A BEAUTIFUL CITY OVERWHELMED BY TOURISTS

Out of the places I went to in Portugal, Porto was my least favorite. The city itself is beautiful; flush against the Douro River, it’s full of tall regal buildings built up a steep hill. There are stunning river views, and huge medieval buildings throughout that add character to the streets. The city for me, though, lacked the idyllic charm that had come to characterize the rest of Portugal during my trip.

What caused me a level of stress was the torrent of tourists and the accompanying accommodations. My friend counted nine bachelorette parties along the river on the first day, and it seemed like every other shop was either a souvenir bodega or selling pastel de nata (the national pastry of Porugal). It gave off strong vibes that the city could sustain multiple Fat Tuesdays. It felt like a dream vacation for a US suburban mom taking her first trip to Europe.

Nonetheless, there is a lot to love about Porto. I wouldn’t recommend spending more than two nights here, though, unless you fill your time with day trips out of the city. Below are some of the things that did take my breath away.

STUNNING RIVER VIEWS

The Douro River is magnificent, and there are spots throughout the city I could look out onto the river for hours and not have it grow old. My absolute favorite river view came from the bathroom window in the Mosteiro (Monastery) da Serra - which requires a €2 entry. My other favorites spots were Jardim do Morro, Luis I Bridge, Miradouro da Vitoria, and Jardins do Palacio de Cristal.

WITH JUST AS STUNNING SUNSETS

Porto is known for its beautiful sunsets and it didn’t disappoint. My favorite viewpoints were Jardim do Morro, Luis I Bridge, and Jardins do Palacio de Cristal. With the gardens, you can bring yourself a little picnic, and enjoy the view with some fabulous Douro Valley wine.

BLUE TILE ART AND MEDIEVAL BUILDINGS GALORE

One of the coolest aspects of Porto, in my opinion, is that there are enormous medieval buildings and blue tile art pieces scattered throughout the city that add a very distinctive flair. You’ll definitely stumble into them as you walk around, but if you’re going out of your way, go to Porto Cathedral (which is worth the €3 entry fee) and Sao Bento Train Station (for the blue tile artwork).

JARDINS DO PALACIO DE CRISTAL

Jardins Do Palacio De Cristal was my absolute favorite spot in the city. It’s a free landscaped garden along the river that’s about a 25 minute walk west of center city, and it completely removes you from the hustle and bustle of the tourist chaos. The river views are extraordinary, the gardens peaceful and beautiful, and the park is full of peacocks and chickens roaming about. I sat and read in the park for several hours throughout my time in Porto.

OTHER THINGS TO DO

Below are some of the other common things to do in Porto:

• Visit Livararia Lello - a famous book store that inspired Harry Potter (I did this and didn’t think it was worth the €5 entrance fee; it was shoulder-shoulder crowded)

• Climb up the Clerigos Tower (I chose not to for the €6 entrance fee because there are so many stunning view points for free)

• Shop at Mercado do Bolhao (It was still under renovation while I was there so I couldn’t go)

• Tour the Douro Wine Valley

• Take a day trip to Aveiro (“Venice of Portugal”) or Braga