Most people ask us when to visit Yuna. Almost nobody asks about winter. Which is a shame, because winter here might be our best-kept secret.
First, the honest answer to the question everyone has: yes, it’s mild. Winter days in Viana do Castelo usually sit between 8 and 15 degrees. It rains sometimes, this is the green part of Portugal for a reason, but between the showers you get crisp, clear days with light that photographers dream about.
You can hear the ocean from the sofa
In winter the Atlantic gets loud. From inside the house you hear the waves rolling in, and on big days you can see the white foam breaking from the living room. Both houses are brand new, A-rated and properly insulated, warm, dry and comfortable, whatever the weather does outside. Storm watching from behind the big windows, warm inside with a book and a coffee, has become one of our favourite things to do here. It’s the opposite of a packed holiday itinerary. That’s the point.
The sunset moves to our terrace
Here’s something we only discovered after our first winter at Yuna: in the colder months, the sun sets directly in front of the terrace. Straight ahead, over the Atlantic, filling the whole sky. We’ve stood there with a blanket and a glass of wine more evenings than we can count.
Viana is no ghost town
Some coastal places shut down after summer. Viana doesn’t. It was never built around tourism, people simply live here, all year round. The restaurants, cafés and shops stay open, and in December the city puts on its light shows. Porto and its Christmas markets are just 40 minutes away for a proper festive day out.
Autumn and winter belong to the surfers
Surfers know this already: this is when the swell arrives. Cabedelo works year-round, and the beach clubs stay open through winter, for a drink after your session or to rent boards and wetsuits. On a good day you’ll share the water with a handful of locals instead of a summer crowd.
Mountain bike season starts now
Once the summer heat fades, the trails come into their own. Cooler air, green hills, and waterfalls that are actually full again after the dry months. Rent an e-mountain bike and make a day of it.
Warm water under a cold sky
At Yuna Two, winter is Gardentub season. A hot outdoor bath while the evening air is cold and the stars are out, guests who visit in summer love the tub. Guests who visit in winter don’t want to get out.
We built Yuna as a place to slow down. Winter is the season when that happens all by itself.
Practical bits
- Porto Airport is around 40 minutes from Yuna, with flights year-round
- Expect 8–15°C, sunny spells and some rain
- Both houses are new, A-rated and fully insulated — warm and dry all winter
- Beach clubs at Cabedelo are open year-round, including surf rental
- Yuna One and Yuna Two are bookable throughout the low season
