Port wine, the Douro River, francesinhas and cachorrinhos; there is so much to love about Porto, especially for first-time visitors.

After spending a few days exploring the cobblestone streets of Porto, we were in an Uber on our way to Campanha Railway Station when our driver began describing to us the differences between Porto and Lisbon.

According to him, Lisbon is more contemporary and exciting. It’s more of a party city and a melting pot of different cultures while Porto remains relatively homogenous and unchanged. Being a Porto native, he said it in a way that didn’t sound flattering to Lisbon.

I wasn’t in the position to agree or disagree but what he said seemed largely true. Lisbon did seem like the more exciting melting pot while Porto was like its older, more fastidious sister. As the local saying goes: “Coimbra sings; Braga prays; Lisbon shows off; and Porto works.”

Porto may not have the flair of Portugal’s capital but what it lacks in panache it more than makes up for with character and charm.

I found Porto to be an exceedingly fascinating city, steeped in history and culture and proud of an identity uniquely its own.