Porto

Porto was a port and trading city, the country's name deriving from the Roman settlement Portus Cale. From the 17th century, the port wine trade with England shaped the city; many wineries still carry British names today. In the 18th century, Baroque master builder Nicolau Nasoni designed the Torre dos Clérigos, which became its landmark.The residents jokingly call themselves Tripeiros, tripe-eaters, after the dish Tripas à moda do Porto. The biggest festival is the Night of São João from June 23rd to 24th, when the city celebrates until morning, playfully taps heads with plastic hammers, and a fireworks display lights up the Douro at midnight. You'll find modern architecture in Rem Koolhaas' Casa da Música and in buildings by Álvaro Siza, such as the museum in Serralves.

Metro Line E runs from the airport to the city center, a journey of about half an hour. You'll need the rechargeable Andante card for the Metro, buses, and suburban trains. The old town is best explored on foot; for the journey from the river to the upper town, the Funicular dos Guindais and the cable car in Gaia are useful. Historic tram lines, such as Line 1 along the river to Foz, are more an experience than a means of transport. Long-distance trains to Lisbon depart from Campanhã; regional trains also run from São Bento.ExcursionsDouro Valley: by train from São Bento to Régua or Pinhão, the route follows the river for a long stretch.Guimarães and Braga: about an hour each by regional train.Aveiro: canals and Art Nouveau facades, about an hour south.