Tips for planning the perfect trip to beautiful Porto, Portugal.

Porto is located in the Northwest of Portugal and is largely known for its cobblestone streets and delicious port wine. This is hands down one of our favorite places ever, it lives deep in our hearts and we can’t wait to go back again. So, if you are travelling to Portugal make sure to add a few days (at least) for this historic and lively city.

Though most people probably assume there is just one town split down the middle of the picturesque Douro River, it is actually two separate towns with slightly different vibes. I suggest you carve out time for both. Porto itself is rich with history, it’s even been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site…..more on that to come. Vila Nova de Gaia sits on the opposite side of the Douro River from Porto, this is home to the world famous port wine cellars. Both areas have some of the most breathtaking views and amazing atmospheres that you won’t want to miss. In this blog I will break down how to get here, where to stay, what to do and where to eat. So keep reading and escape to Porto with us.

How To Get Here

There are many ways to get to Porto no matter where you are coming from. With Europe having some of the best budget airlines in the world flying is an obvious way to arrive. The airport itself is located slightly North of the main city center. Portugal unlike some of Europe does offer Uber as well as taxis and a vast public transport system including trains and buses. If you are travelling from Spain or from another area of Portugal then the Comboios de Portugal (CP Train) might be an option for you. You can download an app on your phone and book tickets or check schedules/routes prior to booking. We took the train from Lisbon to Porto, which took about 3 hours and cost us approximately $15 CAD each, overall the train system was easy to use. Car rentals are big in Portugal as well, there are a number of providers available in each city, prices vary based on size of vehicle and length of rental. Last but not least, there is a pretty substantial bus system in Portugal. Rede Expressos was listed as the largest company with routes to many of the hot spots through Portugal and even into Spain, tickets vary in price based on destination but start at approximately 8 CAD per person.

Where to Stay

Where to stay is always the first thing I try to figure out when planning a trip abroad. When it comes to Porto, I truly believe you can’t go wrong. There are SO MANY fabulous and reasonably priced options that I don’t even know where to start. We stayed in a gorgeous little place called “Clérigos Ville Porto Rooms” (pictured below). The location was perfect for us as it was a short walk from the São Bento train station where we arrived. The view from our window was of the famous and beautiful Igreja dos Clérigos (Clérigos Church), which was built in the 18th century by Italian architect Nicolau Nasoni. This was a spectacular place to sit and have a glass of delicious wine while staring at one of the most beautiful landmarks in Porto center. If you want something a little more upscale there are multiple options along the Douro River, though a river view room will cost you a bit more. On the opposite side of the river there is “The Sandeman Hostel and Suites” this place is not your average hostel. The building itself dates back to 1790 and boast not only shared room accommodations but private rooms with spectacular views of the Douro River and the famous Ponte Luís I Bridge. No matter where you choose to stay, my guess is you’ll have a great view from your window or patio of historic buildings and outstanding architecture. A healthy budget for 2 people is between 50-100 CAD per night.

What to See

Porto and area has so many great attractions, whether you have a few days or a few weeks there is more than enough to fill your days with exciting adventures. First off, as I mentioned above Porto was proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. This place has some INCREDIBLE history. From the beautiful Ponte Luís I Bridge to Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar or the many cathedrals, churches and palaces, you will not run out of historic monuments to explore.

On the other side of the river from Porto center there are many famous port cellars available for tour. The area of Vila Nova de Gaia tends to have a funkier more artistic vibe than Porto. On your way to any of the numerous port cellars be sure to stop and check out some of the creative street art (example pictured below). If you are a wine fanatic then this side of the river is for you. There are so many port wineries to try, we suggested spending a day exploring a couple different cellars. We visited Taylor’s Fladgate Port Cellars, which is well known in Portugal and around the world for high quality port wine. The tour cost approximately $20 CAD per person and includes an audio tour and 4 port wines to sample. This was a true highlight from our time in Portugal, even to this day we purchase a bottle of Taylor’s port and drink it while reminiscing about this trip.

If miles and miles of beautiful, almost completely untouched beachline are your thing then this day trip is for you. Rent a bike from one of the many bike rental shops, we used Durus Rent Bike, Ebike and Scooters shop, which is located at the bottom of the stairs at the very edge of the famous Luís Bridge in Porto. Grab a bike and take the bridge across to Vila Nova de Gaia, once there use the pathway to head west out to the Atlantic coast. Not only are the beaches absolutely breathtaking but there are some of the most unique restaurants and bars set right on the beach. Makes sure to stop and enjoy an ice cold beer or a perfectly mixed sangria along the way. I think what makes this so special is the serene atmosphere. Though there are some small towns along the coast, we went in May and it truly felt like we had the whole coastline to ourselves. Make sure to pack a towel or blanket in your bike basket in case you feel the urge to stop and lay on the beach. We have a feeling the sound of the waves crashing along the sand and rocks will encourage you to stop and take it all in. The ride is incredibly easy, with a well paved path that stretches for hours down the coastline. We do suggest an Ebike as it makes for an easier ride but, it can be done on a normal bike. Bike rentals generally run in 4, 8, and 24 hour intervals, with an Ebike rental running about 30 CAD for 8 hours. No matter which bike you are on we know you will have a incredible day…..just trust us on this one!

Portugal is not only known for port wine but they have a huge selection of incredible wines from all over the country, one in particular is Verde wine. Vinho Verde is well known in Portugal and comes from a small region in Northern Portugal. I am certainly not an expert on Vinho Verde but I do know the name has nothing to do with the specific grape or blend, the name actually refers to the region in which the grapes are grown. We suggest if you want to dive into the history of Verde wines, hit up a wine tasting selection from one of many amazing wine bars in Porto. We went to a great place called “All in Porto”, sadly at the time of writing this they are permanently closed. After a quick search, a few alternative suggestions are: de Lima’s Wine Bar and Wine Tasting Room -Sala de Provas do Porto. All I can say is DRINK THE WINE because it’s delicious and can be difficult to find outside the country.

One thing we didn’t do but certainly plan to on our next visit, is taking a boat tour down the Douro River. Now, this is an incredibly touristy thing to do but, sometimes that is the case for a reason. Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia have some of the most picturesque landscape I’ve ever seen. From the old historic buildings, to the rustic red rooftops and lush greenery that literally surround the gorgeous Douro River, this place has some of my favorite landscape ever. One of the best ways you can view this landscape is by boat on the river. There are many boat tours that leave from docks along the edge of the river, if you walk down in that area you are bound to find one. On average a 50 minute boat tour along the river will run you about $20 CAD per person.

What To Eat

Besides tasting wine, food is probably our second favorite thing to write about. Food, food and more food, and boy does Portugal do food well. When we planned our trip to Portugal we had to look up some of the common cuisine because we were not overly familiar with it. Call us ignorant but the closest we had come was eating at Nando’s, which is Afro-Portuguese chain restaurant……not exactly authentic. So when we arrived we ate anything and everything we could. There is a few must try’s in Porto specifically. The food scene in Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia will not disappoint, even simply walking down narrow laneways or along the Douro River, you are sure to be drawn in by the smells of amazing food.

For us specifically I want to highlight three of our favorite meals from our time in Porto. First off, you MUST try a Francesinha (pictured below). If you don’t know what this is, it’s a famous Portuguese sandwich typically made with crispy bread, cured ham, fresh sausage and steak with layers of melted cheese, topped with a tomato beer sauce. Add a side of fries to dip in the leftover sauce and a refreshing cold beer and you have a winner my friends! You can get these sandwiches in many different restaurants, we visited Bufete Fase for our sandwich, they did an outstanding job on the food and had a great vibes and friendly staff.

The second thing we suggest you try is a bakery or café, there are many of these located all over the city. By simply walking the narrow streets of cobblestone you are bound to come across a fabulous bakery or café serving up yet another famous Portuguese item, Pasteis de Nata. These little pastries have an incredible egg custard filling, poured inside a flakey tart shell and then they are lightly dusted with cinnamon. I am not exaggerating when I say these are the MOST creamy, delectable little treats….good luck eating just one!

The very last place we suggest is a restaurant called Taberninha do Manel, which is located in Vila Nova de Gaia just down from the Ponte Luís I Bridge. This fantastic restaurant offers up some amazing food which included head-on shrimp in garlic sauce, fresh bread with assorted dips and an incredible dessert paired perfectly with an authentic port wine. Not only does this place make you feel like you are stepping into a piece of history, the service is incredible. Our server was kind and educating. He taught us about the history of Porto and the food we were eating. There is often a wait to get in but trust us when we say it’s well worth the wait.

A bonus item to add to this section is for those of you who enjoy drinks, light snacks and an incredible view. Porto Cruz Terrace Lounge 360 is a great rooftop lounge with cozy couches and great drinks. Stop in have a glass of wine and watch boats chug along the stunning Douro river. There is nice light music, a good vibe and if you get there at the right time you can even enjoy a beautiful sunset over Porto.

Conclusion

I am not fully confident that this blog has done Porto justice, this place is just magical and sometimes that can be hard to fully describe. The best thing I can say is that Portugal is amazing, it’s full of friendly, humble people and amazing landscapes. So, explore as much of it as you possibly can. Soon we will release blogs for Lisbon and the Algarve but for now put this one on your list!!!