Why go? Porto is experiencing a golden period in the north of Portugal. Delta will start direct flights in 2026 from New York, starting May. The city is also hosting a new edition. Primavera Sound It will continue to charm its visitors with an unique blend that includes history, art, contemporary wine, and a maritime atmosphere.
“O Porto não é um lugar. É um sentimento.” Porto isn’t a place. It’s more of a feeling. It won’t take you long strolling the streets of this city on the Douro River before you’ll find yourself agreeing with the Portuguese writer Agustina Bessa-Luís who wrote those sentences. Porto is a city that will easily win you over with its melancholic streets, toasts echoed from the bars and taverns and its cuisine.
La Ribeira with its tiled homes and balconies over the river is the heart of the city. But it’s only the beginning to explore Porto. Recent openings, including the Forte de Gaia, Autograph Collection, The Social Hub Porto, The RebelloThe. Tivoli Kopke Porto Gaia The hotel industry has been transformed by the addition of new players to the scene. The YeatmanThe Torel AvantgardeThe. Vila Foz Hotel & Spa.
The city is a treasure trove of monuments, winebars and scenic views. invictaThe city, also known as “undefeated,” is a modern metropolis that has never lost its authentic charm. In its old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, each dish served in its restaurants recounts part of the region’s history from cod confit to tripe à moda do Porto. The classic francesinha is a warm sandwich with a tomato-beer sauce. The city is synonymous with port wine, which is a legend. The star of the Vila Nova cellars is the port wine. It invites novices as well as experts to explore the wine with a glass. Art galleries, designer boutiques, and inviting cafés complete the offerings in this city where the traditional and the contemporary coexist naturally.
In 2026, Porto will further find its voice—musical, gastronomic, and cultural. Primavera sound Porto returns from June 11-14, with an international lineup including Gorillaz and Massive Attack as well as local Portuguese groups. Serralves Foundation is hosting the exhibition through April 19. Beleza Apesar de Tudo “Beauty Despite Everything” includes 91 drawings and models by brothers Manuel and Francisco Aires Mateus. Delta is launching its direct New York-Porto flight in May. This will bring the Douro closer to the rest of the world. Rita Magro is also a star chef: In 2025 she will be the first Portuguese (alongside Marlene vieira) to win a Michelin starred in over 30 years. BlindOne of the top culinary destinations in the city.
Porto has a buzz going on, and all signs point to that. However, the city never strays from its core. It has no reason to show off, nor is it a city that boasts. The narrow streets, bridges, reflections in the river and the warm welcome of its residents make it more attractive than any marketing campaign.
You’ll want to spend your first time in Porto exploring the city. Gardens of the Crystal Palace; enjoy the Atlantic breezes in Matosinhos, just to the northwest of the city center; take a swim in the seawater pools, the Piscinas das Marés; climb the 250-foot-tall Clérigos Tower for 360º views of the city, and stop by the much-photographed Livraria Lello bookstore—yes, it’s worth the wait—before toasting the sun as it sets over the Douro.
Porto offers a unique combination of culture, history, modernity and good taste. Saúde! –María Casbas
