Porto is a romantic and quiet town with cosy little alleys and narrow streets. The best way to discover Porto is on foot as you can stroll around among the picturesque little houses that lie along the winding little cobblestone streets. The cosy district of Ribeira is a must during your hike. This is the oldest district in the city and here you can find small galleries, cafes and bars that are close to each other among the colourful buildings. The area is UNESCO World Heritage listed and during the evenings the neighbourhood is revitalized and becomes a perfect place for a good dinner or a few drinks.
If you haven’t seen the São Bento railway station yet, it will be an experience in itself. The building is more like a cathedral than a train station. In the waiting hall, the walls are covered by 20,000 blue tiles that tell a story about the harvest in the Dourodalen vineyards. You will probably see the popular blue tile in a few more places during your stay here in Portugal.
As you can understand by the name, Porto is known for its Port wine. This is something you must try during your stay here, but it can also be hard to miss at all. The grapes for the port wine are grown in the Douro Valley and since 1756 the vineyards are protected here. What distinguishes port wine from ordinary wine is largely the alcohol content, as the port wine often has an alcohol content of 19 and 20%, they are also a little darker in colour and taste sweeter.
To gain a broader understanding of the origin of the port wine, it may be best to either visit one of the many wine cellars that have guided tours and tastings or take a trip to the Museu do Vinho do Porto wine museum. There are also several wine houses in the district of Vila Nova de Gaia which may be worth a visit, if you have the opportunity you can also go outside the city to the vineyards that are available. On a hot day, you can also try a mouth-watering port wine sorbet served at some restaurants.
