Porto didn't immediately strike us as a beautiful city, but over the course of our time there we came to appreciate the soul and grit of the place.
The funky guesthouse we roomed in - full of eclectic Urban Outfitters-ish bric-a-brac and run by the fantastic Pedro - added to our positive experiences in northern Portugal.
A Portuguese hotel norm that we've come to appreciate is the acquaintance period that occurs during check-in. At all of our Portugal stays thus far our hosts have taken thirty minutes to an hour to not only show us property details, but to offer trip suggestions and answer any questions we may have. We've managed to source some particularly great advice during these briefings.
In the case of our Porto stay, Pedro sensed that we were the type of folks that liked "the naturals" (as he put it) and recommended we take the scenic train out to the vineyards of the rural Douro Valley. It was great advice, and the train ride has been a highlight of our Portugal trip thus far.
Our favorite Porto and Douro Valley memories:
- Taking the aforementioned train ride through the Douro Valley wine country. Occasionally deboarding to sample port and check out tiny towns, but mostly just eating fresh cherries and watching 250 miles of gorgeous landscape speed past our train window.
- Sitting at an outdoor cafe in Porto's historic center trying the region's famous francesinha, a steak, ham, salami, and sausage sandwich smothered in a cheesy beer sauce.
- Grocery shopping at the local market and cooking a homemade meal in the tiny kitchen of our funky Porto apartment. Eating our dinner on the deck, taking in the cool night air and city sounds.
- Walking the bridge from Porto to Vila Nova de Gaia, where the historic port cellars are located. Touring the dark, musty wine caves and indulging in countless glasses of port with pairings.
Next stop: Coimbra, Portugal
The funky guesthouse we roomed in - full of eclectic Urban Outfitters-ish bric-a-brac and run by the fantastic Pedro - added to our positive experiences in northern Portugal.
A Portuguese hotel norm that we've come to appreciate is the acquaintance period that occurs during check-in. At all of our Portugal stays thus far our hosts have taken thirty minutes to an hour to not only show us property details, but to offer trip suggestions and answer any questions we may have. We've managed to source some particularly great advice during these briefings.
In the case of our Porto stay, Pedro sensed that we were the type of folks that liked "the naturals" (as he put it) and recommended we take the scenic train out to the vineyards of the rural Douro Valley. It was great advice, and the train ride has been a highlight of our Portugal trip thus far.
Our favorite Porto and Douro Valley memories:
- Taking the aforementioned train ride through the Douro Valley wine country. Occasionally deboarding to sample port and check out tiny towns, but mostly just eating fresh cherries and watching 250 miles of gorgeous landscape speed past our train window.
- Sitting at an outdoor cafe in Porto's historic center trying the region's famous francesinha, a steak, ham, salami, and sausage sandwich smothered in a cheesy beer sauce.
- Grocery shopping at the local market and cooking a homemade meal in the tiny kitchen of our funky Porto apartment. Eating our dinner on the deck, taking in the cool night air and city sounds.
- Walking the bridge from Porto to Vila Nova de Gaia, where the historic port cellars are located. Touring the dark, musty wine caves and indulging in countless glasses of port with pairings.
Next stop: Coimbra, Portugal
I love your blog, you really have a gift for describing your experiences, I feel like I am there with you
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