Casa do Mar in the authentic fishing village of Vila Chã is the best place we’ve ever stayed. You know when you are on holidays somewhere and you see people outside a beautiful/cool house and think how lucky they are? We were those lucky people - staying in the best place!
The house is bigger than expected and lovely and cool inside. Really well-equipped and some lovely touches. You really are right on the beach and can buy fish directly from the fishermen.
The locals couldn’t do enough for you…one local octogenarian took us to buy seafood wholesale and then cooked us up a feast of octopus stew, etc. with vegetables from his own garden and tasters of local alcohol. The neighbours took us under their wing and gave us beautiful wine.
The Café Praia Mar (just steps from the back door) is a real bonus also. We could go in and order (great) coffee and pastries for breakfast or a tray of clams for dinner and they’d deliver it over to us! They all hugged us the morning we left and when the Uber couldn’t fit us all the café owner insisted on driving us to the airport!
As it’s on the Camino trail, you can walk for miles and miles on the boardwalk along the coast - in either direction.
Some fantastic restaurants around, most notably Restaurante Caravela. For the most delicious pastel da nata pastries Padaria Da Praia-Bakery is a 2min (140m) walk away.
Our taxi driver from the airport asked why we were going somewhere so quiet but it was perfect. We didn’t need a car for the week as we were happy to explore on foot. It costs between 20-30euro for an airport transfer (cheaper for smaller taxi - there were 6 of us). You can taxi/Uber to the Vila Conde Outlet for around 3euro and then get the metro to Porto (gorgeous city).
The only downsides were that the sea was pretty cold (certainly refreshing on a hot day) and seaweedy at times…and the cars driving pretty fast down the tiny streets (all cobbled) and parking in front of Casa do Mar and the neighbours’ houses.
We cannot recommend this place enough. Obrigada to Paula!! Xxx