Wake Up to the Beira Alta Countryside
Wake up to the green hills of central Portugal filling a floor-to-ceiling window, the orchard quiet outside and the loudest thing all morning a donkey ambling across the lawn. This is the moment guests come back for at Quintinha Silvestre, a restored stone farm in the hamlet of Couço-Mouraz, a ten-minute drive from the town of Tondela. The old farmhouse has been wrapped in bright, individually designed rooms that look straight out over the Dão countryside, and the pace drops the second you turn off the road: birdsong, a salt-water pool on the grass, and goats, lambs and a shaggy long-eared donkey in the paddock that children can help feed.
Opened in 2022 and run hands-on by the family who own it, this is a 4-star Casa de Campo, a rural guest house where the welcome is personal and the small things are quietly done well. Cleanliness scores almost perfect, the breakfast draws the warmest praise, and couples and families rate it one of the most relaxing stops in the region. You are secluded without being cut off, with the cafés of Tondela, the vineyards of the Dão and the peaks of the Serra do Caramulo all a short drive away.
Individually Designed Rooms and a Breakfast Worth Getting Up For
Breakfast is the thing guests write home about. It is a generous spread laid out each morning, fresh pastries and a home-baked cake, fruit, cheese and cold cuts, with warm dishes cooked to order and gluten-free and other special diets happily handled, and you can carry a plate out to the terrace and eat with the hills in front of you. The rooms carry the same care: pale oak, crisp white walls, soft autumn-toned textiles and big sliding windows, each one styled a little differently rather than stamped from a template.
Each room is air-conditioned, soundproofed and en-suite, with a flat-screen TV and fast, free Wi-Fi, while the suites add a little kitchenette for longer, slower stays. The choice runs from a cosy garden-view double to a triple with a sofa bed and a desk, a family suite with its own balcony, and the largest suite of all, which looks straight out over the pool. If you want the easiest morning, ask for a room on the garden side where the view does the waking-up for you.
A Working Farm, a Salt-Water Pool and the Quiet of Couço-Mouraz
Step out after breakfast and the grounds open up: a salt-treated pool on the lawn with loungers and umbrellas, a sun terrace, a garden, a barbecue and a play area with a trampoline that keeps younger guests busy for hours. Beyond the hedge is the part nobody expects, a little farm where a shaggy donkey, a clutch of goats and the spring lambs wander over to the fence for a carrot, and where you quickly see why families book again.
The setting is the other half of the appeal. You are deep in the Beira Alta near the town of Tondela, with the Dão wine country on the doorstep and the Serra do Caramulo rising to the west. The pool is open through the warmer months, roughly spring to early autumn; outside that season the walking, the wineries and the mountain viewpoints take over. There is no restaurant on site, which keeps the evenings calm, and the Michelin-listed kitchen at 3 Pipos is barely ten minutes away when you fancy eating out. For more of the country, browse our other stays in Portugal.
Why Book Quintinha Silvestre?
Quintinha Silvestre is strongest for couples and families who want a quiet, great-value rural escape with a standout breakfast, a pool and farm animals, and who value cleanliness and a personal welcome over the buzz of a town-centre hotel.
A genuine rural escape
An old stone farm reborn in 2022 with bright countryside-view rooms, a salt-water pool on the lawn and animals in the paddock, kept so spotless that cleanliness is what guests praise most.
A breakfast guests rave about
A generous spread of pastries, home-baked cake, fruit and cold cuts with warm dishes cooked to order and special diets, gluten-free included, handled without fuss.
A base for the Dão and Caramulo
Ten minutes from Tondela with free private parking, the wine country on the doorstep, the Serra do Caramulo to the west and a Michelin Bib Gourmand kitchen 3 km away.
Best-fit guests
Best for couples and families who want a quiet, scenic rural stay with a pool, farm animals and a great breakfast, and who are happy to pay cash, do without an on-site restaurant and travel by car.
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Interesting Points About Quintinha Silvestre
- Opened in 2022, the property wraps modern, individually styled rooms around an old stone farmhouse, registered with Turismo de Portugal as a Casa de Campo (rural country house), licence number 10359
- The outdoor pool is salt-treated rather than chlorinated and is seasonal, open across the warmer months from roughly the start of spring to late October, then closed for winter
- A small working farm sits beyond the garden hedge, where a long-eared donkey, goats and spring lambs come to the fence, and children can help feed them a carrot
- Payment is by cash only, and there is no restaurant on site, though breakfast is cooked to order each morning and the Michelin Bib Gourmand kitchen at 3 Pipos is about 3 km away
- The farm sits in the Dão, one of Portugal's oldest demarcated wine regions and the home of the Touriga Nacional grape, with the Serra do Caramulo and its 1,075 m Caramulinho peak rising to the west
Rooms & Accommodation at Quintinha Silvestre
Budget Double Room
Sleeps 2 · 13 m² · Garden view · Air-conditioned · Private bathroom
The cosy entry room, about 13 m² with a double bed, a garden view, air conditioning, soundproofing, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a bath or shower. Best for couples or solo travellers who want a clean, comfortable, good-value base and plan to spend their time by the pool and out exploring. Choose this if you want the lowest rate and don't need a kitchenette or extra space.
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Classic Triple Room
Sleeps 3 · 21.5 m² · Sofa bed + desk · Air-conditioned · Fridge
A roomier 21.5 m² room sleeping up to three, with a double and a sofa bed, a desk, a sofa, a fridge and an electric kettle, plus air conditioning, soundproofing and a private bathroom; interconnecting rooms can be arranged. Best for small families or three friends who want a bit more space and a sofa to spread out on. Ideal if you want flexible bedding and somewhere to make a hot drink without paying for a full suite.
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Suite with Pool View
Sleeps 2 · 35.5 m² · Pool view · Private kitchenette · Private entrance
The largest room at about 35.5 m², with a double bed, a private entrance, a seating area and a private kitchenette with a fridge, microwave, stovetop and dining table, and a floor-to-ceiling window framing the pool. Best for couples who want space, self-catering and the best outlook in the house. Choose this if you would like a kitchenette and a long, slow look at the pool and the hills behind it.
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Family Suite
Sleeps 4 · 32.5 m² · Balcony · Private kitchenette · Sofa bed
A 32.5 m² suite sleeping up to four, with a double and a sofa bed, a balcony, a seating area and a private kitchenette with a fridge, microwave and stovetop, plus air conditioning and soundproofing. Best for families who want their own balcony, room to spread out and the option to self-cater. Ideal if you want space for the children, a private outdoor sit-out and a kitchenette for snacks and simple meals.
Check PricesIs Quintinha Silvestre Right for You?
Best Suited For
- Couples: a Couples' top pick for two-person trips, quiet and scenic with a warm family welcome and a pool on the lawn
- Families: family suites with kitchenettes, a children's play area and trampoline, and farm animals children can help feed
- Rural-escape seekers: an old stone farm in open countryside, kept spotless and singled out by guests for its cleanliness
- Foodies and wine lovers: a breakfast cooked to order, the Dão wine region on the doorstep and a Michelin Bib Gourmand kitchen 3 km away
- Walkers and drivers: free private parking and an easy base for the Serra do Caramulo, its viewpoints and the Caramulo Museum
- Self-caterers: suites with a private kitchenette and dining table for longer, slower stays
Worth Considering Alternatives If
- You want to pay by card: payment here is cash only, so plan ahead for any on-site charges
- You want dinner on site: there is no restaurant, though breakfast is served and Tondela and 3 Pipos are a short drive away
- You are visiting in winter: the outdoor pool is seasonal and closed outside the warmer months
- You are travelling without a car: the farm is rural, and public transport to the door is limited
- You want a spa or gym: there is neither, the focus is the pool, the garden and the farm
- You need a very soft bed: a couple of guests have found the mattresses or pillows on the firm side
Amenities & Facilities
In-Room
- Air conditioning and heating
- Soundproofed rooms
- Flat-screen TV
- Private bathroom with bath or shower
- Free toiletries, towels and linen
- Wardrobe and clothes rack
- Private kitchenette in the suites (fridge, microwave, stovetop)
Food & Drink
- Continental breakfast cooked to order
- Special-diet menus, gluten-free included
- Minimarket on site
- Barbecue facilities
- Not available: Restaurant on site
Pool & Outdoors
- Salt-treated seasonal outdoor pool
- Sun terrace and loungers
- Garden and lawns
- Outdoor barbecue area
- Not available: Spa or wellness centre
Family & Farm
- Friendly farm animals (donkey, goats, lambs)
- Outdoor children's play area and trampoline
- Family rooms and suites
- Cots and extra beds on request
Parking, Wi-Fi & Access
- Free private parking on site
- Free Wi-Fi throughout
- Facilities for disabled guests
- Not available: Airport shuttle
Policies & House Rules
- Payment by cash only
- Check-in 15:00 to 19:00; check-out by 12:00
- Children of all ages welcome
- Not available: Pets
- Not available: Smoking
In the Dão Countryside near Tondela
Quintinha Silvestre sits at Rua da Quintinha in Couço-Mouraz, a quiet rural hamlet about four kilometres, roughly ten minutes by car, from the centre of Tondela in the Viseu district of central Portugal. This is open farming country in the Beira Alta: pine-clad hills, orchards and vineyards, with the farm tucked down country lanes rather than on a main road. Guests rate the setting highly for its peace, the walking and the natural surroundings.
The setting puts two of central Portugal's draws within easy reach. The farm sits in the Dão wine region, one of the country's oldest demarcated appellations and the home of the Touriga Nacional grape, where estates around Tondela and Viseu offer tours and tastings. To the west rises the Serra do Caramulo, a granite range of river beaches, waterfalls and viewpoints crowned by the 1,075 m Caramulinho, with the well-regarded Caramulo Museum and its vintage-car and art collections at its heart. Closer to home, the Michelin Bib Gourmand kitchen at 3 Pipos is about 3 km away.
A car is the easy way to explore, and parking is free on site. Most visitors fly into Porto (about an hour and three-quarters by road) or Lisbon (around two and a half to three hours) and drive in via Viseu; the nearest railway station is Carregal do Sal, about seven miles away, with a short taxi or pick-up for the last stretch. For more options around the country, browse our other stays in Portugal.
- Restaurant 3 Pipos: About 3 km · 10 minutes by car. A Michelin Bib Gourmand kitchen known for octopus à lagareiro and regional Dão cooking.
- Tondela town centre: About 4 km · 10 minutes by car. A market town with cafés, shops and restaurants for an easy evening out.
- Quinta da Insiua: 3.2 mi · about 10 minutes by car. A country estate on the road toward the Dão's historic wine houses and gardens.
- Solar dos Almiros: 4.3 mi · short drive. A regional manor house set in the rolling Tondela parish countryside.
- Estação de Arte Rupestre de Alagoa: 8 mi · about 20 minutes by car. A prehistoric rock-art site with hundreds of engravings cut into the shale.
- Serra do Caramulo & Caramulo Museum: About 11 mi · 25 minutes by car. Mountain parkland with the Caramulinho peak at 1,075 m and a museum of vintage cars and art.
- Viseu Airport (VSE): 23 mi · about 40 minutes. A general-aviation airfield; most visitors fly into Porto or Lisbon and drive.
Getting to Key Locations
Photo: Vitor Oliveira from Torres Vedras, PORTUGAL, CC BY-SA 2.0
Serra do Caramulo
Twenty-five minutes west, the granite Serra do Caramulo rises into walking country of river beaches, waterfalls and panoramic viewpoints, topped by the Caramulinho at 1,075 m. The mountain village of Caramulo is home to the well-regarded Caramulo Museum, which pairs an exceptional collection of working vintage cars with art ranging from antiquity to Picasso. Go for the viewpoints at Cabeço da Neve and a slow lunch on the way back.
View on Map
Photo: nborges (Flickr), CC BY 2.0
Dão Wine Region
The farm sits inside the Dão, demarcated in 1908 and one of Portugal's oldest wine regions, famous for elegant Touriga Nacional reds and Encruzado whites grown on granite soils between the Caramulo, Buçaco and Estrela ranges. Estates around Tondela and Viseu open their cellars for tours and tastings, and many pair the wine with regional cheese and cooking. It is an easy, scenic half-day from the door.
View on Map
Photo: Vitor Oliveira from Torres Vedras, PORTUGAL, CC BY-SA 2.0
Tondela
Ten minutes down the lane, the market town of Tondela sits in pine-clad hills by the River Dão, a relaxed place for a coffee, a meal or a wander between the shops and squares. It makes the practical other half of a stay on the farm: somewhere to pick up supplies, eat out in the evening and get a feel for everyday central Portugal. The town's cultural centre and weekly market are worth timing a visit around.
View on MapHow to Get to Quintinha Silvestre from Porto and Lisbon
- From Porto Airport by car: Porto Airport (OPO) is the most convenient gateway, around an hour and three-quarters by car. Take the A1 and then the A25 toward Viseu, then drop south on the IP3 toward Tondela. A hire car, taxi or ride is the simplest way to the door.
- From Lisbon Airport by car: From Lisbon (LIS), allow roughly two and a half to three hours, heading north on the A1 and then the A25 by way of Viseu before turning down toward Tondela.
- By train to Carregal do Sal: The nearest railway station is Carregal do Sal, about seven miles away on the Beira Alta line, reached from Coimbra or Guarda. From the station it is a short taxi or pick-up to the farm; arrange the last leg in advance.
- The final approach: The last stretch runs along quiet country lanes around Couço-Mouraz. Follow the Quintinha Silvestre signs for the final turns rather than relying on satnav alone, which can lose the track near the hamlet, and check in within the 15:00 to 19:00 window.
Tondela, the Dão & the Serra do Caramulo
Tondela sits in the pine-clad hills of the Beira Alta by the River Dão, a relaxed market town that makes a calm, well-placed base for central Portugal. It is the gateway to the Dão, established in 1908 as the country's first demarcated region for still wines and the heartland of the Touriga Nacional grape, whose elegant reds and crisp Encruzado whites come from granite soils ringed by mountains. Estates around the town open for tours and tastings, often paired with regional cheese and slow, hearty cooking.
To the west, the Serra do Caramulo rises into a landscape of river beaches, waterfalls and viewpoints, with the Caramulinho at 1,075 m and the Cabeço da Neve lookout, plus the surprising Caramulo Museum and its vintage cars. Late spring to early autumn is the sweet spot, green and warm with the pool open, while September brings the energy of the Dão harvest. First-time tip: hire a car, book a table at 3 Pipos ahead, and save an afternoon for a winery and the mountain road.
Is Quintinha Silvestre worth it?
Yes, if a quiet rural escape is what you are after: a family-run 4-star farm a few minutes from Tondela, with bright countryside-view rooms, a salt-water pool, a small working farm and a breakfast cooked to order. Guests review it warmly, with cleanliness its strongest suit, and the breakfast, the welcome and the setting are what they remember. Look elsewhere if you need to pay by card, want a restaurant or spa on site, or are visiting in winter when the pool is closed.
What Guests Say About Quintinha Silvestre
Scores and review counts are aggregated from verified guest bookings on major travel platforms.
Superb
Guests describe a serene, beautifully kept rural farm where the family hosts look after them and the breakfast, cooked to order with warm dishes and special diets handled, is a repeated highlight. The cleanliness, the salt-water pool and the friendly farm animals draw warm praise, and couples and families rate it a genuine hidden gem for the price. The few honest notes are firm mattresses or pillows for some, no restaurant on site and a rural setting that needs a car.
A really peaceful spot, and the team could not have been kinder or more helpful. Each room has its own design, and the breakfast had loads of choice, with hot options made fresh to order.
Anders
A really peaceful spot, and the team could not have been kinder or more helpful. Each room has its own design, and the breakfast had loads of choice, with hot options made fresh to order.
2026-06-05A spacious room and a great breakfast in a relaxed rural setting. Just what we wanted for a quiet few days.
2026-05-14Calm, great value, and the restored stonework is lovely to look at. The buffet spread at breakfast was first-rate and quietly sorted a gluten-free request, and while the farm feels tucked away, the pretty town nearby is only a short hop. Our mattress was on the firm side.
2026-03-10A return visit, and every bit as good. Spotless throughout, a brilliant pool, owners who genuinely look after you, and the ideal base for getting under the skin of rural Portugal.
2025-09-05A very pleasant stay with extremely kind, helpful staff, excellent cleanliness and a comfortable, roomy space. The natural surroundings were lovely, and the animals in the nearby yard were a special highlight.
2026-03-20Perfect for a family weekend. Everything was spotless and the farm is in a really calm area, great for going with children, and there is a lovely pool. Only the pillows were a touch firm for us.
2025-05-25Good to Know Before You Book
Payment is cash only
The farm takes payment in cash, so bring enough for any on-site charges and plan accordingly. Cots are free for the under-threes, while extra beds for children are available and paid during your stay.
The pool is salt-water and seasonal
The outdoor pool is salt-treated rather than chlorinated and opens across the warmer months, roughly from the start of spring to late October. Outside that season it is closed, but the walking, the wineries and the mountain viewpoints are at their quietest and the rooms are heated for cooler nights.
Breakfast yes, dinner out
Breakfast is cooked to order each morning, but there is no restaurant on site for dinner. Tondela is about ten minutes away for an evening meal, and the Michelin Bib Gourmand kitchen at 3 Pipos is roughly 3 km from the farm; it is worth booking a table ahead.
Rural setting, so bring a car
Set down country lanes in Couço-Mouraz, the farm is best reached by car, with free private parking on site. Follow the property's signs for the final approach rather than satnav alone, and check in within the 15:00 to 19:00 window, mentioning a later arrival when you book.
Photos of Quintinha Silvestre
Frequently Asked Questions
The farm is at Rua da Quintinha in Couço-Mouraz, postcode 3460-330, a rural hamlet about four kilometres, roughly ten minutes by car, from the centre of Tondela in central Portugal. Most visitors fly into Porto (about an hour and three-quarters by road) or Lisbon (around two and a half to three hours) and drive in via Viseu. The nearest railway station is Carregal do Sal, about seven miles away, with a short taxi or pick-up for the last stretch. A car is strongly recommended, and parking is free on site.
The exact nightly rate depends on your room type, dates and season, and the current price is shown before you confirm. Choose from the Budget Double, Classic Triple, Family Suite or Suite with Pool View. Payment is by cash only, so plan for any on-site charges before you arrive.
Yes. There is a salt-treated outdoor pool on the lawn with loungers and umbrellas, open across the warmer months, roughly from the start of spring to late October. It is closed in winter, when the walking, wineries and mountain viewpoints come into their own.
Breakfast is a generous continental spread cooked to order each morning, with fresh pastries, a home-baked cake, fruit, cheese and cold cuts, and warm dishes prepared to your taste; special diets, gluten-free included, are happily handled. There is no restaurant on site for dinner, but Tondela is about ten minutes away and the Michelin Bib Gourmand kitchen at 3 Pipos is roughly 3 km from the farm.
Yes. A small working farm sits beyond the garden, where a long-eared donkey, goats and spring lambs come to the fence and children can help feed them a carrot. There is also an outdoor play area with a trampoline, family rooms and suites, and cots and extra beds on request, which is why families rate it so highly.
Pets are not allowed at the farm, and smoking is not permitted indoors. Children of all ages are welcome, with cots free for the under-threes and extra beds available for a small nightly charge.
The farm sits inside the Dão wine region, with estates around Tondela and Viseu open for tours and tastings on the doorstep. The Serra do Caramulo, with its viewpoints, the 1,075 m Caramulinho and the Caramulo Museum, is about eleven miles to the west, roughly twenty-five minutes by car.
Check-in is from 15:00 to 19:00 and check-out is by 12:00. If you expect to arrive later than 19:00, mention it when you book so the hosts can arrange to meet you, as the farm is reached by quiet country lanes.
Cancellation and prepayment terms vary by the room and rate you choose, and the exact policy is shown before you confirm. Some rates allow free cancellation up to a set date while others ask for a deposit or prepayment, so check the conditions for your chosen option. As payment at the farm is by cash, have that ready for any balance on arrival.
Other Great Stays in Portugal
More Stays in Portugal
Browse our other Portuguese hotels and guides when you are planning a wider trip beyond Tondela and the Dão.
Ready to Book Quintinha Silvestre?
A family-run 4-star rural farm a few minutes from Tondela, with bright countryside-view rooms, a salt-water seasonal pool, a breakfast cooked to order and a small working farm with a donkey, goats and lambs. On the doorstep of the Dão wine region and the Serra do Caramulo, with free private parking.
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