Historically interesting Portuguese city built on hills at the mouth of the Douro River, Porto is a scenic city with popular cultural and historical sights. Apart from the historically interesting city center and the spectacular beaches of the coastline around Porto, this vivid seaside city offers you also wine tasting, shopping, golf, lively nightlife and much more.
Famous for wines. Porto is also a globally appreciated wine city, with UNESCO World Heritage -nominated Douro River wine producing area found in close surroundings of the city. So, if you would like to try wine tasting in Porto, you are very welcome. The same goes for nightlife in Porto, which is very active, making this seaside city one of the best known party places of Portugal. Shopping in Porto is another activity suitable for travelers.
Nature and sports. Porto is located along the spectacular Portuguese coastline, and has some enjoyable beach resorts located in its close surroundings. Many come here to test the beaches of Espinho, and try their luck in local casinos. Just outside the city, you will find also traditional fishing towns such as Povoa de Varzim, which today hosts also touristic facilities. More than that, the area has a rich gastronomic history, with especially local seafood being internationally appreciated. Also of interest to tourists are the golf courses in Porto, which are proud representatives of famous Portuguese golf traditions. Another good alternative for sportive people is surfing in Porto, for which purpose you can find suitable facilities in the city area. Other water sports can also be tried in the coast of Porto.
Porto, city of wine, entertainment and scenic coastal landscapes
Seaside city with hillsides covered with red-roofed white houses, Porto is a pleasant sight. It is a culturally important city with 2,000 years of history, thanks to which the old part of the city center has plenty of fascinating historical sights to offer, from churches and cathedrals to fountains and monuments.Famous for wines. Porto is also a globally appreciated wine city, with UNESCO World Heritage -nominated Douro River wine producing area found in close surroundings of the city. So, if you would like to try wine tasting in Porto, you are very welcome. The same goes for nightlife in Porto, which is very active, making this seaside city one of the best known party places of Portugal. Shopping in Porto is another activity suitable for travelers.
Nature and sports. Porto is located along the spectacular Portuguese coastline, and has some enjoyable beach resorts located in its close surroundings. Many come here to test the beaches of Espinho, and try their luck in local casinos. Just outside the city, you will find also traditional fishing towns such as Povoa de Varzim, which today hosts also touristic facilities. More than that, the area has a rich gastronomic history, with especially local seafood being internationally appreciated. Also of interest to tourists are the golf courses in Porto, which are proud representatives of famous Portuguese golf traditions. Another good alternative for sportive people is surfing in Porto, for which purpose you can find suitable facilities in the city area. Other water sports can also be tried in the coast of Porto.
Practical information for your trip to Porto
Climate in Porto is characterized with hot summers and mild winters. However, local climate is cooled down by the closeness of the Atlantic Ocean, thanks to which summers in Porto enjoy cooling breezes, which make the weather in Porto seem quite pleasant. Average monthly high temperatures during the Porto summer are around 20-25°C, and wintertime temperatures are commonly between 10 and 15°C.
Photo: vhf, used under Creative Commons License (By SA 2.0)
The most popular time for travelling to Porto is between May and September.
How to get there. Located in northern part of Portugal, Porto is best reached by air, with flights to Porto available from several destinations worldwide. You can also travel to Porto by train or bus from Portugal, Spain and France.
Moving around. There is an efficient subway system in Porto with five lanes running across the city. You can also find a good amount of local buses, taxis and services for car rental in Porto. Many visitors like to test also the cableways and cruises that are good not only for transport, but also for sightseeing tours in Porto.
Visitor services. Porto is one of the most popular travel destinations in Portugal. It is also a city of well over 200,000 inhabitants, with a million more living in the greater metropolitan area around the city. Porto has good tourist services available, with hotels in Porto ranging from high class places to cheap accommodation. Restaurants in Porto are considered classy, and especially some local seafood places have gained plenty of reputation. English is not very commonly spoken here, though. While pickpoceting and theft are not unknown in Porto, it is a safe destination where you can enjoy your holiday without major safety problems.
hint See also these nearby destinations: Braga, Coimbra
