Explore
The historic town of Guimarães has a delightful centre with old houses and cobbled streets and several monuments recognised by UNESCO. The first king of Portugal was born here and it is regarded as the birthplace of Portugal, making it ideal for exploring the country’s architectural origins.
Braga has Portugal’s oldest cathedral and many Gothic churches. However, there are is also a maze of narrow streets and charming squares to explore and excellent shopping centres which offer an amazing selection of goods.
The Beaches
The nearest seaside resorts are Povoa de Varzim which is great for families with its golden sands, clear waters and good tourist facilities and Vila do Conde, a quieter, more characterful resort which also has beautiful sandy beaches. Both have plenty of excellent restaurants, many specialising in seafood. The best surf beach is Aguçadoura beach 6km north of Povoa de Varzim.
Porto
With unique shopping districts such as Rua Santa Catarina where you can buy home made sweets and locally made cheeses, to the fortress-like cathedral, narrow lanes to explore down by the river and the 20,000 tiles that line the entrance hall to the railway station, you will find Porto fascinating and full of surprises. A walk across the lower deck of the Eiffel bridge crossing the river will give you a great view of the town and along the Douro and will lead to the area of Vila Nova de Gaia, which is known for its Port houses.
