The Douro valley is the best day trip: about 2 hours by train

Pinhão is half an hour beyond Régua, deeper into the terraces

Braga is an hour by local train, with the Bom Jesus stairway

Guimarães: the castle and medieval lanes, walkable from the station

Aveiro: canals and moliceiro boats; Costa Nova's striped houses

Coimbra, an hour by fast train: Portugal's oldest university

Paiva Walkways and Gerês need a car or tour: see the full guide