Portugal is one of the UK’s leading holiday destinations and more than two million British tourists travelled there in 2023.
But while many tourists head to the country’s southern Algarve region, it also has some fantastic city break options.
Lisbon, Portugal’s capital, has recently been named as one of Europe’s cheapest city breaks but it’s not the country’s best destination to explore on foot.
A study by the team at Preply found that Porto, a city on the banks of the Douro River, was one of Europe’s most walkable cities.
It takes just 30 minutes to walk between the city’s five top-rated attractions which are under 1.5 miles apart from each other.
The Ponte de Dom Luis I bridge is the city’s top-rated attraction on Tripadvisor and connects each side of the city.
On one side, tourists will find the majority of attractions while the city’s port houses are on the other.
While on the bridge, admire the river which defines the city or book a boat trip to enjoy it from the water.
From the bridge, it’s just a 12 minute walk to the Torre dos Clerigos, another of the city’s must-see attractions. Tourists will have fantastic views of Porto old town from the top of the tower.
Just a few steps from the tower is Livaria Lello, one of the world’s prettiest bookshops. Tourists should bear in mind that the shop is incredibly popular and charges for entry.
Jardim do Morro, a pretty garden with palm trees, is on the opposite side of the river and under 20 minutes walk from the river.
Want a treat after a day of walking? Don’t leave Porto without tasting a glass of port from one of the city’s many port houses.
If you’re hungry, Porto has a controversial sandwich that’s a must-try. The franceshina is made with toasted bread and packed with steak, ham and other meats before being covered in melted cheese with a tomato and beer sauce.
It’s an indulgent treat and many people find that it’s too rich so if it feels too much, try some of the city’s cheeses instead.