies waiting on guests at breakfast were also very welcoming of our daughter.

As far as the room, it was the best we had for our daughter throughout our trip. It had the basic pack and play like every other hotel we stayed at, but the staff at Quinta do Valdalágea also provided a changing pad and a bath tub for the shower. Our room even a tiny antique wooden chair for her to sit in (or play on as she was more wont to do). The small chair was definitely a highlight.

What is there to do near Quinta do Valdalágea?

In between lounging around Quinta do Valdalágea, you have plenty of things to do nearby. The obvious thing is to go out for wine tours and tastings. You have more than enough options of wineries to fill your time in the Douro Valley. Just make sure to book ahead of time as many require reservations.

Another popular thing to do near Quinta do Valdalágea is to take a boat ride along the Douro River. There are several companies that offer tours along the river, with some including wine and food.

I’m including a popular tour from GetYourGuide that includes a cruise, lunch and two different wine tastings below.

Being so near Peso da Régua, you should also check out this small town. It has a stretch of cafes and wine bars right along the river. The Douro Museum is right in town, too, if you want to learn more about the region.

How much does it cost to stay at Quinta do Valdalágea?

Quinta do Valdalágea is a little expensive compared to your standard hotel, but it’s fairly affordable relative to other quintas in the Douro Valley. There website states rooms start at €130. However, the cheapest I’m currently able to find is around €150. We paid €170 per night for our stay in September. Still, for all the reasons I’ve already described, I think the price is more than reasonable.