It’s been a long time since Porto stayed on my “to do list”. For me, Porto is the most beautiful city in Portugal and definitely a must see. The main reason I postponed my trip there so much, was the lack of direct flights to Porto from Romania. But it seems that it finally came its turn this summer, as part of my one week trip to the North-Western coast of Spain. That being said, I spent 2 wonderful nights in one of the most picturesque Portuguese regions, full of history and covered in the smell of the tastiest wines.
Douro River, which crosses the entire city, is the home of many vine crops, which give us the amazing Porto wine. Porto’s historical center became part of UNESCO heritage in 1996, and it’s now one of the most beautiful tourist attractions in Europe. Dozens of old buildings and imposing cathedrals complete the Portuguese city’s image, along with the famous bridges that connect the two sides of the river.
1. How do you get to Porto
Porto’s airport is called Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, from where you can easily get to the city center in less than 30 min. You can also go to Porto from Lisbon, in case you want to do a trip that includes the capital too.
How do you get from Lisbon to Porto?
- by bus – it takes around 3-4h to get there, depending on the bus company. One-way ticket price is between 5€ and 10€, depending on the leaving time. You can check here the timeline and the prices.
- by train – the trip takes around 4h, and a one-way ticket price starts from 25€. Here you can check the timeline and the ticket prices.
How do you get to Porto city center from the Airport?
The airport is 18km away from the city center, and you can get there by metro, by bus, or by shuttle.
- by metro – purple line E (Dragao Stadium – Airport), runs every 20 min, from the airport to the city center (Bolhão or Casa da Musica stations), and the journey takes around 20-30 min. The metro runs from Monday to Sunday, from 6am to 1am.
- by bus – in case you arrive at the airport late at night, you can take the public bus to go to the city. Line 3M runs from 12am to 5am everyday.
- by shuttle bus – various companies offer this service, but the best would be to take the Transdev shuttle. You’ll find it right in front of the arrivals terminal and it leaves you in the city center, at Gare Rodoviaria station. The journey takes around 50 min, and a one-way ticket costs 8€.
2. Public transport in Porto
You can explore the city of Porto by metro, by bus, or by tram, or you can just choose to get around by step. Another option would be to take one of the hop-on hop-off buses.
Porto Card
A single metro trip costs 1.20€, while for a bus trip, you’ll pay 1.85€ and 3.50€ for a tram trip. If you choose to visit the city using public transport, there are several better options which are very useful for a tourist. One of them is the Porto Card, which gives you discounts and free access to the main museums and monuments. There are two types of Porto cards: Pedestrian Cards and Porto Card + travel cards.
Porto Card + travel card
This type of card offers you unlimited trips by metro and public buses.1-day Porto Card + Transport: € 13
- 1-day Porto Card + Transport: € 6
- 2-day Porto Card + Transport: € 20
- 3-day Porto Card + Transport: € 25
- 4-day Porto Card + Transport: € 33
Pedestrian Porto Card
- 1-day Porto Card: € 6
- 2-day Porto Card: € 10
- 3-day Porto Card: € 13
- 4-day Porto Card: € 15
Andante Tour Card
- Andante Tour 1 – 24h availability, 7€
- Andante Tour 3 – 72h availability, 15€
Hop On Hop Off Bus
- Yellow Bus 24h – 16.20€
- Yellow Bus 48h – 18€
City Sightseeing Portugal
3. Where to stay in Porto
Porto is one of the most visited cities in Portugal, especially during the summer. This is the main reason why the accommodation is quite expensive in the city center. If you choose to go to Porto in the summer, it’s very important to book accommodation in advance, otherwise, there’s a high chance you won’t find anything good enough. The best areas to stay in Porto are Torre de los Clérigos and Praça da Liberdade, but these are also the most expensive ones. I strongly recommend you to book something in advance, with the option of free cancellation, and to look for something close to a metro station, not necessarily in the city center.
4. When to visit Porto
Like I’ve mentioned before, Porto has tourists all year round, but summer is definitely the peak season, when lots of international tourists come to see the city. If you’d like to enjoy your holiday without being overwhelmed by the crowds, late spring and early September make a great deal.
5. What is weather like in Porto
Being so close to the Atlantic Ocean, Porto has a mild oceanic climate, with an average temperature during summers of 26ºC. In the autumn, the temperature drops to an average of 16ºC, the hottest autumn month being September, with temperatures of 21-22ºC. Porto’s winters are a bit colder than Lisbon’s, with an average temperature of 14ºC.
6. What to eat in Porto
If you make it to Porto, you definitely shouldn’t miss Bacalhau, a delicious fish that you’ll find pretty much in every restaurant. Another traditional dish is “Tripas a moda do Porto”, a stew made of the beef stomach and white beans. If this one is not making you hungry, then you should try “Francesinha”, a filling sandwich with ham, sausage, veal, egg, and some kind of sauce made with tomatoes and beer, which is always served with chips. In terms of deserts, you have to try Pasteis de Nata, which is a delicious egg based dessert.
7. Must see in Porto
- Porto Cathedral – Sé Cathedral
- Clerigos Church and Tower (Torre dos Clerigos)
- Historical center Ribeira
- Ponte Don Luis I
- Palacio Da Bolsa
- A trip to at least one winery (I recommend giving it a try to Poças winery)
- Lello Bookstore
- San Bento Train Station (Estacao de Sao Bento)
- Casa da Musica
- Tram Museum (Museu do Carro Eléctrico)
Enjoy your trips! 🥰
