Vila do Conde has several Atlantic beaches, but Praia Azul, about 500 metres from the old town is the cream of the crop.

This Blue Flag beach has a generous swathe of golden sand traced by a promenade and bikeway that runs several kilometres up to Póvoa de Varzim in the north.

And despite having all the amenities to qualify it for a Blue Flag, Praia Azul feels remote and almost unspoiled.

This is down to the Marginal Atlântica, a broad expanse of dunes and coastal scrub keeping the city at bay.

Youngsters can play in the pools created by the many rocks along the beach, while the more open areas have surf-friendly waves in autumn and winter.