“Foz Velha”, or the Old Foz (“Foz” river mouth) used to be a village outside the city, but during the 19th century city expansion it was integrated into Porto. Foz (the old and the new) is the posh part of the city. Even with its high prices, Foz Velha kept its village-like charm. It’s almost like Ribeira, but with more light, better looks, and closer to the sea.

If you feel like going for a walk, finding sights from medieval constructions to modern architecture, this is the place to go. On sunny days, it’s just wonderful. You’ll just forget that you’re in a big busy city, and the best thing is to get lost among the narrow streets, beautiful houses, and vibrant colours. The best Foz Velha is inside a “big squared area” formed by Rua Diogo Botelho, Rua Beneditina, the River, and Rua de Diu (you’ll find nice shops nearby).

A good reference is to start at Rua Padre Luis Cabral, go down towards the river, and explore both to the left and to the right.

Several good (and somewhat expensive) restaurants can be found in this area. “Al Forno” (Italian) (the original and first one of the chain), “Oporto” (Portuguese), “Casa de Pasto da Palmeira” (Portuguese tapas with a twist), “Museu dos Presuntos” (Portuguese tapas), “Tentações no Prato” (home-made traditional comfort food), among many others.

On warm days, if you like a calm good stroll, with some surprises along the way, go to Foz Velha and get lost.