The fascinating city of Porto sits on the banks of the Douro River estuary about 3 hours north of the Portuguese capital, Lisbon. It may be referred to as Portugal’s second city but if you are looking for some genuine local character, excellent food and of course, the port wine then Porto is for you.
With a flight time of less than 2 and a half hours and a varied selection of airlines offering direct flights from a number of UK airports, Porto is a perfect destination for a weekend city break. Don’t think it’s just a summer destination either, with an average winter daytime temperature of 12-15 degrees the mild climate makes it a great city to explore on foot without the summer crowds.
The Food
If you’ve visited the Algrave you may think Portuguese food is just sardines and the famous custard tart, Pasteis de Nata but Porto offers something a bit different. As Porto sits on the Atlantic coast, there is an excellent selection of fresh seafood but it also offers a wide selection of rich meat dishes and cheeses sourced from the surrounding fertile northern Portuguese countryside.
You have to try a Francesinha (if your heart is up to it), it’s a sandwich made with ham, sausages, steak and if that’s not enough it’s then covered with melted cheese, a fried egg and a hot thick tomato sauce and served with french fries.
If you don’t fancy a Francesinha, don’t worry as Porto is definitely Portugal’s best city for food. Whether you’re looking for a cosy little local restaurant or the latest contemporary fine dining, Porto has a restaurant for you.
The Port
You can’t visit Porto without trying a glass of port or two. Although produced in Portugal port is a quintessential English tipple which can be seen in the classic names such as Cockburn, Taylor and Graham. During the wars with the French in the 17th and 18th century there was a boycott of French wine so the merchants looked to the Portuguese wine region of the Douro Valley where port continues to be produced today.
If you cross the Dom Luis bridge you’ll find a number of old port wine cellars which offer tours such as the Ferreira Cellars and Taylors which dates back 300 years.
If you want to learn more about the wine-growing region and have an extra day or two then try a Douro Valley wine tasting trip.
Ribeira
The Ribeira area of Porto consists of a maze of narrow medieval streets which stretches down to the riverside promenade. The pretty pastel-coloured houses, bars and restaurant were once described as picturesque but now it’s that dreaded word Instagrammable! So just watch out for the floppy hat girls posing everywhere. But seriously, Ribeira is not to be missed when visiting Porto, it is a perfect place to just wander, relax with a drink and simply enjoy people watching and the river views.
The Lello Bookstore (Livraria Lello)
This ornate bookshop is rated among the top bookstores in the world but it is definitely a stop for the Harry Potter fans. J K Rowling used to live in Porto in the early 1990s and it’s said that the Livraria Lello was the inspiration for ‘Flourish and Blotts’ in Diagon Alley and the shop’s staircase was the inspiration for the elaborate grand staircase of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
If you do want to visit, due to the popularity of Harry Potter, you need to buy a ticket online just to enter the shop.
The Bridges
Porto is the city of bridges, six bridges span the river from Porto to the neighbouring city of Vila Nova de Gaia. The Luis Bridge was the longest metal arch bridge when it was built in 1886. The best way to experience the bridge is to take the Metro from central Porto across the Douro to Gaia. The train crosses the upper tier of the bridge.
Next to the Luis Bridge is the Maria Pia Bridge which was the last project of Gustave Eiffel before he left to work on another project you may have heard of, the Eiffel Tower.
The Historic Trams
Much of Porto’s extensive tram network was removed during the ’60s and ’70s but luckily a few were saved and now have heritage status. Take the Linha 1 tram line, the most scenic route which follows the banks of the Douro River to the Foz district.
So those are just a few reasons to visit Porto on your next weekend break, we’re sure you’ll fall in love with the city. and of course, that rich, smooth, wonderful Port.
