If you’re in Porto and you’ve enjoyed all the things the city has to offer, but you’re looking for an experience where you can be in touch with nature… We’ve got it covered for you! Here’s a list of 5 places you must road trip to this Summer.
Note: you can catch a train either at S. Bento or Campanhã station to get to the locations mentioned, or rent a car from companies like Turisrent Rent A Car, on 275 Rua de Santa Catarina.
Rio Bestança in Cinfães
Where: Cinfães
How to get there: 1:30 hour trip by car
A lot of green and a lot of water – that’s what you can expect when you visit Rio Bestança. If you’re a waterfall lover, you’ll be delighted with an almost 15km river extension, where you can swim as much as you want in those pure waters. Once you get to Cinfães, you just follow the road until you get to the river (Rio Bestança), and from there you can choose wherever you’d like to drop your stuff and dive into the water.
ALSO: Book A Full-Day Paiva River Walkaways Tour From Porto (70€/person)
Arcos de Valvedez
Photo by: ruivalesousa/123RF
Where: Arcos de Valvedez (Viana do Castelo)
How to get there: 1 hour long car trip, or take the train and then bus, which will take you about 4:30 hours.
Way up North of Porto, you’ll find a nice little village called Arcos de Valvedez. This small town, full of history and natural landscapes is sure to get your curiosity ringing, and you’ll wish you could explore all the hidden places around it. With natural hiking trails, and religious monuments, this is the village in which, supposedly, Portugal was created. And what’s a better way to get to know a country than road trip to the place where it was born?
ALSO: Book A Tour To The Geres National Park From Porto (108€/person)
Caminhos de Tongobriga in Marco de Canaveses
Where: Marco de Canaveses
How to get there: 1h train or car trip
Marco de Canaveses is one of the North’s gems. With a lovely village center, and surrounded by lots of places where you can have a blast, we can suggest some of its best locations for you to go to while you’re in town.
Caminhos de Tongobriga will take you around many historical points, among which the old ruins of the Roman city of Tongobriga. You’ll also be astonished by the many traditional buildings so typical in Portuguese rural areas, so much so that the 8km that make this trail will be the easiest you ever walked.
And since you’re in town, be sure to visit Montedeiras and Torre de Nevões for more nature landscapes, old buildings, and a lot of walking trails.
Mondim de Basto in Vila Real
Photo by: vector99/123RF
Where: Mondim de Basto
How to get there: 1:30 hour by car, or 2h train trip that will take you to Vila Real.
Mondim de Basto is a village with so much to offer, you’ll regret not visiting it. You can hike to Santuário Nossa Senhora da Graça, which was built at a 1000 meters altitude, go swimming at Rio Tâmega, or visit Fisgas de Ermelo trails with many secret waterfalls. There are lots of adventures that’ll make you want to road trip to Vila Real right away.
ALSO: Book A Full-Day Tour To Vila Real & Amarante (130€/person)
Praia Fluvial da Mámoa in Milheirós de Poiares
Where: R. Casa da Mâmoa 71
How to get there: 45 minutes by car
Why is this a great place for you to spend a hot Summer day? This river beach has everything you need to enjoy your day without worries. With lifesavers, bars, and toilets, you’re free to pack your things and head to Milheirós de Poiares anytime you want. Clean water, designed zones where you can swim, jump, or just get a tan, this is the perfect location for you to chill out.
So, have we convinced you with these locations? Where will you road trip to this Summer? Let us know in the comment section!
