If you are looking for some inspiration for a city break then look no further than Porto, which is one of the most popular cities in Europe to visit right now.
Portugal’s second city has retained all its cultural scene with arts and music and the riverbank is now home to lots of chic bars and restaurants and Faro, although its modern it has kept its old charm with its narrow-cobbled streets and makes for the perfect city break.
Porto is a coastal city in northwest Portugal and is also famous for its stately bridges and Port Wine production and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Its within easy reach of the UK with flights from many airports and with a flying time of around 2 ½ hours, perfect for that short break.
There’s so much to see and do in Porto, here are a few suggestions after our visit.
Port Caves
A must when visiting Porto as it’s the home of Port. There are lots of Port caves to choose from, but we opted for the Sandeman’s caves and we weren’t disappointed, it was a bonus to sample a few Ports at the end of the tour.
Dom Luis 1 Bridge
This fabulous double decker bridge crosses the River Douro links the Ribeira District to the Vila Nova de Gaia area.
Clerigos Tower
Superb views across Porto from the top, it’s 230 steep steps to the top but well worth the effort.
Douro River Cruise
Another must and there is plenty of opportunity to sit back, relax and enjoy the views.
Tram Ride
Porto has the oldest tram system in Portugal and we took the one to the beach.
Sao Bento – the railway station attracts many visitors and not just passengers as its quite possibly the most ornate railway station in the world, with its stunning blue and white Azulejo Tiles.
Pastels de Naia
These custard tarts are simply amazing and delicious with your morning coffee!
Ribeira District
Whatever you get up to make sure you find time for a lazy afternoon and sit in one of the many cafés, bars and restaurants for a cocktail or two, and enjoy a spot of people watching.
What’s not to like, see you there.
Written by Chris Scott. All images taken by Chris. Follow @awaydaysandholidays and @liverpoolshots for more
