Porto guide | Porto attractions and things to do
Built on the valleys and hills overlooking the mouth of the Douro River in northern Portugal, Porto is an enchanting mix of 15 unique districts known as 'Freguesias' or parishes. Teeming with charming architecture, the UNESCO-protected Old Town entices visitors to explore its decorative paths and steep staircases.
Porto is also renowned for its myriad of festivals and fiestas that bring the city to life throughout the year. It also boasts an eclectic and vibrant nightlife, superb Portuguese cuisine as well as being the birthplace and production headquarters of the world famous Port wine.
Porto is served by the Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport, which is 11km to the northwest of the city centre, and connects to a large number of cities across Europe and beyond. There are buses that leave regularly from the airport into the city centre, though given the short distance it may be more convenient to jump in a taxi.
Porto enjoys warm to hot summers and mild to cool winters. Summer, from June till September, is very warm but not stiflingly hot with plenty of sunshine and very little rain. Ten hours of sunshine per day can be expected in the peak months, while humidity is very low and night times cool off pleasantly.
Autumn stays mild, though can occasionally become wet and grey. The temperature remains in the low 20s for most of October but drops to 17C in November. Night time temperatures become quite chilly and swimming in the Atlantic sea becomes undesirable to all but the hardiest of souls.
Winter is cool and wet, with regular rainfall, though the sun still shows its face for around four hours per day. An added bonus is that temperatures rarely drop to freezing.
Spring is warm but a little unpredictable, as temperatures vary depending on the warmth of the sun. From April, temperatures can jump into the 20s if the sun stays out for long enough, but it can also drop below 15C if the sky is grey.
One of the most enjoyable activities in Porto is to simply stroll around its charming, UNESCO–protected Old Town. Compact and teeming with fascinating architecture and pretty pathways, the jewels in the crown of this area are the Igreja dos Grilos church and the large Palacio Episcopal.
Crossing the river at Ponte de Dom Luis takes you into the neighboring town of Vila Nova de Gaia, where Port is made and packaged. A sweet and heavily alcoholic fortified wine, Port is exported worldwide and a tour around the lodges comes with a free sample.
The Rude de Dom Manuel II area, to the west of the city, offers a cultural antidote to all that wine-guzzling, and includes the fascinating Museu Nacional de Soares dos Reis, as well as the leafy and luxuriant Jardin do Palacio de Cristal. Also in this area is the Museu de Arte Contemporanea, boasting an extensive art collection.
By this time you may be all cultured out, but happily the coast isn’t too far away, offering an afternoon of surfing or sunbathing, depending on your energy levels.
The main shopping street in Porto is the Rua de Santa Catarina in the city centre. Here you can find a vast range of shops to suit all tastes and budgets. Via Catarina, Porto’s most charming shopping centre, is located along this street, at the corner of Rua Fernandes Tomar.
Porto has a fine selection of nightlife, including numerous bars, clubs and live music venues. The Trintaeum Cafe Bar is a bar and club located in the Foz district, by the mouth of the river, and offers a cosy atmosphere, a vast dance floor and plenty of great music. Pitch Club, in the heart of Porto, is renowned for its trendy design and impressive sound system. For live music, the Hot Five Jazz & Blues Club, on Largo do Actor Dias, is one of Porto's best jazz clubs, with great music and atmosphere.
The Serralves Festival is a contemporary arts festival which offers 40 hours of non-stop music, theatre, art and dance activities at Porto’s Serralves Museum and Park.
