Porto and the Costa Verde (Self Drive)

Porto (also known as Oporto) is the second city of Portugal, and a hub for the northern part of the country in terms of arts, entertainment, culture and shopping. Previously conquered by the Celts, Romans and Moors, Porto has been a jewel in the Portuguese royal crown for nearly a millennium. The city offers art treasures, medieval cathedrals, museums, shopping, and delicious food and drink, all while tourists enjoy breathtaking views of the River Douro, which empties into the Atlantic just three miles from the city center. Don't miss the center, in particular the Ribeira neighborhood, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Visit Porto Cathedral (Sé), Clerigos Church and Tower, Palacio da Bolsa, the gardens at the Palacio de Cristal, Ponte Dom Luis I, the port wine lodges of Vila Nova de Gaia, the Funicular dos Guindais, Praça da Liberdade, Avenida dos Aliados, and so much more!

Viana do Castelo is considered one of the most important cities in the north of Portugal. Sitting on the Atlantic Coast and on the mouth of the Lima River, Viana was long the first line of defense in protecting the coastline and valley around the town, and this tradition can be seen at such points of interest as the Forte de Santiago da Barra and the Forte da Areosa just to the city's northwest. The historic city center reached its golden age in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and even today it is still evident in the wide, tree-lined avenues leading to Rococo-era mansions with distinctly Manueline features.

Visit Forte de Santiago da Barra, Forte da Areosa, Navio Gil Eannes, Museu do Traje, Igreja Matriz de Viana do Castelo, Santuario de Santa Luzia, Museu de Artes Decorativas, Elevador de Santa Luzia, Ponte Eiffel, Praia do Cabedelo, and so much more!