Condé Nast Traveller asked its readers to vote for the friendliest european city, in which Porto and its people were amongst their choice. Sitting in a very prestigious fifth place, with only San Sebastian (Basque Country), Bruges (Belgium), Reykjavik (Iceland) and Copenhagen (Denmark) as the top four of the list, Porto continues to establish itself as a leading European city to visit and discover.
Highlighted by its cobbled and narrow streets, history, architecture, gastronomy, welcoming people and warm weather, Porto has been attracting visitors for years to come. Starting on the benches of Douro River at Ribeira and walking all the way up to Avenida dos Aliados or to Palácio de Cristal to end the day with one of the most marvelous sunsets the city can offer.
With a growing offer of airlines arriving at Porto, the city has thrived, becoming a destination of choice for both business and vacation trips. An example of this exponential development is the continuous opening of luxury hotels, fancy cafes, known boutiques and clothing shops. Also, as Condé Nast Traveller points in their own words: “If you’re in the mood for shopping, staying local and buying second hand to support independent makers and sellers, this is a great way to be a more ethical explorer, and Centro Comercial Bombarda is a great arcade for vintage and vinyl finds”.
Adding to this flourishment of commerce, Porto has also become the choice of digital nomads who establish themselves here and call Porto their home. Like them, we’ve also been experiencing a continuous rise in international students, who find in Porto some of the Portuguese most prestigious universities.
All of this is possible due to Porto’s kind inhabitants and the way the “Portuenses” have been receiving and welcoming foreigners.
