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PORTO

Porto

The heart of the city is the Ribeira district, the rambling old town is a UNESCO World Heritage-site and is filled with ancient houses, beautiful buildings adorned with tiles, family run restaurants, cafés and bars, and sloping narrow cobbled streets. The Douro river meanders through the city, and is crossed by magnificent bridges joining Porto with Vila Nova de Gaia. Port wine is produced in this region and is still stored and matured in vast cellars in Gaia that stretch along the banks of the river Douro.

 



SOME THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN PORTO



Riberia RIBEIRA

Lose yourself in Porto’s historic centre and wander along the river marvelling at the amazing buildings. See the boats pull up to the banks, carrying barrels of wine, then stop at one of the many cafés to watch an amazing sunset.
Visit Port House VISIT A PORT HOUSE
 

Cross the river to Vila Nova de Gaia and do a tour and tasting of one (or more!) of the many Port Houses. You will learn about the history of Port wine, its production today, the Douro Valley and see the cellars, before a tasting.
Dine DINE ON SEAFOOD IN MATOSINHOS
 

Take a bus or the metro out to Matosinhos, a fishing and port town, known for its fish restaurants and beautiful sandy beach. Fresh fish is sold in the morning market, then is grilled for you at one of the many restaurants – choose your seafood and watch them BBQ it.
Azulejo AZULEJO TILES
 

Dating back to the 13th century Azulejos came with the Moors. You can see them decorating all kinds of public and private buildings, both inside and out. Some are beautiful simple tiles, others tell stories. Visit the 19th century São Bento Railway Station and see the 20,000 Azulejo tiles decorating the walls portraying scenes of Portuguese history, daily life and transportation.

Cafe Majestic CAFÉ MAJESTIC
 

Have coffee in the most elegant café in Porto. Inspired by the French Belle Epoque, this café still has the charming grandeur of the old world.

Livraria LIVRARIA LELLO BOOKSHOP
 

Visit one of the most magnificent book shops in the world. The neo-gothic architecture, stunning design, intricate decoration and volumes of books are incredible, but the centrepiece is the beautiful red art nouveau staircase, said to have inspired the one in Hogwarts.
Francesinha FRANCESINHA
 

Porto’s iconic dish the Francesinha is not for the faint hearted, it is a ‘sandwich’ of sorts which contains sausage, ham, beef, is covered with cheese and a special tomato based sauce with beer and piri piri hot sauce. Sometimes it comes topped with a fried egg. Bring your appetite!
Port Tonico PORTO TONICO
 

Porto’s answer to the Aperol Spritz or G&T is White Port (of course!), poured over ice and topped with tonic water and a slice of citrus. A very refreshing aperitif.
Clerigos Tower CLÉRIGOS TOWER
 

Climb the 225 steps up Clérigos Tower, once the tallest building in Portugal. The tower itself is quite impressive, in Baroque style with influences of Tuscan bell towers, but the panoramic views over the city are incredible.
Duoro Valley Wine Tour DOURO VALLEY WINE TOUR
 

Visit two stunning wineries in the heart of the Douro Valley, each with sweeping views. Learn about the history and varietals grown in this World Heritage-listed region famous for its port wine production. See the valley from the river on a rabelo boat and feast on regional specialities in the village of Pinhão.



PORTO ACCOMMODATION


Here's a taste of some of our favourite hotels and lodges in the Porto, Portugal.
Come in-store or send us an enquiry to help us find the best accommodation for you.

Grande Hotel do Porto
GRANDE HOTEL DO PORTO
★★★
Set in the centre of the commercial part of the city, within easy walking distance to all of the main attractions. Rooms are contemporary in design and public areas traditional, with lots of character. Relax in the Wellness Room by having a Hot Stone Massage or a regenerative Tui Na Massage after a day of exploring.
NH Collection Porto Batalha
NH COLLECTION PORTO BATALHA
 ★★★★
Located in a newly renovated 18th century palace, this hotel is in the heart of Porto. Once the home of a prominent wine-producing family, and most recently the main Post office, the hotel has the feel of old Porto, from its historic façade to the elegant décor. It is within easy reach of everything that makes this city a UNESCO World Heritage-site.
Pestana Hotel Porto
PESTANA VINTAGE PORTO
 ★★★★
Located in the heart of the historic Old Town on the banks of the Douro River. Set in a number of 16th-18th century buildings that have been listed by UNESCO. Many rooms overlook the waterfront and its location makes it possible to cruise down the river, take the historic tram to Foz do Douro or visit one of the Port wine cellars.





INSPIRE ME
Porto holiday planning articles


Are you planning your next trip to Porto? Want to learn more about this destination? Or looking for ideas and inspiration for your next holiday? Here is where you can find our featured articles on Porto.

 


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This is just a taste of the information and advice we have available through our House of Travel consultants.
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