Warmth Warmth is woven into the streets of Porto. It's exemplified in the way that by simply asking for directions in the street, you may end up having dinner with whoever you approached, dancing late into the night or at the very least sharing some port.

"Ancient, very noble, always loyal, undefeated city of Porto". This is one of many adages that inhabitants will proudly repeat when an outsider talks about their city - and they want you to cherish their city in the same way.

Eating out in one of the many tavernas is nearly always cheap and very cheerful: everything from a cup of coffee to a sandwich is made with characteristic Portuense love and dedication. Perhaps it's because Porto people have had to fight for what they want, transforming, renewing and adapting in order to survive - most recently when they were badly hit by the economic crash of 2007. Take one of their most traditional dishes: tripas à moda do Porto. It is made with beans, carrots and, of course, tripe. Rumour has it that when Porto was preparing to take down Ceuta in North Africa, the city's very best meat was reserved for sailors and soldiers, so only offal was left for city dwellers. To this day, locals are known as tripeiros (tripe-eaters), and it's a badge they wear with pride, having taken one for the team.

Stroll along the medieval Ribeira and get lost down winding cobbled streets lined with old-world merchants' houses, 15th-century churches and bustling cafes. Then cross over the River Doura for a mandatory holiday snap on one of the city's impressive bridges. The grandiose 19th-century Palácio de Bolsa, formerly a stock market, was built to impress potential European investors - just as Porto will not fail to impress you either.