Holiday rentals with lake access in Vila Nova de Gaia

This place is incredible. A renovated house from the medieval period, it’s even more impressive than the pictures. The setting is beautiful, with a view of the valley right out the bedroom window. The place itself is spotless and the automated check-in was a breeze. The host even had a bottle of wine waiting for us, and it’s well stocked with coffee. Like most homes in the region, be prepared to drive for groceries and restaurants - and take note that the drive to the house is steep downhill and at times narrow - but take it slow and you’ll be fine. The location of this place is perfect if you want to visit both Porto and the Douro valley. 10/10 would recommend!

This is our best stop on a trip to Portugal. The house has everything you need, it's just nice to be inside. We were still in the moment when the electricity and communication went missing in Portugal - so the hostess and her family showed unreal care - and they brought candles, and the grill was lit and offered food - well, we never had such a cool "apocalypse"! I definitely recommend!

It seems impossible to write something new about Maria and her wonderful place at the Douro River that has not been already commented and praised by previous guests. The 5-star review rating for Casa do Rio is very well earned: it is a piece of heaven, tucked away in the Douro Valley and Maria - and not to forget her husband, Jose (who does not get enough praise in other reviews) - are exceptional hosts. We stayed for 3 weeks, with a number of our friends coming to visit us for shorter stays. Maria accommodate all of our changing check-in and check-out needs without a glitch. We enjoyed taking advantage of the many activities and entertainment options - including massages by Hugo (a master of his craft) that the location provides. One thing to be aware of: There is no shopping option and limited restaurant choices available in walking distance, hence a car is almost a necessity for a longer stay.

We had a lovely week at the house and the surrounding nature. The house was beautifully located, well equipped and clean! Although we had very rainy weather during our stay, we still enjoyed beautiful hikes and the house offered a cosy refuge for us. Would stay here again and would definitely recommend it to anyone else. Thank you for the hospitality António!

A true piece of paradise! 🌿✨ From the first moment, we feel welcomed as if we were at home — but with the charm of a heavenly retreat. Diogo was an exemplary host: always available, attentive and genuinely concerned with our well-being. Your kindness made the experience even more special. The space is simply stunning, perfect for resting the mind and recharging the soul. And as if the surrounding nature and tranquility of the place were not enough, we had charming visitors: adorable kittens that appeared unexpectedly and immediately won our hearts. They were a sweet and loving asset, which gave even more life to our stay. We recommend it with our eyes closed — and with a full heart.

From the absolutely extraordinary house, to the scenery that seems to come from a movie, to Mr. Manuel who left us speechless of so friendly and dear that he is. There is no better place than this to rest, and we leave thinking about the time to return. The photographs do not make juz to the place at all… Very spacious house, we were in a T1 and there was a lot of space, well decorated, very modern, with an amazing outdoor space, it is simply magical to go to the balcony and only listen to the birds. Thank you Lúcia and thank you to Mr. Manuel, who made this stay fantastic and to wish you back!

loved it! a piece of heaven(: very quite, the prettiest pool plus a waterfall

Very quiet and cozy place to stay. Perfect for relaxation and being close with nature. Everything went well

Absolutely stunning view of the Rio Douro in a peaceful and quiet location! The apartment was immaculate, with brand-new appliances and everything in perfect working order. Just a short walk from all of Porto’s main attractions, making it the perfect base to explore the city. Every cent was well spent. Sergio was a fantastic host—very responsible, responsive, and always ready to help with anything we needed. Highly recommended for a comfortable and memorable stay!

Ana’s apartment is so amazing. I really loved it. Location is fantastic. Close to all main attractions. The river, churches, restaurants, to name a few. As far as the apartment is concerned, it has two lovely rooms and a wonderful kitchen, and hot water in the bathroom at all times. In short, an amazing place and the host responds really quick.

Cecilia's apartment is spacious and comfortable with all amenities you would need for your stay. It is situated in a quiet area but with cafes and restaurants within walking distance, also with the Cristal gardens 5 minutes away.

Our stay was very good, the house was pleasant and João very responsive, always meeting our needs. We very much liked staying in João's apartment

A nice apartment right on the water with decent views of the river. It is a short walk to a number of nice local restaurants, and we really appreciated that it was handicap and wheelchair accessible, including an elevator in the building. The only small critique I have is that there was some difficulty getting in the building, both the lockbox code and key inside the lock box were wrong. However, the response time was great, and within 10 minutes Diogo had come to let us in, provided the right key, and even showed us around. Very responsive and friendly service and thoughtful people. I would recommend people stay here, especially if they would like to have more of an apartment field and be able to cook a simple breakfast or something similar for themselves.

We had a great stay! There are lovely views from the apartment and you are close to everything without the area feeling too busy. We felt very relaxed and Luisa & Jose Luis were very helpful and thoughtful hosts.

Friendly host, easy to go anywhere

Our stay at Sónia’s apartment was absolutely perfect — a 10/10 experience! The apartment was spotless, very comfortable, calm, and ideally located in the heart of Porto. Every time we walked in, it smelled amazing — a small detail that made a big difference and made us feel right at home. Sónia was kind, responsive, and incredibly thoughtful throughout our stay. You can really feel that she puts care and attention into every detail. Her instructions were clear, and the apartment had everything we needed for a lovely stay. We would absolutely stay here again and will be recommending her place to our friends without hesitation. Thank you, Sónia, for such a wonderful stay!

8 of us had an amazing week at Ria Surf House. The pool area was perfect for us adults and kids! Mariana was very helpful and responsive. Fab meals at the snack bar and Casa das Enguias. We didn’t have a car but Mariana put us in touch with a lovely local taxi driver who ensured we could get around when not walking. Also took the train to Porto and Aveiro, great days out. The beach was amazing - a walk through a forest to get there - a wild and remote feel. Many thanks!

This is an exceptional Airbnb. Fernando is a welcoming host and an interesting man to talk to. The house is spacious, generous and peaceful. It is also beautiful, with character, and perfect spots for every season. The sitting room must be lovely in winter. The walks in the nature reserve were lovely! You won’t want to leave.

The accommodation is simply magnificent. It is in the middle of nature, very quiet and very close to nature. You can hear the birds, the water. It is simply a magical place and perfect to arrive at or to enjoy the peace. I loved meditating by the water or doing yoga. I would come back anytime. Thanks so much for the nice days.

We were very well received and greatly enjoyed our stay at the house. Maria Fatima was very helpful and accomodating during our entire stay and did her best to help us and make us feel right at home. The house is on the outskirts of a village in a very calm area, but close to many bigger and busier cities, and beaches. The garden, pool and bar areas are perfect to enjoy from morning to nighttime, and it feels like a small private resort. The small children loved running around to play with the cats and dog, watching the birds, going in the pool, playground, and just having fun in the large and very diverse garden. The host lives in a house adjacent to the rented house but is very discreet, and even though we enjoy privacy we didn't have any issues staying in the house with the hosts nearby. In fact she was so helpful and kind we felt it was a joy to have her close by. She brought us many gifts of food, desserts and cake, and helped us in many ways during the stay.

I would use the word "Exceptionnel" for this stay. The chalet was almost new, everything was well done, functional, well equipped and decorated with a lot of taste. As the place is a bit remote, the environment is also very calm and relaxing. Would return any time.

This is the second time we visit this paradise! it's so beautiful there, the lake in front of the house, the forest behind the house. So much peace there. If you need some time to relax or enjoy peaceful moments with your family or friends, this is the place for you!

We loved our stay so much that we didn’t use our car to go anywhere. We enjoyed the beautiful garden, the river and walking to the village. We so enjoyed the peace and quiet and the sound of the river and we wish we could have stayed for longer. Thank you Júlio and Patricia for being such thoughtful and welcoming hosts.

A piece of paradise. A beautiful location, tastfully decorated and a very kind and attentive host. Esmoriz and the surroundings are beautiful, I can highly recommend a stay here.