Central Portugal Stop

Porto seems the obvious choice, but if you prefer remote and will have a car, I guess that's not so obvious after all. Perhaps during your two weeks in the Douro Valley you can venture into Porto for a day or two.

There are many great options in central Portugal. I loved Tomar and Coimbra. I stayed one night in Tomar and did Coimbra as a day trip from Porto. But distances are small, so if you stay anywhere in the middle of the country, you can hit a lot of great towns and villages and countryside with day trips.

Thanks - we will do Porto and Braga from the Douro Valley. Was thinking Coimbra or Figueira da Roz (would prefer to be on the coast or easy access to the coast if possible).

I stayed a week in Sao Martinho do Porto before moving here and enjoyed it as a central base. It’s fairly small and not on the international tourist track. But, it has a number of nice restaurants, is on a quiet horseshoe bay and is close to several other smallish towns. From there we visited Alcobaça, Batalha, Nazaré, Óbidos, Peniche, Foz and Caldas da Rainha. Coimbra was a bit far and I was unaware of Tomar at the time but it might have been doable, too.

Thanks Kathryn - we have booked at São Martinho do Porto - looks like a great spot!

Good to hear. Enjoy.