You’ve probably seen images of the iconic Dom Luís I Bridge in Porto, well this is definitely the place to head for an incredible view across the city rooftops. Take a stroll over the bridge towards the Gaia side of the river. Believe me, you’ll keep stopping to take photos. 

Once across the bridge take the final climb up to Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar, from here you’ll also get the Dom Luís I Bridge in your shot as well. It’s most certainly worth heading up to.

One of the most prominent buildings in Porto is Sé do Porto, its cathedral. This eye-catching building sits high above the city, overlooking the bustling streets below.

Take a wander inside as the Gothic cloister is impressive. Encircled by blue and white Baroque azulejos, which were added from 1729 -1731. It’s free to enter the Cathedral and just a few euros to visit the cloister.

Ahhh, you can’t visit Porto without taking a Port tasting tour, and there are so many to choose from. We decided to head to the Sandeman Port house.  They run different types of tours depending on which Ports you would like to sample at the end.

You may want to take the weight off of your feet, if you’ve done a lot of walking, or you just fancy a tram ride. I suggest taking one of Porto’s Heritage Trams. Route 22 is a circular route and takes you through some of Porto’s popular spots, and it’s a great experience.

This little bookstore built in 1881, is beautiful inside and out. Although I have to confess now, we didn’t manage to get inside due to our timing; however, I recommend you do.

My advice is to arrive early or late to visit Livraria Lello.  The queues are long, and you must buy a €5 voucher from a shop close by.  The voucher can be redeemed against a book purchase.

Ok, I suppose this may go without saying, however, head down to the Ribeira in the evening as well as during the day. There’s a lovely relaxed atmosphere and seeing the city lit up at night it looks amazing. Oh, and you could grab a sneaky Port as well.

For a little bit of indulgence head to the Art Nouveau Majestic Café along Rua Santa Catarina. This attractive café which opened in 1921, not only serves exceptional coffee but the surroundings are beautiful too. (You may have to queue for a table).

Well if you’ve made it to the top, on the Gaia side of Porto, your first thought may not be let’s jump on a cable car back down. However, I recommend it for the wonderful views you get across the Old Town and the experience as you soar high above the red rooftops of the Port houses.

One of the things I really enjoyed when visiting Porto was just wandering through the colourful streets. There’s a fantastic mix of architecture around every corner.

Who could resist the wrought iron balconies teetering over the lanes and the locals sharing a story across the alleys?

You need to keep in mind before you order a Francesinha that this is certainly not a dish to choose if you just want a light snack.

The Francesinha is native to Porto, and it’s essentially a sandwich; however, inside is ham, smoked sausage, regular sausage, steak, cheese then a tomato & beer sauce. If you’re feeling hungry, you can also add an egg (we didn’t).

Now, you may think that adding a train station foyer to a must-see list is a bit odd, but you need to visit Porto’s São Bento train station and see for yourself. The azulejo tiling in the entrance hall is so striking it’s very impressive. The tiling tells a picturesque story of Portugal historic past.