Norte
Granite towns, green valleys and the Douro
The north is where Porto, the Douro wine valley, Braga and Guimarães sit. It is greener and wetter than the south, with granite villages, vineyards on terraces and the Peneda-Gerês National Park on the Galician border.
Porto’s historic centre and the Alto Douro wine region are both on the UNESCO World Heritage List, as is the historic centre of Guimarães.
What to eat and drink
Francesinha, tripe Porto-style, vinho verde, port
When to go
Spring and early autumn for the Douro harvest season
Must-see places
Porto
Tiled churches, the Ribeira and the port lodges across the river in Gaia. The historic centre is World Heritage.
UNESCODouro Valley
Terraced vineyards along the river: one of the world’s oldest demarcated wine regions is a World Heritage landscape.
UNESCOGuimarães
Medieval town tied to the founding of Portugal; the historic centre is World Heritage.
UNESCOBraga – Bom Jesus
A baroque pilgrimage stairway on a hill above Braga, one of Portugal’s oldest cities.
UNESCOPeneda-Gerês
Portugal’s only national park: granite peaks, waterfalls and mountain villages.
Sources: Visit Portugal · UNESCO · checked 2026-11-06