There are many reasons to visit the small town of A Ver-o-Mar near Povoa de Varzim. There's a great…read morerestaurant with fantastic views, friendly locals and a breathtaking boardwalk. And then there's this beach. Even on a weekend in full summer you will find the beach quite empty. Lots of great spots for sunbathing still available. Bring your own gear, since there are no places to rent any chairs and umbrellas. And that's a good thing. It's a very local beach, with people relaxing. Everybody's having a good time and everybody's pretty quiet. Dogs officially not allowed, but many locals brought their pet anyways, which was fun. The beach is very nice, small dunes in the back. And it's a really clean beach, both the sand and the (cold) water. Parking along the road right behind the beach is plenty and free (there's more free spaces at the restaurant), but they fill up fast, since many come for biking and walking along the ocean as well. A great beach. Charming and relaxing....and with wonderful sunsets. A few words about the amazing boardwalk: In daytime a wonderful walk, but the real charm it shows when it gets dark...or even at full night. That's when we enjoyed having a walk here after dinner. Watch the sunset from the restaurant and then walk along this promenade. It is well built and maintained, well lit at night and has some benches on the way to rest your legs. There are always people around, never feels strange or unsafe, doesn't matter at what time.

We had a great experience with Portuguese Green Walks! They organized our Portuguese Camino and we…read morewere able to thoroughly enjoy our walk. They are very responsive to any questions we had. The hotels and guesthouses were friendly and very clean as well as having great locations. The luggage transfer was seamless. We were able to walk and enjoy our Camino. We will use Portuguese Green Walks to plan any future walks in Portugal.

So impressed! Very…read moreclassy place by the beach, yet surprisingly affordable and great quality. We all ordered moderately-priced sandwiches and they were SO GOOD. The presentation was beautiful, they were good-sized portions, and the ingredients were fresh. The menus were all in Portuguese but the server was patient and explained everything to us and was very patient.

One of the highlights of our visit to Portugal was the afternoon that we spent on our walking tour…read morewith Hugo Vaz. We originally signed up for the tour of the Old Jewish Community, but learned so much more as we walked the streets. Hugo and his associate have advanced degrees and are knowledgeable about the history, industry, and economics of the fascinating country of Portugal. I regret not taking this tour earlier so that I could have visited other sights such as the "Port Wine & Douro Institute". My guide was able to educate me on both topics with equal fluency. My next visit will include a bike tour along the waterfront!

We recently rented bikes and helmets from Fold n Visit, and biked the Camino Portugués from Porto…read more The bikes we rented came with luggage racks, were very well maintained, and performed perfectly for the entire trip to Santiago compostela. Sergio had everything ready to go when we arrived at the shop and was very helpful in giving us tips about the area and biking the camino. We would definitely go with Fold 'n visit again for future trips to Porto.

When I travel, it's important for me to experience the local culture. While visiting a fado house…read morecan feel touristy, the deep history of fado made it a meaningful experience. The performance was simple, yet the passion was felt. The musicians were incredibly talented, and the singer had a deep, soulful voice that captivated the room. My favorite part was hearing the stories they shared about the history of fado. The performance lasted about an hour, the perfect length, though we could have listened all night.

Enjoyed starting our trip to Porto with a glass of port wine and listening to live fado music in a…read morerustic tavern. We enjoyed the brief education about fado in English by the hosts. The guitarists were mind-blowing. Highly recommend for the laid-back experience!

This is a cool afternoon hang out. They have a small outdoors pool! and a room inside with a DJ. So…read moreyou can just go hang out at the pool, which is surrounded by fresh bright green grass, have a drink at the outdoor bar, or go shake what your mama gave you on the dance floor. This is a very small, local place in the middle of nowhere. It is a little funny to get here, because it is kind of hidden and there are no buildings around. so you have a very calm venue, with a beautiful view, and you can still have fun with the locals. People here are easy to talk to and a lot speak a little English. Fun!

Great little local shop with a variety of goods and gifts, many made by the owner's family or that…read morecome with the story behind the item. The owner was very sweet and as a local, even offered us his own list of best places to check out in Porto. He has a friend who designs socks that are unique and colorful also. Many fun little finds and a personable touch. Owner speaks Spanish and English.

My friends (3 of us) and I visited Porto last May and decided to do a cooking class for our last…read moreday. We met up with our tour guide Nuno at Mercado do Bolhao where we purchased a few ingredients. He was very friendly and knowledgable about the market's history. He made us feel welcomed and we also learned so much from him, like the origins of tea and tempura (I always thought this originated in Japan). After the market we took a short train ride to Vila Nova de Gaia where the cooking class was located. We were greeted by our other host Joseph who also welcomed us , was friendly, and knowledgable. We learned how to make three authentic dishes and both our hosts really explained the process well and answered all our questions. The food, wine, and appetizers were delicious. The best part was that our hosts Nuno and Joseph made us feel at home and welcomed. This was such a wonderful and memorable experience. I highly recommend doing this tour because this is a great way to learn about some of the history or Porto and experience the warm hospitality of this beautiful city.

Anna was a sensational host and was so welcoming and enjoyable. We all had a wonderful time.read more