Designed by legendary Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, Casa da Musica is iconic in the city of Porto. Finished in 2005, the institution hosts three orchestras and boasts two gorgeous concert halls. The musical experiments that take place here befit the experimental design of the building: in 2008 the Orquestra Nacional do Porto put on explorative public performances where music was captured alongside the conductor and musicians’ gestures, which were interpreted by various laser sensors.

Founded in 1997, the Portuguese Center of Photography is housed in a former prison and is free to the public. Roam down institutional hallways and into the repurposed jail cells to view the frequently changing photography exhibitions.

Where the River Douro meets the Atlantic sits the refined suburb of Foz do Douro. Formerly a fishing community and port, the area is now home to affluent Porto residents and exudes a laidback beach culture. The avenues that line the waterfront (Avenida do Brasil and Avenida do Montevideo) are dotted with excellent restaurants and lively bars and cafes. Also of note in the neighborhood are the Castelo do Queijo (Praça de Gonçalves Zarco; (351) 22-618-1067) a former fortress that now has a small military museum, Pavilhao da Agua (Estrada da Circunvalação; (351) 22-615-1820) an interactive museum on water, and Sea Life Porto (R. Particular Nº 1 Castelo do Queijo; (351) 22-619-0400) a fun aquarium for kids. Don’t miss the impressive lighthouse and strolling the Praia dos Ingleses, which was inspired by Nice’s Promenade des Anglais.

Porto is renowned for its port wine production, but Gaia, about 20 minutes south on the other side of the Douro River, is home to the cellars (known as caves) where the massive barrels of port wine are stored. Visit one of the port lodges to tour the storehouses and sample port in their tasting rooms to get a feel for the port culture. Grahams (Rua do Agro 15, ((351)-22-377-6484) is a beautiful lodge with spectacular views of Porto and the bridge that connects Oporto and Gaia. It has a working cellar, tasting room and a museum explaining the history of port. Sandeman (Largo Miguel Bombarda 3, (351)-223-740-533), which has been in business for over 200 years, is housed in a historic building alongside the river. Take a tour of the storehouse to see the casks and conclude with a sampling of ports in their tasting room. There is also a seasonal terrace for cocktails. In its fourth century of port storage, Taylors (Rua do Choupelo 250; (351) 223-772- 956) provides audio tours through the warehouses to learn about the cellar’s history, tastings of their ports and a beautiful terrace for enjoying the wine with tapas.

Built in the 1400s as a Franciscan convent, this church boasts a Gothic exterior but ornate, very distinctly Baroque interiors, dripping in gilded carvings and over-the-topic design aspects. Recently out of an extensive renovation, the church, which abuts Palácio da Bolsa, is a must-see site in Porto.

Built in the late 1940’s, the Mercado Bom Sucesso was recently renovated and now includes a hotel, gourmet restaurant and a produce market that together create a cool ambience and modern feel. Don’t miss the crispy custard tarts from the Traveller Café, the traditional Portuguese snacks from Casa Santo Antonio or the delicious homemade cookies from Pauperio. The market also boasts frequent dance and live music performances as well as open-air televised futbol in the summer months.

A cultural institution, the Serralves Museum is the most important of its kind in Portugal. The brainchild of the Serralves Foundation, it includes a contemporary art museum, a park and a villa, examples of Contemporary, Modernist and Art Deco architecture respectively. Designed by Pritzker Prize–winning architect Alvaro Size, the grounds house works by noteworthy contemporary artists, including Claes Oldenburg, Richard Serra and Angelo de Sousa. At the end of May, the Museum takes over the entire city of Porto for the Serralves Festa, one of the country’s best-loved traditions. For an entire weekend, Porto is flooded with art, dance, performance art, music and a contemporary circus.