2 Best Sights in Northern Portugal, Portugal

Extending along 16 km (10 miles) of the coastline north and south of Esposende is the Parque Natural do Litoral Norte, an important haven for birds and plant life. As well as dune habitats through which you can wander on boardwalks, it includes the river beaches of the Cávado estuary and pine and oak forest. Guided visits of up to 10 people can be arranged, but for those who prefer solo exploration, the trails are clearly marked. Depending on which part of the park you are headed for, Autoviação do Minho buses can take you to Fão (for Ofir) and Apúlia, farther south.

This part of the coastline is where you'll find the Mindelo Ornithological Reserve, which became Portugal's first protected area in 1957. One of the few remaining swaths of undeveloped land in the region around Porto, it has 1,500 acres of dunes, fields, and wetlands. It's home to more than 80 bird species and is an important haven for amphibians. The reserve is a 20-minute drive from Vila do Conde; you can also take the metro to Varziela or Espaço Natureza, from where it's a 15-minute walk to the marked trails—or to the boardwalk along the dunes.