Things to do — Porto and North

Porto and Northern Portugal deliver an experience that bridges urban and rural, wine and hiking, medieval architecture and northern gastronomy.

In Porto, the exploration is built around distinct neighbourhoods. The Ribeira (Douro waterfront, UNESCO-listed) concentrates seafood restaurants and tourist terraces — go in the evening but avoid it during the day, overcrowded in peak season. Bonfim and its sloping streets are the authentic Porto of specialist grocers, bakeries and artists' studios. Cedofeita is the most creative quarter, lined with local designer boutiques and natural wine bars from Porto's new food scene. Livraria Lello (1906, neo-Gothic, purported inspiration for Hogwarts) is worth a visit despite the queues. The Vila Nova de Gaia lodges are the other unmissable: Taylor's, Graham's, Sandeman and Ramos Pinto all offer guided tours (€8-15) with a tasting on terraces overlooking the Douro.

The Douro Valley is ideally visited over two days with a night at a quinta. A cruise from Pinhão to Régua (or vice versa) gives the best perspective on the vine terraces, quintas and hilltop villages. Tastings at the quintas (Quinta do Crasto, Quinta Nova, Quinta dos Avidagos) combine vineyard walks, cellar visits and tastings of table wines and Port — one of the most complete experiences in the region. In September, the harvest (vindimas) is an opportunity to watch or join the traditional treading of grapes in the lagares, a tradition still alive at several family quintas.

Guimarães and Braga are two medieval cities easily reached from Porto. Guimarães rewards a full day on foot: the eleventh-century castle, the fifteenth-century Paço dos Duques de Bragança and the UNESCO historic centre fill the morning. In the afternoon, take the cable car to Penha for a panorama over the city and the Minho. In Braga, the Bom Jesus do Monte sanctuary — its monumental baroque staircase of 116 steps — is one of the most photographed religious sites in Portugal. Braga's old city with its cathedral (the oldest in Portugal) and animated cafés merits an overnight stay.