Fodor's Expert Review Ponte Dom Luís I

Designed by Teófilo Seyrig (who apprenticed for Gustave Eiffel), this two-tiered metal bridge leads directly to the city of Vila Nova de Gaia. On hot summer days some brave souls dive straight into the waters below for a swim, but it's defintiely not for the fainthearted. For most visitors, the real glory is the magnificent view of downtown Porto. The jumble of red-tile roofs on pastel-color buildings is reflected in the majestic Douro River; if the sun is shining just right, everything appears to be washed in gold. By the foot of the bridge is the lower station of the Funicular dos Guindais, the quaintest part of the city's public transportation system, which cranks uphill to the Batalha neighborhood.