2 Best Sights in Greater Porto, Porto

Home to the National Orchestra of Porto and Portugal's Baroque Orchestra, this soaring postmodern temple to music was designed by legendary Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas ahead of Porto's stint as the European Culture Capital in 2001. There are frequent musical events, but the gravity-defying building deserves a visit even when the stage is bare. Book in advance for hour-long English-language guided tours at 4 pm daily.

Designed by Álvaro Siza Vieira, a winner of the Pritzker Prize and Portugal's best-known architect, this is Portugal's leading contemporary art museum. The facility has lovely gardens (which can be explored by treetop walk) and interesting exhibitions of works by painters, sculptors, and designers from throughout Portugal and around the world. Visitors can recharge flagging energy levels with a drink in the Auditório bar, tea and cakes at the pleasant Case de Chá, or a full meal in the Restaurante de Serralves.