2 Best Sights in Coimbra and Central Portugal, Portugal

Covering an area of 126 square miles, this UNESCO-recognized park is famously home to one of the longest pedestrian suspension bridges in the world, the 516 Arouca. The dizzying construction hangs 175 meters (574 feet) over the Paiva River, stretching for 516 meters. The park itself is surrounded by the Freita, Montemuro, and Arada Mountains and crisscrossed by several rivers including the Paiva River, which makes it a great place for canyoning, canoeing, kayaking, and mountain climbing. There are 41 significant geosites—including a collection of giant trilobite (ancient marine animals) fossils, some of which are 465 million years old—and 14 mostly easy hiking trails that take visitors to the sites. The park is also home to the world-famous Paiva Walkways.

This 45-km (28-mile) delta of the Rio Vouga was formed in 1575, when a violent storm caused shifting sand to block the river's flow into the ocean. Over the next two centuries, as more and more sand piled up, the town's prosperity and population tumbled, recovering only when a canal breached the dunes in 1808. Today the lagoon's narrow waterways are dotted with tiny islands. Salt marshes and pine forests border the area, and the ocean side is lined with sandy beaches. In this tranquil setting, colorful moliceiro boats glide gracefully along, their owners harvesting seaweed. The best way to see the lagoon is in one of the boats that depart from the canal across from the tourist office. A number of operators line the waterfront, most charging around €13 for a 45-minute tour.