There are a variety of choices for you when you come to stay in Covas.  Although the village is small – only about 800 people live here – it is a vibrant little community.  Scattered around the village are a variety of bed and breakfasts, cottages, guesthouses and retreats where you can stay – look at the ones we recommend in the sidebar on the right.

View Covas, VNC – accommodation, places to visit, restaurants in a larger map

There is also a good camping site – Camping Covas, where many visitors to the area stay during the summer months – to find it, follow the “Camping Covas” signs painted on all the roads into the village.  Look through the list and see which option suits you.  If you are interested in a riotous time with abundant nightlife – this is not the place for you!  If you want peace and quiet and an abundance of interesting natural and historical places to visit, you will have a memorable time!

It takes approximately an hour and a half to drive to Covas from Porto airport by the new highway, A28.  Viana do Castelo is about 40 minutes drive from Covas, a lovely historic city with all major shopping conveniences and the “capital town” of the Minho.

The historic towns of Ponte de Lima, Caminha and Valenca are all nearby and from Covas it is only about 30 minutes by car to the clean unspoiled beaches along the coast.

The Spanish border is less than a 30 minute drive north from Covas. where the charming port city of Vigo in Spain has everything to offer and further north is the beautiful, historic city of Santiago de Compostela.  This entire region is not only very scenic but also full of history and unlimited interest.

But for those of you keen to relax and enjoy life here - Covas has it all.  There is the Supermercado Lirio, which Sr Gaspar and his wife run, just at the main road and you have never seen a real Supermercado if you have not see this one.

They have got everything you will ever need and is often the highlight of the day for the children who come to stay.

Outside the Post Office (which opens from 14.00 to 17.30) there is a ATM machine – really and most of the time it even works.  Covas has a Camping area (look for the Camping Covas signs painted on the roads) and a few café-restaurant-bars.  Lets take them by alphabetical order:

Adega do Lagar do Jamie, is right in the centre of Covas, just at the river Coura.  There you can get the “Prato do Dia” – The Dish of the Day, but you can ask for other dishes and you might be lucky.  Jamie often has live music and during the summer it is nice to have lunch there – sit outside and enjoy the Covas-life. Adega do Lagar do Jamie is closed on Wednesdays.

Café “o Dias” is on the main road through Covas.  They serve very good grilled chicken on Wednesdays for lunch. You can ask for different dishes, they may have what you want and their Bacalhau is great.  Café “o Dias” is closed on Mondays. If you need to meet any of the local builders, then that is where they go on Wednesdays!

There are so many things to do and services to use in our little village and really, you do not have to leave Covas – you get it all here.  The bread van drives around the village every day – with fresh bread; there is a fish van, fruit and vegetable van and a van that comes once a week with frozen goods!  Don’t worry – you will hear all the vans as they make sure everyone knows they are there.

In Covas there is an organic farm – Quinta do Mos – with wonderful produce, both fresh and preserved, some of it in beautiful jars and bottles that make lovely present to take home – and you can buy them at Gallery Covas.

You can get home made frozen meals in Covas too – just contact Sian – you can find her email and contact phone numbers in the column on the right under places to stay.  If you get lost – come to Gallery Covas and ask for directions!

Around Covas are some lovely  walks and don’t forget the Serra de Arga, with the old Roman Bridge and other interesting places to explore.

The wildlife around Covas is also rich and the variety from the River Coura valley up through the hills onto the Serra is a treat for birdwatchers and botanists alike.  Keep your eyes open for the specialities - otters in the river, wildcats beside the road at night, Hoopoes and Black Redstarts in the vineyards, Scops Owl calling at night – the list goes on…

We really hope you will enjoy your stay here in this unspoiled little village and go back home revitalised.