As you’re wandering around Porto, preferably on a nice sunny day, you might get a bit tired from walking up and down the hills – yep, there are some seriously steep streets downtown! – and you might want to take a little break. If you’re in the city center, coming across a nice little park with green areas where you can lounge around is not the easiest of tasks. But I have a little tip to share, so I’ve got you covered!

A few years ago, it would have been crazy for me to recommend that you go to this particular spot – it was an abandoned grimy concrete block, right next to Porto’s postcard monument, Torre dos Clérigos. But then, this area started emerging as the hippest part of town and people started taking an interest. Public areas that were once ignored started being revamped. And we gained a new city retreat.

Let me introduce you to Jardim das Oliveiras, in Praça de Lisboa. It’s the rooftop at a commercial gallery turned into a nice little green area, perfect for a midday break. My ideal scenario: On a sunny day, go grab your choice of drink at Base (a bar in the garden), and head on to the park. Find a spot beneath one of the beautiful olive trees, relax, do a little reading and some people-watching and replenish your energy to get back to exploring this amazing city.