
Porto - Ribeira, the Old Town - Krista photo
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1. Strolling across the upper level of the Dom Luis Bridge, then back on the lower level, and enjoying the views in all directions
Krista photo
2. Finding the less touristy streets in the Ribeira quarter, and meeting a few locals who are still willing to live there.
Krista photo
3. The amazing azulejo murals in the São Bento railway station
4. Great quality street food in the Mercado Bom Sucesso.
5. Many classy, quirky boutiques and small shops
6. Gigantic selection of cozy restaurants and wine bars
7. Very safe city – we didn’t even see one shady-looking guy!
8. The azulejo front facade of the Chapel of Souls
Krista photo
9. Many more locals who speak English than in Madrid or Barcelona
10. Locals are mostly pleasant and welcoming
1. Unusually long wait to cross the road at pedestrian crossings
2. Dilapidated houses with blackened windows are a depressing sight in the old town
3. We couldn’t visit the Mercado do Bolhao, as it was under renovation (reportedly reopening in May 2020)
4. Mass tourism has arrived! Big crowds at the famous churches, in the hall of the railway station, and especially along both sides of the river near the Ribiera quarter.
5. We gave up trying to visit the Lello Bookstore, which was crowded with (mostly Asians) Harry Potter fans.
Krista photo
6. We had some trouble working out how the metro ticket payment system worked, though the language barrier wasn’t a problem.
7. The free walking tour guide made a joke about the sky-high prices at the Majestic Café, so we reluctantly dropped this from our itinerary and blamed the long queue.
Krista photo
8. A great city, but anyone who says it is more beautiful than Lisbon is exaggerating.
9. Otherwise charming, easy-going locals turn crazy behind the wheel, driving aggressively and honking a lot.
10. Negligent, conveyor-belt service in the more touristy restaurants.