Today we have a comprehensive article providing you with the information you need about this bustling city in northern Portugal. Porto is the second city of Portugal and the second most expensive city after the capital, Lisbon.
The first time we went on holiday to Porto, my wife and I almost gave up after 30 minutes because it was so busy. However, after surviving the winding streets we had such an amazing time no wonder it is a popular destination for tourists. We came to Porto again 2 years later and it was just as good (if not better) the second time around. In this article I will show you some amazing things you can do in Porto Portugal (don’t forget to check out my tips once on holiday).
Porto is not very big; you will struggle to walk more than 15 minutes in one direction from the city centre. The first day we arrived, after walking for about an hour and a half just to get back to the hotel again, it was pretty frustrating so bear this in mind if you are clapped out!
Porto is packed full of things to do; there is more to do here than you can shake a stick at! Now if you are like me and don’t love crowded places then this may not be the place for you; however, it is still worth visiting once in your life. If you are looking for quiet serene city break or peaceful getaway, head to Porto’s close neighbour Portugal The Azores on an island in the Atlantic!
Porto is a city with some amazing things to do in Portugal, but you will have to learn how to navigate its winding streets to find them. Porto is located on the stunning Douro river which divides it into two parts. On one side of the river there are the hills and old historical buildings whilst it is the other side of the river that has a more modern feel to it.
One of the best things to do is Port Tasting in Porto. Port is the World’s best producer of Port wine and they have some of the best Port wine cellars including Croft, Sandemans and Taylors. Allow around 3 hours for a Port tasting trip and be prepared to walk up a fair few stairs to get to some of the wine cellars on the other side of the river!
Porto has around 6 bridges crossing the Douro and each one is unique in its own way. This is one of the defining features of Porto as you will be able to take some amazing pictures from all angles both day and night. The true beauty of this city comes alive at night and you will be able to see all the different coloured lights of the bridges, people walking around and even boats on the river.
If you enjoy history then a visit to Porto’s central museum is definitely something you should consider doing whilst in town. It is a new building just opened in 2011 which houses many artefacts from all over the world. From some really old bones to Egyptian hieroglyphics, you will be amazed at what is on display here. I especially love looking faces of animals in these ancient paintings; they seem to have personalities!
Have you ever been to Porto? What did you love about the city?