Fly from Nice to Porto

You’ve probably already guessed: Porto owes its name to the Latin portus, or port. Since the time of the Romans, the city has always traded with the rest of Europe, when it wasn’t busy discovering new worlds. This seafaring, mercantile history still has a big place in Porto culture. It’s responsible for two of its jewels: incredible sites full of churches and ostentatious palaces, evidence of the former colonial empire; and a wine, the infamous port. Share a glass of it with that special someone, eyes still full of golden Baroque splendour - a moment of pure pleasure.
But Porto isn’t just for foodies and scholars. This picturesque city has many simple pleasures to offer visitors, even for little ones, making it a great place for a family holiday. Wander, hand in hand, through the residential areas. Take the tramway around town. Share a francesinha, the local “burger” with melted cheese and a beer-based sauce. Jump into the waves of the Atlantic that wash up on the sandy beaches at Matosinhos or Carneiro. Float down the Douro on a river cruise and take in its natural green valley.

• Wander around Ribeira, the lower part of the old city, known for its high, colourful façades. Visit the Baroque São Francisco church before sitting down to a drink on the banks of the Douro and watching the rabelos (traditional wooden boats) float by.
• Go into the Palácio da Bolsa, the chamber of commerce, that many consider the most beautiful building in the city with its immense skylight, grand staircase, lavishly decorated rooms, and more.
• Stroll from one square to another as you climb to the top of the Baixa, Porto's downtown, and take in Sé do Porto, the Roman cathedral that’s reigned over the city for nine centuries.
• Climb a bit more, up the 240 steps of the Torre dos Clérigos, the highest bell tower in Portugal at 76 metres. A breathtaking view of the city!
• Go window shopping on Santa Catarina, the liveliest pedestrian street in Porto, and home of its street artists. Along the way, take time to admire the Capela das Almas, a chapel adorned with 15,000 azulejos, the large stone tiles typical of the Iberian Peninsula.
• Have a drink at Café Majestic, known as one of the most beautiful cafés in the world. Its Art Nouveau decor has played host to the local intelligentsia for nearly 100 years.
• Head into the Lello & Irmão Bookstore, one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world with a façade of exquisite marble and wood panelling. Founded 150 years ago, this temple of literature inspired the Hogwarts library in JK Rowling's Harry Potter.
• Have a drink in one of the many bars of the Galerias de Paris, the place to be if you're looking to party. Here, everyone drinks in the streets which gives it an atmosphere like nowhere else.
• Cross the famous Dom Luis, the large metal bridge that spans the Douro and takes you to Vila Nova de Gaia, where you’ll find the best port makers. Nearly all of them offer winery tours and tasting.
• Plunge into Porto culture by visiting the Portuguese Centre for Photography which has excellent exhibitions, or the Casa da Música for its ultra-contemporary architecture and musical talent.