Porto Ribeira and Douro Cruise

Porto's Ribeira district climbs from the Douro river in stacks of tall, colourful houses, part of a historic centre listed by UNESCO. Across the river, Vila Nova de Gaia is lined with the cellars where port wine has been aged for centuries.

A short 'six bridges' cruise in a traditional-style rabelo boat passes under the double-deck Dom Luís I iron bridge, opened in 1886, and the other bridges that link the two banks. Walk across the bridge's upper deck for the finest view of the city, and see the tiled entrance hall of São Bento station.

Porto is about three hours from Lisbon by train. With an extra day, take a boat or train trip up the Douro Valley, where vineyards are terraced into steep hillsides.