Porto is not the capital, but for many people the country’s most memorable city is right here. The city is gathered on the steep bank of the Douro, the houses climb one on top of another and a new view opens at every turn. Prices are lower than in Lisbon and the distances are short. Two full days are enough for the main places, and a third has to be given to the river valley.
Ribeira, the bridge and the riverside
Ribeira is the old riverside quarter and is on the UNESCO list. The coloured houses, the narrow stairways and the cafés at the water’s edge are here, and in the evening the whole city comes down to it. It is a touristy place, so the food is a little expensive, but it is worth sitting down for a coffee.
The Dom Luis bridge has two levels and you can walk across both. From the upper level the view is wider, while from the lower the river is seen close up. The bridge was designed by an engineer who came out of Eiffel’s workshop, and the metal construction shows it clearly. Meeting the sunset here is the city’s best free experience.
Port wine and the other side of the river
The famous wine is kept not in the city but in the Vila Nova de Gaia quarter on the opposite bank of the river. There are dozens of cellars there and almost all of them offer a tasting with a short tour. Choosing one cellar is enough; you do not need to go into all of them.
The tours run on the hour and the explanation starts with how the wine is grown. Even if you do not want a drink, the insides of the cellars and their terraces looking onto the river are interesting. Booking a cellar visit in advance is useful for not ending up in the weekend queue.
The bookshop, the station and the tiled walls
The Lello bookshop is one of the most photographed bookshops in the world, and the red staircase inside it is the reason. A ticket is bought for entry and that amount is deducted when you buy a book. Go at opening time in the morning; at midday the queue is long.
The entrance hall of Sao Bento station is covered with more than twenty thousand blue tiles, and historical scenes of the country are depicted on the walls. Entry is free, because this is a working station. If you climb the Clerigos tower nearby, the roofs of the city and the river appear in one frame.
Read more: A Portugal travel guide: Lisbon, Sintra, Porto, the Douro valley, the Algarve and Madeira
Transport, food and budget in Porto
The metro from the airport to the centre takes about thirty minutes and is considerably cheaper than a taxi. For getting around the city there is a rechargeable transport card; you buy it once and use it for the whole trip. The centre is hilly and comfortable shoes are essential. If your budget is tight, single-room hostel options around Ribeira come out at half the hotel price.
| Hotel | A three-star night in the centre, roughly 60–110 euros |
| Francesinha | The local sandwich, 10–14 euros, very filling |
| Pastel de nata | A small pastry, one or two euros |
| Douro valley tour | One day, by train or bus |
The railway line to the Douro valley is counted among the most scenic routes in Europe, because the rails run right along the edge of the river. The tickets can be compared together with the train and bus options. There is no direct flight from Baku; you go via Istanbul or Lisbon, and it pays to follow flight options in the Portugal direction in advance. Official information about the city is on Portugal’s official tourism portal.
Season in Porto
May–September is the most comfortable period, the temperature is 20–27 degrees and there is little rain. The city is close to the ocean, so even in summer the evenings pass cool and a light jacket is needed. November–February are the rainy months, but in exchange there are few tourists and hotels get cheaper. At the end of June the city’s biggest festival is held and the streets stay open all night.
In short
Porto is a cheap, compact and scenic city, and on top of that a one-day valley route lies beside it. Meet the sunset on the bridge, go to the bookshop in the morning, and choose only one of the cellars. If you want to travel Portugal together with several cities, you can look at the tour offers for Portugal. For a visa and a route, fill in the application form.
Note: the prices are those at the time of publication and may change with the season.
