Porto
Porto
Porto is the old capital of Portugal. A beautiful city situated on the banks of the river Duoro. It is renowned for Port wine production which has been taking place there since the 1800’s (however Port is actually made on the opposite bank of the river to Porto where taxes were much lower!) Porto has seven bridges, all constructed in different decades.
Porto is a great transport hub for Portugal. Its railway station provides access routes across the country and connects with Lisbon. It is also a great route for connecting with parts of North West Spain.
How long would you need?
To really get a feel for the city four days is sufficient. Unlike many of the Mediterranean towns and cities there are fewer ‘sites’ to visit. It’s more of a place for those wanting good Portuguese wines, food and of course Port tasting experiences.
There are really good tram and metro links across the city. One of the best routes is across the Eiffel bridge where you get a view of both sides of the river.
How to get there
Direct flights to Porto take off from Manchester at present. Ryan air is currently the flight provider. It takes around 2.5 hours.
Main sights
The bridge built by Henry Eiffel
The town hall – at one time this was used as the commercial centre for trading routes across the world.
The train station – a beautiful building containing tile works
The Douro valley railway line – a route built in the 1800’s which originally connected Portugal and Madrid.
Visiting the port lodges – there are many to choose from however Taylor’s provide a good short guided tour of the Port cellars explaining production and final products. The tour includes a Port tasting experience which is hassle free. If this is something you enjoy, many of the other big Port producers such as Sandeman’s and Quinta do Noval also offer such tours. There are equally impressive Port making museums but the Taylor’s tour gives you a taster of the history of this drink.
The cathedral
Tile fronted churches
The book shop used in the Harry Potter films!
The ‘Rue de Flores’ a pretty street with some quaint coffee shops and local produce on offer
The 19th Century tram lines which circumnavigate the city
Main Art gallery
There are also some unusual museums based on the Portuguese Empire – with a small theme park based on this
The funicular railway – gives an impressive view of the Port lodges.
Where else to see nearby
The Douro valley railway line – a route built in the 1800’s which originally connected Portugal and Madrid. Sadly the final section of the route is no longer open but the journey up the valley is still worth the time out. Pinhao is a small town on the route with some good walking routes up into the steep sided vineyards where Port grapes are grown.
Eating out
Food in Porto is cheap! There are plenty of seafood restaurants and places offering fresh local produce. You can even find some offering the Portuguese version of tapas.
General costs
A generally cheap city break destination.
Restaurants Visited
Escabeche