This city offers a friendly and social vibe, quite different to other capital cities I’ve visited. I enjoyed ambling down the streets close to the tourist areas, admiring the typical Portuguese architecture and of course, the infamous tiles that adorn many a building. Getting around Lisbon by public transport was very easy; the metro accepts contactless payment and is simple to navigate, and hopping on a tram or a bus was uncomplicated with lovely city scenes unfolding throughout my journey. 

I relaxed by watching the sun set over the Christ the King statue on the banks of the Tejo Estuary, watching the boats pass under the bridge. My time in the city wouldn’t have been complete without an iconic Portuguese sweet treat, so I decided to partake in a 2 hour Pastel de Nata cooking class which was great fun!

One of the highlights of my trip was going to Sintra, a fairytale UNESCO World Heritage Site steeped in history. Inside Pena Palace, I was taken with the stunning Gothic arches and the spectacular panoramic views of the forest. What I wasn’t prepared for was the lack of phone signal, so I strongly suggest that offline maps are downloaded prior to any visit.

My journey from Lisbon to Porto was very simple. I just hopped on the metro to Oriente station, boarded the Alfa Pendular train with my reserved seat and settled myself in for a 2 hour 40 minute comfortable journey, reading my book. Upon arrival in Porto, I disembarked the train at the Vila Nova de Gaia station and walked to the hotel, Tivoli Kopke Porto Gaia.

Porto is a lovely city and very different to Lisbon. I headed straight for Lello bookstore which has been on my bucket list for quite a while. It's one of the most famous book shops in the world -  renowned for its stunning Neo-Gothic architecture, beautiful stained-glass ceiling and supposed inspiration for Hogwarts (though this is denied by the author). You have to buy a ticket to enter but it was well worth it.  The spiraling staircase and traditional decor inside was lovely. I also spent time meandering the cobbled streets, taking in the historic architecture and visiting the World of Wine Museum.

The following day, I went to the Douro Valley, meandering the winding motorway through the valley and admiring the magnificent views en route. I’d never really thought about autumnal colours in the Douro Valley, but I’d go back in a heartbeat at the same time of year. Of course, I indulged in some delicious wine tasting in my scenic surroundings before heading back to Porto.

This is a tough call. Public transport was straightforward to use in Lisbon, but Porto offers easily navigable cobblestoned streets. The food and drink were delectable in both, and I enjoyed sitting outside for dinner in November. I had very different experiences in each city and their surroundings so to be honest, I would suggest that you set aside at least a week and visit both!

Click below for our top three Portugal itineraries:

Wine & Dine Northern Portugal with Lisbon Extension

Porto, Lisbon and Portugal’s Historic Centre

Portugal’s City, Scenery & Coast by Rail

Or take a look at our Portugal Holidays page for more inspiration.