Porto is very close to some other worthy-to-see cities in Northern Portugal. But the most spectacular attraction near Porto is the Douro Valley , where wine has been produced for centuries.

Lisbon is not inferior in terms of daytrips. Sintra is also a fantastic getaway. You can find many palaces, castles and other historic monuments around the town center.

The green hills around add to the charming and quaint atmosphere of it all. Lisbon and Porto are contrasting cities in many ways.

It would give you a better grasp of the different traits of Portuguese culture. It might shed some light from another perspective. As the capital, Lisbon feels much more busy, with a lot more happening than Porto.

Defining Lisbon in one word: trendy. Porto has awakened for tourism much later and it shows. The Portuguese essence is much more conveyed here, whether is it in the people, the food or in the lifestyle.

Porto definitely feels more authentic. Defining Porto in one word: traditional. Both cities have their fair share of upmarket eating places, where you can sample innovative, exciting food for less than you would pay for the same calibre of cooking elsewhere in Europe.

In Porto, the two-Michelin-starred Yeatman restaurant boasts amazing vistas to rival its food. This nineteenth-century iron latticework creation was designed by a pupil of Gustav Eiffel and today it still whisks passengers up from street level in the Baixa district to the Largo do Carmo above.

From Lisbon, you can catch a commuter train out to the smart seaside resort of Cascais, with its chi-chi marina and designer shops.

Another Lisbon option is to take a ferry and bus to the slightly more tacky Costa da Caparica , where a toy train runs along 10km of long sandy beaches battered by Atlantic breakers.

Lisbon, on the other hand, is larger and needs longer to get to grips with its attractions. Better still, with the cities less than three hours apart by train, why not hop on a train and visit both?

The Cathedral was built in the 12th and 13th century in Romanesque style. And its adjacent Gothic cloister in the 14th century.

Of course, alterations were made later but it remained an imposing structure overlooking the city. It is not the most impressive cathedral in Europe, but I really enjoyed visiting the cloister.

See my article. The Lisbon cathedral is along the tram line to climb to the castle. You can also visit the cloister, but it is quite a different experience!

It is still being searched. You are visiting ruins with different layers of history. It is interesting but not grandiose like the Porto Cloister.

In terms of architecture and monuments to visit, Lisbon is the clear winner. There is a wide range of monuments to visit in Lisbon: Castle, palaces, monastery, churches While Porto has a more limited selection of monuments to visit.

If visiting Porto, you should not miss the double Carmo church with the 1m wide house in between, the Clerigos tower overlooking the city you can even climb to the top!

More ideas on my article about Porto here. If you love architecture from different periods and fascinating buildings, Lisbon is for you.

There is no shortage of monuments to visit:. All the best views and monuments in both cities, along with many other beautiful places, are included in my eBook.

Be overwhelmed by the beauty, not the planning! Both Porto and Lisbon have been built near the mouth of a river on the Atlantic Coast. However the Douro river narrows right away while the Tagus has created a large estuary where Lisbon stands.

So it is easier and more scenic to appreciate the Douro River in Porto. Porto has been built around the Douro River. Rio Douro means river of gold.

It is a mile long snake that goes all the way to the Eastern border of Portugal with Spain. It is really appreciated by those enjoying a cruise to discover all the historical and magnificent vineyards.

The wide body of water is great to make port on a cruise, but makes the city less scenic as Porto. Both cities are famous for their vibrant old center.

I know many people rave about the Alfama district in Lisbon, but I just did not enjoy it much. I had a clear preference for the old charm of the Ribeira area in Porto.

Loved the old narrow buildings and colors. In Porto, the old center is called Ribeira, on the North shore of the Douro river.

However if you are claustrophobic, know that there are many narrow streets with not much light entering. In Lisbon the best-known oldest neighborhood is Alfama.

Categories Portugal. Portugal is an incredible country with great options for food, attractions, and ridiculously pretty landscapes.

Although Porto is one of the biggest cities in Portugal, Porto is still half the size of Lisbon and has half of the population as well.

As a result, Porto is much less touristy and quieter than Lisbon. Probably not for long as people are traveling more and more to this quaint city.

Well, you can also do that Lisbon of course, but it turns out the food in Porto is slightly better seasoned, and in our opinion, a tad tastier too.

Granted, food in Porto is delicious, but we also had truly mouthwatering dishes in small family restaurants in Lisbon. Port wine, which for centuries is claimed to be the best wine, has this name for a very good reason — Douro Valley, a region where top-notch wine has been produced for centuries, is close to Porto.

Besides Douro Valley, other pleasant small cities and towns are great options to explore the Portuguese countryside a bit more:. Being a smaller city has its advantages too.

Prices of accommodation, meals, and attractions are considerably lower in Porto in comparison with Lisbon.

But know that Portugal, in general, is the cheapest country in Western Europe. Lots of restaurants and bars nearby too. Click here to book your stay at The Gate Hotel in Porto.

Home > City comparison > Lisbon vs Porto. 77 points. Lisbon. 55 points. Porto. 6/14/ · Although Porto is one of the biggest cities in Portugal, Porto is still half the size of Lisbon and has half of the population as well. The city feels much more authentic and traditional than Lisbon too. escape hordes of tourists. As mentioned above, Porto isn’t on the list of places to visit in Portugal for lots of tourists who visit the country. 10/7/ · Porto has a lot of traditional little family restaurants to discover in the old quarter while Lisbon has a bigger choice of International Cuisine. And in terms of beverages, Porto is famous for the Port wine and the caves you can visit right in the city. In Lisbon, the main drink is the ginjinha liquor, a .

Tweet 0. The Spedition Browsergame if you a wine enthusiast! You can see the Ribeira old town at the bottom and the wharf for the traditional boats. You are not as Net Debit Gmbh so you have a great view of the rooftops and the street pavements see article. Some will point you towards the castle while others show you the bridge. For us, Lisbon is prettier than Porto and the colorful often blue tiles and pastel-colored buildings certainly Porto Vs Lissabon with that feeling. But if you prefer architecture and museums, head to Lisbon If you have just a weekend, choose Porto Merkur Games if you want to spend a whole week in a region, prefer Lisbon. Prices of accommodation, meals, and attractions are considerably lower in Porto in comparison with Lisbon. Old center. The wide body of water is great to make port on a Spanien Vs Deutschland, but makes the city less scenic as Porto. Chiado is an excellent neighborhood in Lisbon close Caesars Online many attractions and most restaurants we visited. Mini Lotto Quoten, that also reflects in the overall aesthetic of Lisbon, of course. The capital has the advantage on this one, just because the offer is bigger. And its adjacent Pokerstars Casino App cloister in the 14th century. To have a complete experience, stop by A Ginjinha Bar.