Porto

Understand

History Porto (POHR-too, /ˈpoɾ.tu/) was named by the Romans Portus Calle (the origin of the entire present country's name), the city is nowadays officially styled A muito nobre, sempre leal e invicta cidade do Porto (the very noble, always loyal, and undefeated city of The Harbor). This is usually shortened to "a Cidade Invicta" (the undefeated city) a title won because of Porto's unparalleled resistance against hostile troops during the 1820s. Residents of Porto are nicknamed the Tripeiros, or tripe eaters, since the Portuguese conquest of Ceuta in North Africa in 1415, when the city's inhabitants went without meat in order to provision the fleet (which left from Porto), and had to subsist on tripe soup, which developed into a gastronomical specialty of the city. The city is quite varied architecturally, with medieval and modern buildings side by side. Porto's geography is hard on the feet, but pleasant to the eye. The city's grounds are extremely uneven; the Romans strategically built their fortified settlement into a cliff face that overlooks the river, where the present cathedral stands today. Stairs cut into the stone run up and down the cliff face and offer a laborious but rewarding walking tour. Across the Douro from Porto proper, at Vila Nova de Gaia, are the warehouses of notable Porto wine companies: Cálem, Ferreira, Fonseca, Sandeman, Kopke and others. The Portuguese usually include the article "o" when referring to the city, "O Porto" (literally, the port). It used to be common in English to write the city as "Oporto", but this spelling has declined in popularity. Nowadays it is rendered in English simply as "Porto" without the article. While most don't think of it, the influence of Porto's football team had got the city's name in one of Australia's six big fast food stores: Oporto, which still uses the old spelling.

People Citizens of Porto, while definitely Portuguese, hold themselves apart culturally from the rest of the country, as is expressed in the often heard phrase "o Porto é uma nação" (Porto is a nation). Outsiders often consider Porto to be more crass and mercantile than the rest of the country, and the inhabitants to be somewhat lacking in social graces. This is likely because the city's working and middle classes have historically been dominated by Portuguese bourgeoisie and English trading factions rather than the nobility. By and large, Os Portuenses, to use the correct term for the inhabitants, of course disagree, regarding themselves with some justification as a no nonsense people at the economic heart of the nation. As

Getting there

By plane 1 Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO IATA, also known as Aeroporto do Porto or Aeroporto de Pedras Rubras) (in Pedras Rubras, about 15 km from the city centre). Porto International Airport is the second-busiest in Portugal, posting a very high proportion of flights and passengers for a European non-capital city. The business is due to Porto's particular economic importance and growing tourist interest, coupled with northern passenger logistical demand to fly out of Porto directly, instead of going by rail to Lisbon to get on a flight. As a result, Porto Airport is now Portugal's secondary hub for intercontinental flights to Brazil, North America and many European destinations by the Portuguese flag carrier TAP Portugal. Other European airlines are increasingly offering flights to Porto from their main hubs. There is also a growing presence of low-fare carriers, most prominently Ryanair. Porto Airport has connections to all other major airports in Portugal, Madeira and Azores.

Ground transportation from Porto Airport The Metro line E connects the airport to the city centre, offering a fast and peaceful ride into the heart of the city, for €2.15 (Z4 ticket as of October 2023) + €0.60 for the rechargeable paper card. You can buy 24 hours pass for Metro and buses for €7.55 (Z4 - includes the airport). The metro runs from around 06:00-01:00 daily, roughly every 15-30 min. Please be sure to validate your trip by touching the ticket to the prominent yellow sensor devices, placed at intervals in the entrances and inside stations, before boarding a train. When doing so, a flashing green light and sound are emitted. The penalty for being caught without a validated trip is at least €100. It is also possible to use a contactless credit card (VISA or MasterCard only) at the validation sensor on the entire Metro line E - however not on all other lines. STCP buses 601, 602 and 604 (see STCP airport buses) also connect the airport with the city centre. They operate between around 05:30 and 00:30, roughly every 25 min. STCP also operates a night bus line 3M (Av. Aliados - Airport) every 60 min between 01:00 and 05:00. Ride-hailing apps Uber and Bolt will take you to the city centre for about €10-25 (March 2025).

Lisbon Airport Alternatively, you may fly to Lisbon Portela Airport (LIS IATA) and get to Porto by train or long-distance bus from the Oriente station there, which is connected to the airport by metro and bus. The journey takes between 2.5 and 3 hours to get from Lisbon to Porto and is operated very frequently (once or twice per hour). Anoth

Getting around

By car Porto, like most Portuguese cities, is a nightmare to drive in. Roads vary in conditions - from fully paved to cobbled lanes that can make even the most shortest of distance seem like a go-kart rally. With that said, keep in mind that the tourist parts of the city (the Ribeira and Baixa) are a never ending maze of narrow streets, short tempered drivers and snakelike alleys. Better to walk (despite the fact that it's very hilly). Also, drivers seem to have forgotten how to drive (apart from pushing the pedals) - therefore, they make their own rules of the road (however, this generally does not apply to young drivers). Be prepared to lose your patience several times whilst driving.

By metro

Porto Metro is a modern light rail/subway system, which was only constructed at the turn of the millennium and is still being expanded. It has several lines, that run across the centre of Porto, and reach out to surrounding municipalities. It is quick, and probably the most efficient way to get around Porto. Some major areas of the city, however, are not that well served by the metro. Announcements in the metro are made only in Portuguese, though most ticket machines and directional signs are bilingual in Portuguese and English. Tickets must be purchased beforehand. They can be bought at the machines in the station (if there are no tickets in the machine that day, take the metro to the next station and buy it there!) The ticket is stored on a card called Andante, and you can purchase as many rides (or travels) as you want. Andante is Porto's main ticket system and it is based on somewhat unusual zone system. The city centre is zone C1 and the airport is N10. To travel between places you need to know how many zones you need to cross. Within the same zone or up to another zone you buy Z2 ticket. Z3 for three zones and so on. The Andante card itself costs €0.60 and can be re-used/re-charged, so do not throw it away. You can also buy daily passes or Andante Tour tickets for 1 or 3 days, which may be more convenient. They are not sold at the ticket machines however, so you are dependent on shops' opening hours. There is also the option to buy a Porto Card for 24, 48, or 72 consecutive hours which, besides of providing unlimited access to public transportation, includes free access to several museums and further discounts. The use of contactless credit card is being introduced in Porto Metro, and can now be used in Aeroporto station and major stations in city centre (Senhora da Hora, Casa da Música, Trindade, Campanhã, Bolhão, Campo 24 de Agosto, São Bento and Al

See

Porto is a mysterious city that reveals its charm to the visitor through time. Take your time, wander through the mazes and alleys of the city. Take in the old, bohemian spirit of the city. Hike through the Ribeira and Foz do Douro regions (the latter, at sunset). Porto may not be in every tourist's Iberian Peninsula itinerary, but it's well worth a visit if you want to see a city that has changed economically, but that has kept its old traditions. If you want to visit several museums, consider the Porto Card which provides free access to several museums and further discounts, optionally also free public transport access.

City centre 1 Palácio da Bolsa (Stock Exchange Palace), Rua Ferreira Borges, 4050-253. Daily 09:00-18:30. It was built in the 19th century on the grounds of the destroyed old cloisters of the adjacent São Francisco church. It also contains the most impressive Arab room in the country. There is also a Port wine tasting room. €12 adults, €7.5 concessions. (updated Feb 2024) 2 Sé do Porto (Porto Cathedral), Terreiro da Sé, 4050-573. This Romanesque cathedral was built in the 13th century. Later on Baroque alterations were made in the 17th and 18th century. The cathedral is on top of a hill from where you also have great views over the city and the river. €3. Combined ticket with adjacent Bishop's palace €6. (updated Feb 2024) 3 Port Wine Institute, Rua Ferreira Borges 27, 4050-253, ☏ +351 22 2071669. M-F 11:00-19:00, Sa Su closed. A small exhibition about Port wine and its certification process. Samples of a small variety of Port wines can be bought. Guided tastings and tours to the laboratories can be arranged. Free. (updated Sep 2015) 4 City Hall, Avenida dos Aliados. (updated Sep 2015) 5 Igreja de São Francisco (Church of Saint Francis) (adjacent to Palácio da Bolsa). A Gothic church with later alterations of the interior decorations in Baroque style. (updated Sep 2015)

Baixa (downtown) 6 Mercado do Bolhão, Rua Formosa. Sun closed. A traditional market of fruits, vegetables, fish and meat. As of 2022 the entire market is now open after major refurbishment.

West Baixa 7 Livraria Lello, Rua das Carmelitas (near Praça dos Leões and the Universidade do Porto). It's an old bookshop with an amazing interior and spiral staircase. Voted as one of the most beautiful bookshops in Europe. Be warned that it can get incredibly crowded and claustrophobic. Due to the absurd number of tourists, to get in you have to buy a €10 ticket online (or €12 at the entrance), which can be used towards book purchases. (updated Aug 2025) 8 Torre dos Clér

Do

Douro river cruise. Take a cruise upriver (the cost starts at €15 (although they can be slightly cheaper if paired with a different activity) and takes about 50 minutes. Cruises run from 10:00 to 18:30, with sailings every 30 minutes for most operators. There are multiple river cruise operators and you can purchase a ticket from every tourist service and office in the Sao Bento area, or potentially from the wharf itself. Many of the cruises are themed around seeing the various bridges and river-adjacent facilities. You may also choose a day-long cruise starting at €70 to or from Régua, with one way of the journey completed by bus (included in the price). This tour states at 08:00 and returns at 17:00 or 18:00. Go at least as far as Pinhão — the landscape is absolutely stunning. If you choose to do this in the summer, don't forget your factor 30 sunscreen! Look for cruises based on the Vila Nova de Gaia wharf (the same side as the port wine caves), as some of them may offer discounts for cave tours or port wine purchases. (updated Feb 2024) Fado Bars. Fado is a music genre originating in Lisbon and considered an integral part of Portuguese music. It is traditionally sung by a woman in a black dress, accompanied by guitar players. A handful of Fado bars stand in Porto, primarily in the Sao Bento area, offering one or two shows per day. The cost is generally €15 (as of June 2022) and tickets for different shows are sold by tourist offices throughout the Sao Bento area. Some shows may include a glass of Port Wine within the cost of the ticket. €10. (updated Jun 2022) 1 Teatro Nacional São João (TNSJ), Praça da Batalha, 4000-102, ☏ +351 22 340 19 56 (tour enquiries and reservations), toll-free: 800 108 675. Porto's main theatre and opera production company and venue. There are also guided tours (€5/person) for access to the stage, rehearsal room, dressing rooms and the technical area (if they are not used during the time of the tour). (updated Sep 2015) Football: the city has two men's pro soccer teams: 2 FC Porto. They play in Primeira Liga, Portugal's top tier. Their home ground Estádio do Dragão (capacity 50,000) is 1 km north of the centre with its own metro station. (updated Jun 2023) 3 Boavista FC. They were relegated in 2025 and now play in Liga 2 the second tier. Their Estádio do Bessa (capacity 28,200) is 2 km northwest of the centre, metro Francos. (updated Jun 2025) Valadares Gaia is a women's team in their top tier, playing at Valadares sports complex 10 km south of the river. Porto Exit Games (West Baixa; City centre), ☏ +351 914 884 883, hell

Buy

Almost all the shops are open every day, but are usually overcrowded during the weekends and rainy days.

What to buy? Port wine, of course. This is the right place for it, in the city of Gaia, on the south shore of the Douro River. The Norte region is known for the passing down of quality craftsmanship traditions from generation to generation while adapting with the latest production and technological innovations. Many of the best Portuguese apparel, footwear, luxury goods and accessory industries are based in and around the city of Porto. Therefore, you will find many flagship stores and factory outlets in and around Porto. The Portuense people know craftsmanship and appreciate quality in whatever it might be, clothing, shoes and leather goods, cars, jewellery, furniture and so on. Brands are numerous and range from globally recognised, like Cavalinho, Charles, Claus Porto, Lanidor and Parfois, to strictly local ones providing for a unique selection on any budget. Many of the more affordable products may not be produced in Portugal, the attractive aesthetic value notwithstanding.

Specialist stores 1 Centro Comercial Bombarda (CCB), Rua de Miguel Bombarda 285, [email protected]. M–F 11:00–19:00, Sa 11:00–20:00, Su closed. This is not the regular shopping mall. It's much smaller and with speciality stores related to art and fashion. Look for Portuguese design, organic cosmetics, or contemporary jewellery, and then head to the galleries down the street. (updated Feb 2021) 2 Aguas Furtadas, Rua do Almada 13, ☏ +351 223 216 002, [email protected]. Looking for unique objects or original Portuguese design? This is the place for it. From a minimalist Barcelos cockerel to colorful ceramics, you won't find many of these pieces anywhere else.

Shopping streets Take a stroll around the Mercado do Bolhão which has a food market and handicrafts stores, and Santa Catarina street (highly recommended, even if only to stroll), which is near Bolhão. Cedofeita street is also a busy shopping street, as well as Boavista.

Shopping centres For shopping, Porto and the suburbs have plenty of shopping centres, including Norte Shopping, Arrábida Shopping, Parque Nascente, Gaia Shopping and Mar Shopping (the biggest IKEA group shopping in Europe). Apart from these you also have less populated shops that are smaller but still great (Shopping Cidade do Porto, Via Catarina, etc.).

3 ViaCatarina Shopping, Rua de Santa Catarina 312–350, ☏ +351 22 207 56 09, [email protected]. M–F 10:00–20:00, Sa Su & holidays 09:00–17:00. A medium-sized shopping centre nestled i

Eat

Porto has some of the finest restaurants in Portugal. It is said that if you like to eat, you should go to Porto because it's a place where you eat well in terms of quality and amount (even Lisbon citizens say that in Porto is where they eat the best food). The best restaurants of the city are mainly in Matosinhos near the beach, and the Porto de Leixões seaport but watch out for pricing, more than a few ok establishments deem themselves worthy of high pricing just because of the decor or the "in crowd" is seen going there or a combination of both, they charge ridiculous prices for food not much better prepared or presented than elsewhere and many times, the dose is very small, so don't be shy to look around to get a sense of what is what. You can take the blue metro line A to get there which takes about 30 min. In the Ribeirinha part of Porto, overlooking the Douro River and Vila Nova de Gaia, there's many well run very affordable small family run restaurants with a great vibe, friendly staff, great food and drink and sometimes, due to limited space, having to share tables with complete strangers, sometimes local people and sometimes not, making the whole experience very cosmopolitan and entertaining. Within the old city centre, inexpensive to reasonable priced eating houses catering mostly for residents are also easily found for both lunch and dinner, these places welcome foreigners and many take special pride in hosting you. At these places, to enjoy a hearty well prepared meal, it's best practice to just follow the waiter suggestions as the menus are three course set Pratos do dia (Today's menu), normally a choice of two or three soups, main dishes including bread, wine of the house, dessert and a bica (espresso) in the end, all this for €7-10 per person. If you are hungry, a good strategy is to say how much you enjoyed the soup and politely ask if you can have a little more. That's why local patrons tend to have the soup last. If you truly enjoyed the meal, show your appreciation to the chef and staff, it always makes the people proud for being of service. Expect hearty meals, and if you can, try "Tripas à moda do Porto", a tripe dish. Citizens of Porto are called tripeiros (tripe-eaters) on account of this dish. Traditional set menu restaurants, tend to serve the soup last but these days most waiters will ask what you want first and so on, but don't be surprised to see someone starting with desert and finish with the couvert! It's known to happen. Also try bacalhau - in any way it is cooked - there are hundreds of different dishes with salted codfi

Drink & nightlife

Porto is home to port wine of course, and there are many wineries around the city where port wine is brewed. Strictly speaking, port wine can only be called port wine if the grapes are grown in the Douro valley, and the wine is produced and bottled in Porto. Port wines come in many styles, with vintage port being the most expensive. The main areas for bars are Praça de Ceuta to the north, through the station surrounds to Ribeira further south.

Mid-range 1 Solar Vinho do Porto, ☏ +351 226094749, [email protected]. Rua de Entre-Quintas 220. A villa with port samples and a great view of the Douro. Open M-Sa 14:00-00:00. This is the perfect place to sit in soft chairs or outside in the garden and enjoy a few glasses of the finest ports. You can also have cheese with your port.

Dance clubs Dance clubs here always start very (very) late, around 01:00-02:00, and end up from 06:00-07:30. You have nice choices to pick from. Most clubs are located in the Industrial region and in the upmarket Foz area.

2 Industria, Avenida do Brasil 843, Foz. "Local heroes and international superstars" - going since 1987. It's open until around 06:00. 3 Discoteca Via Rápida, R. Manuel Pinto de Azevedo 567, ☏ +351 910 088 920, [email protected]. Th–Sa 23:50–06:00. A popular disco in the Industrial Area. The nightclub opens Fridays and Saturdays and it's always crowded. The club plays the latest dance hits and the crowd is 20ish. (updated Feb 2021) 4 Passos Manuel, R. de Passos Manuel 137, ☏ +351 22 205 8351, [email protected]. A dance club/bar frequented by the arty crowd, with a varied but tasteful selection of music and a warm decór. (updated Feb 2021) 5 Plano B, R. de Cândido dos Reis 30. Near Torre dos Clérigos is a popular art gallery and bar installed on Porto's historic centre. 6 Clube Mau Mau, Rua do Outeiro 4, ☏ +351 22 457 8912. In the Foz region, it is a popular nightclub with varying musical styles, from house to pop to R&B. (updated Feb 2021) There are some LGBT clubs and bars in Porto. Late night scene.

Bars & pubs 7 Ryan's Irish Pub, Rua do Infante D. Henrique 18, ☏ +351 963 041 615, [email protected]. In the Ribeira, nice cozy atmosphere and friendly bar staff. Always a good place to start. (updated Feb 2021) 8 Prioridade Bar, R. da Lada 76–78. In the Ribeira region, this bar is one of the cheapest in the area. It's probably the only decent place in the whole of the Ribeira region (and probably, in the city) where you can get a large beer for only a few euros. They also serve spirits and cocktails, at very cheap prices as well.

Sleep

There are residential homes all around the city. There are also lots of 3-star hotels with very affordable prices. In the city there's only one camping site (Prelada), but it's a bit far from the centre. There aren't many family houses to rent in Porto, so they'll be difficult to find.

Budget 1 Alma Porto Hostel, Rua do Bonfim, 305B (by metro exit at Campo 24 de Agosto station to Rua do Bonfim; go up Rua do Bonfim and find us at 305B. By train exit at Campanhã station, go up Rua Pinto Bessa until the church; turn left onto Rua do Bonfim and find us at 305B), ☏ +351 914 049 326, +351 914 306 011, [email protected]. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Small and chill hostel with smooth colours, lounge areas and relaxed atmosphere in a house built in the 19th century where you can also appreciate the hand made works in the high ceilings, the typical Portuguese tiles, and the beautiful camellias in the garden. 2 The White Box House, Rua de Santa Catarina, 575, ☏ +351 911 008 585, [email protected]. Check-in: 13:00, check-out: 12:00. A typical Porto house built in the early 20th century, completely renewed in order to combine the comfort of the present with the charm of the past, providing the atmosphere for a perfect stay. 3 Wine Hostel, Campo dos Martires da Patria, 52, ☏ +351 222013167. Very centrally located. Clean rooms with ensuite showers. Very close to the train station, but may be difficult to find, so check a map before arriving. €19. 4 Gallery Hostel Porto, Rua Miguel Bombarda 222, [email protected]. Free breakfast, free walking tour, free nightlife tour. Thematic dinners, Porto wine tastings, Gallery exhibitions. Carefully decorated rooms, multilingual and professional team. €20-22 dorm room with private bathrooms, €50 double rooms. 5 Porto Spot Hostel, Rua Gonçalo Cristóvão nº 12 (5 minutes walk from Bolhao Metro stations). Comfortable, clean hostel with wi-fi, dvd and playstation room, reading room, a well equipped kitchen and a bar downstairs. Great light and showers. Could give Traveller's House in Lisboa a run for its money. €14-18 dorm room with shared bathroom, private rooms around €20 (Mar 2011). 6 Oporto Sky Hostel, Rua da Lapa 33 (One minute walking from Lapa's subway station), ☏ +351 222 017 069, [email protected]. Very comfortable hostel with a very welcoming and helpful manager, Luzia. Shared and private rooms. Free computers and wi-fi. A few minutes from the city centre and just off Boavista, which leads to the coast. Hosts speaks perfect English and Spanish. Prices starting at €14 pp with breakfast include

Go next

The Porto city region is in an ideal position to set up base and explore nearby areas like Vila do Conde, Viana do Castelo, the Costa da Prata, Braga, Guimarães, the Douro river valley and Trás-os-Montes. Railways and buses offer affordable transportation, otherwise, car rental can be a better proposition if one wants to have freedom of movement, but if on a tight budget, try to avoid toll roads whenever possible but register as a Via Verde utilizador. It's easily done at any Loja do Cidadão (just ask a local the whereabouts of the nearest one), costs about €15 and you get a few free tolls worth almost the initial outlay, while subsequent usage payments can be done at ATM machines 24/7, thus saving lots of time going around looking for a post office to pay timeously the outstanding tolls. Late payment incurs penalties.

Vila Nova de Gaia — lies across the Douro River. During the summer, try one of the many quality beaches near Porto, in the southern part of Gaia . Gaia has plenty of beaches with blue flags (Miramar, Aguda, Granja), a certification of the quality of the beach. For satisfying your party mood visit some in the neighboring cities of Matosinhos, Vila do Conde, Maia, Penafiel, Amarante, Povoa de Varzim (beach and casino). Matosinhos is a coastal town with several beautiful beaches, as well as a vibrant seafood scene. Visit the net target array in Matosinhos. Local legend has it that this is where the Greek Minotaur fell from Avarine, a cloud formation some 17 miles above Greece, with the golden fleece. This led to the formation of the modern day Porto in circa 1970. On the south, within easy reach is the Costa da Prata (Silver Coast) beginning at the resort city of Espinho with its beaches and casino, reaching all the way to Aveiro and Mira. Aveiro is a charming coastal city about 75 km south It is known for its colorful canals, traditional moliceiro boats, and Art Nouveau architecture. Minho region — Go on a day trip to this region. Guimarães, Viana do Castelo, Braga, Caminha, Valença, Ponte de Lima and Arcos de Valdevez, for instance, all have something to offer, and the region is very beautiful. Taste the "Vinho Verde", freely translated as "Green Wine" - this is mostly a low alcoholic grade, young and fresh kind of wine, that you won't find anywhere else. Peneda-Gerês National Park — Go on a day trip to this park. The wildlife and nature in this park are really worth a visit, and the scenery is magnificent. Guimarães - a UNESCO World Heritage Site about 50 km east. It is known for its well-preserved medieval center, castle, and historic m