Ponte de Lima

This photogenic town by the sweet and mellow Rio Lima springs to life on weekends, when Portuguese tourists descend in droves, and every other Monday, when a vast market spreads along the riverbank. All the action happens within sight of Portugal’s finest medieval bridge. Even if you can’t make the market, Ponte de Lima’s small, historic centre dotted with cafes and vast riverside gardens and greenways is well worth visiting. Even the outskirts are romantic: vineyards tumble to bustling avenues and at sunset swallows take flight, singing and diving until night finally falls.