In Aguda, things can still flow at a relaxed place. Walk along the beach for a morning stroll or sit down at the promenade to watch the sunset. Drop by one the local "cafés" for some freshly-baked bread and warm croissants for breakfast, or meet the local fishermen and get some day fish for a grilling session in our garden.

In the centre, the ELA Aquarium and museum are dedicated to local coastal species and fishing traditions, making for an interesting 1-hour visit for adults and children. The nearby "Cultura Curto Espaço", one of the local hotspots, has a varied agenda that covers live concerts, ateliers and open-air film sessions, yoga or Tai Chi lessons and the occasional food evening ranging from Mexican to Thai.

For those wanting to try the local cuisine, there are several restaurants and pubs along the causeway where it's possible to have a meal or a drink with a view to the sea. In addition to a few good choices for seafood and traditional dishes there is also a very nice local pizzeria. For a lighter break, the local "cafés" offer an array of salt and sweet pastries and quick meals.

The lovely beach, with the iconic lighthouse and sea wall, has a sheltered cove suitable for a dip or to practice surfing. From the centre of Aguda, the beach stretches for km both north and south, offering a lot of space for different activities.

At the beach, you can find people playing soccer, beach volleyball or attending yoga lessons at the "Centro Cultura Viva". On windier days, kite surfers are also present. For the small ones, there are many rock pools that become exposed during the low tide, offering hours of distraction.

The boardwalk that runs between the beach and the sand dunes makes for a nice walking or jogging path, tempered by the salty sea breeze. In addition, there is a 15 km long running and cycling path that goes through Aguda. It starts in Espinho, a larger city 6km south of Aguda, and goes up along the coast until the mouth of the Douro River, where there is a nice bird reserve . It then continues inland, up the river, ending at the historical centre of Gaia - where the Port Wine cellars are located.

Less than 10mins away on foot, the public pools in Granja offer indoor freshwater pools and a couple of outdoor salt water pools. For golf players, the Clube de Golfe de Miramar offers a 9-hole course directly by the beach and circa 1km away from our house. Tennis players are also catered for, with a couple of (synthetic) outdoor courts 2 mins away.