Porto Portugal
Porto

Porto, Portugal is a major city in the northern part of the country. Porto is a small city, which makes getting around by foot or metro easy. You can also do a self-guided walking tour through Porto to see the highlights.

Porto is known for its wonderful azulejo covered churches, tiled building facades, contemporary Casa da Musica, steep hills, and wide river.

Porto is also famous for Port wine, which originated in the region. In Vila Nova de Gaia, there are numerous Port tasting rooms. My favorite of these is Taylor’s, an old establishment on the hill with great views over Porto.

In addition to wine, Porto has great restaurants. If you want a casual meal that is relatively inexpensive, try A Tasquinha restaurant near the university. If you want a sleek riverfront cafe, D Tonho is your place. Additionally, Barao de Fladgate and the Gourmet Restaurant at The Yeatman hotel are the perfect places to dine after Port tasting in Vila Nova de Gaia.

Porto’s cafes are bursting with goodies, from the amazing sweet breads to the traditional Portuguese pastries. Majestic Cafe is an Art Nouveau treasure of a bakery, and Confeitaria do Bolhao is a great place for a quick snack. Don’t forget to try a classic pastel de nata, a Portuguese custard tart.

When you’re tired from a long day of exploring Porto, relax at one of Porto’s hotels. Residencial Pao de Asucar is a great mid-priced hotel in the center of Porto, and Pestana Porto Hotel is another good choice in the heart of the city. If you’re looking for luxury, The Yeatman hotel is arguably the best hotel in Porto.

Getting to Porto is easy, as there is an international airport close to the city and cheap flights on airlines like Ryanair. Getting from Porto airport to the city center is easy with on metro, which runs straight from the airport to the city center. It is inexpensive and a good alternative to a taxi or hire car.

Additionally, many domestic and international train lines serve Porto from cities like Lisbon. If you plan to take the Porto metro from the train station or airport to your hotel, make sure to buy an Andante Card to get the best prices. You can use the card for the duration of your stay in the city.