Ribeira & Dom Luís I Bridge
Walk the upper deck of the iron bridge for the postcard: tiled houses tumbling to the Douro.
Port wine, tiled facades and a river gorge — Lisbon's smaller, steeper rival.
When to go: May–June & September — warm and clear; the Douro is loveliest before the summer heat.
Best places to visit
Best views
Livraria Lello
A neo-Gothic bookshop with a crimson staircase — buy a timed ticket and go at opening to have it to yourself.
Port wine cellars (Gaia)
Cross the river to tour and taste at the historic lodges — book a tasting flight, then a riverside dinner.
São Bento Station
Twenty thousand blue azulejo tiles tell Portugal's history across the entrance hall — a free, jaw-dropping stop.
Foz do Douro
Tram 1 trundles to where the river meets the Atlantic — lighthouses, seafood and crashing surf.
Clérigos Tower
Climb the baroque bell tower for a 360° over the terracotta rooftops — best in late afternoon light.
Plan your trip to Porto
WTFly finds the cheapest dates to fly there across a whole flexible window — then activities and a car to round out the trip.