Welcome to Porto

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AN INTRODUCTION TO PORTO

Welcome to Porto, a captivating city in Northern Portugal that’s a delightful mix of old-world charm and vibrant energy. Whether you're here for a city break or as a starting point for exploring the region, let MADABOUTPORTO.COM be your ultimate guide to uncovering the best of Porto. We’ll take you through the must-see sights, the tastiest eats, the top hotels, and the most exciting tours. Your unforgettable adventure starts here!

Porto, known for its famous Port wine, is a city rich in history and character, dating back to Roman times. Situated at the mouth of the Douro River, Porto has long been a key trading hub and is now one of Europe’s most enchanting cities. From across the river, you’ll be greeted by a striking view of colourful medieval houses and monuments clinging to the hillside, showcasing Porto’s unique architectural charm.

The lively Ribeira district, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a maze of narrow cobbled streets filled with the aroma of grilled seafood and the buzz of lively cafés. Marvel at the historic buildings, including works by renowned architects Gustave Eiffel and Nicolau Nasoni. Don’t miss the chance to explore Porto’s iconic landmarks like the Dom Luís I Bridge and the majestic Porto Cathedral.

For a taste of modernity, stroll down Avenida da Boavista, where you’ll find high-end shops, exclusive hotels, and the architectural marvel - Casa da Música. Head to Foz do Douro for beautiful beaches, seaside promenades, and stunning Atlantic sunsets.

Plan your trip with us at MADABOUTPORTO.COM and discover the timeless allure of Porto. Book your tours and accommodations today to make the most of your visit to this unforgettable city!

TOP DISTRICTS OF PORTO

World Heritage Centre

The beautiful medieval UNESCO protected area of Porto.

Baixa (Downtown)

Porto's vibrant and exciting downtown.

Vila Nova de Gaia

The opposite bank of the Douro river home to the famous Port lodges.

Foz do Douro & West

The Western part of Porto where the city meets the sea.

Port Lodge

PORT WINE

Port wine stands in a league of its own, emerging from the breathtaking terraced vineyards of Portugal's Douro Valley. This distinctive fortified wine has sparked imitations worldwide, but much like Champagne, no competitor rivals the quality of a top vintage Port. This exceptional wine style gains its unique flavour, robustness, and sweetness from halting fermentation with the addition of a strong spirit.

Until 1987, a wine could only be designated as Port (or Vinho do Porto) after ageing in Vila Nova de Gaia. The EU later extended the designation to the entire Douro wine region. Nonetheless, Port wine remains a cornerstone of Porto's legacy. Approximately 60 Port lodges still grace the steep hills of the Vila Nova de Gaia district, making the area a prime destination for wine enthusiasts. Two dozen of these lodges are open for tours and tastings on weekdays and Saturdays, offering a must-visit experience for oenophiles.

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THE COSTA VERDE

The term Costa Verde (Green Coast) is a term used to describe an area covering the North-West coast of Portugal. Extending from the Spanish frontier in the North to 20km South of Porto. The coastline remains unspoiled by mass tourism with long stretches of golden sands. Atlantic waves provide ideal conditions for water sports, drawing surfers, kite-surfers and windsurfers alike.

The area's beauty extends far inland from the coast to more mountainous terrains, encompassing ancient villages and historic cities. This area was the birthplace of Portugal and contains many historical and interesting monuments. Cities such as Braga, Guimarães and Porto maintain their original medieval infrastructure. Coastal towns such as Caminha, Viana do Castelo, Esposende and Vila do Conde are famed for their fishing heritage and historic seafaring traditions.

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Costa Verde

Esposende


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Eating out in Porto

EATING OUT IN PORTO

One thing you can be sure of is the number of great places to eat in Porto, ranging from small family-owned tascas, Art Nouveau cafés, and reasonably priced restaurants to Michelin-star fine dining. The new generation of Portoenses is more adventurous with their dining preferences than their more traditional forebears. The last decades have seen a profusion of new and exciting influences appearing on menus. That said, there remains several obligatory customary local dishes found in most establishments awaiting your discovery.

As with most parts of Portugal, Fish is a popular mainstay in restaurants. Along the Cais da Ribeira quayside, a dozen largely touristy fish restaurants are found under the arches. More modest places hidden in the alleys behind. The belly-busting Francesinha (“little Frenchie”) is a layered sandwich comprised of steak, sausage and ham between toasted bread, covered with melted cheese and a peppery tomato and beer sauce. The local speciality is tripas (tripe), cooked à Moda do Porto (stewed with chouriço and white beans) has given the locals the nickname of Tripeiros. Another typical Portuense dish is Caldo Verde, a thick vegetable soup served with a slice of choriço on top.

On the opposite bank in Vila Nova de Gaia, there's a mix of traditional fish eateries and international restaurants and bars, such as; Spanish tapas, Indian and Italian restaurants, Brazilian churrascaria and an Irish pub. The cheapest meals are found in the city centre centred around the university district in the Baixa, focused around the Praça da Batalha. For a very local experience, you can find a cheap lunch at the Mercado do Bolhão market, such as grilled sardines.

Regional Cuisine ►    Restaurants ►►    Cafés ►

TOP DAY TRIPS FROM PORTO

Amarante

Spanning the banks of the Tâmego, Amarante dates back to the stone age.

Aveiro

The canals of Aveiro has earned the town the title of "Venice of Portugal".

Barcelos

The birth place of the rooster legend and Portugal's national symbol.

Braga

The capital of the Minho, Braga offers it's visitors a vast number of sites to visit.

Espinho

Popular seaside resort of Espinho with miles of goldern sand.

Guimarães

This preserved medieval town is the birth place of Portugal.

Pinhão

The incredibly beautiful town at the heart of Port country.

Vila do Conde

A historic nautical town with long stretches of beach.

TOP TOURS IN NORTHERN PORTUGAL

Inside Amarante Tour

Inside Amarante Tour

Come discover Amarante and let yourself be enveloped by the stories, traditions and flavours that the town has to offer you. Let yourself be immersed in this historical town. Its history begins in the stone age and the Roman period. Here too, is the influence of Saint Gonçalo and the French troops during the Napoleonic wars. Amarante itself has a religious image, perhaps for its monumental convent of S. Gonçalo bathed by the bucolic Tâmega River or its majestic baroque churches and its beautiful and magnificent S. Gonçalo bridge. The discovery of great personalities such as Amadeu de Souza-Cardoso, Teixeira de Pascoaes or António do Lago Cerqueira is equally irrefutable. Discover Amarante with a local guide who will be honoured to present you his home.

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Aveiro and Coimbra small-group full-day tour

Aveiro and Coimbra small-group full-day tour

Explore the central Portuguese cities of Aveiro and Coimbra on this small-group tour from Porto. Visit Aveiro, dubbed the ‘Venice of Portugal,’ and relax on a 1-hour boat cruise along the famous waterways. Then head to Coimbra, known as the ‘City of Students,’ and discover the city’s rich history as you explore the old town and Portugal’s oldest university.



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Viana - Cerveira Private Tour

Viana - Cerveira Private Tour

Come and experience the beautiful Minho coast. Stunning landscapes, beautiful nature and towns which witnessed so much history. Heritage, mountain, beach and crystal-clear rivers. In this experience, between the rivers Lima and Minho, you will visit Viana do Castelo, Moledo, Caminha, Vila Nova da Cerveira and other interesting places. Casual clothing required along with good footwear. When blessed with favourable weather conditions, also bathing suit and towel.




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TRAVELLING TO PORTO

Porto Airport
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Portuguese Trains
Porto Airport Transfers
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National roads indicated as EN, IC and IP are free, whereas others have tolls. Locals will use the Via Verde automatic toll device and have dedicated lanes going through the toll gate – you'll need to avoid these. Other than that, Portuguese highways are well-maintained and a joy to ride on. The A1 Lisbon, links to the Algarve; A3 Valença and the Minho, A4 Amarante and Trás-os-Montes, links to Bragança; A28 to Cerveira and the A29 to Aveiro. Some of these highways are paid at the end of the trip with a ticket collected at the beginning of the highway.

If arriving to Porto from outside it's advisable to park on the outskirts of the city and use the metro system to travel to the centre. Add a ride on one of Europe's newest transport systems to your trip experience.

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• Linha de Aveiro (urban) Train Timetable

• Linha de Braga (urban) Train Timetable

• Linha de Ermesinde (urban) Train Timetable

• Linha de Guimarães (urban) Train Timetable

• Linha de Marco de Canaveses (urban) Train Timetable

• Linha de Douro (regionais) Train Timetable

• Faro - Lisbon - Coimbra - Guarda - Viana - Valença (intercidades - via Campanhã) Train Timetable


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• Rede Expressos: Website Rede Expressos run comfortable coach services across Portugal connecting most major towns and cities.

• Transdev: Website Transdev have bus services in central and northern Portugal.

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