Portugal by car

About the destination: Situated in a dramatic valley carved by the River Douro, Porto is renowned for the beauty of its buildings and the sweet taste of its wine. The city's hub is Avenida dos Aliados, a broad avenue encircled by Praça General H. Delgado and Praça da Liberdade. However, the most captivating part of the city is Ribeira, the river district and a Unesco World Heritage Site, where three of Europe’s most elegant bridges span the gorge. The bustling Praça da Liberdade and the adjoining Avenida dos Aliados form the town centre, where statues stand in the middle of busy mosaic walkways. Nearby stands Porto’s magnificent cathedral, a massive, fortified Romanesque structure whose heavy granite foundations, thick walls and small windows enclose a gloomy interior. The Ribeira stretches along the river, bordered by a wonderful quay filled with shops and restaurants. Porto’s most distinctive monument, the ornate Torre dos Clérigos, offers a panorama of the city from atop its 240 steps. No visit to Porto would be complete without a stop at some of the many bodegas, wine lodges, where port is stored and bottled. And a visit to the amazing Lello library with its spiral staircase, is a must see as well, even if you're not a Harry Potter fan.

About the destination: Braga is one of the oldest cities in Portugal. The Portuguese called it Roma because it was a centre of ecclesiastical power. Portugal's spiritual heart, is a lively little city with an exquisite assortment of baroque churches, a sprawling cathedral and Roman ruins, including one of the country's best-known sights, the Bom Jesus Sanctuary. It hosts traditional religious festivals throughout the year, including Portugal's most colourful Holy Week. Today it is a modern city with a young population, bustling with commerce and industry surrounding a lively and attractive old centre with a number of pedestrian streets with cheerful cafes, elegant shops, exquisite restaurants and cool bars full of university students. Even though it is an old city it has a young spirit, so much so that in 2012 it was pronounced the European Youth Capital.

About the destination: Viana do Castelo is a municipality and seat of the district of Viana do Castelo in the northern region of Portugal. The population in 2011 was 88,725, covering an area of ​​319.02 km². The urbanized area of ​​the municipality, which includes the city, has a population of approximately 36 148 inhabitants.