Why visit Porto: Gorgeous, gorgeous Porto gives Lisbon a run for its money, coming in at second place as the best city in Portugal only because its beauty attracts too many tourists.
Still, don’t let this deter you from spending time here, especially if you can make it during the week to avoid the weekender crowd. The northern city is known for its azulejos, the typical Portuguese tiles that you’ll see in train stations, stores and churches.
Much of its prettiness comes from the Douro River, which makes its medieval Ribeira district an incredibly pleasant and refreshingly different European old town center. You can walk around and see the colorful houses tightly stacked on top of each other, like a pack of pretty sardines.
Take the dos Guindais funicular past terracotta-roofed houses for great views over the city, stop by the famously stunning Livraria Lello and visit as many churches as possible. In between touring around, make sure you sample the region’s sweet port wines.
