This cultural district in the Gaia neighborhood on the opposite side of the Douro River from the Old Town is perfectly positioned for postcard-worthy views of Porto. From this vantage point, Porto’s iconic building facades unfurl like a Madras patchwork of colors.

World of Wine is the perfect place to begin any visit to and through Portugal. Part museum, part dining, part shopping and part entertainment districts, this is a microcosm of all things Portuguese when it comes to food, drinks, art and history. Opened in mid-2020, but finally getting the global attention it deserves, World of Wine is a WOW experience. It actually goes by that acronym, and it’s easy to see why.

It originally began as an effort to share knowledge about the world of Portuguese wine, beyond its signature Port wine. Since then, it has expanded thanks to the vision of its founder Adrian Bridge who has numerous other involvements in the area including the wine-themed The Yeatman Hotel, a Relais & Chateaux property next to WOW that was seen as a catalyst for the entire right bank of the river when it comes to revitalizing it.