Arcos de Valdevez is a town and municipality in Portugal's Minho region. Arcos is on the border with Galicia, Spain, and the municipality serves as a gateway to Peneda-Gerês National Park, with several of its civil parishes falling within the park's boundaries.

Understand

Santuário de Nossa Senhora da Peneda.

Arcos de Valdevez (AHR-koozh d(ih) vahl-d(ih)-VIHSH, /ˈaɾ.kuʒ dɨ vaɫ.dɨ.ˈveʃ/) municipality has 20,729 residents (2021).

Visitor information

• 1 Posto de Turismo de Arcos de Valdevez (Tourist Information Office), Rua Prof. Dr. Júlio Almeida Costa, ☏ +351 258 520 530, lojaturismo@cmav.pt. (updated Jul 2021)
• 2 Posto de Turismo de Soajo (Tourist Information Office), Posto de Turismo de Soajo, ☏ +351 258 576 747, turismo.soajo@cmav.pt. (updated Jul 2021)

Get in

By bus

• Auto Viação Cura — from Ponte da Barca and Viana do Castelo
• Barquense – from Porto Airport (OPO ^IATA)
• Rede Expressos — from Braga and Porto
• Salvador Transportes — from Braga

By car

The IC28 road provides access to Arcos from the A3 motorway (Autoestrada de Entre-Douro-e-Minho) and the A27 motorway (Autoestrada do Vale do Lima).

See

• 1 Miradouro dos Socalcos (Socalcos Viewpoint), Porta do Cova, Sistelo. Spectacular views of a tiny mountain village and its surrounding greenery. (updated Jul 2021)
• 2 Paço da Giela, Giela, ☏ +351 258 520 529. 15 Jun–15 Sep: Tu–Su 10:00–13:00 & 15:00–19:00, closed M; 16 Sep–14 Jun: Tu–Su 10:00–13:00 & 14:00–18:00, closed M. Medieval palace, a national monument since 1910. €1, kids 12 & under free. (updated Jul 2021)
• 3 Santuário de Nossa Senhora da Peneda. Grand 18th-century church dedicated to the Virgin Mary, with 300 m (980 ft) stairway with 20 chapels. Its mountain setting offers breathtaking views. (updated Jul 2021)

Eat

• 1 Cantinho do Abade, Rua Viscondes de Sistelo, ☏ +351 258 563 201, cantinhodoabade@gmail.com. M Tu F–Su 12:00–21:00, W 10:00–15:00, closed Th. Regional cuisine with magnificent views and a short menu. €6-26. (updated Jul 2021)
• 2 Churrasqueira O Braseiro, Rua Soares Pereira 229, ☏ +351 258 521 506, obraseirochurrasqueira@gmail.com. F–W 09:00–21:30, closed Th. Barbecue restaurant. Mid-range. (updated Jul 2021)
• 3 Costa do Vez, Quinta de Silvares, ☏ +351 258 516 122, geral@costadovez.pt. 12:00–23:00 daily. Mid-range. (updated Jul 2021)

Sleep

• 1 Luna Arcos Hotel, Lugar de Requeijo, ☏ +351 258 093 600, arcoshotel@lunahoteis.com. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Four-star, 75-room hotel with swimming pool, gym, spa, bar, free breakfast, free Wi-Fi, and free parking. €49-138. (updated Jul 2021)
• 2 Peneda Hotel, Lugar de Peneda, Freguesia de Gavieira, ☏ +351 251 460 040, reservas@penedahotel.pt. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Three-star, 20-room hotel mountainside hotel with games room, free breakfast, free Wi-Fi, and free parking. €55-75. (updated Jul 2021)
• 3 Ribeira Collection Hotel, Largo dos Milagres, ☏ +351 258 009 410, booking.rch@piamontehotels.com. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Four-star, 37-room hotel with swimming pool, gym, room service, in-room minibar and fridge, free breakfast, free Wi-Fi, and free parking. €61-109. (updated Jul 2021)