Parque de Campismo de Luso

This is a particularly well-placed site for anyone seeking rural peace within easy reach of city days (for when the quiet becomes too much). Close to the National Forest of Buçaco and half an hour’s drive from the Paul de Arzila Nature Reserve – a marshland that’s home to a large number of animal species, including the red heron – it’s nevertheless within 40 minutes of Coimbra and Aveiro; both cities are well worth a visit. The pretty and hilly riverside Coimbra has botanical gardens and Roman ruins to stroll through, monasteries and museums to explore; it's also home to the particularly stunning Joanina library (which eagle-eyed guests might recognise inspired sets in the live-action remake of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast). Aveiro could easily be called the Venice of Portugal: the city is crisscrossed by canals navigated by colourful boats, and there are plenty of grand buildings to impress visitors. There’s also a waterpark if a day’s splashing about beckons, and making time for a bite or two (or three) of the local delicacy – ovos moles – is an absolute must. If the ocean is beckoning, there’s sea, sand and (hopefully) sun at Praia de Mira and Costa Nova, 45 minutes away – or opt instead for a more contained experience with fishing or watersports on Lagoa de Barrinha, also 45 minutes from base.