Visiting Porto in Portugal: PortoLover.com is the travel guide with the best information for your city trip, tips for historic sightseeing and activities in Oporto.
Porto (or Oporto) is Portugal's second largest city with nearly two million people. Porto city has made a name for itself worldwide for its port wine. Porto is located in the northwest of Portugal, bordering the Atlantic Ocean. The Douro River splits Porto into a northern and southern part, which also explains the many striking bridges you will find there, of which the Ponte Dom Luís I is the most famous arch bridge. The historic center of Porto has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996 for its cultural value. Although it can be quite dry in Portugal during summers, you will find quite a few parks in Porto where you can relax in the shade. Furthermore, you cannot visit Porto without observing the city's colorful buildings and beautiful churches. Porto Portugal is not only a popular destination for a city trip, but it is also visited by tourists who take a longer holiday to see the sights in the area of Porto. Read more about the things to do in Porto, the beautiful city in Portugal and find the best tips on our online travel guide PortoLover.com
Due to the compactness of Porto city, you can do almost everything on foot. That is good news for citytrippers who like to soak up culture and explore the city. Especially the narrow streets with old cobblestones in the colorful Ribeira district are a favorite to stroll through. Explore the little cafes and other shops of the city. If you like markets, you must visit the Mercado do Bolhão. Walking through the neighborhoods of Porto Portugal you will also be amazed by the street art on display.
The real Portugal lover should have experienced at least once in his life a real Portuguese fado. Usually these activities are combined with dinner and/or a wine tasting. Als not to miss: climb the Torre dos Clérigos for one of the best viewpoints of Porto and visit the São Bento train station with its beautiful architecture. In addition, Porto is a city with many churches covered with Azulejos, the typical blue tiles. Don't forget to enter the churches for all the splendor as well. What you should not miss from the Porto attractions is the Ponte Dom Luís I, preferably visit the arch bridge at a quiet time of the day (at sunrise or sunset). Visit one of the many port houses on the other side of the river for a port tasting at well-known brands such as Sandeman, Graham's and Calem. Officially, this area is not part of the city of Porto, but is called Vila Nova de Gaia.
A day trip from Porto is also worthwhile and you can take boat trips or a tour by car to visit the Douro Valley, Fátima, Coímbra, Braga or even Santiago de Compostela. From the surroundings of Porto (from the water or from the surrounding mountains) you see Porto city in a completely different way. The foodlover can also indulge himself in Porto Portugal, because food and wine tours are plentiful. The many wine cellars in the Porto area are popular to visir during your tour of Portugal.
Will you be in Oporto on June 23? Then you can experience the biggest party in Porto city, the Festa de São João. During this holiday, the city is completely turned upside down with street parties with traditional music, dancing and grilled sardines are eaten all over the city. This day people also beat each other with garlic flowers and inflatable hammers and ends with a gigantic fireworks display from the Luís Bridge. On June 24, a traditional boat race will take place between the different port houses.
Porto is a very old city and you can tell by the Celtic name it used to have: Portus Cale. It has always been a thriving place because of the trade from the port. Besides the Celts, the Visigoths and Moors have also left their mark on Porto. After quite a few battles to achieve the independence of Portugal, this finally happened in 1143 when the first King of Portugal was actually recognized as king. After that there have been many other kings (and also a dictator) who have been at the helm of the country. Despite attempts to make Portugal part of Spain, both Porto and Lisbon have put a stop to this. The protests and the fight for freedom is therefore something characteristic that you can still see when there are protests somewhere in the city. There is a lot of passion in the population. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, Porto was even in French hands for a while.
Apart from the striking arch bridge Ponte Dom Luís I and the colorful buildings of the Ribeira district, there is much to do in Porto. Read more about the main sights, activities and excursions in the Portuguese city. What to do in Oporto?
The city of Porto is the ideal base to discover more of Portugal. From the city center you can easily make day trips to, for example, the beautiful Douro Valley and charming cities such as Braga and Guimarães. An overview of the best excursions.
A Porto city trip is not complete without a port tasting in one of the many famous port cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia. Furthermore, visit a Fado show to learn more about Portuguese culture or take a boat trip on the Douro River.
Many tourists choose to use Porto as a base during their holiday to discover more of Portugal. The city has a number of excellent touroperators that allow you to take day trips in the area without any worries. These are the 14 best excursions to do.
Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, or Porto Airport, is located 12 kilometers northwest of the city. Find out how to get from the airport to your hotel in the center of Porto by metro or taxi.
There are two city passes for sale in Porto, namely the Porto City Card and the Porto.Card. Which of these city cards and tickets are beneficial for your city trip in Porto Portugal?
Best time to visit Porto? If you go to Porto Portugal for the festivals or the best weather, June to September is the best time to visit Porto for a city trip. However, keep in mind that in July and August it is a popular destination in Portugal and that the crowds can be disappointing to see every sight that was on your list. Less busy and still nice weather? Then you better go in May, June or September. In October the temperature drops considerably and it can also start to rain more, with November being known as the month in which the most precipitation falls. Due to its location on the Atlantic Ocean, Porto always enjoys pleasant summer temperatures. In July and August the average temperature is around 25 degrees Celsius. Are you going between October and April? Then a winter coat (and raincoat) is useful to take with you in your travel luggage to your hotel in Porto.
| Weather Porto | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| min. temp (°C) | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 9 | 7 |
| max. temp (°C) | 13 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 21 | 16 | 14 |
| sun hours / day | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 5 |
| days of precipitation | 9 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
Visiting the Ponte Dom Luís I arch bridge in Porto Portugal
The travel guide for your city trip Oporto
The skyline of Porto Portugal
Many churches in Oporto are clad in Azulejos
