Cheese tastings, cave tours, markets and cheese routes in Dão.
A guide to cheese experiences in Dão.
Annual cheese fair in the town that markets itself as the capital of Serra da Estrela cheese, with a Serra da Estrela sheep show, cheese and wine tastings, cooking workshops, a community lunch and evening concerts. The 47th was held in February 2026.
Annual fair in Seia's municipal market with over 100 exhibitors (shepherds, cheese dairies and local producers), a Quinta do Pastor with Serra da Estrela sheep, a Serra da Estrela dog show, live cooking and short talks; in 2026 one was on Dão white wine pairings. The 49th was held in February 2026.
Shepherd and cheese fair next to the town hall in Penalva do Castelo, with tastings of Serra da Estrela cheese, Penalva Dão wine, broa and Bravo de Esmolfe apples, and choirs and concertina groups. The municipality reported thousands of visitors at the 35th, held in February 2026.
Cheese festival in Oliveira do Hospital's town centre, which the municipality bills as Portugal's largest, with hundreds of exhibitors, cheese and Dão wine tastings, live cheesemaking, sheep shearing and livestock shows. The 2026 festival was held in March.
Cheese market in and around Gouveia's municipal market: live Serra da Estrela cheesemaking by a queijeira, public tastings, a session on requeijão, a sheep and goat fair with a Serra da Estrela dog show, and a cheese and wine pairing workshop and commented tastings of regional aguardentes and olive oils that need pre-registration. The 2026 market was held in March.
Annual fair in Fornos de Algodres' municipal market with a Serra da Estrela sheep competition, public cheese tastings, showcooking, children's workshops, concerts and guided visits to artisan cheese dairies. The 47th was held in March 2026.
Municipal museum in a renovated old building at one of the entrances to Celorico da Beira, in honour of the shepherd and farmer. The municipality says it offers demonstrations of artisan cheesemaking and visits to local cheese producers, all by prior booking. Listings give different street addresses, so confirm the location with the tourist office (271 743 777) first.
Walk or mountain-bike ride on the Sunday of Celorico's Feira do Queijo, with requeijão and cheese tastings along the way: an 11 km walk by the Mondego and a ride whose length changes each year (26 or 44 km in 2026). Places are limited and registration runs through Apedalar.
Turismo Centro's route of 46 operators and more than 50 experiences across the Serra da Estrela, Beira Baixa and Rabaçal DOP cheese regions. Its two-day Serra da Estrela itinerary covers Manteigas and Oliveira do Hospital, with cheesemaking and pastoral life.
After hotel pickup in Coimbra, we take direction to activity start in Viseu. Day dedicated to bicycle touring on an old railway branch that has 130 years of transpor...
Raw milk from Serra da Estrela (Bordaleira) and Churra Mondegueira ewes, curdled with thistle flower (Cynara cardunculus) instead of animal rennet, according to the DOP summary on the Portuguese traditional products site.
The specification gives 8 to 20 cm in diameter, 4 to 6 cm in height and 0.4 to 1.7 kg. Wikipedia in Portuguese gives a weight of 0.7 to 1.5 kg.
The DOP summary says the Romans introduced it, that King Dinis created the first cheese dairy in the municipality of Celorico da Beira in 1287, and that the cheese reached Lisbon and Porto in 1885. The cooperative Estrelacoop calls it the oldest of all Portuguese cheeses.
Portuguese Wikipedia says it should be served in slices, rind included, at under 18 degrees.
At least 120 days, against a 30-day minimum for the standard cheese, per the DOP summary and Estrelacoop.
The paste is semi-hard to extra-hard and orange-brown rather than semi-soft, buttery and white-yellowish, and the flavour is stronger and lightly peppery.
A cheese made by heating the whey left over from Serra da Estrela cheese until its proteins set, according to the DOP summary.
Plain, dissolved in milk or coffee, or with honey or pumpkin preserve, with or without walnuts, hazelnuts or almonds, according to Estrelacoop.