Both cities have their fair share of upmarket eating places, where you can sample innovative, exciting food for less than you would pay for the same calibre of cooking elsewhere in Europe.

In Porto, the two-Michelin-starred Yeatman restaurant boasts amazing vistas to rival its food. This nineteenth-century iron latticework creation was designed by a pupil of Gustav Eiffel and today it still whisks passengers up from street level in the Baixa district to the Largo do Carmo above.

From Lisbon, you can catch a commuter train out to the smart seaside resort of Cascais, with its chi-chi marina and designer shops.

Another Lisbon option is to take a ferry and bus to the slightly more tacky Costa da Caparica , where a toy train runs along 10km of long sandy beaches battered by Atlantic breakers.

Lisbon, on the other hand, is larger and needs longer to get to grips with its attractions. Better still, with the cities less than three hours apart by train, why not hop on a train and visit both?

However, this is not the quietest neighborhood. Click here to check the latest prices and book your stay at Solar dos Poetas Hotel in Lisbon.

On the other hand, for those looking for a quieter area and a cheaper hotel, the easyHotel is a great option. Rooms were recently renovated and the hotel is pretty close to a metro station connecting to the city center.

Click here to book your stay at easyHotel in Lisbon. Both Lisbon and Porto can be very kid-friendly destinations.

However, Lisbon is nestled in seven hills, and if you have a small child, it might be challenging to go up and downhill all the time.

Just like for couples, which city you, solo traveler, should choose on your Porto vs Lisbon debate will depend on your travel style.

Lisbon is better for outgoing people who want to enjoy the local nightlife and experience a lively city. On the other hand, Porto is ideal for reserved travelers who rather have a day exploring historical sites and drinking and eating well.

Groups of friends or girls getaways, Lisbon is the place you want to go to. Sunbath on amazing nearby beaches. Maybe because Bruna grew up in a big city, and Frank loves bigger cities, but for us, Lisbon has more to offer together with an incredibly friendly atmosphere.

What about you? You can see my full guide to Porto here and my full guide to Lisbon here. Both cities have hills so they offer magnificent views.

The views of Lisbon are wider than the views from Porto and more numerous from the many hills in the city.

But, overall, my preference was for Porto, especially the view from the bridge or from Serra do Pillar towards the old town and with the curve of the Douro River.

I prefer it because the views are closer to the buildings. I love how many more details you can see. Above is the view from the top part of the central Dom Luis Bridge.

You can see the Ribeira old town at the bottom and the wharf for the traditional boats. Other interesting views include Serra do Pilar where you can admire both the bridge and the old town.

For another very different angle you can also enjoy the views from the Cathedral front. Very close to the rooftops! With hills all around the town, you can enjoy magnificent viewpoints from various angles.

Some will point you towards the castle while others show you the bridge. My favorite views are from the fortification of the castle itself.

Then you don't have the castle in the view but I like the angle see article. Another interesting one is from the top of the Santa Justa lift in the city center.

You are not as high so you have a great view of the rooftops and the street pavements see article. I think there is a very clear winner in terms of Cathedrals and it is Porto.

Between the location, the status and the Cloister, there is much more to see at Se do Porto. At the front, you can first stop to admire the views of the old town.

It is great because you have a lot of space to move back and take it all in. The Cathedral was built in the 12th and 13th century in Romanesque style.

And its adjacent Gothic cloister in the 14th century. Of course, alterations were made later but it remained an imposing structure overlooking the city.

It is not the most impressive cathedral in Europe, but I really enjoyed visiting the cloister. See my article. The Lisbon cathedral is along the tram line to climb to the castle.

You can also visit the cloister, but it is quite a different experience! It is still being searched. You are visiting ruins with different layers of history.

It is interesting but not grandiose like the Porto Cloister. In terms of architecture and monuments to visit, Lisbon is the clear winner. There is a wide range of monuments to visit in Lisbon: Castle, palaces, monastery, churches While Porto has a more limited selection of monuments to visit.

Places to stay in both these cities pop up like mushrooms. Everyone and their mother owns a hostel or an apartment to rent.

In Porto , all the years Porto has been numb for tourism have taken a toll in the accommodation offers. While you can get cheap dorm beds from as low as 10EUR per night, overall some guesthouses and cheap hotels still feel a bit old and lack in some infrastructure.

In comparison, Lisbon the offer is bigger in quantity and quality. It is now in the point where people are questioning the long-term benefit of opening up so many hotels and hostels.

In this particular area, I think Porto is going through what Lisbon went through… years ago. The capital has the advantage on this one, just because the offer is bigger.

Amazing value for money! All of these are located in the heart of the city, with WiFi and a rating of 8 or higher!

Charmingly music-themed hotel, super close to the center. Oh it comes with this stunning rooftop swimming pool. Most of them can even address you in good English which drops the communication barrier even more!

Still, it is pretty much accepted throughout the country that people from the North are more friendly the same happens in Game of Thrones , this must be a thing.

Whether was during the months I lived there or in all my trips afterward, Porto always made me feel at home.