Porto
Porto is a town that feels like it belongs in the 19th century. Buildings are run down, the streets are quiet and the people are not young. But somehow, it all works. Porto is beautiful in a relaxed, more easy-going way than you’ll find in Lisbon, and made for a great two day trip after the hustle and bustle of Madrid and before heading south to Portugals cosmopolitan capital.
Where to go if you're a fan of books and architecture: Libraria Lello
Ranked as the best library in the world, this place lives up to the hype and is entirely worth the wait in the line. Getting tickets is somewhat complicated, as you have to walk through the entire backside of the library and through a gift shop. Do what we did and have one person in your party wait in 15 minute or so line while the other goes and grabs the tickets. Once you're inside, revel at the the beautiful architecture, highlighted by an iconic, unparalleled staircase. JK Rowling wrote her Harry Potter books here, and it shows in her books. The library oozes Hogwartz, as do the people pretending to be characters posing for photos with the kids. Walk around, take a few photos, buy a book or two, then dip. This is one of the most popular sites in the city, and as all popular sites go, the earlier you get there, the better the experience (and the photos).
Where to see the city: Clergios Tower
Walk through a beautiful church, go behind the cross (something that is pretty unique) and make your way all the way up the tallest tower in Porto to get a birds eye view of this incredible city. You truly get to understand the urban fabric of Porto from here, and makes you appreciate walking through the streets that much more.
Where to have a glass of wine when the climb up the tower was tiring: Passeio dos Clerigos
Architecturally, this mall is badass. Two green spaces fold up and over shops, and on the grass is a small little bar with bean bags spread around. Get a glass of Port, sink into a bean bag, and chill for an hour or two while listening to your dad give you life advice.
Where to have an authentic seafood meal away from the hustle and bustle of town: Papavinhos
The concierge at our hotel recommended this place to us and we were a bit skeptical at first. Walking here shows just how bizarre this city is. The layout is odd, the architecture is old, and the vibe is…unique, for lack of a better word. But the food here is absolutely bomb, especially when its less then $20 for a massive meal.
Where to eat and proceed to have a heart attack: Restaurante Avenida
I'm not saying to go to this restaurant in specific, but what I am saying is to get the infamous Francesinha. This restaurant is located on a bustling square in Porto and has outdoor seating, so the convinience of the place, combined with the fact that they had this meaty, cheesy, eggy, carb filled dish, made us stop here for a quick "snack". Whether or not you come to this restaurant, make sure you eat a Francesinha.
Where to have some Port wine and great views: Café do Cais
A modern pavilion on the riverfront, this fire lit restaurant is aesthetically beautiful, and has a great vibe to it. We scored seats on a communal high table, ordered an appetizer platter given that we had basically eaten a heart attack a few hours earlier, and drank Port wine for a couple hours while the city died down (which happens at around 10 PM here).
Where to race against trams above the Duoro River: Ponte Luis I
This bridge is an icon of the city, seen on basically all postcards for Porto. We tried getting here before sunset, but after getting sidetracked multiple times, we ended up on the bridge at night, which ended up being cool in its own right. Pedestrians and trams occupy this bridge, and there isn't anything dividing the two, so pay attention and don’t get hit by the tram while snapping beautiful images of the city below.
Where to have a Michelin starred seven course meal inside an architectural gem while watching the waves: Casa de Cha de Boa Nova
This is one of the best restaurants in the world, hands down. The freshest seafood coupled with amazing drinks made this the most enjoyable eating experiences I've ever had, as the views helped too. I'll let the photos do the talking here.
Where to see iconic architecture: Casa de Musica
Make a pit stop at this iconic building, designed by legendary firm OMA. If you can catch a show here, I would definitely recommend it! As an architecture major myself, I loved this building, so if you're into that kind of thing, the Casa de Musica is totally worth a visit.
