Porto
Visited in May 2015
At a glance
- Country
- Portugal
- Region
- Porto
- Population
- 273,979
- Best time to go
- May to October
- Main airport
- Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro (OPO)
- Coordinates
- 41.15°N, 8.62°W
Country visited City visited Still to go Click a pin or country to read more. Zoom with + and −, a double-click or a pinch.
Overview
Porto tumbles down steep granite hills to the Douro river, a jumble of tiled façades, church towers and laundry hung from wrought-iron balconies. It is smaller and a little more rough-edged than Lisbon, and many travellers end up preferring it.
Across the water, the port lodges of Vila Nova de Gaia have been ageing wine for centuries. Spend your days climbing between viewpoints and your evenings eating grilled sardines by the river.
Things to see
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Photo: Luis Miguel Bugallo Sánchez (Lmbuga), CC BY-SA 3.0 Ribeira
The colourful riverside quarter, a UNESCO-listed maze of alleys opening onto a waterfront lined with cafés.
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Photo: Deensel, CC BY 2.0 Dom Luís I Bridge
Walk the upper deck of this two-level iron bridge for dizzying views of the old town.
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Photo: HombreDHojalata, CC BY-SA 4.0 São Bento Station
The station hall is covered in some 20,000 blue-and-white tiles depicting scenes from Portuguese history.
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Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0 Clérigos Tower
Climb the narrow baroque bell tower for a sweeping view over the rooftops to the river and the sea.
Tickets and tours -
Photo: Guinness323, CC0 Livraria Lello
An ornate neo-Gothic bookshop with a sweeping red staircase. Book a timed entry.
Tickets and tours -
Photo: Geerd-Olaf Freyer from Aachen, Deutschland, CC BY-SA 2.0 Serralves
A contemporary art museum and pink art deco villa set in beautiful gardens to the west of the centre.
Tickets and tours
Things to do
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Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0 Port wine tasting in Gaia
Tour a historic port lodge across the river and taste tawnies and rubies straight from the cellar.
Find tours -
Photo: TheRealDapperDan, CC BY-SA 4.0 Eat a francesinha
Porto's heroic sandwich of meats, melted cheese and beer-spiked sauce.
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Photo: mat's eye, CC BY 2.0 Day trip to the Douro Valley
Terraced vineyards line the river upstream; go by train, boat or tour and stop at a quinta for lunch.
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Photo: Novoklimov, CC0 Tram to Foz do Douro
Ride a vintage tram along the river to where it meets the Atlantic, then walk the seafront promenade.
Where to stay
Ribeira
Postcard views and atmosphere, but steep, touristy and noisy at night.
Hotels in RibeiraBaixa
Central and well connected, with good restaurants and easy walking to most sights.
Hotels in BaixaCedofeita
Arty and local, with galleries, cafés and good-value guesthouses.
Hotels in CedofeitaVila Nova de Gaia
Across the river near the port lodges, with the best views back over Porto.
Hotels in Vila Nova de Gaia
Getting around
The centre is walkable but very hilly. The Metro, buses and the Guindais funicular help, and an Andante card works on all of them.
Metro line E runs from the airport to the city centre in about 30 minutes; a taxi takes around 20.
When to go
May to October brings the warmest weather, though Porto is cooler and wetter than Lisbon. The festival of São João on the night of 23 June is the city's biggest party. Winters are mild but rainy.
Plan your trip to Porto
- HotelsBooking.com
- Tours and ticketsGetYourGuide
- FlightsKiwi.com
- Attraction ticketsTiqets
- Airport parking, lounges and transfersHoliday Extras
- Car hireAuto Europe
- Mobile data (eSIM)AiraloCode DAN9406 for money off
- GuidebooksAmazon
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Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.