Dona Emilia Guest House & Studio Apartments

We’ve stayed at Dona Emília Guesthouse and the Lima Studios 5 times. The hosts Sofia and Rami are warm and welcoming to visitors and Caminho de Santiago Pilgrims. All guests are made to feel like a part of the family. The guesthouse is in a historically refurbished building in the heart of the historic district of Viana do Castelo on the Praça da República. The building is old, but spectacular. The original grand wooden staircase is magnificent. A skylight over the stairwell gives Dona Emília a light and airy atmosphere. The creaky floors add character. Each room has its own personality with tasteful mid-century modern decor. Some rooms face the Praça and others face Santuário de Santa Luzia - Sanctuary of Santa Luzia. The 3 suites have private ensuite bathrooms. The three rooms have private bathrooms but not in the rooms. Two of the rooms have a balcony. There is no central heating or air conditioning, but each room have individual electric heat, heated bed warmers and a fan. All of the beds and pillows are very comfortable. There is a shared fully equipped kitchen with an exceptional pod coffee maker. The machine can even froth milk for a latte or cappuccino. There is a large living room and cozy reading room off from the kitchen. Both have large glass windows that overlook the Praça. In the summer, you can open the window and experience the sights and sounds of everything going on in the Praça da República. For breakfast, each room has a designated drawer in the kitchen with artisan bread, granola, fruit and a designated space in one of the refrigerators with cheese, yogurt, oat milk, regular milk and preserves. There is also a designated space if you want to store your own food for cooking. The Lima Studios are also in the historic district. All the studios are like apartments except for the zen room which is good for a single traveler. The interior is modern and comfortable. These rooms are good for longer stays. Both are wonderful locations, but our preference is the guesthouse when there is availability.

Genuinely fabulous guesthouse, right in the heart of this beautiful medieval town. Stunning building with soaring ceilings and everything any guest could ever need - and more! Sofia (the co-owner) could not have been more helpful and welcoming. Our favourite place in North Portugal so far. Thoroughly recommend..

Dona Emilia has its special flavor. It is clean, the rooms are spacious and the employees are very courteous. They make you feel like royalty. The art-deco touch makes it more special and if you’re lucky, you’ll have a room facing the plaza and the fountain in Viana. Lively, musical and magical.

Amazing b&b with attentive hosts in a great location . If you want a hidden gem then this is the place where your made to feel at home. The vibe is relaxed and the kitchen is great to cook good and relax

Stayed here completely by random and what a surprise. One of the best places I’ve stayed in a while. The owner is as friendly and nice as they come. The decor of the place is amazing, the views from common area as well. Next time I’m in Viana I’m staying here for sure.

Dona Emilia guesthouse was the first place we stayed at on our week long tour of Minho and it was probably the best experience we had. The location is right in the historic center and perfect for sightseeing. The Traje Suite where we stayed was rather a Junior one but well laid out although the bathroom was tiny. One of the unique feature is the breakfast offering: it is self-service but individually prepared for each room. The ingredients are top quality. The only drawback is that the nearest parking is a 5 minute walk from the property. Other than that a perfect place to stay.

This is a great place to stay in Viana do Castelo! The hosts were great Sophia and Rami were very helpful and considerate. I wish I would have stayed longer! Directly in the historic center and walkable to many shops, restaurants and the waterfront! Can’t wait to return!

Beautiful place in a great location. Wonderful

The name had appeared in many guides already and rightful so. It honours one of the previous inhabitants - a gorgeous lady smiling at you when you walk up the stairs. The core of the succes of this guesthouse lies with the friendly and caring people who run this place. Of course the location is top and stunning. And so is the house being flooded with light and with an abundance of space. There is a kitchen which (almost) has more utensils and herbs than mine. This is truly a home away from home. Where can you still get freshly ground coffee - normal and decaf - with a kettle and french press in your room? Accompanied by delicious cookies. You don’t like a french press? Use the espresso machine in the kitchen. Still not happy? Go for a capsule cup. (Tea provided as well of course) Breakfast comes with some work. Your shelf in the fridge is filled with goodies. Same with your kitchen-drawer. Take your healthy ingredients and enjoy them (almost) wherever you want The kitchen is of course available to cook your own dinner if you would feel like a night in. We enjoyed the luxury of our own terrace with a view on the historical square. Drawbacks? The seagulls are enthusiastically noisy. You might also bump into other nice travellers and strike up a conversation - which if you don’t like this means you can always sink in the sofa back in the airy space of your own room. Enjoy!