Living room of the boutique guesthouse near Braga, Portugal

Weekend stays · Braga · 40 min from Porto airport

Reconnect with Yourself, Art & Nature

🛏️ 13 hand-painted rooms

✦ Braga · Cultural Capital 2025

🛶 River + pool

⭐ 5.0 · 99 reviews

Reserve a bed →

13

hand-painted rooms

60+

Guest countries

40 min

From Porto airport

15 min

From Braga centre

5.0★

99 verified reviews

The house

A creative house in Braga.

An Art & Wellness focused space — 40 minutes from Porto. 13 uniquely illustrated rooms painted by invited international artists. Two nights, long enough to slow down, eat at our table, swim in the Rio Homem, and sleep inside an inspiring art-decorated room. Open year-round.

What a weekend looks like

Arrive Friday, leave recharged.

Most guests come for two nights and stay three. The rhythm is gentle but full — there’s always something happening at StartArt and you are invited, but not obligated.

Welcome drinks at the long outdoor table at StartArt Residency
Fri
Welcome drink at the long table
Arrive after work, drink, meet whoever’s staying - artists, families, couples on a road trip.
Kayaking on the Rio Cávado near StartArt Residency
Sat AM
Hike & day trip
Practice active resting, take a day trip to Bom Jesus, Gerês, or a kayak on the river
Saturday night community gathering at StartArt
Sat PM
Bonfire & movie night
Pizza, karaoke, or quiz nights, whatever the resident artists organize
Sunday morning at the waterfall near StartArt Residency
Sun
Brunch & a slow goodbye
Take a train to Porto for lunch and back. Stay till the last minute.

What's nearby

Things to do near StartArt

Most of our guests explore Portugal by car. Here's what's within a 60min drive of the property.

15 min

Braga Center

Sé Cathedral, Theatro Circo, the Tuesday market. Fado Night, Wednesdays at Velhos Tempos.

20 min

Bom Jesus do Monte

UNESCO baroque staircase, nature enveloped, panoramic terrace, elevator tour.

40 min

Porto

Ribeira, Lello library, Wine cellars across the Douro. Easy day trip by car or train.

1 hour

Gerês National Park

Portugal's only national park. Waterfalls, forest trails, Roman roads. Borrow our hiking maps.

1.5 hours

Douro Valley

Wine country. Quintas, river cruises, the most scenic train in Europe (Porto-Campanhã).

20 min

Guimarães

Birthplace of Portugal — medieval centre, castle, the cleanest old town in the country.

The space

Every room is Inspiring.

13 rooms, each uniquely illustrated by a different artist who lived here. You don't pick a number — you pick the room that speaks to you.

Malala room — hand-painted bedroom in Northern PortugalFrida Kahlo mural by resident artistsMural in progress at StartArtCommon workspace overlooking the gardenLong table communal dinnerRio Cávado swimming spot 40 min from Porto
Communal long-table dinner at StartArt Residency, Vila Verde

What's included

Real organic and healthy food, real connection, Active rest.

A short stay here isn't transactional. You're stepping into a working creative house for a few nights.

✓  Healthy Breakfast

✓  3 communal vegetarian dinners a week

✓  We can also serve non vegetarian meals (previously agreed)

✓    Free use of common and outdoor areas including pool.

✓  Fast fiber Wi-Fi everywhere

✓  Bonfire & Community Nights

Pricing

Join us for a Weekend at StartArt Residency !

Shared room

2 or 4-bed dorm

from €90

per person · per night

✓ Hand-painted room

✓ Shared bathroom

✓ Breakfast included

✓ All common areas

✓ River + pool access

Reserve shared →

Most booked

Private ensuite

Couple or solo

€240

per room · per night

✓ Hand-painted by an artist

✓ Private bathroom

✓ Breakfast for 2

✓ Quietest part of the house

✓ Garden or river view

Reserve private →
Our Journal

Notes from the house.

All posts →
Story cover

Profile

Every Person Is Born an Artist

The co-founder & CEO of StartArt on jumping from a corporate career — and what he found on the other side.

Alexandre Alves · CEO & Co-Founder, StartArt Residency · Vila Verde, Portugal

Story cover

Profile

The Second Ticket

A yoga teacher from Poland on the residency she keeps returning to — by accident, then by choice. One visit, then a month, now planning a third.

Magdalena · Yoga teacher · Poland

Story cover

Profile

The Writer Who Crossed an Ocean to Find a Page

Sticky notes on a window, first love, and what residencies are actually for. A novelist’s three weeks at StartArt.

Rajinderpal S. Pal · Novelist · Toronto, Canada

Practical

Common questions before booking.

Can’t find yours? marketing@startartresidency.com — we reply.

Where exactly is StartArt? How far from Porto?+
40 minutes by car from Porto airport (OPO), in Vila Verde just outside Braga in Northern Portugal. By public transit: 1h Porto → Braga by bus, then 15-min taxi. We can organise a private pickup for €60.
Do I need to be an artist to come to StartArt?+
No 🌿 At StartArt, we believe we are all born artists — some people simply forget it along the way. You don’t need to be a professional creative to join us. StartArt is for anyone looking to reconnect with creativity, nature, community, and themselves ✨
Can I come with a partner / friend?+
Yes. Couples usually book a private ensuite. Two friends can share a twin room and split the price. Solo travellers often pick the shared room — most evenings someone is around the long table.
Are children welcome?+
Family weekends work well, especially Saturday-Sunday. We have a few rooms with extra beds. Message us first so we can find the right room.
What’s the food like?+
Vegetarian, abundant, seasonal and locally produced food.
Will I be alone with strangers?+
You’ll share the house with whoever else is staying — usually 6–12 people including resident artists. Most guests find this is the best part. Privacy in your room is fully respected.
Is it cheaper to book direct or on Booking.com?+
Always cheaper direct. Booking.com listings (from June 2026) carry a ~15% mark-up to cover platform fees. The Cloudbeds reservation link on this page is our lowest rate, always.
Cancellation policy?+
Free up to 30 days before. Within 7 days the spot can transfer to a friend.

Open year-round

Pick a weekend.
Hit reserve.

Book now using our live calendar or send us a message through WhatsApp if you need anything custom — pickup, dietary, room request.

Reserve a bed →Message on WhatsApp
Rio Cávado swimming spot 40 min from Porto