Castelo do Bode is still relatively undiscovered but the it is gaining more and more attention. The last few years have seen some good investments to make the lake more accessible for tourism and to cater better to the needs and requests of the modern tourist. You will still find many remote and private spots if you search in the little streets going down to the lake from the surrounding mountains. You will also find some campings, guest houses and private houses to stay.

The lake starts roughly 130km north of Lisbon at a small town called Martinchel and in Martinchel is the main lake Hotel Segredos de Vale Manso. The hotel has a nice restaurant, fantastic views from every room and the possibility for many activities in the hotel, on and around the lake.
It’s also situated close to the Aldeia do Mato beach, a cultured beach with bar and appartements.

40 km above Martinchel you’ll find Vila do Rei a town made for a mountain getaway, walking and hiking with access to another 4 quite famous beaches. Vila do Rei is also known for it’s culinary traditions fish soup, bucho recheado, typical honey cakes and rice pudding (doce aroz).
Vila do Rei is also the home to the most central point in Portugal where you’ll find the Geodesic museum.

Vila do Rei, beaches and monuments

Vila do Rei’s most famous beaches are Penedo Furado, Pego das Cancelas  and Fernandaires

From Vila do Rei you can travel across the lake by bridge to the town of Ferreira do Zezere, one off the nicest places we found here for accomodation is the lovely Lago Azul resort – blue lagoon resort and close to it the nice little town of Dornes which has some very nice monuments and a very large swimming beach.

Ferreira do Zezere / Dornes beaches

Castelo do Bode’s most famous town is Tomar, roughly 20km south of Ferreira do Zezere. Tomar is mostly visited for it’s Unesco world heritage site The convent of the order of christ but other than that Tomar has many great monuments, a beautiful medieval centre and lot’s of interesting restaurants, local foods and wines that make it worth a visit and a very nice town to take a cultural break from the waters and beaches of the castelo do Bode lake. Read more about Tomar in our article from 2013

The Castelo do Bode lake is an undiscovered paradise for holidays and vacations, giving the possibility for water sports, swimming and fishing. Relaxing and discovering the surrounding nature and cultural visits to the surrounding towns of the which the most famous is Tomar.

The Castelo do Bode water is classified as the cleanest water of Portugal and the temperature of the water comes close to warmest which makes a nice alternative to the cold waters of Portugals mountain spring and the Atlantic ocean coastline just 80 km away.

The lake is surrounded by splendid beaches some cultivated others natural, some on which you will find yourself alone to enjoy the perfect surrounding views and swim in it’s safe waters.