4 Best Sights in Northern Portugal, Portugal

The old windmills that line Apúlia Beach are no longer in use but have been repurposed as charming rental cottages. Sand dunes protect this notoriously windy beach, making it a perfectly sheltered spot for families. The waters here are famous for their medicinal purposes because they contain high levels of iodine. You might see locals collecting seaweed, which is used as fertilizer for nearby farms. There are umbrellas and boat rentals. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: windsurfing.

Colorful tents on the clean and coarse sand of the craggy beach Praia de Mindelo create a shield from inconvenient winds. From Vila do Conde, take the EN13 for 7½ km (4 miles) south to reach the beach access at the small fishing village of Mindelo—a drive of about 10 minutes. From Mindelo metro station, it's a 30-minute walk to the beach. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (no fee). Best for: walking; windsurfing.

It may lack Lisbon’s sunshine, but the coast around Porto has picture-perfect beaches. Just 14 km (9 miles south of the city) is the pretty seaside town of Miramar, where a 17th-century chapel, the Capela do Senhor da Pedra, stands proudly on a rocky headland that juts out from the sandy beach. The Praia de Miramar is usually pleasantly uncrowded, and good for swimming in the summer, while the wind whips up surfer-pleasing waves in the chilly winter. The beach is a 10-minute walk from Miramar metro station. Amenities: parking (no fee); food and drink; water sports. Best for: surfing; swimming; walking.

South of the Cávado River, Ofir's beach is one of the most beautiful stretches of sand along northern Portugal's coast. Huge dunes are bordered by rows of pine trees, which give way to rocks that jut out into the water and are visible at low tide. These rock formations are known locally as "the horses of Fão." Surfers usually hang out on the beach's southern stretch, but there's plenty of room for families farther north. There are also restaurants and beach bars just behind the dunes and huts that rent out umbrellas, windsurfing equipment, and boats. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (no fee); toilets; water sports. Best for: solitude; sunset; windsurfing.