Vacation In Porto Portugal
Porto is situated on the left bank of the river Douro and was called Portucale during the Roman period, although it was settled much earlier, about 4000 years ago. It is a city rich in history, traditions and good food.
There are many vacation spots you can consider in Portugal, but Porto is one of the best. You would want to spend at least a week there because there is too much to see and do in Porto in just a weekend.
My visit to Porto was kind of a spur of the moment trip. I had three days in which to do as much sightseeing as possible, and ended up choosing the city of Porto due to its natural beauty with a good mix of man-made attractions. It’s often referred to as The Brazilian Venice, due to its unique location situated along the Douro river.
Porto is the second biggest city in Portugal and, arguably, the country’s most beautiful. Immersed in a romantic aura of past, present and future, it is constantly renewing itself while keeping its soul alive. The picturesque river, the mouth-watering cuisine, the sumptuous wines, the traditional outskirts and new buildings will not leave anyone indifferent.
Vacation In Porto Portugal
I don’t know about you, but I love going on holiday. And Portugal is one of my favourite destinations. While there are countless locations to visit in the world, I find Portugal a great place to put your feet up and enjoy some time off. Here are four reasons why you should visit Porto and experience a taste of Portugal.
Portugal is one of my favorite places, but I don’t get there nearly as much as I’d like. When I do get the chance to visit, however, it’s usually in Porto. My wife and I love to stay at the Sao Bento Guesthouse (though if you’re visiting during the cold months [think November to February], you’ll want to stay elsewhere). It’s centrally located, making it convenient to explore anywhere in the city.
It took me approximately 5 minutes to fall in love with Porto Portugal. We had landed after an 18 hour travel time and while at the airport, were very much convinced we wouldn’t be able to rally for an evening out. But then we walked across the top of Ponte Luis at golden hour. And my jaw drop.
Porto is magic. It’s everything you want in an old European coastal city. I spent the next few days running around to make you the perfect Porto, Portugal travel guide and itinerary so you can plan a magic trip for yourself.
>> Got a question about Porto that you need answered quickly? DM me on Instagram @thewhimsysoul and I’ll be happy to help! I only accept DMs from followers, so hit the follow button before sending.
Confession: I had never heard of Porto until a couple of months before I went. Lisbon? Totally. Porto? About 2 hours North of Lisbon? Nope, somehow not on my radar. After manifesting all 2020 and the better half of 2021, I was finally invited on a dream press trip to the Vinho Verde wine region by Vinho Verde themselves.
My Porto Portugal VlogPlay Video
Porto was our kick-off city before heading into wine country, so my friend Elise and I decided to fly out a few days earlier to explore and adjust to jet lag. Now I wish I had flown out a week earlier – not because you can’t do Porto justice in a weekend, but because it’s simply so dang beautiful I wanted long to soak it all up (after the chaos of 2020, I was also really really excited to not be in California for the first time in a long time.)
Porto At A Glance
Top Touristy Things That Are Actually Cool
- 6 Bridges River Cruise: Usually I avoid major touristy tours but holy cow this was stunning and only about $20 per person.
- Livraria Lello Bookstore: The Harry Potter bookstore! I have a secret hack for visiting this one down below.
- Port Tasting: You can’t come to Oporto without trying Port wine! It’s like, the thing to do here!
Touristy Things To Skip
- Teleferico de Gaia Cable Car: The Gaia Cable car takes you from the top of the hill down to the river. You can save the money and skip this as you’ll get amazing views everywhere.
Passes To Save Money
- Porto City Pass: This pass gives you free transportation around the city, free entry to 6 museums and discounts on tons of other stuff. Worth it!
- Bundled Tickets: At many of the major tourist sites you can buy bundled tickets. Like, you can get a bundle ticket to enter Serravles and the clocktower. Just ask them!
- Student ID: If you got one, bring it! My friend is like, 33 and flashed her college ID everywhere and nobody questioned her on it, so she was able to save money on tickets. I wish I did that. When I get home I’ll be hunting down my old college ID to hold onto lol!
Basics To Set Up or Expect Before Arriving To Porto
- Most places accept credit cards or debit cards so bring both!
- Bring Euros in cash (about €50 euros in small bills for a 3 day weekend) Many small cafes that serve breakfast and coffee won’t take cards. You’ll also need Euros for the tram and other random small things here and there.
- Get an International cell plan so you can use it for Google Maps, Uber and last-minute tickets. Most restaurants and hotels do also have wifi for you but it’s not always strong.
- Porto is extremely walkable so you can get almost everywhere by walking. Otherwise, you can easily take Uber, which will run about 5-10 Euros per ride.
- Make sure you are vaccinated and have a screenshot of your records on your phone to show hotels nd restaurants to gain entry. They may also ask you for a negative covid test within the last 72 hours. If you don’t have one, they will sell you a 2 Euro rapid testing kit you can do in the lobby or bathroom.
- Most locals speak English but try to learn the basics in Portuguese. Hello = Ola. Thank You is “Obrigada” or “Rigada”. Good morning is “Bom Dia”
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How Long Should I Spend In Porto?
A long weekend / 3 days in Porto is great. It leaves you time to see the highlights and get properly lost once or twice (the best part of this city – so many winding streets to get lost on!) If you have 4-5 days, that does give you room to take it a bit slower. Up to you!
What Are Portugees People Like?
OMG so friendly! I got a lot of questions on Instagram from followers asking how I felt as an American in Portugal (were they nice? Rude? Mad at me and our government?) In my experience, they are so dang friendly. They also have a very funny, unique sense of humor that you may pick up on. You’ll love the locals.