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 streets and discover interesting museums, small stores, restaurants and wine bars. You should not have left the city without a port wine tasting or a visit to a wine cellar.
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 River.
Sights in Porto – citytrip to Porto
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Museums in Porto
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.
Tipps
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?
Travel information for a citycitytrip to Portotrip to Porto
Arrival
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 …
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.
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.
Best time to travel
The summers in the Porto region are hot, in winter it rains a lot. The Atlantic Ocean provides variety: clouds and also fog are not uncommon in the coastal area, there is almost always a light to moderate wind blowing on the beach.
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.