Budapest, Sydney, Miami, Paris are cities that look their very finest when viewed from the water, and dramatic and beautiful Porto, in Portugal’s north, is absolutely one of the best. That truth made its indelible impression on me the first time I rolled up the Douro River, the Atlantic just at my back.
Six bridges soared between the main part of town and Vila Nova de Gaia, on the other side. Vibrant and colorful storefronts in former warehouses lined the Ribeira waterfront, alongside historic port lodges over in Gaia. Much of it is preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, made even more memorable in the gauzy blue light. You know that special moment when the sun has dipped below the horizon, and the lights of the city have just come up. It’s not hard to find the charms of Portugal’s second-largest city, but it’s even better when you have some advice on how to visit.
