Zêzere glacial valley
A textbook U-shaped valley
Drive or walk up the valley from Manteigas between walls polished by Ice Age glaciers, to the source of the Zêzere.
ManteigasGeologyHiking
Serra da Estrela, Portugal
Ideal: 2–3 daysBest: May–Oct, Jan–MarPrice: Moderate
In 60 seconds
Serra da Estrela in 60 seconds
The Serra da Estrela is the highest range in mainland Portugal, a granite plateau rising to 1,993 metres at the Torre, where a stone tower was built to bring the summit up to an even 2,000. It is a natural park and UNESCO Global Geopark, and it surprises visitors who think of Portugal only as beaches: the U-shaped glacial valley of the Zêzere, lakes and boulders on the high plateau, snow in winter and a small ski area. Manteigas, deep in the valley, is the best base, with hot springs and walking trails; Covilhã on the eastern slope was a wool town, and Belmonte nearby has a remarkable Jewish history. Shepherds' sheep make Queijo Serra da Estrela, a cheese so soft it is eaten with a spoon. Two or three days with a car.
MountainsCheese
Best for
- Hiking
- Nature
- Hidden gems
- Food
Known for
- Torre
- Zêzere glacial valley
- Queijo Serra da Estrela
- Manteigas
Skip if
You want Alpine drama — these are rounded granite mountains; and the roads up close in heavy snow.
Your match
Choose a few travel interests and we will show how well Serra da Estrela fits them. Choose interests
See
Must experience
The things that would make the trip incomplete without them.
Torre
The highest point of mainland Portugal
The summit plateau at 1,993 metres, with lakes and granite boulders nearby; snow-covered in winter.
PlateauViewWinter
Beyond the obvious
Hidden gems
Less obvious, rarely queued for, and usually the part people remember.
Belmonte
Castle town and a hidden Jewish community
Birthplace of Pedro Álvares Cabral, and home to crypto-Jews who kept their faith in secret for centuries; the Jewish museum tells their story.
BelmonteHistoryMuseum
Orientation
Neighbourhoods
How the city is actually divided, and what each part is for.
Manteigas
Village in the heart of the park
Stone houses, a hot spring spa and trailheads into the glacial valley.
Covilhã
Old wool town on the slope
A steep town of former textile mills; the wool museum is in the university.
Stay
Where to stay
Areas rather than hotels — pick the right one and the rest follows.
Manteigas
ModerateMountain hotels and guesthouses
The best base for walking.
HikingQuiet
Practical
Know before you go
- Getting in
- Trains reach Covilhã and Guarda; a car is needed to explore the park.
- Snow
- The roads over the summit close in heavy snow; check before driving up in winter.
- When to go
- May to October for walking; January to March for snow.
- Taste locally
- Queijo Serra da Estrela, requeijão curd cheese, mountain sausages, kid and lamb, and Dão wine.
Plan this trip — useful links
Context
History in 5 minutes
Enough to make what you are looking at legible.
- Ice Age
Glaciers carve the Zêzere valley.
- 1976
The Serra da Estrela Natural Park is created, the largest protected area in Portugal.
- 2020
The Serra da Estrela is designated a UNESCO Global Geopark.
Further out
Nearby escapes
Worth a day if you have one to spare.
Coimbra
The university city
Coimbra has its own guide.
1 hr 45 min by carUniversity