To live in Porto is great but diversity also promotes creativity 🙂 Further, it would also be a sin to live in Portugal and not to visit nearby places. That is why I described below some of my favorite places around Porto. I guarantee you will not get bored – from picturesque vineyards you will travel to beautiful beaches and historic cities or small villages. You will also discover the only national park in Portugal. I hope you visit as much as possible, but do not forget to come back to Porto 🙂
- The Douro Valley – The famous vineyard valley with the main towns Pinhão and Peso da Régua. There is also the scenic Douro railway line running close to the river. We have been to this accommodation in Mesão Frio and we just loved it.
- reachable by the car in around 1.5 hours or by the train in around 2.5 hours
- Póvoa de Varzim – It is a sub-region of Greater Porto sitting in a sandy coastal plain with nice beaches, restaurants and nightlife.
- reachable by the car in around 30 minutes or by the metro in around 1 hour
- Praia de Ofir – A beach surrounded by dunes and pine trees offers good conditions for surfing as it is famous for a strong wind and waves.
- reachable by the car in around 45 minutes
- Viana do Castelo – Viana do Castelo is one of the most beautiful cities of northern Portugal. It is known for its privileged geographical location next to the sea and the mouth of the Lima River. The best view over the city and the breathtaking water scenery is from the sanctuary Monte da Santa Luzia.
- reachable by the car in around 1 hour
- Braga – A nearby city considered as a next potential “hype city” after Lisbon and Porto. Braga is a capital of the cultural and historical Minho Province. Nearby, there is a sanctuary Bom Jesus do Monte definitely worth visiting.
- reachable by the car or by the train in around 1 hour
- Guimarães – Guimarães has a significant historical importance due to the role it played in the foundation of Portugal. The city is often referred to as the “birthplace of Portugal” because Portugal’s first King, Afonso Henriques, was born there.
- reachable by the car or by the train in around 1 hour.
- Aveiro – Aveiro is the so called “Venice of Portugal” for its canals that cross the center of the city. The traditional pastries made of egg yolk and sugar Ovos Moles come from Aveiro. Do not forget to visit the beach Praia da Costa Nova with the traditional striped colorful houses used in the past by the fishermen to store their fishing nets.
- reachable by the car or by the train in around 1 hour.
- Espinho – Espinho is located in the Greater Porto and it is known for its beaches and legal gambling with a casino.
- reachable by the car in around 30 minutes.
- Capela do Senhor da Pedra – A picturesque chapel located in Vila Nova da Gaia on the beach Praia da Miramar. It is sometimes a place for catholic wedding ceremonies.
- reachable by the car in around 20 minutes.
- Amarante – It is a small city located by the Tâmega river dominated by the church, monastery and a medieval bridge. There is a famous water park nearby.
- reachable by the car in around 1 hour.
- Fátima – Fátima is one of the most famous pilgrimage cities in Europe receiving between 6 and 8 millions pilgrims yearly. It is famous for the apparitions of Our Lady of Fátima purportedly witnessed by the three local shepherd children Lúcia, Fracisco and Jacinta.
- reachable by the car in around 2 hours.
- Parque nacional de Peneda-Gerês – Gerês is a national park located in northern Portugal. At the same time it is the only Portugal’s national park. Everything about Gerês can be found at this website (only available in Portuguese).
- reachable by the car in around 1.5 hours.
- Figueira da Foz – It is a seaside resort with the Europe’s widest urban beach, long waterfront promenade and a casino.
- reachable by the car in around 1.5 hours.
- Coimbra – Coimbra is a city crossed by the Mondego river , with narrow streets, patios, stairs and medieval arches. The city was the birthplace the first University of Portugal, being one of the oldest in Europe.
- reachable by the car or by the train in around 1.5 hours.
- Camino de Santiago – Camino de Santiago is a network of pilgrims’ ways or pilgrimages leading to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain, where tradition holds that the remains of the apostle Saint James the Great are buried. You can walk around Porto’s ways where the network continues towards Spain.
- reachable only on foot 🙂
- Ponte de Lima – Ponte de Lima is one of the most charming cities of northern Portugal. It is also one of the oldest towns in Portugal. Ponte de Lima is also the center for Vinho Verde wine production, a refreshing, fizzy wine fermented from freshly harvested grapes.
- reachable by the car in around 1 hour.
