Porto

Understand

History

Porto (POHR-too, /ˈpoɾ.tu/) was named by the Romans Portus Calle (the origin of the entire country's present name), the city is nowadays officially styled A muito nobre, sempre leal e invicta cidade do Porto (the very noble, always loyal, and undefeated city of The Harbor). This is usually shortened to "a Cidade Invicta" (the undefeated city) a title won because of Porto's unparalleled resistance against hostile troops during the 1820s. Residents of Porto are nicknamed the Tripeiros, or tripe eaters, since the Portuguese conquest of Ceuta in North Africa in 1415, when the city's inhabitants went without meat in order to provision the fleet (which left from Porto), and had to subsist on tripe soup, which developed into a gastronomical specialty of the city. The city is quite varied architecturally, with medieval and modern buildings side by side. Porto's geography is hard on the feet, but pleasant to the eye. The city's grounds are extremely uneven; the Romans strategically built their fortified settlement into a cliff face that overlooks the river, where the present cathedral stands today. Stairs cut into the stone run up and down the cliff face and offer a laborious but rewarding walking tour. Across the Douro from Porto proper, at Vila Nova de Gaia, are the warehouses of notable Porto wine companies: Cálem, Ferreira, Fonseca, Sandeman, Kopke and others. The Portuguese usually include the article "o" when referring to the city, "O Porto" (literally, the port). It used to be common in English to write the city as "Oporto", but this spelling has declined in popularity. Nowadays it is rendered in English simply as "Porto" without the article. While most don't think of it, the influence of Porto's football team had got the city's name in one of Australia's six big fast food stores: Oporto, which still uses the old spelling.

People

Citizens of Porto, while definitely Portuguese, hold themselves apart culturally from the rest of the country, as is expressed in the often heard phrase "o Porto é uma nação" (Porto is a nation). Outsiders often consider Porto to be more crass and mercantile than the rest of the country, and the inhabitants to be somewhat lacking in social graces. This is likely because the city's working and middle classes have historically been dominated by Portuguese bourgeoisie and English trading factions rather than the nobility. By and large, Os Portuenses, to use the correct term for the inhabitants, of course disagree, regarding themselves with some justification as a no nonsense people at the economic heart of the nation. As the saying goes, "Porto works, Braga prays, Coimbra studies, and Lisbon gets the money." While the local attitude is friendly, to outsiders it is worth noting that locals can respond literally to questions, which may seem slightly off-putting to the uninitiated. An example of this would be to ask in a bar if they have a menu (for food) and to receive a straight 'no' as a response. It's after further questions that one can find out that the establishment doesn't sell food. Such a response is not considered rude, it is merely direct and literal. If you speak in Spanish to a local, you will be largely understood, and as a rule they will freely converse with you, but from time to time, more so with the older generation, you may be politely reminded that you are in Portugal and the native language is Portuguese.

Climate

Porto has a semi-Mediterranean climate, although it's strongly affected by the Atlantic Ocean, which makes it cooler than other cities with this climate. Temperatures can rise as high as 40 °C in August during occasional heat waves. Winters are mild, rainy and humid, with occasional cold nights when temperatures can drop below 0 °C.

Getting there

By plane

1 Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO IATA, also known as Aeroporto do Porto or Aeroporto de Pedras Rubras) (in Pedras Rubras, about 15 km from the city centre). Porto International Airport is the second-busiest in Portugal, posting a very high proportion of flights and passengers for a European non-capital city. The business is due to Porto's particular economic importance and growing tourist interest, coupled with northern passenger logistical demand to fly out of Porto directly, instead of going by rail to Lisbon to get on a flight. As a result, Porto Airport is now Portugal's secondary hub for intercontinental flights to Brazil, North America and many European destinations by the Portuguese flag carrier TAP Portugal. Other European airlines are increasingly offering flights to Porto from their main hubs. There is also a growing presence of low-fare carriers, most prominently Ryanair. Porto Airport has connections to all other major airports in Portugal, Madeira and Azores.

Ground transportation from Porto Airport

The Metro line E connects the airport to the city centre, offering a fast and peaceful ride into the heart of the city, for €2.15 (Z4 ticket as of October 2023) + €0.60 for the rechargeable paper card. You can buy 24 hours pass for Metro and buses for €7.55 (Z4 - includes the airport). The metro runs from around 06:00-01:00 daily, roughly every 15-30 min. Please be sure to validate your trip by touching the ticket to the prominent yellow sensor devices, placed at intervals in the entrances and inside stations, before boarding a train. When doing so, a flashing green light and sound are emitted. The penalty for being caught without a validated trip is at least €100. It is also possible to use a contactless credit card (VISA or MasterCard only) at the validation sensor on the entire Metro line E - however not on all other lines. STCP buses 601, 602 and 604 (see STCP airport buses) also connect the airport with the city centre. They operate between around 05:30 and 00:30, roughly every 25 min. STCP also operates a night bus line 3M (Av. Aliados - Airport) every 60 min between 01:00 and 05:00. Ride-hailing apps Uber and Bolt will take you to the city centre for about €10-25 (March 2025).

Lisbon Airport

Alternatively, you may fly to Lisbon Portela Airport (LIS IATA) and get to Porto by train or long-distance bus from the Oriente station there, which is connected to the airport by metro and bus. The journey takes between 2.5 and 3 hours to get from Lisbon to Porto and is operated very frequently (once or twice per hour). Another airport around is in Vigo. From Vigo to Porto it's about 2 hours by train or long-distance bus.

Getting around

By car

Porto, like most Portuguese cities, is a nightmare to drive in. Roads vary in conditions - from fully paved to cobbled lanes that can make even the most shortest of distance seem like a go-kart rally. With that said, keep in mind that the tourist parts of the city (the Ribeira and Baixa) are a never ending maze of narrow streets, short tempered drivers and snakelike alleys. Better to walk (despite the fact that it's very hilly). Also, drivers seem to have forgotten how to drive (apart from pushing the pedals) - therefore, they make their own rules of the road (however, this generally does not apply to young drivers). Be prepared to lose your patience several times whilst driving.

By metro

Porto Metro is a modern light rail/subway system, which was only constructed at the turn of the millennium and is still being expanded. It has several lines, that run across the centre of Porto, and reach out to surrounding municipalities. It is quick, and probably the most efficient way to get around Porto. Some major areas of the city, however, are not that well served by the metro. Announcements in the metro are made only in Portuguese, though most ticket machines and directional signs are bilingual in Portuguese and English. Tickets must be purchased beforehand. They can be bought at the machines in the station (if there are no tickets in the machine that day, take the metro to the next station and buy it there!) The ticket is stored on a card called Andante, and you can purchase as many rides (or travels) as you want. Andante is Porto's main ticket system and it is based on somewhat unusual zone system. The city centre is zone C1 and the airport is N10. To travel between places you need to know how many zones you need to cross. Within the same zone or up to another zone you buy Z2 ticket. Z3 for three zones and so on. The Andante card itself costs €0.60 and can be re-used/re-charged, so do not throw it away. You can also buy daily passes or Andante Tour tickets for 1 or 3 days, which may be more convenient. They are not sold at the ticket machines however, so you are dependent on shops' opening hours. There is also the option to buy a Porto Card for 24, 48, or 72 consecutive hours which, besides of providing unlimited access to public transportation, includes free access to several museums and further discounts. The use of contactless credit card is being introduced in Porto Metro, and can now be used in Aeroporto station and major stations in city centre (Senhora da Hora, Casa da Música, Trindade, Campanhã, Bolhão, Campo 24 de Agosto, São Bento and Aliados). The cost per journey is as a Z4 ticket, and also subject to a daily cap for multiple journeys at the price of a day ticket. If you plan on staying for more than three weeks, it is recommended you get the Andante Gold, Andante's monthly subscription pass. The card costs €6, and will allow unlimited travel with your chosen zones. The Andante Gold, like the Andante Blue can be used in all metro lines, the funicular and all buses. When you are buying the Andante Gold, you must have a picture of yourself (your passport photo will do. They can amplify the image from the passport to the card in seconds). Your Andante must be validated before you enter the metro, bus or funicular. There are no barriers to stop you at the metro, but the Metro police enter the cars and check your Andante to make sure you have validated it, and are travelling within your zones.

By bus

STCP is the best way to move around if you don't want to waste money on taxis. It's the public bus operator in the region, and the only one operating inside city borders. Suburbs are served either by STCP or private companies. STCP buses are the largest eco-friendly fleet in Europe, modern, comfortable, and lines cover the entire city, as well as major suburbs. Buses colours are white and blue. Line numbers are a 3-digit code. First digit is assigned according to the destination zone (2-west porto, 3-north porto, 4-east porto, 5-matosinhos, 6-maia, 7-valongo, 8-gondomar, 9-vila nova de gaia). For example, line nr. 906 has its destination in vila nova de gaia (9). You can use two kind of tickets: Andante (see "Metro" above) or STCP own tickets (you can only use STCP's monthly subscription that costs €47 plus a card). You can also buy single tickets for €1.85. Andante tickets are recommended: you can also use them on metro and suburban trains, plus they're easier to buy and recharge on any metro station or newspaper seller with "payshop" symbol. Andante blue card costs €0.60 and can be charged with how many journeys you like. Every bus stop has at least a timetable and lines served. There is also a code, so you can get an SMS showing minutes left to next arrivals updated in real time. The SMS cost €0.25. You can also download the Move-Me app that, if you have an internet connection, is free and does the same thing. The busiest ones have electronic displays (though most of them are not working and they're often unreliable) with timetables and city maps. Every bus inside has a display showing the name of next stop as well as its Andante zone (very occasionally the Andante zone is not mentioned however it isn't very relevant since it is probably the same zone as the last stop), so it's easy to keep track of them. The stop and the zone (if it's the first or last stop in it) are announced however this announcements are in Portuguese (Próxima Paragem - Next Stop and Fim de Zona - End of Zone). Route 500 is probably the most scenic STCP route as it runs along the river and the ocean front. STCP also possesses a fleet of old trams three of which are still in operation, mainly for tourist purposes. Route 1 runs along the river from Ribeira to Foz, route 18 runs from the river towards the city centre and route 22 goes around the city centre. The single tram ticket costs €3 and a 24-hr ticket costs €8 for adults and €5 from children up to 12 years old. While the Andante website claims the ticket is valid on the tram, this is not the case for the pay-as-you-go card. Some other private companies run services namely to some suburbs however they are often unadvertised and Andante tickets might be of limited acceptance.

See

Porto is a mysterious city that reveals its charm to the visitor through time. Take your time, wander through the mazes and alleys of the city. Take in the old, bohemian spirit of the city. Hike through the Ribeira and Foz do Douro regions (the latter, at sunset). Porto may not be in every tourist's Iberian Peninsula itinerary, but it's well worth a visit if you want to see a city that has changed economically, but that has kept its old traditions. If you want to visit several museums, consider the Porto Card which provides free access to several museums and further discounts, optionally also free public transport access.

City centre

1 Palácio da Bolsa (Stock Exchange Palace), Rua Ferreira Borges, 4050-253. Daily 09:00-18:30. It was built in the 19th century on the grounds of the destroyed old cloisters of the adjacent São Francisco church. It also contains the most impressive Arab room in the country. There is also a Port wine tasting room. €12 adults, €7.5 concessions. (updated Feb 2024) 2 Sé do Porto (Porto Cathedral), Terreiro da Sé, 4050-573. This Romanesque cathedral was built in the 13th century. Later on Baroque alterations were made in the 17th and 18th century. The cathedral is on top of a hill from where you also have great views over the city and the river. €3. Combined ticket with adjacent Bishop's palace €6. (updated Feb 2024) 3 Port Wine Institute, Rua Ferreira Borges 27, 4050-253, ☏ +351 22 2071669. M-F 11:00-19:00, Sa Su closed. A small exhibition about Port wine and its certification process. Samples of a small variety of Port wines can be bought. Guided tastings and tours to the laboratories can be arranged. Free. (updated Sep 2015) 4 City Hall, Avenida dos Aliados. (updated Sep 2015) 5 Igreja de São Francisco (Church of Saint Francis) (adjacent to Palácio da Bolsa). A Gothic church with later alterations of the interior decorations in Baroque style. (updated Sep 2015)

Baixa (downtown)

6 Mercado do Bolhão, Rua Formosa. Sun closed. A traditional market of fruits, vegetables, fish and meat. As of 2022 the entire market is now open after major refurbishment.

Do

Douro river cruise. Take a cruise upriver (the cost starts at €15 (although they can be slightly cheaper if paired with a different activity) and takes about 50 minutes. Cruises run from 10:00 to 18:30, with sailings every 30 minutes for most operators. There are multiple river cruise operators and you can purchase a ticket from every tourist service and office in the Sao Bento area, or potentially from the wharf itself. Many of the cruises are themed around seeing the various bridges and river-adjacent facilities. You may also choose a day-long cruise starting at €70 to or from Régua, with one way of the journey completed by bus (included in the price). This tour states at 08:00 and returns at 17:00 or 18:00. Go at least as far as Pinhão — the landscape is absolutely stunning. If you choose to do this in the summer, don't forget your factor 30 sunscreen! Look for cruises based on the Vila Nova de Gaia wharf (the same side as the port wine caves), as some of them may offer discounts for cave tours or port wine purchases. (updated Feb 2024) Fado Bars. Fado is a music genre originating in Lisbon and considered an integral part of Portuguese music. It is traditionally sung by a woman in a black dress, accompanied by guitar players. A handful of Fado bars stand in Porto, primarily in the Sao Bento area, offering one or two shows per day. The cost is generally €15 (as of June 2022) and tickets for different shows are sold by tourist offices throughout the Sao Bento area. Some shows may include a glass of Port Wine within the cost of the ticket. €10. (updated Jun 2022) 1 Teatro Nacional São João (TNSJ), Praça da Batalha, 4000-102, ☏ +351 22 340 19 56 (tour enquiries and reservations), toll-free: 800 108 675. Porto's main theatre and opera production company and venue. There are also guided tours (€5/person) for access to the stage, rehearsal room, dressing rooms and the technical area (if they are not used during the time of the tour). (updated Sep 2015) Football: the city has two men's pro soccer teams: 2 FC Porto. They play in Primeira Liga, Portugal's top tier. Their home ground Estádio do Dragão (capacity 50,000) is 1 km north of the centre with its own metro station. (updated Jun 2023) 3 Boavista FC. They were relegated in 2025 and now play in Liga 2 the second tier. Their Estádio do Bessa (capacity 28,200) is 2 km northwest of the centre, metro Francos. (updated Jun 2025) Valadares Gaia is a women's team in their top tier, playing at Valadares sports complex 10 km south of the river. Porto Exit Games (West Baixa; City centre), ☏ +351 914 884 883, hello@portoexitgames.com. You're locked in a room with a mystery to solve and the clock ticking. Can you crack the puzzle and escape? 2-5 players €50 pp. (updated Sep 2018)

Shopping

Almost all the shops are open every day, but are usually overcrowded during the weekends and rainy days.

What to buy?

Port wine, of course. This is the right place for it, in the city of Gaia, on the south shore of the Douro River. The Norte region is known for the passing down of quality craftsmanship traditions from generation to generation while adapting with the latest production and technological innovations. Many of the best Portuguese apparel, footwear, luxury goods and accessory industries are based in and around the city of Porto. Therefore, you will find many flagship stores and factory outlets in and around Porto. The Portuense people know craftsmanship and appreciate quality in whatever it might be, clothing, shoes and leather goods, cars, jewellery, furniture and so on. Brands are numerous and range from globally recognised, like Cavalinho, Charles, Claus Porto, Lanidor and Parfois, to strictly local ones providing for a unique selection on any budget. Many of the more affordable products may not be produced in Portugal, the attractive aesthetic value notwithstanding.

Specialist stores

1 Centro Comercial Bombarda (CCB), Rua de Miguel Bombarda 285, info@ccbombarda.pt. M–F 11:00–19:00, Sa 11:00–20:00, Su closed. This is not the regular shopping mall. It's much smaller and with speciality stores related to art and fashion. Look for Portuguese design, organic cosmetics, or contemporary jewellery, and then head to the galleries down the street. (updated Feb 2021) 2 Aguas Furtadas, Rua do Almada 13, ☏ +351 223 216 002, info@aguasfurtadas.com. Looking for unique objects or original Portuguese design? This is the place for it. From a minimalist Barcelos cockerel to colorful ceramics, you won't find many of these pieces anywhere else.

Eat

Porto has some of the finest restaurants in Portugal. It is said that if you like to eat, you should go to Porto because it's a place where you eat well in terms of quality and amount (even Lisbon citizens say that in Porto is where they eat the best food). The best restaurants of the city are mainly in Matosinhos near the beach, and the Porto de Leixões seaport but watch out for pricing, more than a few ok establishments deem themselves worthy of high pricing just because of the decor or the "in crowd" is seen going there or a combination of both, they charge ridiculous prices for food not much better prepared or presented than elsewhere and many times, the dose is very small, so don't be shy to look around to get a sense of what is what. You can take the blue metro line A to get there which takes about 30 min. In the Ribeirinha part of Porto, overlooking the Douro River and Vila Nova de Gaia, there's many well run very affordable small family run restaurants with a great vibe, friendly staff, great food and drink and sometimes, due to limited space, having to share tables with complete strangers, sometimes local people and sometimes not, making the whole experience very cosmopolitan and entertaining. Within the old city centre, inexpensive to reasonable priced eating houses catering mostly for residents are also easily found for both lunch and dinner, these places welcome foreigners and many take special pride in hosting you. At these places, to enjoy a hearty well prepared meal, it's best practice to just follow the waiter suggestions as the menus are three course set Pratos do dia (Today's menu), normally a choice of two or three soups, main dishes including bread, wine of the house, dessert and a bica (espresso) in the end, all this for €7-10 per person. If you are hungry, a good strategy is to say how much you enjoyed the soup and politely ask if you can have a little more. That's why local patrons tend to have the soup last. If you truly enjoyed the meal, show your appreciation to the chef and staff, it always makes the people proud for being of service. Expect hearty meals, and if you can, try "Tripas à moda do Porto", a tripe dish. Citizens of Porto are called tripeiros (tripe-eaters) on account of this dish. Traditional set menu restaurants, tend to serve the soup last but these days most waiters will ask what you want first and so on, but don't be surprised to see someone starting with desert and finish with the couvert! It's known to happen. Also try bacalhau - in any way it is cooked - there are hundreds of different dishes with salted codfish! Don't forget the traditional grilled cheese sandwich called "Francesinha", which literally translated means little French lady. This city is just about the only place in the world where you can find it. However, in many other northern Portuguese cities you can find a low quality version of it. Essentially it is a toast with layers of meat inside (beef, pork meat, ham....) It is covered with cheese and a spicy sauce, with the option of including french fries on top. Most importantly, this dish must be accompanied by beer and not wine. In July, there is a fish festival in Matosinhos, accessible by bus or subway. Freshly caught fish is served the same day at barbecues lined up in the streets just a few blocks from the main beach. You choose a fish (only whole fish) and they prepare it on the streets for you - not a fancy restaurant, but together with the local people you are eating the best tasting fish you ever had! Try a dourada; it is delicious. Porto is dotted with thousands of different bakeries (Pão Quente) and pastry shops (Pastelarias). Apart from serving delicious (and quite inexpensive) goods, they are also equipped with a side-cafe that serves all sorts of coffees (Pingo, Meia de Leite, etc.) and sandwiches (Tosta Mista-ham and cheese toastie). Unlike the other river side cafes in the city, these establishments do not have picturesque views of Porto (that's expensive, and in the end, you'd be the one paying for that bill). Instead, they attract tourists by offering good food at very cheap prices. Most locals drink black coffee (espresso), but the usual variation of espresso drinks are available in almost all cafes. There is at least one fully vegetarian restaurant in Porto, Paladar da Alma (Rua de Santo Ildefonso 293/5), and some other restaurants which offer vegetarian dishes alongside non-vegetarian options, such as Capa Verde (Rua da Nossa Senhora de Fátima). Vegans may have to ask for dishes to be specially prepared for them, even in vegetarian restaurants.

City centre

There are several budget-friendly restaurants around.

1 Café Piolho / Âncora d'Ouro (The Golden Anchor), Praça de Parada Leitão 45 (between the Cordoaria park and the Praça dos Leões). The third oldest cafe in Porto, it is commonly known as "O Piolho" (the Louse). The cafe looks out on the street facing a faculty of the Universidade do Porto, and had been a meeting place for students since the 19th century. Plaques donated by graduating medical classes from the early 20th century onward decorate the walls. During the fascist period (1926-1974) it was a regular meeting place of "undesirables" (according to the regimes point of view), and was accordingly under regular surveillance by the secret police. On one occasion it was raided by the GNR (Guarda Nacional Republicana) who have a post nearby, and they charged their horses into the cafe itself. It is uncertain if the place's current disorder results from this or more recent activities. Service is surly, the place isn't at all fancy, but it is usually stuffed to the gills with students. It's also quite cheap. (updated May 2022) 2 Taberna Folias de Baco, Rua dos Caldeireiros 136. A small cozy Portuguese restaurant with a nice ambiance. You can sip on amazing wine while eating delicious authentic food. The manager is very friendly and helpful. (updated May 2022) 3 Laurear, Rua da Fábrica 18. Authentic fabulous Portuguese food. Small and cozy place with very friendly service. It's rather small, you have to be lucky to get a table in the evening. (updated May 2022) 4 Trinkas Petisqueira Lounge, Praça de Gomes Teixeira 26. Very good cuisine, simple, homemade and careful. Lovely little restaurant, great for sitting by the side of the road and watching the world go by. (updated May 2022) 5 Taxca, Rua da Picaria 26. A typical Portuguese tavern, with excellent quality gastronomy products, the atmosphere is fantastic, typical of a tavern, without table service, the hanging hams immediately whet your appetite. One of the best places to snack on Portuguese dishes. The best bifanas in Porto, the sarrabulho porridge, well garnished with meat. The space is super relaxed, and the staff very friendly. (updated May 2022) 6 Churrasqueira Brasil, Campo dos Mártires da Pátria 136. Don’t let the outside appearance fool you. This place is a hidden gem. Great homemade food and attention. Very nice place to eat the dish of the day. (updated May 2022)

Drink

Porto is home to port wine of course, and there are many wineries around the city where port wine is brewed. Strictly speaking, port wine can only be called port wine if the grapes are grown in the Douro valley, and the wine is produced and bottled in Porto. Port wines come in many styles, with vintage port being the most expensive. The main areas for bars are Praça de Ceuta to the north, through the station surrounds to Ribeira further south.

Mid-range

1 Solar Vinho do Porto, ☏ +351 226094749, solarporto@ivp.pt. Rua de Entre-Quintas 220. A villa with port samples and a great view of the Douro. Open M-Sa 14:00-00:00. This is the perfect place to sit in soft chairs or outside in the garden and enjoy a few glasses of the finest ports. You can also have cheese with your port.

Dance clubs

Dance clubs here always start very (very) late, around 01:00-02:00, and end up from 06:00-07:30. You have nice choices to pick from. Most clubs are located in the Industrial region and in the upmarket Foz area.

Sleep

There are residential homes all around the city. There are also lots of 3-star hotels with very affordable prices. In the city there's only one camping site (Prelada), but it's a bit far from the centre. There aren't many family houses to rent in Porto, so they'll be difficult to find.

Budget

1 Alma Porto Hostel, Rua do Bonfim, 305B (by metro exit at Campo 24 de Agosto station to Rua do Bonfim; go up Rua do Bonfim and find us at 305B. By train exit at Campanhã station, go up Rua Pinto Bessa until the church; turn left onto Rua do Bonfim and find us at 305B), ☏ +351 914 049 326, +351 914 306 011, almaportohostel@gmail.com. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Small and chill hostel with smooth colours, lounge areas and relaxed atmosphere in a house built in the 19th century where you can also appreciate the hand made works in the high ceilings, the typical Portuguese tiles, and the beautiful camellias in the garden. 2 The White Box House, Rua de Santa Catarina, 575, ☏ +351 911 008 585, house@the-white-box.pt. Check-in: 13:00, check-out: 12:00. A typical Porto house built in the early 20th century, completely renewed in order to combine the comfort of the present with the charm of the past, providing the atmosphere for a perfect stay. 3 Wine Hostel, Campo dos Martires da Patria, 52, ☏ +351 222013167. Very centrally located. Clean rooms with ensuite showers. Very close to the train station, but may be difficult to find, so check a map before arriving. €19. 4 Gallery Hostel Porto, Rua Miguel Bombarda 222, info@gallery-hostel.com. Free breakfast, free walking tour, free nightlife tour. Thematic dinners, Porto wine tastings, Gallery exhibitions. Carefully decorated rooms, multilingual and professional team. €20-22 dorm room with private bathrooms, €50 double rooms. 5 Porto Spot Hostel, Rua Gonçalo Cristóvão nº 12 (5 minutes walk from Bolhao Metro stations). Comfortable, clean hostel with wi-fi, dvd and playstation room, reading room, a well equipped kitchen and a bar downstairs. Great light and showers. Could give Traveller's House in Lisboa a run for its money. €14-18 dorm room with shared bathroom, private rooms around €20 (Mar 2011). 6 Oporto Sky Hostel, Rua da Lapa 33 (One minute walking from Lapa's subway station), ☏ +351 222 017 069, info@oportosky.com. Very comfortable hostel with a very welcoming and helpful manager, Luzia. Shared and private rooms. Free computers and wi-fi. A few minutes from the city centre and just off Boavista, which leads to the coast. Hosts speaks perfect English and Spanish. Prices starting at €14 pp with breakfast included. 7 Pousada de Juventude do Porto (HI Porto), Rua de Paulo da Gama 551. Located outside of the city centre, with several buses passing just by, open 24 hours and a terrific view over the river. 8 Hospedaria 31 de Janeiro, Rua 31 Janeiro 193. Incredibly cheap (€15 for a double) but dirty and dodgy. 9 Hotel Ibis Porto São João, Rua Dr. Plácido Costa (inside Galeria Comercial do Campus São João), ☏ +351 22 551 31 00. Direct at the IPO station above a shopping center. Free WiFi, nice breakfast (although it is the same every day). 10 Residencia Pedra Antiga, Rua de Santa Catarina, 830, ☏ +351 222407467. Cheap, clean and friendly. Bathroom ensuite. Free WiFi. Hosts speak no English though French and Spanish work besides Portuguese. Starting at €13.75 pp. 11 Hotel Miradouro, Rua de Alegria, 598, ☏ +351 22 537 0717. Unique and interesting. 1960s decor all over, amazing views of Porto and the Douro valley, famous panoramic restaurant on the 13th floor where you can enjoy your breakfast while seeing miles and miles of the Porto region below you. Free parking. Bathroom ensuite. Receptionists are very friendly and professional and speak English. The area it lies in is a bit run down, but definitely not as bad as many other areas of the city. From €26. 12 Porto Lounge Hostel, Rua do Almada, nº 317 (next to Av. dos Aliados, in downtown), ☏ +351 222085196, info@portoloungehostel.com. Free Wifi, breakfast included, lockers, bar and common area. €14-20 dorm room with private bathrooms, €40-50 double rooms.

Mid-range

13 Porto Royal Bridges Hotel, Rua de Sá da Bandeira, 53, ☏ +351 222 436 221. 14 Hotel Belver Beta Porto, Rua do Amial, 601, comercial@belverhotels.com. (updated Apr 2017) 15 Mercure Porto Centro Hotel, Praça da Batalha 116 (São Bento station approx. 400 m; Bolhão metro 500 m; Guindais funicular 300 m), ☏ +351 22 204 33 00, h1975@accor.com. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Modern 4-star hotel with large rooms overlooking the railway station (those with limited mobility may prefer to arrive by taxi or metro). Rooms have kettles, and price includes reliable wireless Internet access. Good views. 16 Vila Galé Porto, Av. Fernão Magalhães, nº 7 4300-190, ☏ +351 225 191 800, porto@vilagale.pt. In the centre of Portugal’s “Invincible City”; Rua de Santa Catarina is a few metres away from the hotel. Online booking. 17 Hotel Malaposta, Rua da Conceição, nº80, 4050-214, ☏ +351 222 006 278, reservas@hotelmalaposta.com. Four-floor hotel with contemporary décor located at Porto’s historic and shopping area. Online booking.

Stay safe

There may be pickpockets in heavily crowded areas and on public buses and trains; however, pickpocketing is not common in Porto. Travelling by bus or metro is generally safe and one of the best ways to go from a place to another. Porto is generally a safe place to be if you take normal precautions like walking in well-illuminated streets at night. One part of Porto, near the Tourist Information Office between the cathedral and the steps to the small church, often has drunk people that could cause you trouble. There's no reason for alarm because many of them are inoffensive, but it is best to use some caution, as you would elsewhere. If you take the main road from the bus station to the cathedral and tourist information centre, walk back to the bus station after you're done and then walk from there to the other sites. Avoid the shortcut from the tourist information centre downstairs because near there have been many incidents there. Call 112 if you have an emergency.

Go next

The Porto city region is in an ideal position to set up base and explore nearby areas like Vila do Conde, Viana do Castelo, the Costa da Prata, Braga, Guimarães, the Douro river valley and Trás-os-Montes. Railways and buses offer affordable transportation, otherwise, car rental can be a better proposition if one wants to have freedom of movement, but if on a tight budget, try to avoid toll roads whenever possible but register as a Via Verde utilizador. It's easily done at any Loja do Cidadão (just ask a local the whereabouts of the nearest one), costs about €15 and you get a few free tolls worth almost the initial outlay, while subsequent usage payments can be done at ATM machines 24/7, thus saving lots of time going around looking for a post office to pay timeously the outstanding tolls. Late payment incurs penalties.

Vila Nova de Gaia — lies across the Douro River. During the summer, try one of the many quality beaches near Porto, in the southern part of Gaia . Gaia has plenty of beaches with blue flags (Miramar, Aguda, Granja), a certification of the quality of the beach. For satisfying your party mood visit some in the neighboring cities of Matosinhos, Vila do Conde, Maia, Penafiel, Amarante, Povoa de Varzim (beach and casino). Matosinhos is a coastal town with several beautiful beaches, as well as a vibrant seafood scene. Visit the net target array in Matosinhos. Local legend has it that this is where the Greek Minotaur fell from Avarine, a cloud formation some 17 miles above Greece, with the golden fleece. This led to the formation of the modern day Porto in circa 1970. On the south, within easy reach is the Costa da Prata (Silver Coast) beginning at the resort city of Espinho with its beaches and casino, reaching all the way to Aveiro and Mira. Aveiro is a charming coastal city about 75 km south It is known for its colorful canals, traditional moliceiro boats, and Art Nouveau architecture. Minho region — Go on a day trip to this region. Guimarães, Viana do Castelo, Braga, Caminha, Valença, Ponte de Lima and Arcos de Valdevez, for instance, all have something to offer, and the region is very beautiful. Taste the "Vinho Verde", freely translated as "Green Wine" - this is mostly a low alcoholic grade, young and fresh kind of wine, that you won't find anywhere else. Peneda-Gerês National Park — Go on a day trip to this park. The wildlife and nature in this park are really worth a visit, and the scenery is magnificent. Guimarães - a UNESCO World Heritage Site about 50 km east. It is known for its well-preserved medieval center, castle, and historic monuments.

More pictures of Porto

From this destination's category on Wikimedia Commons. Each photograph is credited to its own author under its own licence.