A city full of colours and flavours. Discover Porto

The most famous bridge spanning the Douro is the Dom Luís I Bridge, built in the 1880s. It has two levels: the lower deck for regular road traffic and the upper level for pedestrians and rail tracks. These tracks are not used by trams, as one might expect, but by the metro – specifically the yellow Line D. With its steel construction and monumental proportions, the bridge is a real treat for architecture enthusiasts. It is therefore no surprise that, together with the historic city centre, it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

The most beautiful view of Porto is not from Porto itself, but from the neighbouring city of Vila Nova de Gaia

From the Vila Nova de Gaia side of the river, you are rewarded with a stunning view of Porto as a whole, especially its historic Ribeira district. The colourful façades of the riverside houses are certainly worth capturing in a photograph. Below you, the rooftops of the famous wine cellars stretch along the riverbank. An unforgettable experience is also a ride on the Teleférico de Gaia cable car, which connects the waterfront with the upper deck of the bridge. And a sunset watched from the Serra do Pilar Monastery is something you will be talking about for a long time to come. 

The riverbanks are lined with beautiful smooth roads, while further inland cobbled streets are common

Porto is a very compact city, with something new waiting around every corner. It is not unusual for bridge piers to begin in someone’s garden. Roads are often extremely narrow, so it is important to be aware of your car’s dimensions. The compact Škoda Scala felt perfectly at home here, weaving through the streets with ease. There are also many one-way streets that often take you on unexpectedly long drives, featuring steep ascents and descents and close encounters with building thresholds. 

The monumental Casa da Música is the work of Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas

Just a few kilometres from the historic centre, you can admire contemporary architecture. Among modern buildings, the concert hall Casa da Música clearly stands out. This concrete piece of science fiction, seemingly lifted straight from the set design of Blade Runner, opened in 2005. In addition to its design, the auditorium itself is unique thanks to partial glazing, creating an exceptional experience of listening to music in an interior flooded with daylight. 

The river is lined not only with roads, but also with beautiful paths where even in winter you will encounter determined runners

The local cuisine is not limited to seafood, as one might expect given the city’s location, but is remarkably diverse. One of its curiosities is the dish Tripas à Moda do Porto. During the conquest of the North African city of Ceuta by Prince Henry the Navigator in the 15th century, the people of Porto were extremely generous and donated all their best meat to the soldiers. Left with very little themselves, they had to become creative. The result was this dish, made from tripe, beans, sausage, vegetables and spices. The outcome is a rich stew that is guaranteed to be filling. 

Porto is also associated with the sweet taste of port wine, best enjoyed after a day of exploring. Vineyards line the Douro Valley from the city inland. Port gained its international reputation during the War of the Spanish Succession in the 17th century, when Portuguese wine became popular in England as a substitute for unavailable French wines. Its secret lies in the addition of strong grape spirit during fermentation of the must. This leaves a high level of natural sugar in the wine, allowing it to withstand the long journey to England in barrels. The influence of British merchants is still evident today – many wineries continue to bear British names. 

Check out how great the Škoda Epiq electric car looked in Porto