Perhaps there was a time when all shops looked as lovely as this simple grocer. Lit by milk glass globe pendants, with a terrazzo floor and dark wood shelving on which are arranged tins of fish, packets of biscuits, row upon row of wine and port. Nuts, dried fruit and a variety of bacalhau are sold by weight, all displayed with a casual elegance. It’s hard not to think of this shop as just a photo opportunity, but do the decent thing and support it with a purchase.

In the narrow, winding streets of the Ribeira, this contemporary men’s clothing label has established an atmospheric little shop in what was long ago a chemist. Original shop fittings, worn wood panelling, stone walls, nautical memorabilia and views of the River Douro that runs right outside are a flattering backdrop to the company’s simple, practical, locally made items, finding an echo in their anchor logo.

Extracted from Everybody Loves Porto. Comprising a park, Art Deco villa and a significant contemporary art gallery – any one of which is worth seeing in its own right, one would be wise to set aside some time for a visit. Perhaps most unexpected is the villa, its salmon pink exterior looking more Miami than Porto, even in winter. Ornamental gardens and water features lead to a farm, complete with grazing longhorn cattle. Throughout the grounds are sculptures large and small, a reminder that at the heart of this complex is Portugal’s most important, and most visited, modern art gallery,...

In an attractive old building in the very heart of the city, this delightful shop gathers together classic Spanish-made goods – kitchenware, toys, sweets, clothing, furniture, rugs and throws – highlighting the best traditional products from across the land. It’s an ideal place to find souvenirs, large and small: a half litre of vermut, a pair of espadrilles, esparto basketweave animal heads make for a cruelty-free trophy wall and light merino wool blankets are perfect for the journey home.

On Patacona, Valencia’s tranquil northern beach, this attractive restaurant serves fresh juices, snacks and sandwiches in an idyllic setting. There’s seating inside the pretty pale blue and white building as well as in a sheltered courtyard, but the best spots are on the beach, gazing out at the Mediterranean, which makes it a perfect spot to watch the sunset. In summer, booking is strongly advised.

An ebullient sort of garden. Lush and thriving, it’s given over to thousands of plant specimens which seem quite at home in Valencia’s subtropical climate. More than 100 species of palm grow in the open air, along with peach, almond and mango trees and large numbers of succulents. Amid all this, like a Rousseau painting, slinks a colony of cats, looked after by a team of volunteers who also run a Facebook page for them.