Porto, Portugal

One of the best things about living in Europe is the ability to hop on a plane and visit a new country for a weekend. Everything is so cheap and convenient. Porto was on my bucket list for a while now, so I thought I'd finally make the trip. For this short solo trip to Porto, I stayed at the Wine Hostel. This charming hostel is centrally-located, and they even great you with a glass of house port wine upon arrival.

I started my first day at Época, a cute breakfast cafe serving cozy classics and dishes with a modern twist. I ordered cilbir, Turkish poached eggs. If I could eat this everyday, I would! It was so full of flavour.

This city is easily explored by foot. I started to walk towards Cedofeita,

A Brasileira is an iconic cafe in the city center, great for people watching.

I walked through the narrow streets, with tiled building.

I walked until I reached the Douro River and crossed the bridge.

I reached the other side of the river, Gaia. This part of Porto was interesting to visit. It was quite modern in contrast to the other side.

Other than a port wine cellar, there was not much to see so I decided to walk back across the bridge, just in time for an aperitivo. I stopped at Wine Quay Bar for a glass of port, and so much more! I enjoyed views of the Douro river, while tasting several small dishes including, finely sliced ham, marinated octopus, and fresh vegetables.

For a night cap, walk through the center of town to Flôr, a stylish bar serving inventive cocktails. There is also a restaurant next door by the same owners.

Next day in Portugal I visited some of the sights.

To get to the Episcopal Palace of Porto, you must walk up stairs.

The iconic blue church, Igreja de Santo Ildefonso.

I then walked toward the art and cultural hub of the city. Rua de Miguel Bombarda is known as the gallery street.

At the intersection of Rua de Miguel Bombarda and Rua do Rosario you'll find Centro Comercial Bombarda. There's a small natural wine shop with a blue terrace to enjoy a a drink.

For dinner i went to Ostras Coisas. I ordered oysters and the fish of the day, which was seabass, grilled with a side of vegetables. Tip: This place was packed when I arrived. Offer to sit at the bar! They usually dont reserve so if your'e alone you're likely to snag a spot.

The next day I walked to Foz. This is a beautiful coastal walk.

I then made it to the town of Matonsinhos, known for the seafood.

This town is bustling with small eateries. I chose one that had no english menus. The restaurant is called O Robalo. They found a table for me at the back and it was clear I was the only non-portuguese in the entire restaurant. After walking all day, I has quite an appetit. I ordered the whole grilled sole, which was served alongside sautéed cabbage and garlic butter potatoes. Sitting in this little Portuguese restaurant in the middle of nowhere, I was in heaven. I finished the whole fish!

I walked back through the town of Foz, passing through the beautiful, colourful streets.

I passed through a green park along the water with a small farmer's market. Of course I had to pick some local produce…fresh cherries included!

Foz can best be characterized as an affluent area, full of beautiful homes. There is a very particular and unique architecture here. Almost as if Spanish art nouveau met Victorian era.

I got on at the tram at Massarelos. This scenic train ride took us back to the city center -along the ocean, passing through more beautiful streets.

I got off at San Nicolau and slowly made my way back through the winding streets admiring the mosaic-tiled buildings.

For an aperitivo, I went to Prova Wine Bar. I enjoyed a plate of sliced presunto, cheese, perfectly paired with a glass of port wine.