Runway to Rail: Porto - Lisbon and Barcelona

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!

Lisbon, a dazzling city stretching along the Tagus river, makes an enchanting European capital. Its nucleus, an ancient fortress, is now circled by neighborhoods drenched with medieval charm. Handcrafts - from embroidery to leatherwork - are peddled right on the streets. At night, yellow electric tramcars continue to wind their way up and down the hills to the sound of traditional Fado songs. Ample opportunities exist for seeing popular celebrations, for shopping, and for enjoying the nightlife along the riverbank.

Visit Alfama, Baixa and Chiado, Se de Lisboa, Sao Roque Church, Mosteiro dos Jeronimos, Torre de Belem, Discoveries Monument, Museu Nacional dos Coches, Parque das Nacos, Elevador de Santa Justa, Tram 28 and so much more!

Barcelona, the old Roman Barcino, is Spain's second city, always on the biting edge of fashion, architecture, food, style, music and good times. Walk its narrow streets and wonderful plazas, or along the Ramblas, stretching from Plaza de Cataluna to the Harbor, encompassing the magic of the city: stalls full of books, birds and flowers. The city's most powerful monuments open a window onto its history: the intricately carved edifices that comprise the medieval Gothic Quarter; the curvilinear modernism (Catalan Art Nouveau) that inspired Gaudi's Sagrada Familia; and the seminal surrealist works of Picasso and Miró, found in museums that peg Barcelona as a crucial incubator for 20th-century art. The recent restoration of the port area began with the development of a harbor for the Olympic Games of 1992. New modern squares, designed by leading artists such as Miro and Barcelo have created a new style alongside Gaudi's modernist buildings. Now the city is ready to show every visitor how it has been transformed into one of the most moderns and active cities in Europe.

Explore The Sagrada Familia, Picasso Museum, La Rambla, Barri Gotic, Park Guell, modernist buildings, Montjuic Hill, Barceloneta and so much more!