Embrace the laidback lifestyle of idyllic Arcos de Valdevez – a country jewel showcasing a more traditional side of Portugal, bejewelled with tiny old churches, quaint houses, verdant hills and locally run restaurants offering Portuguese and Mediterranean cuisine. It's just a 1-hour drive to the nearby coastal city of Porto, where you'll find pretty beaches, narrow cobbled streets hiding old merchants' houses, and the lavish São Francisco Church, known for its baroque interiors and ornate gilded carvings.
