Explore every side of Porto which is the second largest coastal city in northwest Portugal known for its beautiful rivers and ever more popular choice for river cruises suitable for family holidays. One of the oldest cities in Europe, its maze of steep and narrow cobbled streets is home to beautiful plazas, churches and houses with colourfully tiled facades.
Book a Cheap Porto City Break with Plenty Holidays. Its a fascinating and vibrant city and is one of Western Europe’s most respected tourist destinations with extensive history, interesting tourist attractions, and a buzzing nightlife, and outstanding tourist facilities. There is a lot to see and do in Porto, and this diverse city will appeal to a wide range of visitors. The Douro River has a scenic backdrop to Porto, which is crossed by magnificent bridges and best explored by a boat tour. The evening could be spent in the lively restaurants of the Ribeira district, or for a more party-focused night, head to the bars and clubs close to the university and the Rua Galeria de Paris for a more vibrant night.
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PORTO INFORMATION
Currency
Euro
Language
Portuguese
Time Zone
GMT+1.00
Avg. Flight Time
2h 30m
Peak Travel
May-September
Price of a pint
€2.00
MORE ABOUT PORTO
Cais Da Ribeira
A little chaotic and great fun to explore, Porto’s riverside area is a very picturesque piazza where tourists and locals mingle.
There are bars and restaurants around every corner, and these line the riverside walk too.
You’ll have a perfect shot of the iconic Luís I Bridge from here, and if you duck through the arcades there’s a maze of steep streets between pastel-painted houses in varying states of repair.
The Cais da Ribeira has been spruced up a little in the last few years and information boards have been installed to tell you about this district’s characters and businesses when it was Porto’s hive of commerce.
Beaches
With all your attention drawn to the Douro and the Ribeira you might neglect Porto’s beaches.
If you want to include some of the outlying beaches a few minutes from the city you have at least 10 to choose from, many of which fly the Blue Flag every year.
The most convenient is Matosinhos, just past the Parque de Cidade and with a massive bay that seems boundless when the tide is out.
If you’re happy to travel a little don’t rule out the town of Miramar, which has a pretty 17th-century chapel on the rocks between its huge golden sandy beaches.
Church Of Santa Clara
Built next to the most prominent section of Porto’s medieval defensive walls, this church was completed in 1457 .
It has a similar story to other religious buildings in the city, an extravagant update in the first half of the 18th century.
Shining against the red marble are gilded mouldings on the vaults, and gilded wooden carvings on the walls with such meticulous detail that it’s hard to take it all in.
In Portugal this is known as “Barroco Joanino” coming from John V when the Portuguese Empire was at the height of its prosperity.
Douro River Trip
The Douro has travelled almost 900 kilometres from its source in Castile and León to reach the Atlantic at Porto.
And most people who spend some time on or next to the Douro agree that there’s something special about the river.
Around the Ribeira hour-long cruises are offered for around €15, and your guide will give you some insights about the port warehouses on the south bank.
Upriver on the eastern limit of the city is the Maria Pia Bridge, ten years older than the Luís I and built by Gustave Eiffel.
