Porto

Port wine, medieval alleyways and stunning azulejo facades.

Porto is one of Europe's most charming and rapidly rising cities, a place where crumbling azulejo-tiled facades, steep granite lanes and vertiginous views over the Douro River create a romantic atmosphere that is entirely authentic rather than manufactured for tourism. The Portuguese city has always lived in Lisbon's shadow, but for many visitors it now surpasses the capital in character and appeal. The historic centre, a Unesco World Heritage Site, is centred on Ribeira — the waterfront district below the Dom Luís I Bridge where port wine lodges line the opposite bank in Vila Nova de Gaia. The twin iron towers of the Clérigos Church, the extraordinary azulejo-covered São Bento railway station and the grandiose Livraria Lello bookshop (said to have inspired J.K. Rowling's Hogwarts library) are key landmarks. The Sé (cathedral), perched on a hill with panoramic views, is the city's oldest monument. The craft beer and coffee scene has transformed Porto's Bonfim and Cedofeita neighbourhoods into destinations for younger travellers. The local cuisine — francesinha (a magnificent, calorie-laden sandwich in tomato-beer sauce), bacalhau in all its hundred forms, fresh seafood — is excellent and affordable. Port wine tasting in the historic lodges of Vila Nova de Gaia is essential. Visit in spring or autumn; summers are warm but manageable.