Porto is the second largest city in Portugal after Lisbon and attracts its visitors with narrow old town streets, parks, impressive buildings and, of course, port wine.
Porto, or Oporto in Portuguese, is located on the Douro River in the Região do Norte in northern Portugal. It is home to one of the country’s most important economic regions, which originally benefited from its port. However, its location also made Porto a sought-after destination for various conquerors throughout history.
The city is the birthplace of Henry the Navigator, who carried out conquests, especially in North Africa. In 1703, the Methuen Treaty began the breakup of domestic wool production and the port wine boom in the region.
A citytrip to Porto is really worthwhile at any time of the year.
Stroll through the winding alleyways and discover interesting museums, small shops, restaurants and wine bars. The city is known for its impressive architecture and is a paradise for lovers of history and architecture. The UNESCO-protected old town district is perfect for a leisurely stroll.
No visit to Porto would be complete without a tasting of the famous port wine. A visit to the traditional wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia, where you can learn more about the production process and taste different varieties, is a must on a city trip to Porto.
Porto is a paradise for gourmets. The local cuisine entices with specialities such as francesinha or bacalhau, the traditional Portuguese stockfish. Indulge in culinary delights in one of the many riverside restaurants and enjoy the local hospitality.
If the hustle and bustle of the streets is too much for you, you can retreat to beautiful parks or take a cruise on the Douro.
Sights in Porto – citytrip to Porto
We enter Porto São Bento station through a rather off-putting, dingy side entrance. This station is supposed to be the most beautiful in Porto? We are curious…
The churches of Porto are something very special. Discover the golden churches of Porto, one that is a little better known and one that we would almost call an insider tip.
I can't tell you how many times I've seen the Harry Potter films and how many times I've read the books in English and German. The stories are always exciting for me, so I was all the more excited to follow in Harry Potter's footsteps in Porto.
There are places that are so hyped that you are not sure whether they are really worth seeing or just cleverly marketed. So we were very unsure whether we really wanted/should visit the Livraria Lello in Porto….
We stand on the street and look up to the top of the Clérigos Tower, one of the most beautiful viewpoints in Porto. Porto's landmark is one of the sights that no one should miss.
Porto Cathedral sits high above the banks of the Douro. It is not only the city's main church, but also offers visitors a wonderful view of the Douro.
The impressive neoclassical façade of the Palácio da Bolsa is not just tempting me to visit this building. There is a long queue at the ticket office hoping to get a ticket for the guided tour. Unfortunately, the next English tour is only 3 hours later and so we decide to just go along at…
Our hike along the Douro begins below the Ponte D. Luis I directly on the banks of the river. The weather is just too nice for a city tour - we want to get to the sea!
The upscale Boavista district in Porto is mainly known as a residential area. However, it is also home to some remarkable cultural sites such as the Casa da Música, which is housed in a modern and distinctive building.
We have discovered some beautiful street art images during our forays through Porto and have compiled them into a "Street Art Tour in Porto". On this tour, there are not only colourful walls to see, but also creative installations and some of the works are even by well-known urban artists.
Parque de Serralves is located in the urban area of Porto. It is one of the first artistically designed gardens created in Portugal in the first half of the 20th century.
Museums in Porto
We stand on the street and look up to the top of the Clérigos Tower, one of the most beautiful viewpoints in Porto. Porto's landmark is one of the sights that no one should miss.
In a large, already from the outside very impressive building in the center of Porto, is today the Portuguese Center for Photography. The visit is free of charge and was a little insider tip for us.
The Tramway Museum in Porto is one of the most beautiful tramway museums in the region. It is located directly on the banks of the Douro River in a historic power station.
The World of Wine is located in the new cultural quarter in Porto / Gaia. Here, in the old warehouses of the wine producers, a modern complex with museums and restaurants has been created.
Portugal is a football nation that is almost more enthusiastic about its teams than many other countries are. Anyone who visits Porto without having had contact with the city's most famous club and the Estádio do Dragão has missed out.
In Vila Nova de Gaia, in the middle of the old warehouses of the port wine merchants, the WOW Porto has been created. A cultural center that with museums and restaurants is a popular destination in the city.
Book an unforgettable experience in Porto
Tipps
We enter Porto São Bento station through a rather off-putting, dingy side entrance. This station is supposed to be the most beautiful in Porto? We are curious…
The food in Porto is wonderfully varied and you can find restaurants in every price range. It is always worthwhile to go to the side streets and take a look at the small restaurants.
Porto is known for its wine. But is there also good beer there? We went in search of craft beer in Porto and discovered some great breweries.
Walking through the streets of the city, the countless bakeries and cafés in Porto immediately catch the eye. Most of them are quite small shops with a few seats.
In Porto, as in many other popular tourist cities, there is the possibility to make your vacation a little cheaper with a Citypass. But is it worth buying the Porto.Card?
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Booking.comTravel information for a citytrip to Porto
Arrival in Porto
By plane
Porto has an international airport located about 11 kilometers northwest of the city center. The airport offers connections to Western European cities as well as long-haul flights to North America and Brazil. All major Portuguese destinations, including the Azores, are also accessible.
From the airport, it’s easy to get to the central Trinidade transfer station in the city center by Metro Line E. The metro runs about every 30 minutes, the travel time is about 35 minutes. Tickets are available at ticket machines. You need a “Z4” (4 zone ticket).
For a cab ride leaving from the arrivals level, one should plan at least 20,-€.
The airport can also be reached via the A 28 and A 41 freeways.
By train
The journey from Germany involves many changes and takes about 26-30 hours. There is currently only a direct connection from Vigo in Spain to Porto. A high-speed line between Portugal and Spain has been in planning for many years and has been delayed again and again.
If traveling from Lisbon, one can take the Alfa Pendular high speed train to Lisbon in 2.45 hours. A little cheaper and only a good 30 minutes slower is the trip with the Intercity.
By car
There are several highways leading to Porto, on which it is possible to travel without any problems.
By boat
Porto is located on the Douro River. The river is navigable from Vega Terrón in Spain to Porto. The nearest seaport, where cruise ships also anchor, is in Leixöes.
On the way in Porto
On foot
The old town can be easily explored on foot. However, you should keep in mind that it is mountainous and some of the streets are quite steep. Often you will also find many passages with countless steps.
Public transport
In Porto, several metro lines and numerous bus lines run through the entire city area.
To travel in the city center, you need a Z1 or Z2 ticket (one zone or two zones), which you can buy from machines at the metro stations. Before the first trip, you also need to buy a rechargeable card (Andante card), which you can then add credit to. When getting on or off the tram, the card must be validated at a small, often yellow, box.
Historical tramway
There are three streetcar lines that are operated by historical trains. The ride for these cannot be paid for with the tickets on the reloadable andante card. The fare for the ride in 2022 was €3 per person per ride.
Funicular
The Funicular dos Guindas connects the riverfront with the downtown area further upstream. You need an extra ticket, which is available at the bottom and top stations.
Travelling times:
November – March:
Sunday – Thursday: 8-20 h
Friday, Saturday: 8-22 h
April – October:
Sunday – Thursday: 8-22 h
Friday, Saturday: 8-24 h
Attention public holidays deviations possible!
Prices:
one way 4,-€
Return journey: €6
Cable car
The cable car in Vila Nova de Gaia runs from the riverbank to the upper edge of the river valley. An extra ticket is required.
PortoCard
The PortoCard is offered for 24, 48 or 72 hours and allows the use of public transport. In addition, discounts and some free entries are made possible, which makes a city trip to Porto more cost-effective.
Best time to visit Porto
Spring (March – May):
Temperatures rise gradually, from an average of 14°C in March to around 18°C in May. Spring brings fewer rainy days than winter, with a decreasing trend from March to May.
This time of year is ideal for visitors who prefer mild weather and fewer crowds.
Summer (June – August):
Summer in Porto is moderately warm with average temperatures around 25°C, rarely exceeding 30°C. It is the driest season, ideal for outdoor activities and beach visits. There are the most hours of sunshine in summer, with long, mostly clear days.
Autumn (September – November):
Temperatures start to drop, but are still a pleasant 20°C in September and reach around 15°C in November. The rain returns, especially in late autumn, it can rain for several days at a time.
Winter (December – February):
Winter temperatures are mild, typically between 10°C and 14°C. Winter is the rainiest season.
Buying tickets in Porto
Ticket machines and large maps of the metro network can be found in the entrance areas of the metro stations.
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Firstly, you should check where you want to travel to. Porto is divided into zones and these are decisive for the choice of ticket. The fare is calculated according to the number of zones in which you are travelling.
If you travel a lot, the rechargeable “andante card” is worthwhile. Here you can top up a certain number of journeys and do not have to go to the ticket machine before each journey. Very important! You can only top up one type of ticket at a time. For example, only 10 journeys in Zone 1. If you need different types of ticket, you will also need several andante cards. Each driver needs their own card, which they validate when they start their journey!
It is of course also possible to buy individual journeys. The machine then prints out a paper ticket.
The andante cards can be topped up. To do this, go to the ticket machine. If you wish, you can set the language to English. The button is located below the screen.
Then select “reload” and place the card in the box with the circles.
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Once the ticket has been fully used, you have the option of selecting a different ticket type (change type of title). Click on “Add titles” to add new tickets to the card for the previously used ticket type. It is possible to buy 1, 2, 5 or 10 new tickets.
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Payment is made with Visa or Mastercard, the machines also take cash! We always had a receipt issued afterwards. As we don’t have a Portuguese tax number, it was the “Invoice without taxpayer number” button.
Then wait a little while until the journeys are booked onto the andante card, remove the card when prompted and the ticket purchase is complete.
Don’t forget to validate the card at one of the small boxes in front of the platform before travelling. If you forget to do this, even if you have the full andante card with you, you will be penalised. From time to time we met ticket inspectors who checked passengers getting off the train, especially in the stations.