Passing Thru - For the Curious and Thoughtful Traveler

For the Curious and Thoughtful Traveler

  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure Policy
  • Blog
  • Work With Us
    • Media Kit
    • Help with Your Business
    • Housesitting
      • How to Get Started as an International House Sitter
      • Our Housesitting Profile
  • Places
    • Africa
      • South Africa
    • Asia
      • China
      • India
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Singapore
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Australia & Oceania
      • Australia
      • Fiji Islands
      • The Philippines
    • Europe
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Bosnia and Herzegovina
      • Bulgaria
      • Croatia
      • Czech Republic
      • England
      • France
      • Germany
      • Hungary
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Latvia
      • Liechtenstein
      • Norway
      • Portugal
      • Romania
      • Russia
      • Serbia
      • Spain
      • Turkey
    • North America
      • Alaska
      • Arizona
      • California
      • Florida
      • Hawaii
      • Illinois
      • Iowa
      • Kansas
      • Michigan
      • Minnesota
      • Missouri
      • Montana
      • Nebraska
      • Nevada
      • North Carolina
      • North Dakota
      • Pennsylvania
      • South Dakota
      • Wisconsin
      • Wyoming
    • Scandinavia
      • Finland
      • Sweden
    • General Travel
  • Resources and Tools
    • Gift Guides
    • Luggage and Packing
      • Luggage Tags
      • Passport Security
    • Resources for Zazzle and Print On Demand
    • Technology
  • Contact

12 Awesome Porto Insider Tips for a Visit to Portugal

By Betsy Wuebker Leave a Comment

(Last Updated On: July 5, 2022)

Contemplating a visit to Portugal? Take advantage of Porto insider tips on the best things to see which will make the most of your trip.

Porto is fast climbing the chart of top European destinations for tourists and travelers.  Loaded with attractions and several places that are worth visiting, it is a guarantee that you will have one of the most memorable holidays of your life.

porto insider tips

People in Porto are warm and hospitable. What you can look forward to is a good mix of great good, excellent sites, and great architecture with many fun things to do in Porto. Porto nightlife is entertaining and safe.

 

When to go to Porto?

Porto can be enjoyed at any time of the year. However, the best time to explore the city is around March till October as winters can be very cold, as the temperatures between March and October are mild and pleasant, one can plan a trip around this time of the year.

Take private tours in Porto to explore the city to the best and make the most of your time.

explore Porto

How to get to Porto

Porto is easy to access and can be easily reached via road, train or by air.

There are regular flights to Porto from all over Europe with low-cost carriers to the city’s Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport. The airport is well connected to both national and international destinations.

As a vital railway hub, Porto’s Sao Bento Train Station is well connected to cities and north destinations.

porto 2609178 1280

Other popular alternatives include traveling by bus or a car. It is easy to travel by road because of the excellent road connections across the whole of Portugal. 

Once you reach Porto, you will find that it is easy to explore the small hilly city on foot. Hence walk around to see the major sights that are well within reach and enjoy great sights and views at every turn.

Porto Insider Tips on What Not to Miss

There are sites and attractions that you should not miss on your first trip.

  • Start with the Historic Centre of Porto which is a World Cultural Heritage Site and offers a wealth of monuments and sights such as the gothic Igreja de São Francisco and Praça da Ribeira, a UNESCO recognized historical square.
porto 2379566 1280
  • Palácio da Bolsa was made between 1842 and 1910 and belongs to the Porto Chamber of Commerce.  Enjoy guided tours to this pretty Stock Exchange building which is a must see.
  • Walk across the D. Luís I bridge that lies on the southern banks of the River Douro and enjoy some great views of the city. Keep your camera ready to capture some fantastic shots.
ponte dom luis 3972723 1280
  • Take a guided tour of Port wine lodges and enjoy the visit of the interesting museum as well as get to taste the best Port wines. Later, you can even take cable car trip up to the Jardim do Morro and back to the Baixa area on a metro.
  • Porto doesn’t disappoint book lovers. If you love books, simply head for Lello Bookshop, which is well known as one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world. Enjoy the books, pick up a Porto guide, and absorb the ambiance.
Lello Bookshop 7893548532
Yellow.Cat from Roma, Italy [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)]
  • Torre dos Clérigos is a building for religious meetings and was constructed around the mid-18th century. Explore its six floors and reach the top to enjoy some magnificent views of the city.
  • Café Majestic is the most historical café of the city. Its Belle Epoch art nouveau interior is a must see. Linger in this stunning space to enjoy a sizzling cup of hot coffee.
Cafe Majestic interior Porto
Sitomon [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)]
  • Casa da Música, the Music House in Portugal was the first building to be made and dedicated to music. Casa da Música is well known for Porto 2001, the European Capital of Culture festival held in Porto. Things to do: Enjoy live band performances apart from the traditional musical scenes.
  • Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art is the most important museum in Porto and indeed one of the best museums in the country. Explore the vast gardens as well as the displays inside.
  • Parque da Cidade, the largest park, works like the green lung for the city and boasts of green spaces with plenty of walking trails. Enjoy those walks as well as admire the diverse fauna and flora for an enriching experience.

Tips for Trip Success

Book Your Flight
Find an inexpensive flight by using CheapOAir, a favorite of ours because it regularly returns less expensive flight options from a variety of airlines.

Book Your Hotel or Special Accommodation
We are big fans of Booking.com. We like their review system and photos. If we want to see more reviews and additional booking options, we go to TripAdvisor.

You Need Travel Insurance!
Good travel insurance means having total peace of mind. Travel insurance protects you when your medical insurance often will not and better than what you get from your credit card. It will provide comprehensive coverage should you need medical treatment or return to the United States, compensation for trip interruption, baggage loss, and other situations.

PassingThru is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

To view PassingThru’s privacy policy, click here.

Filed Under: Travel, Europe, Portugal

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.


Aloha! We’re Betsy and Pete Wuebker. We traveled the world full time for close to four years and have visited almost 50 countries. If you’re a curious and thoughtful traveler, you’re in the right place. No matter if you’re new to travel or an old hand, we can help you refine your bucket list!

Here’s to a happier, travel-centered life!

Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City: How to Travel Vietnam by Train

Bucket List Ideas

  • Things You Will Learn About Yourself While Walking the Camino de Santiago
  • 10 Unmissable Attractions in Bhutan
  • Oktoberfest Getaway in Munich: Top Tips Ensure the Best Oktoberfest Plan for the Famous Munich Beer Festival

More Bucket List Ideas

Privacy Policy

Click here for PassingThru’s Privacy Policy.

Disclosure

PassingThru is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Click here for PassingThru’s complete Disclosure Policy.

Copyright © 2022 Passing Thru · Designed by Blue Sun Studio, Inc. on Genesis · Log in