Porto, Portugal

Portugal has won the hearts of many solo travelers for its colorful scenery, friendly residents, and petiscos—bite-sized snacks that you dare not compare to tapas in front of a local.

What makes Porto in particular stand out is its relaxed pace, historic bookstores—where you’ll notice the pretty detail of how books by the same author are tied together with thin ropes—and opportunities to connect with fellow travelers over a glass of port wine (or vinho verde) at a tasting or a free walking tour. The hilly city is navigable enough that you can see it on foot, but if you want to take a trip to the beach, it should not take you more than 30 minutes by bus.

The city’s most iconic dish is the francesinha, which unlike a dainty petisco, features bread layered with linguiça sausage, bacon, more pork, beef, and cheese, in a moat of tomato-beer sauce and fries to boot. If you fancy only two kinds of pork in your sandwich, the wine-rosemary-garlic roasted meat in a terylene is for you; order it with sparkling red wine at Flor dos Congregados, a tasca (old-fashioned restaurant) down a secluded alley. And don’t forget to sample a pastel de nata...everywhere you see one.


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