Porto Portugal: What to do there

Porto, in Portugal, is a magical place with centuries of history. Its foundation dates back to pre-Roman times, which means that the city and the region that makes it up have been inhabited for at least 2,300 years.

Since then, the region has been occupied by different people who gradually built their own culture. With the reconquest of the Iberian peninsula by the Portuguese and Spanish, the region flourished as it is known today.

Therefore, to discover a little more about the place, continue reading until the end.

Porto, Portugal

The city of Porto is in Portugal. It is located in the north of the country, on the banks of the Douro River. It is considered the second largest city in the country, second only to Lisbon, which is the national capital and has approximately 1.8 million metropolitan inhabitants.

The city of Porto, in Portugal, is very famous for Port wine, a type of fortified wine produced in wineries in the Douro Valley, which is east of the city.

Furthermore, the historic center of Porto is considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, known for its narrow, winding streets with colorful houses next to baroque churches.

Porto's most popular places, however, stand out for more than just the city's historic center. Places such as Torre dos Clérigos, Livraria Lello, Ponte Dom Luís I, Porto Sé Cathedral, Mercado do Bolhão and Palácio da Bolsa are examples.

Porto has even more facets, one of which is that of a university city that gives the city a vibrant aspect. So when you visit, expect a constantly evolving cultural and artistic scene. The Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art is one of the main attractions.

However, it is not just culture and historic buildings that the city shines with, another of its facets is the local gastronomy. Try dishes such as: Francesinha, a spicy meat sandwich or cod à Gomes de Sá, a dish of cod, potatoes, onions and olives.

In short, Porto is a historical, cultural and gastronomic city, which offers visitors a unique and memorable experience in Portugal.

How to get to Porto, Portugal

Getting to Porto, in Portugal, is not exactly simple. After all, it is on another continent, almost 7.5 thousand kilometers from Brazil. You can only rely on the air route, which may impose a monetary barrier that needs to be taken into consideration.

To illustrate the routes to get to Porto, Portugal, three important and famous cities in Brazil were used as a starting point for your trip. However, when it comes to air transport, it is possible to say that most airports will be able to offer the same.

Starting from São Paulo, you will find direct flights to Porto. These services are provided by several airlines, but it is not ideal to indicate one as routines, prices and dates can change within this sector.

However, be prepared for a long journey of around 10 hours. Total travel time can increase even further if you opt for connections, which reduce the ticket price but increase travel time.

Therefore, by making this option, you will be able to make a 'stop' in Lisbon, for example, and then continue on to Porto. Starting from Rio de Janeiro you face the same choice options, which is both an advantage and a disadvantage.

savior, the other city chosen for the examples, however, goes through a different situation. From there (so far, but this could change) there are no direct flights to Porto. So this requires you to make a connection somewhere. Lisbon is usually the chosen spot.

However, you will find a variety of airlines that offer connections to other cities in Western Europe. In addition to Lisbon, you will sometimes be able to connect in Madrid or Barcelona, for example. But remember that this increases travel time.

What to do in Porto, Portugal

Now that you know where Porto is in Portugal and how to get there and you've had a micro sample of the interesting things you can do in the historic city, you might be wondering what's good to do there. 

So, to answer that question unsurprisingly for you, there are lots of things to do in Porto, Portugal. After all, the city is known for its history, culture and gastronomy.

The list below brings together 5 tips on what to do in this incredible city:

1. Discover the Port Wine cellars
2. Visit the Clérigos Tower
3. Explore Ribeira
4. Discover Porto’s Sé Cathedral
5. Explore the Lello Bookstore

Before closing this topic and opening new ones talking about each of these tips, it is important that you are aware that there is much more to Porto than that, as you yourself read previously.

The food, the culture, the museums, everything is vibrant and worth seeing, this is just an initial sampling so you have a starting point when you get there. Don't forget to explore!

Discover the Port Wine cellars

The fundamental difference between Port wine, Portugal, and other wines, is the brandy that is included to stop fermentation. Thus, the drink preserves the original sweetness of the grapes while maintaining a high level of alcohol.

It is one of the city's most famous products and the wine cellars where it is produced are one of the region's main tourist attractions.

The most famous cellars are located in the Vila Nova de Gaia area, close to the Douro River and offer guided tours with tastings. Some of them are: the basement of Ramos Pinto, Sandeman, Ferreira and Calém.

Visit the Clérigos Tower

The Torre dos Clérigos, which is part of the architectural complex on Rua dos Clerigos, in Porto, Portugal, is one of the most interesting tourist attractions in the historic city. It was built in the mid-1760s.

In addition, this historical architectural component is responsible for one of the most interesting views of the city. You will be able to observe the city in a panoramic way, having to climb “only” 225 steps to reach the top and enjoy the view.

Explore Ribeira

Ribeira is a historic and famous neighborhood in Porto, Portugal. It is located on the bank of the Douro River. The place has a historic charm with its tight streets and even narrower alleys, next to the old buildings.

However, it has more than cultural and architectural beauty, there is a vibrant gastronomic life there, with bars and restaurants serving all types of typical food.

The region is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers an incredible view of the Dom Luís I Bridge, one of the city's main postcards.

Discover Porto’s Sé Cathedral

The Porto Cathedral, located in the heart of the historic center of the city of Porto, is one of the main and oldest monuments in Portugal.

The cathedral was built in a period between the 12th and 13th century, being the first and incredible example of impressive Romanesque architecture. It offers a stunning view of the city from the top of its tower.

You can consider it the most important religious building in Porto, Portugal and one of the most beautiful in the entire country.

Explore the Lello Bookstore

Porto, Portugal is home to many places important to the country's history and Western culture. The Lello bookstore is one of these places, with Rua das Carmelitas in its heart, in the historic center of the city.

The city is interested in transforming the bookstore into a National Monument (Portuguese, in this case), aiming to preserve the original beauty of the century-old building.

However, don't think that entry is free, as it is not. It is paid, but it is possible to deduct the amount when purchasing any book. Even so, the tour will be worth it, even with the additional cost for the environment and beauty of the place.

Conclusion

In short, a trip to Porto, Portugal is more than a trip, it is direct contact with the history of an ancient place that has a lot to offer in terms of culture, history, architecture and gastronomy for anyone who wants to visit it.