Luso Overview

By Christopher Minster

Luso is a small, pleasant, traditional town that would be completely unremarkable if not for two things: first of all, it is home to some hot springs which have now been converted into a very fine spa, and its proximity to the magnificent Palace and forest of Buçaco.

Luso itself is a typical small Portuguese town with the usual assortment of bakeries, shops and even a small produce market (don’t pick up the fruit and vegetables! It’s considered rude). Because of the nearby spa and palace and forest, there are more tourist facilities than usual: hotels, restaurants, etc. Luso is a bit isolated, and if you’re driving, can even be a little bit difficult to find (although it is easy to navigate once you’re there).

Luso is about an hour to the northeast of Coimbra, so it is possible to day trip from one to the other. There is good local wine produced in the area: if you walk into any shop in town, ask a local to suggest a good bottle for you. Luso is also known for a bottled water plant: Luso brand water is consumed all over Portugal.