Porto, Portugal’s atmospheric second city, climbs the steep north bank of the Douro River in a tumble of pastel houses, baroque churches and tiled facades, with the port-wine lodges of Vila Nova de Gaia just across the water.
The UNESCO-listed Ribeira waterfront is the heart of it, linked to Gaia by the double-deck Dom Luis I Bridge. Don’t miss the ornate Livraria Lello bookshop, the blue azulejo tiles of Sao Bento railway station, the climb up Clerigos Tower, and a tasting in the riverside cellars where port has aged for centuries.
The best time to visit is spring (March to May) or autumn (September to October), when the weather is mild and crowds lighter than summer. Two to three days covers the historic centre, the food scene and a cross-river port tasting.