As a travel editor, I’ve been lucky enough to tick off over 50 cities for both work and holidays, but this year there’s one city that’s instantly become a firm favourite after just one visit. 

I headed to Porto, Portugal, over the summer for a friend’s wedding, and having never been before I decided to extend the trip. It had been popping up on my social media feeds and I was curious to see what the fuss was about, and whether it would live up to the hype. 

Well, I can firmly say that yes, it lived up to the hype. A city that boasts history, excellent food and wine, friendly locals, and attractions from a Hogwarts-worthy bookshop to the ‘world’s most beautiful McDonald’s’ was always going to win me over.

The first thing I loved about it is how walkable it is. Everything can be reached within half an hour on foot. (A word of caution: it’s very hilly so definitely wear comfortable trainers). There are plenty of public transport options but honestly, most of the time it was so much fun to wander around especially as throughout the city you’ll find quirky architecture, beautiful buildings covered in colourful tiles, and independent shops tucked away in little side streets. 

If you do fancy taking in the sights while sat down, then a ride on the city’s vintage trams is a must; it’s not only a great photo opp, but actually a really nice way to get around too. 

There was plenty to see and do; I stayed for about four days and it felt like the ideal amount of time to get all of the sightseeing in without feeling rushed. 

One of the first things on the itinerary was a stroll across the Luís I Bridge. It’s a double-deck bridge, so when you walk along the top ‘deck’ you can not only see the cars and traffic below, but you can also take in views of the Duoro river and the valley, so it’s a very unique and scenic stroll. We also walked along the bottom deck but the views weren’t quite as magical, although it’s still pretty cool to walk right under the massive arch. 

While you’re walking along the top deck, stick to the narrow pavements as occasionally trams will pass through; I was a little taken aback at how many tourists just casually stepped out to get their photos, not really appearing to consider what would happen if a tram doesn’t stop in time! 

Once you’ve ticked off the bridge, there are plenty of beautiful places to explore in Porto. For unrivalled views of the city, take the climb to the top of the Clérigos tower. You’ll need to buy a ticket for a specific time slot, but we were able to return within half an hour of getting to the ticket desk, in the middle of July. 

The tower itself is pretty impressive, but the views from the top were breathtaking; there’s just something about looking out at the river, rooftops and valley views all from one vantage point. Next was a trip to the Porto-São Bento train station, famed for its high ceilings and walls covered in ornate mosaic tiles and intricate architecture. I reckon you could easily miss your train just staring at all of the eye-catching features. 

If you’re after more beauty, then the Livraria Lello bookshop is a must visit.

It’s probably appeared on your social media feeds already given its huge bookshelves, intricate architecture, stained glass ceilings and an iconic red spiral staircase. Honestly, you feel like you’ve stepped into Hogwarts. 

You have to pay €10 in advance and book a specific time slot, but if you buy some books, the €10 fee gets deducted from your total purchase. I opted for a 9.30am slot in the hope that the crowds wouldn’t be too bad. It was busy but I still got in within 15 minutes after my arrival time at the queue. Instantly, I could see what all the fuss is about – and I even ended up taking some books home. 

Amidst all of the exploring and shopping, I needed to find something to eat. At the Time Out Market I was able to try one of Porto’s traditional Francesinha dishes (think a giant ham and cheese toastie that’s actually packed with steak, ham and sausages, served with fires), and at almost every meal I managed to get some sort of seafood dish or salad because it truly is amazing in Porto. 

However there was one restaurant I needed to try – and I’m ready to be judged for this one. The world’s most beautiful McDonald’s, aka McDonald’s Imperial. Look, I was promised chandeliers and amazing Art Deco interiors, so I wanted to see if it was worth a trip. Spoiler; it was. It’s very pretty to look at; McDonald’s kept most of the original features when the original café first opened its doors in the 1990s.However, the shine quickly wears off. The restaurant appears to be quite big when you walk in, but it’s actually because the walls are covered in huge mirrors, so there’s not a huge amount of seating. Still, it was worth popping in just to tick it off the list. 

Overall between the sights, food and quirky attractions, Porto offered everything I wanted from a fun city break – and it’s definitely one I want to return to, if only to see if I can get my hands on another Francesinha… 

Want to visit for yourself? EasyJet, Ryanair and British Airways all offer direct flights to Porto from a host of UK airports.