Porto, the nation’s second-largest city and the source of the name of both the wine and the nation, is the ideal fusion of traditional charm and contemporary vibrancy. It’s a great city for walking, to start. Take in the stylish stores, eateries, and avant-garde boutique hotels as you meander around the charming cobblestone alleys lined with 18th-century mansions. And don’t forget to visit Vila Nova de Gaia, which has port wine cellars located across the Douro River. From the galleries on Rua Miguel Bombarda to the Museu de Arte Contemporanea de Serralves, a mecca for modern art, Porto is also a hub for contemporary art. But visit the lively Ribeira neighbourhood, the city’s old town, to learn more about its past. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it features magnificent vistas of the Douro River and centuries-old architecture, with its São Francisco cathedral from the 14th century serving as a major draw. There’s plenty more to view, and all of your recommendations are below.
Flights To Porto Guide
Porto, a city that marries beautiful architecture with a rich history, is a destination not to be missed. It’s easily accessible through the modern and well-equipped Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, ensuring all passengers’ smooth and stress-free journey. Those who thirst for more of Portugal should consider flying to Lisbon or Faro for a more comprehensive exploration.
At Woking Travel, we prioritise your comfort and convenience. Our services are designed to ensure a stress-free journey, starting when you land at the airport. We offer convenient transportation from the airport to your hotel, eliminating any worries about how to reach your accommodation. To guarantee a smooth transit from the airport to your lodging, you can book a transfer service at Transfers-Woking Travel.
Woking Travel offers a diverse range of hotels in Porto, each promising a unique and memorable experience. Whether you’re drawn to the indulgence of a luxury hotel or the comfort of a budget accommodation, our Hotels or Packages are designed to help you find the perfect match for your stay in Porto. Each hotel offers its own distinct charm, sparking excitement and intrigue about your accommodation options.
- Yeatman: This prestigious wine hotel has classical apartments, splendid views of Porto and the Douro River, Michelin-rated cuisine, and an extensive wine collection.
- Palacio das Cardosas Porto: This luxurious hotel is in an old building in the centre of Porto. It offers fine dining, comfortable rooms, and proximity to several attractions.
- Torel Palace: It’s a small hotel with renovated rooms in an ancient 19th-century mansion. The mansion’s veranda on its roof offers a panoramic view of the sea and hills and personalised services within a homely setting.
- Pestana Porto Brasileira: The accommodation facility is housed in a reconstructed old building that harmoniously blends contemporary comfort with Portuguese traditions, such as having an internal courtyard and a trendy terrace bar.
- Hotel Infante Sagres: This refined establishment combines timeless luxury with modern amenities. It features spacious living spaces and an outdoor swimming pool, and it is conveniently located near Oporto city centre, adjacent to major landmarks.
- Atelier Rosa et al. is a stylish boutique hotel in the downtown architectural complex. Here, you can get amazing lodging and find posh modern and traditional furniture.
- Gran Cruz House: This small hotel in the Ribeira district offers a full-pelt experience of the Douro River from its windows; moreover, customers here value the highly individualised customer care awareness they receive from hosts.
- Pousada Palácio do Freixo: An 18th-century palace overlooking Douro River has 5-star guestrooms, lovely gardens surrounding it, as well as spa plus swimming pool facilities to give guests serene moments just some few minutes away from the town’s hustle and bustle times during their stay.
- PortoBay Flores: This former historical house has been converted into a small hotel. It is situated near Sao Bento train station and contains luxurious rooms and a rooftop restaurant with a fantastic view of the whole city.
- Baixa Porto Hotel: This trendy hotel is in Rua Augusta, downtown Porto. It offers contemporary designs and artsy decor, with cosy rooms next to various shopping, dining, and entertainment options.
Porto has a range of transportation alternatives to facilitate easy movement around the city. This is whether one likes using public transport or prefers renting private ones.
- Underground: The underground runs all over Porto City Centre into the suburbs, making it an inexpensive and effective way of discovering the town. It is also an uncomplicated and safe system with many trains that can take you to any part of the city where there are monuments or dwellings.
- Buses: Porto’s bus network is extensive, reaching places beyond the metro’s reach. Buses offer comfortable means of moving around at different times of day and are most often used for travelling within suburban areas.
- Taxis: Taxicabs can be easily found anywhere in Porto, providing a comfortable and fast mode of transport. You will find them on the streets; otherwise, several taxi stands are distributed throughout the city for your convenience. E
- Trams: The trams in Porto are not only forms of transportation but also attractions. These historical trolleys go along defined routes, mainly through old parts of the town, giving passengers nostalgic rides and beautiful views.
- Car Rentals: Car rentals can be obtained from various agencies in Porto for those who prefer to drive freely. Essentially, driving a rented car enables you to check out landmarks within this municipality and its environs individually and at a leisurely pace so that one must remember local parking restrictions and their existence.
- Bike Rentals: There are few bike rental shops in Porto, but there has been a growing trend towards bicycle use by tourists and residents in recent years. Cycling along the Douro River provides an especially beautiful view, and one may not take any other form of transport.
- Funiculars: The Funicular dos Guindais connects the Ribeira district with the upper part of the city near the Dom Luís I Bridge. It is, therefore, a quicker and more scenic method of moving between these two areas, especially useful for avoiding steep hills in hilly parts.
A city rich in history, culture, and a host of beautiful places. These are the top 10 spots you must visit in Porto.
- Ribeira District: Ribeira District is an important place adjacent to the river with old-painted houses and many alleys. It’s a great place to walk, eat at local restaurants, and enjoy the landscape.
- Dom Luís I Bridge: The Dom Luís I Bridge is a massive bridge connecting two parts of Porto city. The top part of the bridge can be walked across to have a good view of Porto and over the river.
- Livraria Lello: Livraria Lello is one of the most charming bookstores in the world. Its wooden staircase and lovely design might as well be from fairy tales.
- Porto Cathedral (Sé do Porto): This ancient church on a hill offers a panoramic view of the city and beautiful old architecture.
- Clerigos Tower: Clerigos Tower is a tall tower in Porto city that, if you climb its steps to reach its peak, overlooks all other buildings in town.
- Palácio da Bolsa: Palácio da Bolsa was formerly known as a stock exchange building until it became an old palace that is now open to the public for viewing fancy rooms and decorations.
- São Bento Railway Station: Tiles with pictures representing Portugal’s history make this railway station, São Bento Railway Station, whose walls are covered by them, quite attractive.
- Church of São Francisco: If there has been any doubt about why people are so impressed with it, the Church of Saint Francis is renowned for its gold-covered interior decorations and catacombs, which are worth seeing, too.
- Cais da Ribeira: Cais da Ribeira has many restaurants and shops by the river; in fact, it is a lively place to eat, unwind, and watch boats.
- Casa da Música: Casa da Música is a modern concert hall where music is played.
- DOP: DOP is a restaurant that serves up-to-date Portuguese cuisine, emphasising freshness, locality of the ingredients, and innovative techniques.
- Cantinho do Avillez: José Avillez cooks some of the best food in Portugal at Cantinho do Avillez, which is characterised by modernity combined with traditional flavours.
- Cafeína: It is known for its breathtaking interior and delightful seafood choices, among other items prepared with the greatest finesse imaginable, Cafeína, in Foz do Douro.
- Pedro Lemos: After having one Michelin star conferred on it for its presentation of Portuguese cuisine like no other, does Pedro Lemos serve tasting menus that are excellent and creatively styled, using only the freshest ingredients from around Portugal?
- Manteigaria: Manteigaria’s egg custard tarts are globally renowned; the crispy cream-filled pastries straight from the oven cannot be missed by anyone who loves desserts.
- Bacalhau: Moreover, it offers variations of this traditional national dish in a warm, homely environment despite this bar close to Rua Santa Catarina featuring great modern recipes found all over Porto.
- Adega São Nicolau: Adega São Nicolau lies in the centre of the Ribeira district, along the river bank, and is full of authentic Portuguese restaurants for both locals and tourists.
- Casa de Chá da Boa Nova: Furthermore, built next to Álvaro Siza Vieira’s splendid architectural creation overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, Casa de Chá da Boa Nova presents exclusivity intertwined with beauty during the dining experience here.
- Taberna Santo António: At Taberna Santo Antonio, people find themselves in a tiny eatery enjoying dishes such as hearty soups and stews using seafood or grilled meat, among others, which make them reminisce about home.
- Majestic Café: One of the most famous sights in Porto is Majestic Café, a historic coffee house where you can enjoy leisurely lunches and sweet treats.
- Livraria Lello: One of the most beautiful bookstores in the world is Livraria Lello. It has a breathtaking atmosphere, unique neo-Gothic architecture, and an interior made entirely of wood.
- Ribeira District: An area with many bright-coloured buildings along the Douro River, cafes on water frontages and attractive streets with scenic views.
- Port Wine Cellars: Located in Vila Nova de Gaia on Porto’s side are the port wine cellars where visitors can learn how it’s made and taste this renowned drink.
- Climb Clerigos Tower: The Clerigos Tower offers 360-degree panoramic views over Portos’ skyline and the Douro River—it’s perfect for sightseeing as you can see the whole town from there.
- São Bento Railway Station: Inside São Bento Railway, attractive azulejo tile works tell historical events through Portuguese culture, reflecting the country’s artistic heritage.
- Porto Cathedral: With its Romanesque style and rich carvings dating back to the 12th century, Porto Cathedral is one of the architectural masterpieces, offering the best views from its terrace.
- Crystal Palace Gardens: Crystal Palace Gardens is an oasis amidst bustling urban areas – here, you find landscaped gardens, fountains and incredible views overlooking the Douro River & cityscape.
- Serralves Foundation: The Serralves Foundation houses modern art museums with temporary exhibitions showcasing works by local and international artists. It also has beautiful gardens!
- Douro River Cruise: A boat trip along the Douro River lets you see Porto from another angle while enjoying great views of historic monuments, bridges, or vineyards on hillsides.
- Portuguese cuisine: You can try out specialities such as bacalhau (codfish), francesinha (a type of sandwich) or pastéis de nata (custard tarts) in traditional taverns/restaurants throughout Porto, where flavours of Portuguese cuisine are served.
The weather in Porto significantly influences what you can do while you’re here. Whether basking on the beach in the summer or wandering around the city during cooler months, here is what you need to know.
Summer (June-August)
- Average temperatures: 20-25°C (68-77°F)
- Rainfall: Minimal
- Activities: Beach trips, outdoor adventures
- Note: Flights to Porto are cheap this time of year.
Winter (December-February)
- Average temperatures: 5-15°C (41-59°F)
- Rainfall: More frequent
- Activities: Museums, historical sites, local cafes.
For further details on weather conditions, check out our local weather guide.
- GMT to Porto: GMT+0 (same as Porto time)
- BST to Porto: BST+1 (Porto is 1 hour behind the UK)
Currency:
- Euro (€) is used in Portugal. Cards and cash are widely accepted.
Language:
- Portuguese is Portugal’s official language. However, many people, especially those working in the tourism industry, speak English.
Local Customs:
People in Porto generally dress modestly – wearing casual clothes is common, but dressing provocatively off the beach isn’t. Greeting each other with a handshake or kiss on both cheeks is customary.
Laws:
To fine out more about the laws pertaining to travellers, please visit the following links:
A unique gem among European tourist destinations, Porto entices visitors with its extensive history, affordable rates in comparison to other locations, and hospitable inhabitants. Porto provides a unique experience with its inventive environment, varied culinary scene, and stunning views of the Ponte Luís I bridge.
Book your flights to Porto with Woking Travel and enjoy a seamless travel experience!