Porto, a great destination for a city break
Portugal's second city, Porto, is not as well known as its sister city, beautiful Lisbon. However, the city's virtues are certainly not lacking and can be discovered by strolling through its city centre. You will love wandering through its cobbled streets, contemplating its baroque churches, exploring its gardens, walking along the banks of its river, or shopping in its ultra-trendy vintage shops... It’s an ideal destination for a city break and appeals to couples looking for a romantic weekend as well as friends looking for a festive stay!
Porto is an ideal European capital to visit for a few days. Suitable for families with children, Porto is still a destination where you will have to walk a lot. If you have children in prams, make sure you bring a pushchair as there are a lot of stairs. This destination is also ideal for travellers who want to stay for a week and take the opportunity to visit the Douro Valley and its many vineyards. The region offers many curiosities for those who want to spend more than just a weekend in the north of Portugal.
Porto has many restaurants, including one starred in the famous Michelin Guide. Have lunch or dinner on the banks of the Douro River. The quays are full of small eateries.
Be sure to try the many local specialities: Porto-style tripe (beef tripe with beans), Gomes de Sá-style cod (potatoes, cod, eggs, parsley), fresh fish in summer (grilled sardines, but also sea bream and whiting), roast kid, seafood panade or rice and octopus with rice and, of course, francesinha and pasteis de nata.
And of course, always in moderation, a visit to Porto is also an opportunity to taste its wine and learn more about its history and production in one of the many cellars on the other side of the river. Douro.
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Porto is serviced by almost all major airports in the UK for very affordable prices. You can fly with a range of companies, including easyJet, Tap Air Portugal, Ryanair, and Wizz.
For accommodation, it is best to book a hotel in the city center or an aparthotel if you want to have a kitchen to have a few meals on site and save on the restaurant budget. Many hotels will offer you a unique experience for your stay in Porto.
The best months to visit Porto and enjoy all its tourist attractions are May, June and September. In July and August it is quite hot, but this is the best time to enjoy the beaches of Foz Do Douro. The city is also pleasant in winter, when you will find a mild temperature*.
Most sightseeing can be done on foot, but if you want to get around more quickly, you can use public transport.
Metro
You can take a 24-hour pass that covers the metro and bus, it costs between £3.60 for the city centre and £7.30 for the furthest area. You can also buy the rechargeable Andante card, which costs £0.50. To get to the airport from the city centre you'll need to take line E (purple).
Taxis
A day's journey in the city centre costs around £4.30 to £6.10 and £18 to £22 from the airport. You can also travel by bus, tram (two of which are vintage) and funicular railway. Find all the maps and fares on the STCP website.
If you're planning to do a lot of sightseeing in Porto, there's a great card for discounts in many places: the _Porto Card_, on sale at all tourist offices (1/2/3/4-day card for £11/17/22/29). It allows you to use public transport free of charge, to have free or very preferential access to museums, to have discounts on cruises and even in certain restaurants and shops.
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