At Vila do Conde you get the best of both worlds; the fascinating historic old town and a long stretch of beautiful sandy beach. While it is a good 20 minute walk from the town centre to the seafront it is more than worth it, and quite a contrast.
If Vila do Conde has a main beach then it would be Praia Azul. This is a good-sized expanse of west facing beach that runs northwards from a little way north of the Forte de São João. The golden sand here is punctuated by a number of rocky...
Nossa Senhora da Guia Beach is located just north of the mouth of the river Ave in Vila do Conde. This little sandy beach is bordered by the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Guia and the Forte de São João.
Despite its size the beach here is quite popular, partly owing to the fact it is sheltered from the northerly winds.
As is common to this part of the coast, there are quite a few rocky outcrops. At low tide these form rock pools which are always popular with small children. For...
A few miles north of the seaside city of Póvoa de Varzim are the beaches of Rio Alto and Estela. A world away from the casino and high-rise beachfront hotels, the Praia do Rio Alto is backed by extensive dunes and farm land beyond. You won't find much in the way of facilities here, just the beach and the ocean. This open stretch of beach is usually quiet which makes it ideal as one of Northern Portugal's best known naturist beaches. Although it is not an official "nude beach" Rio Alto is...
Located a few kilometres south of Esposende, on the far side of the river Cavado is the long sandy beach of Apúlia. Backed by a low promenade and small village there are plenty of facilities at Apúlia - which is what you would expect of a Blue Flag beach. During the summer season the beach is patrolled by lifeguards making it a good family choice.
Apúlia's most iconic feature are a number of old windmills set in the dunes at the northern end of the beach. These no longer have their...
Just along from the beach of Leça da Palmeira, past the Piscina das Marés tidal swimming pool is another stretch of sand - Praia de Fuzelhas.
Whilst much of the shoreline here is rocky, above the tide line is fine golden sand. When the tide does go out lots of rock pools are revealed making this a good spot for kids, with plenty of exploring to be done.
As a Blue Flag beach there are plenty of facilities and the water quality is good. There are a cafes at each end of the beach...
The beach at Leça da Palmeira is located on the northern edge of the city of Porto, just across the harbour from Matosinhos. It is a similar mix of the industrial, historic and residential.
The beach here is a good sized stretch of fine white sand. However, it is somewhat blighted by the huge stone pier at the southern end which protects the mouth of Leixões, one of Portugal's major sea ports. Beyond this are glimpses of cranes and to the north the tanks of the oil refinery.
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The coastal town of Vila do Conde lies at the mouth of the River Ave around 30 km north of Porto. This is a town with two contrasting characters; there is the modern beach town with its apartment blocks and vilas that merges into...
