24/08/2026
⚓ Porto & Vila Nova de Gaia
A lovely stop while sailing down Portugal on Jalan. Colorful streets, great food, and Port wine at every corner.
We wandered through São Bento train station, its main hall covered in over 20 000 ceramic tiles telling the story of Portugal.
Then we stopped for lunch: francesinha for Benoit (Porto’s legendary sandwich, stacked with meats, melted cheese and a spicy tomato-beer sauce) and a classic seafood rice for Anna.
Being sardine fans, a stop at the most typical (and touristic) shop in town was a must.
We crossed the Dom-Luís bridge, watching a few brave boys jump into the Douro from the upper level, then made our way to the famous Lello library. Stunning, but packed with tourists, and now you need a timed ticket just to get in.
Our last stop was Vila Nova de Gaia, across the river, where Port wine has been aged for centuries in cellars like Sandeman, Graham’s and Taylor’s before shipping out to the rest of Europe.
