If there was one thing that I could have done differently from my Portugal trip, it would be to allocate more time for Lisbon and explore Porto all on its own another time. Except, unlike Lisbon, I felt like 2 days in Porto was quite adequate. I’ll also be frank to share that I’m not much of an artsy/design person when it comes to traveling. Personally, I felt like Porto was charming, but kind of like a larger than life Disneyworld kind of charm. Within the first day or so, I felt like we’ve walked the same streets three or four times. This was so different than getting lost and mixed up in the winding streets of Lisbon.
These thoughts aside, I loved the crisp air in Porto that is reminiscent of their region’s wine. It made for a really great atmosphere, and the clouds were always so pretty to get distracted by when people watching with a glass of wine or coffee.
My fondest memories of Porto? It would have to be the simple tasting at SEMEA, and the Porto FC home game at the city’s own Estádio do Dragão. This is my second soccer game on a Europe trip because Shun is such a fan of soccer, but I think I’m going to make this our little traveling ritual from now on since they have been so enjoyable. Something about the energy of people around, and also watching Shun enjoy himself really makes me happy.
A few things I’ll leave here for you to consider if you’re heading to Porto soon.
These thoughts aside, I loved the crisp air in Porto that is reminiscent of their region’s wine. It made for a really great atmosphere, and the clouds were always so pretty to get distracted by when people watching with a glass of wine or coffee.
My fondest memories of Porto? It would have to be the simple tasting at SEMEA, and the Porto FC home game at the city’s own Estádio do Dragão. This is my second soccer game on a Europe trip because Shun is such a fan of soccer, but I think I’m going to make this our little traveling ritual from now on since they have been so enjoyable. Something about the energy of people around, and also watching Shun enjoy himself really makes me happy.
A few things I’ll leave here for you to consider if you’re heading to Porto soon.
Where to stay:
Moon & Sun Hotel - loved their terrace and they’re a bit further away from the city center.
Where to eat:
Semea by Euskalduna - highly recommend their lunch course which is based on an omakase format. The chef has an incredible other restaurant called Studio, which has a 2-month waiting list, so we didn’t get to try (but you should definitely look into it).Oficina - another restaurant on our list, but unfortunately was closed on Monday (our last full day there).
What to do and see:
Graham’s Cellar - my favorite Port wine, and worth a visit to their cellar.Churches - some recommended to us were: Clerigos, Igreja da Lapa, and Capela
Miradouro da Vitoria - view of the cathedral and bridge.
Teleférico de Gaia Cablecar - Shun took me here around 6 pm on one of the days to take the cable car across the river for sunset. It was super lovely and one of my favorite experiences in Porto.
What to wear:
Sneakers - leave your nice shoes at home. Your feet will thank me for telling you so because most of the streets are either on an inclined or cobblestoned.Things I wore (by the order of photos) - neutral tank top (similar here), white wide-leg pants (similar here), Mango shirt jacket, Chanel WOC, Common Project sneakers, Preen Line dress, Proenza Schouler PS11, and Fendi bag bug.
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Camera Gear Used: Nikon D600 (body only) with 50mm F1/4 and 24-70mm F3.5 lens.
