Kampaoh Mira

With water on both sides of the site, you’re bound to want to get stuck in. A waterside walk along the banks of the Barrinha de Mira starts just by the site, leading to a birdwatching hide and places to launch watersports kit. In the other direction, Praia de Mira beach (10 minutes’ walk) has soft sands and cool waters to paddle in. If the waves are a bit choppy, you may prefer a dip in the lake at Olhos da Fervença (15 minutes’ drive). Heading north along the coast, you might like to stop in to view the extensive porcelain collection at Museu Vista Alegre (15 minutes) en route to see the colourful striped houses along the seafront in Costa Nova do Prado (25 minutes). Keep going and you’ll get to the city of Aveiro (half an hour), with canals and Art Nouveau architecture in its centre and the Salinas de Aveiro salt pans just outside. Another city that’s well worth a visit is Coimbra (50 minutes), a lively place whose history stretches back to Moorish times. The university’s gold-clad library is a real highlight, and you should also visit the old and new cathedrals, the Machado de Castro Museum and the cute Portugal dos Pequenitos model village.