Almeida

Understand

Almeida (/ɐlˈmɐjðɐ/, ahl-MAY-thuh) municipality has over 7,200 people (2011), while the town itself has about 1,300. The town of Vilar Formoso within the municipality serves as a major border crossing, across from Fuentes de Oñoro, Spain. As a result of the Schengen Agreement, the border is open.

Getting there

Almeida and Vilar Formoso are on the A25 motorway (Autoestrada das Beiras Litoral e Alta).

1 Vilar Formoso Railway Station (Estação Ferroviária de Vilar Formoso). PDF timetable. There are two regional trains daily from Guarda. Before the pandemic, there was daily international service through Vilar Formoso from Lisbon, Coimbra, Madrid, and Irun/Hendaye (on the Spain–France border) on the Sud Expresso and Lusitânia Comboio Hotel trains. (updated Jun 2021)

See

1 Vilar Formoso Fronteira da Paz (Border of Peace), Largo da Estação, Vilar Formoso, ☏ +351 271 149 459. Tu–F 09:00–12:30 & 14:00–17:30, Sa Su 10:00–12:30 & 14:00–17:30, closed M. A memorial to refugees and to Aristides de Sousa Mendes, a Portuguese diplomat who issued visas to help Jewish people escape the Nazi regime. Many crossed into Portugal at Vilar Formoso. (updated Jun 2021)

Eat

1 O Requinte do Além, Largo Manuel Fernandes Monteiro, ☏ +351 271 511 122. M–F 08:00–20:00. Casual place to grab some quick small plates. Budget. (updated Jun 2021) 2 Chalé Suisse, N332, Vilar Formoso, ☏ +351 271 512 648. Daily 07:00–23:30. Simple food served efficiently. Mid-range. (updated Jun 2021) 3 O Caçador, Largo do Olmo, Malpartida, ☏ +351 271 574 344, [email protected]. Good food with friendly service. (updated Jun 2021)

Sleep

1 Hotel Parador de Almeida (Hotel Fortaleza de Almeida, formerly Pousada de Almeida - Senhora das Neves), Rua Fornos, ☏ +351 271 574 283, +351 271 574 290, [email protected]. This hotel reveals, in spite of its modern atmosphere and spacious rooms, the historical and cultural grandiosity of the village of Almeida, now a classified National Heritage. €71-111. 2 Hotel Lusitano, Rua Dr. José Augusto Limão Andrade 12, Vilar Formoso, ☏ +351 271 513 503. Check-in: 13:00, check-out: 12:00. Three-star, 34-room hotel just over from the Spanish border. Bar, free parking, free Wi-Fi, pets allowed at no extra charge. €46-54. (updated Jun 2021) 3 O Revelim, Rua dos Combatentes Mortos Pela Pátria 42, ☏ +351 271 571 063. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 11:00. Quaint rustic charm. (updated Jun 2021)