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 Porto was once the last stop of adventurers on their way across the Atlantic to the New World. The cliché that Lisbon shows off and Porto just works is a well-worn metaphor that fails to do justice to the city's innumerate charms fully. History dwells around every corner, and more than ever, Porto is a place determined to hold on to its own distinct identity.

Porto, Portugal old town on the Douro River. Sean Pavone/Shutterstock.com

The City

Time has seemingly failed to touch some of the hidden corners of Porto, with many of its typical winding alleys full of shops and restaurants looking like a scene straight out of a medieval history book. The city is so soaked in the past that the historic area of Ribeira has been deemed a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Considering the backdrop of wrought-iron balconies full of flowers, the daily washing, and an array of fresh white and blue ‘azulejos’ tiles, you will have the perfect city for aimless wandering. However, the city does have a few key landmarks that are worth a visit, including the elaborately decorated Palacio da Bolsa (the Stock Exchange Palace), the medieval Cathedral, and The Clérigos Tower.

The other big draw for tourists is the tour of the Porto wine cellars at Vila Nova de Gaia on the other side of the Douro River.

The surrounding suburbs of the city are also compelling: Matosinhos offers great seafood eateries and small beaches stretching down the coastline. Foz do Douro is known as the wealthier area, with nightclubs and restaurants just 5 kilometres northwest of Porto, while Amarantes, a small northern town over the Tâmega River, has everything to win your heart: a preserved historic centre, charming architecture, and the warmth of its inhabitants.

Porto with Dom Luis I Bridge Zhukova Valentyna/Shutterstock.com

Do & See

In Porto, there is so much to see and do. Be sure to visit the port wine caves, its vibrant open-air markets, historic churches, but remember to set aside some time to admire its beautiful architecture and colorful neighbourhoods.

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Porto Cathedral (Sé do Porto)

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Douro Valley Tour with Wine Tasting & Lunch

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Food & Wine Tasting Tour in Porto

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Clérigos Tower

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Dom Luis I Bridge

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São Bento Railway Station

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Bolhão Market

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Livraria Lello

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Church of Santa Clara

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Port Wine Caves at Vila Nova De Gaia

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Soares dos Reis National Museum

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Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art

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Tower of Dom Pedro Pitões

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Nova Sintra Park (Parque das Águas)

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Aveiro

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Stock Exchange Palace

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Estádio do Dragão

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Monument Church of St Francis

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Guindais Funicular

Beria Lima de Rodriguez/cc by-sa 3.0/wikimedia

Jardins do Palácio de Cristal

Portuguese Centre of Photography

Traditional Portuguese dish polvo à lagareiro studio f22 ricardo rocha/Shutterstock.com

Dining

The people of Porto managed to acquire the name "tripeiros" or "tripe eaters", as they shipped out all their fine cuts of meat in order to feed their armies and traders abroad, conquering across the seas back in the 15th century. However, today there is a lot more on the Portuguese menus than just leftover offal of lower quality, and much port wine to wash it all down with.

Being on the coast, seafood restaurants are both ubiquitous and delicious. The city also has a good array of Brazilian-inspired restaurants, reflecting its former colonial links with the South American country — Brazilian barbecues are a carnivore’s heaven!

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Chez Lapin

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Lais de Guia

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Churrascão Gaúcho

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ODE Porto Wine House

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O Paparico

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Yeatman's Restaurant

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Cafeína

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Praia da Luz

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Mauritânia

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Mal Cozinhado

Two glasses of Madeira wine, two cups of fresh espresso coffee and traditional Portuguese honey and nut dessert bolo de mel in cafe Ekaterina Pokrovsky/Shutterstock.com

Cafes

There are many pleasant cafes in Porto where you can get a refreshing drink or coffee. Snack-wise, most cafés will serve you a "francesinha", which is a cholesterol-full delicacy made from meat, bread and cheese finished off with some spicy sauce.

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Praia Da Luz

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Lais de Guia

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Tavi — Confeitaria da Foz

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Café Candelabro

Porto and its old town Ribeira by night Yato Kenshin/Shutterstock.com

Bars & Nightlife

In central Porto, the liveliest place to head for is Ribeira
— the vibrant historic heart of the city, which is also a popular students' haunt. For a flavour of traditional Portugal, go to a Fado bar to listen to a form of Portuguese blues with melancholic artists singing of lost loves and regrets.

In Porto, the distinction between bars and nightclubs are slightly blurred, as most bars stay open until the early morning hours. However, if you want to dance the night away, Porto does have a lot to offer. From traditional Fado evenings to dance clubs in converted warehouses.

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Pipa Velha Petisqueira

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Lais de Guia

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Plano B

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Café Candelabro

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O Arco Da Ribeira

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Taylor's Port

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The Wall Bar

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Hot Five Jazz & Blues Club

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Baixa Bar

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Passos Manuel

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Ontop Bar

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Bar Labirintho

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Industria Club

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The Gin House

Souvenir towels with embroidery of the Galo de Barcelos Elena Dijour/Shutterstock.com

Shopping

Porto’s main shopping street is the pedestrianised Rua de Santa Catarina in the city centre, where you will find famous international brands as well as the large Centro Comercial ViaCatarina Shopping Center. However, the small streets off the main streets are also worth a visit, brimming with independent shops selling fresh bread, cheese, and cakes, interspersed with bookstores and traditional shoe shops.

Gold jewellery is another speciality of Portugal, a reflection of its colonial past and its conquests of gold-rich lands in South America.

For a taste of daily Portuguese life, pay a visit to one of Porto’s many open-air markets to mingle with the locals and try some local delicacies.

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Centro Comercial Via Catarina

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Open-air Markets

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Jewellery

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Portosigns

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Casa Da Guitarra (House of Guitars)

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Garrafeira do Carmo

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Mercado Bom Sucesso

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Taylor's Port

Old tram in Porto Efired/Shutterstock.com

Tourist Information

Passport / Visa

Portugal can be visited visa-free for up to 90 days by citizens of most European countries, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Israel, UAE, and most countries in America. If you are unsure whether or not you need to apply for a visa, we recommend contacting the embassy or consulate in your country. International (non-Schengen) travellers need a passport that is valid for at least 3 months after the end of their intended trip in order to enter the Schengen zone. Citizens of Schengen countries can travel without a passport but must have a valid ID with them during their stay.

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Best Time to Visit

Porto provides mild weather throughout the whole year. The winter months, in particular, can be dominated by heavy rain — do not forget the typical coastal weather that can change quite fast. To experience the typical Portuguese life, however, the best time to visit might be in the summer months, when the open-air markets fill with crowds and the city hosts many festivals, such as Serralves em Festa and Festa de São João.

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Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO)

The Porto Airport is called Aeroporto Francisco Sa Carneiro and is situated 11 kilometres north of the city. To reach the airport you can use the lightrail. It departs every 30 minutes.

From the airport, you can also take buses number 601, 602, 604 and 3M into the city centre. There are also shuttle buses and taxis available at the airport.

Address: Porto Airport, Porto

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Phone: +351 229 432 400

Website: www.aeroportoporto.pt/en/opo/home

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Public Transport

Porto has a good bus and tram network with routes serving all the key tourist spots. The city also has a Metro system that is both clean and efficient. You can buy a metro ticket at the station and in other sale spots, or you can buy tourist cards that allow you to get around Porto on all means of transportation: daily tickets and 3-day tickets.

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Website: www.stcp.pt

More Information: www.metrodoporto.pt

Taxi

Taxis in Porto are very convenient and also great for airport transfer.

Taxis Invicta
+351 22 507 64 00
www.taxisporto.com

RadiTaxis:
+351 225 073 900
www.raditaxis.pt

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Post

To find a post office in Porto, look for the red sign saying CTT. Letter boxes are also red.

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Website: www.ctt.pt

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Pharmacy

Pharmacies are normally open 9am–1pm and 3pm–7pm. All areas have one shop open all night or on Sunday. A white cross on a green background marks out the pharmacies.

Address: Farmácia Sá da Bandeira, Rua de Sá da Bandeira 236/54, Porto

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Phone: +351 22 207 4040

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Telephone

Country Code: +351
Area Code: 022

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Electricity

220 V/50Hz with with a Type F electrical plug with two round pins, same as in many countries in Continental Europe.

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