The five historical museum buildings on Museum Island have been part of UNESCO world heritage since 1999, and represent a collection that is unique in the world. Each museum building on the island was designed by famous architects of their time. Museum Island is home to collections in the Altes Museum (Old Museum), the Alte Nationalgalerie (Old National Gallery), the Bode Museum, and the Neues Museum (New Museum). The Pergamon Museum is closed for renovation until 2037 or 2043. The exhibitions cover prehistoric times, ancient history and 19th-century art.

The city of Porto is advantageously located right on the Atlantic coast, meaning there is no shortage of beaches within easy walking distance of all the main attractions. For sunbathing or swimming, visit the sandy Praia dos Ingleses or Matosinhos. Watch the sunset while enjoying fine food and a few drinks on the promenade of Gondarem Beach, a rocky shoreline close to the city centre.

Without the novels of Zane Grey, it is quite possible that Hollywood greats like John Wayne, Shirley Temple, and Randolph Scott would have been lost on the world. Grey’s outstanding Westerns became movies that launched the careers of cinema mainstays, and his novels have been published in over 20 languages, with estimated annual sales between 500,000 and one million copies worldwide. Now his cabin stands as a historical site for visitors. While not everything in the cabin is original, certain pieces allow visitors to visualize Grey’s life in the early 20th century. Find cowboy boots, Grey’s original saddle, a writer’s chair, a cot, and a bear rug.

Built between 1842 and 1870 on the former site of a Franciscan convent, The Stock Exchange Palace, or Palácio da Bolsa, is an impressive building in Neoclassical style, which currently houses the headquarters of the Porto Commercial Association. Classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the Palácio da Bolsa attracts around 200,000 visitors a year, making it the most visited monument in the north of Portugal. Take a guided tour to see up close its magnificently decorated rooms, especially the Arab Room, which features the exotic Moorish Revival architecture. This room also serves as a reception hall for heads of state and personalities visiting the city.