Hi!! I have just returned to Lisbon after spending the loveliest weekend in Porto. Although the study abroad program has taken us outside of Lisbon to Setúbal, Arrábida, and Ribatejo, this was my first full weekend outside of Lisbon and my first trip solely organized by fellow students.

My internship supervisors at the Portuguese Council for Refugees were so excited for me when they heard that I was going to Porto. I was told about the famous dish, Francesinha, a sandwich layered with meat and cheese and covered with a tomato-and beer-based sauce, often served with an egg on top (this sounded very intimidating to me, but it’s good to go in with an open mind!). I also could not wait to walk across the Ribeira district, watch the sunset from the Dom Luís bridge, and tour Palácia da Bolsa. I had heard from many locals in Lisbon that they like Porto more, and I was interested to see why that was.

The bus to Porto was 4 hours long, and ran smoothly. I have been constantly surprised by how much more efficient public transportation operates compared to many places in the United States. Although many of us were tired after traveling, we still made an effort to go out and explore as much as possible.

We walked across the Ribeira district and watched the sunset from the view shown above. Along the riverfront, there was an outdoor market selling handmade goods and souvenirs from Porto that we all stopped at. Immediately, I noticed the calmer environment contained in Porto, which was refreshing to me after spending many nights in downtown Lisbon.

The next day, which would be our only full day in Porto, started early, and we were more energized. After breakfast, we headed to Palácia da Bolsa (stock exchange palace) for a guided tour. The courtyard, large staircases, and paintings were beautiful. It was interesting to hear about how hearings were conducted for commercial disputes and see the judge’s podium. However, my favorite part was the breathtaking Arabian Room decorated in gilded plasterwork inspired by Islamic history. This was built to impress wealthy international guests at the palace.

Throughout the rest of the day, we visited multiple outdoor markets stationed around the city center, ate pastel de natas, and climbed many stairs. Being there, you can tell that Porto preserved many of its medieval roots and stone structures. Porto ultimately looks and feels older than Lisbon, which is due to the Great Earthquake of 1755 that missed Porto but destroyed most of Lisbon and required it to rebuild.

After walking around for hours and retiring to our Airbnb in the late afternoon, we decided to head out for sunset. Accompanying the beautiful view of the sky and the river was the live Fado music we sat outside to listen to. Fado is the national genre of Portugal that centers around the concept of saudade, which is deep nostalgia or longing. The music was incredible to listen to, and it also felt like an intimate gathering as everyone stayed silent and the singer (fadista) was only surrounded by a few instruments.

Overall, my experience in Porto was unforgettable and I am grateful that I was able to travel with the group of friends that this program has introduced me to. For anyone looking to travel to Portugal, I highly recommend that you do not skip over Porto 🙂