Porto, European Best Destination 2012
Travel Guide to visit Porto.
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BEM-VINDO AO PORTO!
Porto is exceptional. In more ways than one. Elected Best European Destination 2012 by the european citizens, Porto, the "Cidade Invicta" (unvanquished city) is history, is architecture, culture, gastronomy, trade, encounters and discoveries.
Porto has all the charm of towns which happily cohabit with their river. You can stroll along the River Douro (river of gold) in the Ribeira, fly over it by helicopter or discover Porto ‘s architecture, its amazing landscapes and magnificent bridges by taking a cruise on this majestic river. Porto is also a sea city and in the briefest of time a tram will bring you to Foz do Douro’s gentle beaches face to face with the Atlantic.
Enter the sumptuously cool Palacio da Bolsa, and walk through history with Portuguese adventurers, follow the country’s trade routes and be stunned by the treasures which they brought back. Remarkable buildings such as the Sé Catédral and its terraces offer superb viewpoints over a bustle of markets, grocery stores, bars, restaurants…
Immerse yourself in culture and visit the art-deco style Fundação e Museu de Serralves (Serralves Foundation and Contemporary Art Museum) and its collection of national and international contemporary art. Check their cultural programme of concerts and workshops.
Take a stroll or a jog in the many small and large green spaces or chose to rest a while in one of Porto’s beautiful parks. All this activity will naturally have opened your appetite and you will find yourself hurrying towards places where portuguese cuisine is at its best, a starred restaurant perhaps or the little place round the corner which everyone is talking about, or the old seafood place on the waterfront.
There are many trendy areas with their own unique ambiance of top designer bars and young designers’ shops. It is of course impossible to ignore the region’s world renowned port wine in all its glorious intensely modulating versions, ruby, vintage, white and rosé. To discover their history is to unravel the history of a town open to the outside and open to trade.
Porto knows how to make you feel welcome; very likely it will conquer your heart and leave a long lasting impression. You will find it hard to leave.
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The upper part of the town is teeming with places to discover. If you are a history afficionado, lose yourself in the contemplation of the S. Bento station and the Almas Chapel and their superb azulejos (blue tiles). In any case, immerse yourself in the typical atmosphere of Porto and its old- worldly grocery stores in rua Formosa. The Bolhão market sells virtually anything, enjoy the smells, the colours, the people. Get your souvenirs at the “Vida Portuguesa” in rua Galeria de Paris and then, for the ‘pièce de resistance’, fly to the very beautiful, the very unique, the amazing, the divine livraria Lello which inspired J.K. Rowling in her Harry Potter books.
For breath taking vistas, go to the Clérigos Tower and to bar17° on the seventeenth floor of the Hotel Dom Henrique or take a walk to the gardens of the Crystal Palace or the Miradouro da Victória. The upper part of town is the best place for shopping- and more shopping-in the traditional commercial streets around Santa Catarina or the cool, cult, new or vintage shops in the Bombarda neighbourhood. Night owls, let your hair down in the many street bars or enjoy the luxury of the many quality hotels in Porto. Ready to take a twirl through this part of town? Check our photos below.
Book Restaurant
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Rua de S. Catarina
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Night life
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Hotel Infante Sagres
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Lello Bookshop
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Casa da Música
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Rua Formosa
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Café Majestic
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DOP Restaurant
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Hotel Teatro
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A Vida Portuguesa
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Sé Catedral
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The Ribeira and Miragaia district is where you will find Porto’soul. Its sinuous alleys, its higgledy-piggledy houses on top of one another clinging to the hillside, its fresh linen hanging from balconies, its buildings faced with distinctive glazed blue patterned tiling, are unmistakably Porto. This is the ideal place to take a walk alongside the Douro- you cannot miss the Ponte Luís I, a spectacular metal arch bridge that spans the river between Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia. Then make a pause in one of the many restaurants for a typically portuguese meal.
The neo-classical Palacio da Bolsa dominates the Infante D. Henrique Square and, if nothing else, visit the famous Arab room inspired by the Alhambra of Grenada in Spain. Nearby, slow down, enter the Igreja de San Francisco, Saint Francis of Assisi’s golden church and feel refreshed.
You can then take the Funicular dos Guindais, the funicular railway to get a better view of the Douro river.
To appreciate even more the district of Ribeira and Miragaia and one of the finest estuaries in the world, cross the bridge Dom Luis Ist to reach Vila Nova de Gaia. On the banks of Gaia you will be amazed by the view and …frustrated at not being able to photograph the whole panorama ; don’t despair – as we will see when we take you to the wine lodges - that you can capture the intensity of the whole vista by climbing a little up the streets of Gaia. This is a good opportunity to take a cruise on the Douro River, take a ride by cable car, and especially to discover the history of Port wine.
Don’t leave without a salute to the Atlantic Ocean. It’s a question of manners. Porto is so close to the sea. What an advantage. In a few minutes on the historical line «Eléctrico 1» which follows the river banks, you will reach Foz do Douro, the starting point for a bracing walk, nose up in the air of the majestic Atlantic Ocean.
Foz do Douro and its «promenade des anglais», its beautiful beach houses, its beaches, its many shops and restaurants. A free injection of iodine only ten minutes from the city centre (a tram comes along every 20 minutes or so).
When to go? Weather in Porto.
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| 5° / 13° |
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13° / 23° | 15° / 25° | 15° / 24° | 14° / 24° | 11° / 21° | 7° / 17° | 5° / 14° |
Porto enjoys warm dry summers and mild rainy winters. Temperatures rarely fall below zero in winter and although they can reach over 30 degrees (86 ºF) in summer, the proximity of the river and the Atlantic make the air very pleasant. If you want to catch the blossoming of cherry trees, almond, apple, pear and orange trees go in February.
Best months to go : April to October.
Getting there :
By air :
Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport is about 20 km from the town centre. This very modern airport was refurbished for the Euro 2004 football championships which were partly hosted by Porto. Expect to pay about 20 to 25 € for a taxi ride.
By train :
- Campanhã station : Porto’s main station, east of the town centre. Metro lines A, B, C, E, F will take you there. This is where you arrive or leave from for Lisbon or Spain. Left luggage available.
- Gare de Sao Bento : in the town centre, remarkable for its architecture; this station links to the north of Portugal, to Guimarães or Braga. Left luggage available.
Moving around :
Metro :
Porto’s metro serves the suburbs of Porto. There are only a few stations in central Porto and from Trinidade station you can take any of the 6 lines. The metro links the two main train stations and is useful to cross the bridge towards Gaia or go to the airport via Line E.
The metro is open between 6 in the morning to 1 at night.
Bus :
STCP buses :Daytime service: 05:00 - 00:30 (Some lines only run until 21:00); Night service (Lines 1M to 13M): 00:00 - 05:00
Some buses are equipped with access platforms for people with reduced mobility. STCP tickets (to be validated upon entering the bus) can be purchased from Payshop offices, train station ticket offices, post offices, Andante shops, automatic ticket machines and at the STCP or Andante service points.
Tram :
There are 3 lines operating:
Timetables can be found at each stop. Single trip Andante tickets can be bought in the tram at a cost of 2.50€.
Taxi :
Available 24 hours a day from clearly signposted taxi ranks throughout the city or by phone. Most taxis can take 4 passengers, some can take 8. Check the meter for the cost of your trip and pay at the end; and the driver has to give you a receipt by law.
Tariff charges are posted on the window of the rear door, on the left side of the taxi.
Car rental :
You can rent a car at the airport or at various places throughout the city.
Typical rental requirements : you must be aged over 21 or 25, have been driving for at least 1 to 3 years. You will need a full driver's licence, an identification card/passport and a credit card.
Inquire
Map from the tourism office in Porto :
Porto on Facebook :
Porto card :
With the Porto Card, when using the options 1, 2 or 3 days, you have unlimited access to public transport (metro, bus, urban trains, funicular) for the duration and a discount in some places. You can purchase your Porto Card at the Tourism Offices at several railway stations, kiosks and other outlets.
Free Wi-fi Hotspots :
Many places and monuments are equipped with wi-fi. Some buses also have it. Get your location map from the Tourism Offices.
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