FeelViana Sport Hotel

Viana do Castelo, Porto, Douro & Minho, Portugal
Book from GBP Book from £88 per night

A sports and wellness retreat a short walk from Northern Portugal's sweeping beaches, with endless opportunities for surf, spa and family fun

A sports and wellness retreat a short walk from Northern Portugal's sweeping beaches, with endless opportunities for surf, spa and family fun

Tucked into the Cabedelo forest, fringing the Atlantic, this sleek and understated hotel has a beautiful restaurant, beach bar, spa and a plethora of activities for couples and families alike. The focus is on health and play, in a peaceful, woodsy setting that’s at once communal and secluded. Think: Dirty Dancing’s ‘Mountain Lake Lodge’, but much, much cooler, and instead of ‘80s hair and group salsa lessons, there’s windsurfing, wakeboarding, yoga and cocktails by the ocean.

FeelViana has a range of rooms, suites and little bungalows, all simple but stylish, with private terraces surrounded by fragrant pines. From here, it’s just a short, cinematic walk through the trees, along the boardwalk to the beach. You can dive into ocean-bound experiences like kite-surfing, paddleboarding or wing foiling, take a spin around their pump track, or join a class in their gym before splashing into the pool. For little adventurers, there’s a kids' club with activities, educational games and creative exploration: a win for the whole family.

Highs

    • With its own sports centre offering classes and equipment, a wake park, bike rental and even a pump track, there’s no chance of boredom
    • It's just a 5-min walk to the beach (200m away) or an easy drive into the town of Viana do Castelo
    • Every room has its own private terrace - perfect for tranquil mornings with a coffee
    • With a kids club and babysitting, it's the perfect spot for active families

Lows

    • This is a family retreat, so expect some noise around the pool and the restaurant, though the spa is adults only from 4pm
    • The indoor pool is small and the outdoor pool is unheated
    • We hear the restaurant is casual and the breakfast canteen-like

Best time to go

The best time to enjoy all the sports and activities FeelViana has on offer is between June and August. Though this is peak season, the weather is best for beach days and surf, and you can fully enjoy the unheated outdoor pool. The weather is less predictable in spring and autumn, but if you're looking for quieter waves and cool bike rides along the coast, it can be beautiful.

Our top tips

If you’re visiting in August, make sure to check out Romaria da Senhora d’Agonia, one of Portugal’s most vibrant festivals. Expect to see a procession of women in beautiful traditional costumes, musicians, folk dancers and larger-than-life puppets, as well as fireworks, street food and buzzing markets.

Great for...

Beach
Family
Great Outdoors
Spa
  • Wellness Eco Hotel
  • 55 rooms, suites and bungalows
  • Restaurant & Bar
  • All ages welcome
  • Open all year
  • Pools
  • Spa
  • Walk to beach
  • Pet Friendly
  • Disabled Access
  • Car recommended
  • Parking
  • Restaurants Nearby
  • WiFi
  • Air Conditioning
  • Guest Lounge
  • Terrace
  • Garden
  • Gym
  • Bicycles Available
  • Laundry Service
  • Electric car charger
Room:

Rooms

FeelViana’s wood-clad accommodation ranges from simple double and twin rooms to roomy suites and even small bungalows. All have private balconies with views of either the gardens or the forest, and some look out through the trees to the sea.

The rooms and suites are in the main building, while the bungalows are nestled in the forest behind, just a stroll along timber-boarded paths. Most of the rooms can fit an extra cot or rollaway bed, while the bungalows and master suites can sleep families of four. The Master Suites are the most luxurious option, each with a bedroom and a lounge area with sofabed - this is also the only room type with a bathtub as well as a shower. But the Bungalows offer privacy, space and a peaceful view of the garden.

Features include:

  • Air conditioning
  • Bathrobes
  • Central heating
  • Coffee / tea making
  • Hairdryer
  • Minibar
  • Safe box
  • Satellite TV
  • Terrace/balcony
  • Toiletries
  • WiFi

Eating

After a peaceful morning coffee on your private terrace, make your way to the breakfast buffet, where you’ll find a generous spread of meats, cheeses, bread, pastries and fruit.

FeelViana’s restaurant is airy and casual, with menus for lunch and dinner that offer simplicity and goodness. After a day surfing the waves, cycling along winding roads, or sweating it out in the spa, it’s the ideal spot to recharge. Or cosy up in their tavern, serving up hot drinks, wine, cocktails and sharing plates.

Then there's their beach bar, just a scenic stroll through the woods to the waterfront, where cocktails are shaken and stirred with a salty sea breeze and the sounds of waves crashing.

If you want to wander out for lunch or dinner, there are a couple of restaurants within walking distance, and plenty more in Viano do Castelo, which is just a short drive away.

Features include:

  • Bar
  • Breakfast
  • Kids' meals
  • Restaurant
  • Vegetarian options
Eating:
Activity:

Activities

  • The hotel offers lessons and equipment rental for several watersports, including kitesurfing, windsurfing, wind foiling, surfing, cable wakeboarding and e-foiling
  • Enjoy scenic stand-up paddleboarding along the river or on the beach at your own pace
  • Explore diverse bike trails—road, gravel, mountain, or electric—after a visit to the hotel's Bike Centre, which includes bike rentals, local guides, route maps, on-site service and even customised kit
  • Visit the spa, with five private treatment rooms offering up a range of massages, facials, a sauna, Turkish bath, an indoor heated pool and a fully equipped gym
  • Join in on one of their yoga or pilates classes
  • Check out their pump track for biking or skateboarding
  • Visit the Sanctuary of Santa Luzia, where you can ride the funicular or drive up for panoramic views and explore the beautiful basilica
  • Relax at the nearby Praia do Cabedelo – a popular beach for sunbathing, surfing, and windsurfing

Activities on site or nearby include:

  • Cycling
  • Gym
  • Kitesurfing
  • Paragliding
  • Parasailing
  • Pilates
  • Sauna
  • Spa treatments
  • Surfing
  • Swimming
  • Wakeboarding
  • Watersports
  • Well being
  • Windsurfing
  • Yoga

Kids

This is a great spot for families, especially those with active children looking for an adventurous holiday with the beach close at hand. The hotel has a kids' club for ages 4-12 offering creative and educational activities, and babysitting so parents can enjoy their own outdoor thrills. There's also an indoor and outdoor pool, and the on-site restaurant caters to children.

Best for:

Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

All of the rooms can fit one extra baby cot or rollaway bed, while the Bungalows and Master Suites can accommodate a family of four.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available, Family Rooms

Kids Activities on site:

  • Ages 4-12 can enjoy a fun range of seasonal activities at the Kids' Club
  • Splash around in the indoor or outdoor pool
  • Sign up for one of the kids' water sports lessons
  • Visit the Pump Track for biking and skateboarding fun

Kids Activities nearby:

  • Walk to the nearby beach – Praia do Cabedelo – to splash in the waves and play in the sand
  • Take an educational excursion to the Gil Eannes Hospital Ship Museum

Distances:

  • Shops: 10 min drive

  • Airport: 45 min drive

  • Hospital: 45 min drive

Kid Friendly:

Location

FeelViana Sport Hotel is in Viano do Castelo, a beach town on the mouth of the Lima river, north of Porto, near the Spanish border.

By Air
Fly into Porto (although Vigo, a Spanish airport over the border, is actually closer). From the airport, you can rent a car or get a train from Porto to Viana do Castelo and take a short taxi-ride from there.

By Car
We recommend hiring a car to get around - see our car rental recommendations.

By Train
You could take a bus or a train to Viana do Castelo from Porto, then take a short taxi to FeelViana Sports Hotel from there.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.

Airports:

  • Porto (Francisco Sá Carneiro) Airport 64.0 km

Other:

  • Beach 0.2 km
  • Shops 0.5 km
  • Restaurant 0.4 km

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