"Old world charm with a burst of new world energy"

Porto airport is small and calm, and access to the city is very easy. The Metro station is directly outside the airport (and even has fresh turf between the tracks). For less than €3 (£2.50), you'll be in the city centre within 25 minutes.

Oliver Balch, a British writer and author, who specializes in business and international affairs, has written for The Guardian, the Daily Telegraph, Huffington Post, The Spectator, Literary Review, and the Financial Times.

Balch lives between Hay-on-Wye, Wales and Porto, Portugal and as an Iberian aficionado and The Telegraph's resident expert, he does know how to connect travellers with Porto.

In-between "sitting in one of Porto's cafés enjoying a pastel de nata" or "jogging beside the river Douro to work off the calories", Oliver explains how to best savour a whole 48 hours in the Invicta.

Porto is just 2hrs 20 mins flight time from London, and as Balch states, "Porto airport has a fantastic metro that takes you right to the heart of the city for just €2.60.

Most central destinations are then just a short walk or cab ride from Trindade station".

So let's take a peak and unveil Oliver's roadmap to enjoying 48 hours in Porto.

In the morning of "day one", have a strengthened breakfast at Manteigaria (Rua de Alexandre Braga 24) and delight yourself with some pastéis de nata (custard tarts).

Head then to Bolhão Market, just a few meters away, "to rub shoulders with locals" during morning shopping. The Bolhão ancient and iconic building is ongoing long due refurbishments, which led stallholders to temporarily set up shop at La Vie shopping centre on Rua de Fernandes Tomás, but "this busy working market remains as buzzy as ever."

Take a walk on pedestrianized Santa Catarina street and visit the Church of St. Ildefonso (Rua de Santo Ildefonso 11), take some time to admire "the ornate blue azulejo tiles for which Porto is rightly famous" and head to São Bento railway station, just down the hill, where there are around 20,000 azulejo tiles.

When afternoon comes, there's plenty to choose at "pretty Rua das Flores, a popular street for shops, cafés and restaurants".

"If your legs can take it", go up hill to Torre dos Clérigos and "get an unparalleled view over the city below".

Late in the afternoon, indulge at Vogue Café, and experience "some of the best cocktails in town".

"Day two", is the day you should go to the Douro shores and try the Port wine, in wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia. And nearby Dom Luis I bridge, in Ribeira, there are plenty of places that offer the perfect "petiscos" (finger food), bacalhau (cod) or francesinha (a meat-based, cheese-soaked, beer-sauced sandwich).

Click here and discover more on what to do and where to go in majestic Porto.