Little Portuguese Tibet
Buried in the heart of the Peneda-Gerês National Park, Sistelo is a sight to behold: With its green slopes, ridges, and rustic houses dramatically perched on the mountains, the village is made of picture-perfect verdant step-like hills unfolding in the sun. With its unique appearance and air of mountain-top serenity, it’s no wonder this enchanting place has earned the nickname of “Little Portuguese Tibet”. The rest of Portugal isn’t oblivious to Sistelo’s charms either: Its uniqueness is recognised at the national level, with Sistelo constituting one of the “7 Wonders of Portugal”, an accolade recognising the country’s most breathtaking places. Unsurprisingly, the region is also home to one of the world’s quirkiest houses, and a true unusual wonder of Portugal.
In Sistelo, you can gently lower yourself into a landscape that’s taken centuries in the making, swapping sky-high hotels and crowded Airbnbs with the hilly slopes and verdant terraces, making this corner of the Minho region truly unforgettable. The town’s proximity to the river Vez makes it an ideal place to embark on river reveries, as you walk accompanied by the sound of water in the background.
If you are planning your Portuguese escape and still deciding between Lisbon and Porto, the proximity of the latter makes it a much better option to reach Sistelo. The off-grid nature of the village means it is not as easily accessible with public transport as it is with your own car. A train from Porto, the nearest city, will take you close to your destination, but you will have to take a taxi in the town of Valenca. If you are planning on driving, Sistelo is a comfortable 1 hour and 30 minutes from the northern capital.
