Situated at the mouth of the Douro River, Porto is the second largest city in Portugal and gateway to the northern regions. Although the city is quite large, it’s so charming that you might feel like you’re in a small town. In recent years it’s grown in popularity, with many young tourists and retirees alike flocking here to pack the city’s famous wine cellars. In Porto’s historic city center (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), you can roam cobblestone streets, marvel at the various buildings with decorative blue tiles known as azulejos and find many hidden gems. Porto was our first stop when visiting Portugal and we must say, it was a perfect introduction to this beautiful country.