For the final leg of my trip to Portugal, we left Madeira and headed to Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for the port wine of the Douro Valley. Our flight to Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport in Porto was in the early morning hours. Upon landing, we took a taxi to our Airbnb on one of the main streets for tourism in the city. Once settled in, we explored the city on foot before heading to dinner to enjoy some good food and wine.
The following morning we got up early for a tour of the Douro Valley, where we stopped at two vineyards for a taste of Portuguese wine and took a boat tour of the Douro River. It was an especially hot day, so it was refreshing to get into the shade of the wine cellars.
After the tour we returned to Porto and had a nice dinner before heading back for the evening. The next day we were leaving in the afternoon, so we dropped our bags off at a storage locker so we could enjoy a short tuk tuk tour of the city and check out Livraria Lello, the oldest library in Porto and said to be J.K. Rowling’s inspiration for Hogwarts in the Harry Potter series. After stopping for gelato, we headed to pick up our bags to head to the airport and say goodbye to Porto.
At the end of our trip, I reflected on how much fun I had experiencing Portugal with some of my best friends. While it’s always nice to return home after a long vacation, I wish we had a few more days to explore. We’ll just have to go back and see the rest!
— Aly Evans, administrative assistant
Read This Next
Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedDaily
Jul 22, 2026The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection Launches Sleepwear Collection with Eberjey
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection recently debuted an exclusive pajama collection with Eberjey, featuring a limited-edition print inspired by the sea. This marks the luxury travel brand’s first-ever sleepwear collaboration and celebrates Eberjey’s 30th anniversary.
Sponsored Content
Luxury Travel in Chilean Patagonia: Where Refinement Meets the Wild Edge
At the gateway to Chilean Patagonia, Los Lagos opens a landscape in constant motion. Volcanic peaks rise sharply above glacial lakes, mist moves through dense forests, and light shifts across every horizon. Here, luxury travel in Chilean Patagonia unfolds moment by moment, balancing raw energy with seamless comfort.
Global City Guidebook 2026
Jul 21, 2026Savor the Cities Where Street Food is All the Rage
The world’s great street food cities build daily life around sidewalk cooking, market stalls and folding tables. In these places, office workers grab lunch from the same vendors feeding students after midnight, and families gather beneath neon lights for dishes perfected across generations. The best versions keep the food fast and affordable, defining a grab- and-go lifestyle of convenient quality. Some have anchored the global street food conversation for decades, while others are bringing the same spirit with rising scenes and easier access.
Daily
Jul 21, 2026Forte Village Resort Unveiled Most Ambitious Culinary Lineup for 2026
Southern Sardinia’s Forte Village Resort recently unveiled its most ambitious culinary lineup to date for the 2026 season. New additions this season include the resort's first Chinese restaurant, MU Dim Sum; Trattoria Rocco Iannone's Cucina Naturale; and Zero KM, a new dining concept for children built around local, seasonal ingredients. Favorites return, including Ristorante da Cracco, this season reuniting Chef Carlo Cracco and longtime collaborator Chef Matteo Baronetto; the Indian restaurant; and the Celebrity Chef Nights series at Terrazza Forte Bay with an array of Michelin-starred chefs.
Sponsored Content
An Adults-Only Resort for All the Milestone Moments
On Saturday, Feb.14, Devossion by Live Aqua celebrated its grand opening, marking a significant milestone for Grupo Posadas and the Live Aqua brand. This adults-only resort focuses on celebration, authentic Mexican experiences and elevated hospitality — perfectly situated in the heart of the Riviera Maya.
Global City Guidebook 2026
Jul 21, 2026Global City Guidebook: Virginia’s Historic Triangle
The Historic Triangle of Virginia spans three colonial towns: Jamestown, Colonial Williamsburg and Yorktown, all situated between the York and James rivers. These three communities hold much of America’s early colonial history, with restored attractions, museums, archaeological sites, preserved buildings and battlefields detailing a long and rich history.
Capella Kyoto Hotel Debuts in Japan
Daily
Jul 20, 2026Destinations
Jul 20, 20267 Reasons to Put Belize on Your Travel List
It’s time to start dreaming of your next trip. Here’s some destination inspiration for you. Take a visual journey through Belize with us.
Sponsored Content
IHG Business Edge: A Smarter Way for Small- and Mid-Sized Businesses to Travel
IHG Business Edge is a complimentary travel program designed to help small- and mid-sized businesses manage travel more efficiently while saving on hotel stays. Members enjoy access to guaranteed discounts, loyalty benefits, and partner offers across IHG Hotels & Resorts’ global portfolio of 7,000-plus hotels in more than 100 countries.
Daily
Jul 20, 2026London’s The Lanesborough Unveils New Experiences, Additions
The height of London’s social season is underway, and one of London’s most luxurious hotels celebrates with a collection of new experiences. From a collaboration with Cowdray Park Polo Club to a Laurent-Perrier partnership to welcome Wimbledon to the debut of Garden Room Terrace, The Lanesborough has an exciting summer lined up.
ShareThis