Portugal / Southern Europe
Porto
River city with a short attention span for tourists
Best time
April - October
How long
2-4 days
Best for
Weekend trips, food, solo travel
Perfect for
Weekend / Food / Couples / Solo
Why go to Porto
Porto is a working city that happens to be beautiful, which gives it a different feel from places that exist mainly for visitors. The centre is small enough to cover on foot, the river splits it neatly in two, and the best evening is usually the simplest one: cross the bridge, find a terrace on the Gaia side, and watch the light go.
For food and wine it punches far above its size. Port cellars line the south bank, the seafood is excellent, and prices remain reasonable even in the touristed streets.
What to do
Walk both levels of the Dom Luis I bridge
The upper deck for the view, the lower one for the riverside. Do the upper one at sunset.
Visit a port cellar in Gaia
Most run short tours with a tasting. One is plenty unless you are genuinely interested.
Get lost in the Ribeira
Tight lanes, laundry lines and a lot of stairs. Beautiful, and unavoidable.
Eat a francesinha once
The local sandwich is enormous and not subtle. Share one, then have seafood the next night.
Take the tram to Foz
The river meets the Atlantic here. Good for a walk and a coffee away from the crowds.
Day trip up the Douro valley
Terraced vineyards along the river, by train or boat. A full day, and worth it.
Where to stay
Baixa and Aliados
Central, well connected and flat by Porto standards. Best for a short first visit.
Ribeira
The riverside postcard. Lovely, noisy in the evening and a steep climb back up.
Vila Nova de Gaia
Across the river, often better value, with the classic view of the old town from your side.
Getting there and around
- Francisco Sa Carneiro airport (OPO) connects to the centre by metro in around 30 minutes.
- Trains from Lisbon take under three hours and are comfortable and cheap if booked ahead.
- The airport is small and rarely stressful, which helps on a short trip.
On foot, with the metro for the airport and outer areas. The hills are real, so plan routes downhill where possible and take a taxi back up at night.
What it costs
Budget: One of the better value city breaks in Western Europe. Hostels, cheap lunches and free viewpoints.
Mid range: A comfortable central hotel, dinner out nightly, a cellar tour and a Douro day trip.
Higher end: Boutique hotels in restored townhouses, private tastings and river cruises.
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