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To Porto
Travelling to Porto
On the banks of the Douro River lies Portugal's second largest city, a place of historical charisma. The warm colours on the building walls match the warmth of the locals, who are renowned for their cordiality and hospitality. You will feel it yourself, with every step you take around Porto: When catching the retro yellow tram, around the most original guided tour of a historic city ever. Narrow, winding alleys and baroque churches will pop up in front of you, roughly portraying the Ribeira, the old medieval town.
One of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites for more than 20 years, Porto does not rest on the laurels of its eternal charm. Famous contemporary architects, such as Rem Koolhaas and Álvaro Siza Vieira, have left also their mark on the city’s horizon.
Art is a public asset for Porto and this evident everywhere: from the typical azulejo tiles, decorating hundreds of building walls, to the famous graffiti that adorn the city like a tattoo, even on medieval walls.
As the vineyards of the Douro valley - the largest wine-producing zone in the world - have ensured the divine gift of port wine for the city, the local cuisine follows suit. Famous chefs are seated in Porto, promoting it to a culinary destination that is constantly reinventing the traditional Portuguese cuisine.
Whether enjoying its lush and lively waterfront, or the picturesque rooftops of the hill, Porto looks like a colourful dream refreshed by the Atlantic breeze.
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Worth visiting
Palácio da Bolsa (Stock Exchange Palace): An exquisite neoclassical palace (1842 - 1910) in the Old Town, that housed the Porto Stock Exchange for years. Its interior design will impress you. Spend some time in the huge Moorish-style luxurious Arabian Hall featuring 18ct gold plated decorations.
The museums. Start with the basics: The best art museum of the city, the Museu Nacional Soares dos Reis (Soares dos Reis National Museum), features an extraordinary collection, ranging from neolithic finds to Portuguese modernism works. All these are housed in the amazing Palácio das Carrancas (Palace of the Carrancas), in Miragaia.
Next one, is the Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Serralves, the city's Museum of Contemporary Art. It combines the main building of the museum - work of the renowned Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza Vieira - with a lovely pink Art Deco villa, enclosed in a beautiful park. The ultimate destination for modern art exhibitions.
The Museu da Misericórdia do Porto, one of the prettiest churches of this historic district, houses a valuable collection of holy relics and paintings of the 15th – 17th century. Two in one!
The Centro Português de Fotografia (Portuguese Centre of Photography) is accommodated in a majestic building of 1792, which was a prison for decades. These prison cells of the past now often house modern photography exhibitions from Portugal and abroad.
Ponte de Dom Luís I (Dom Luís I Bridge). The arched metal bridge of 1886, built by a disciple of Gustave Eiffel, ensures a perfect view to the river and the city. Its two levels accommodate pedestrians, one metro line and car traffic.
Casa da Música: A minimalistic masterpiece, signed by the Dutch Rem Koolhaas, this is the heart of Porto’s cultural life and seat of the National Orchestra. A monolithic structure of glass, with two ultra-modern concert halls that will be the protagonists in 2021, when Porto becomes the European Capital of Culture.
Sé. Despite the extensive additions made to it over a period of six long centuries, the Porto Cathedral, built in the 12th century, still manages to show its Romanesque origins. Do notice the round Gothic window on the façade and the Gothic cloister in its interior, with the blue and white tiles on the walls.
Ribeira: The most famous postcards of Porto refer to the river front of the city, the Ribeira district. Inviting and colourful, like Lego building blocks, it is the heart of Porto and the most picturesque section of the historic centre that has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Medieval alleys and large pedestrian areas, monumental churches, the central square of Praça da Ribeira by the coast, with a view of the wooden boats floating in the river and the tavern kitchens being alight from early in the morning till late at night.
Igreja de São Francisco (Church of Saint Francis). If you only have time to see just one of the churches of Porto, this is the one to visit. The exterior of the Saint Francis’ church gives the impression of a Gothic church, but once you move inside, you will be amazed from the dazzling reign of baroque style. It is said that more than 100 kilos of pure gold were used for the plating of the interior decoration.
São Bento Train Station. One of the prettiest railway stations in the world, the São Bento was inaugurated in 1903 on the site of old convent. This is why its roof looks like a dome. The real attraction are the walls decorated with more than 20,000 azulejo tiles in the central hall, portraying historical battles of Portugal and themes from the country’s history of transports.
Torre dos Clérigos (Tower of the Clerics). A landmark in the skyline of Porto, it measures 76 metres high. The Tower of the Clerics was designed by the Italian master of baroque, Nicolau Nasoni some 250 years ago. Go up the twisting stairs with the 225 steps, to enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the Douro river to the wineries of Gaia.
Excursions around Porto
Foz do Douro: To the west of Porto, an old fishing village has now become one of the most sophisticated sea resorts of the wider region. Catch the tram from the city centre and enjoy a view of the Atlantic. Relaxed mood, lighthouses overlooking the ocean, botanical gardens perfect for walking and a promenade full of Atlantic-sized beach bars!
Guimarães. North-west to Porto, at a distance of 55 kilometres, the train (which is cheaper and faster) or the bus will take you to one of the prettiest historical cities of north Portugal. Palaces, fortresses and monumental churches make up the scenery of this quiet town.
Braga. Whether together with Guimarães, or separately as an individual trip, Braga is considered to be the religious hub of Portugal: Gothic churches, baroque monuments and easy-going squares are the in the very essence of this city, which is third largest in Portugal. Its historic university turns back the hands of time in the most lively manner.
Things to do in Porto
Walk in the Peneda-Gerês. The National Park of Portugal was designed 50 years ago and soon became a hotspot for nature lovers around the country and more. Mountainous nature, rich vegetation, pastures, valleys, lakes and sports activities make up the idyllic scenery - where castles also add a touch of history, remnants of the Roman occupation.
Tour in the Douro vineyards. A three-hour drive is enough to get you to the heaven of wine with beautiful villages stretching out in an area that is systematically cultivated since the 4th century. Dozens of estates and wineries - many of which are open to visitors - await you at the foot of mountains Marão and Montemuro, the mountains that for three centuries produce Port wine. Visit the huge stone-built cellars of the wineries and enjoy the fruity wine in the refined restaurants of Vila Nova de Gaia.
Food and Entertainment in Porto
In Porto you must start the other way round. The kingdom of the three varieties of Port wine awaits you in dozens of cool wine bars. It is only after you pick your wine that you must look for dishes to accompany it.
The cuisine in Porto - and in the entire country - are defined by seafood and meat. Cod in any possible variation is a national favourite. It goes without saying that when in Portugal, trying tapas with spicy sauces and dips is a must. Popular dishes include shrimps, grilled sardines, angler with rice.
As for meat dishes, do try the cozido à portuguesa (pot roast pork with cabbage), frango piri piri (juicy chicken), or the cardo verde (soup with onions and potatoes) and the feijoada (beans in red sauce). Die-hard lovers of the local cuisine may also try a type of tripe dish, the tripas à moda do Porto or tripeiros.
The Portuguese sweet pastry is called pastel de nata and is among the best dessert in the country.
The best restaurants of the city are found in the Matosinhos area, near the coast and the Porto de Leixões port.
Clearly, your wine also needs music in addition to food. On the Avenida dos Aliados street and around the Torre dos Clérigos, nightlife is buzzing.
Or you can head to the Ribeira and the Foz to enjoy the original fados scene, jazz bars, boho-style bars or elaborate wine bars. If wine bars are your thing, do visit the Cais de Gaia.
Transport from the airport to Porto
Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport is located 11 kilometres north of the city of Porto. The fastest and cheapest (the ticket costs around 3 euro) way to get to the airport from the city centre is by metro: in specific, catch the purple line “E-Violet” (Aeroporto - Estádio do Dragão). Services depart daily every 20-30 minutes and the trip takes about 25 minutes. The metro line service is available from 06.11 to 00.49. Porto Airport can also be reached by bus, shuttle bus and taxi. The taxi fare costs about 25 euro.