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[Travel] Porto



Jam The Man

Jam The Man

Well-known member
Jul 5, 2003
8,257
South East North Lancing
Not a football fixture.

We’re off to Porto for a 4 day break in Feb and have a decent itinerary in place, but just wondered if anyone else has any tips?
The only specific query I have is around trams vs walking. I’ve heard it’s hilly?
 






Meade's Ball

Meade's Ball

Well-known member
Jul 7, 2003
13,660
Hither (sometimes Thither)
I had a linguistic mix up in Porto. I don't think I'll return there.
At the time I was trying to learn Spanish, and for some reason after reading obrigado as thank you in Portuguese I kept saying ALBONDIGAS. Of course, that means meatballs in Spanish, so, me saying it repeatedly in restaurants every time a waiter or waitress brought me water or wine or food must have had them think of me as Mr Meatballs or The Meatball Man. To the waiting staff of Porto I could only say meatballs. I remember loudly shouting it as we left one establishment.

I asked my girlfriend on the evening of day 2, as the truth of the embarrassment that enveloped or every move there came to, why she hadn't let on, and she said she didn't want me to feel bad. I presume she thought it would come to me quicker. But meatballs obviously can't meatball that meatbally. Meatballs.
 


North of Robertsbridge

North of Robertsbridge

Well-known member
Sep 22, 2023
314
East Sussex
Cracking place. My little one spent half a year at university there. Must-do’s include visiting the port lodges over in Gaia, the bookshop that inspired the Harry Potter staircases, in warmer weather a river cruise, the azulejo tiles in San Bento station.

There is a metro in the upper town, trams on limited routes and a cable car to get down to the wine lodges from the Ponte Luis I metro bridge, but yes it’s hilly and involves a bit of up and down walking

Super food, the only places I’d avoid are the obvious tourist traps down on the quays in Riberia towards the bridge
 


Bakero

Bakero

Languidly clinical
Oct 9, 2010
15,127
Almería
Jam The Man said:
Not a football fixture.

We’re off to Porto for a 4 day break in Feb and have a decent itinerary in place, but just wondered if anyone else has any tips?
The only specific query I have is around trams vs walking. I’ve heard it’s hilly?
Click to expand...

Lovely city. It is a little hilly but very walkable.

Obviously, sampling some port is a must. I've never booked a tour of any of the cellars but just wandered over, had a look round and then had a few glasses. There are about 10 Port Houses to choose from on the other side of the river.

Having a Francesinha is another thing to add to the itinerary. Not the most elegant of sandwiches but a great way to soak up all the port you've just drunk.
 






S

Simgull

Well-known member
Jan 3, 2013
1,674
Hove
If you want to get away from the crowds visit the Serralves modern art museum gardens. The gardens are terrific ( we didn’t bother with the art museum itself) such a welcome change after being in the city with a zillion tourists.
Easy and cheap taxi to get there we then went to the nearby coast at Foz for lunch and then took the tourist tram along the sea front back into the city.
 


Madafwo

Madafwo

I'm probably being facetious.
Nov 11, 2013
1,804
I had a weekend there last year primarily for the trains that run along the Douro valley as I'm a bit of a train geek.

Sao Bento station is gorgeous and definitely worth a visit even if you're not catching a train.

We did the historic tram along the river, don't make the same mistake we did and think about walking back, there isn't much to see or do on the way back, but for a few quid for the round trip it's worth it.

Wasn't a massive fan of the Francesinha, but then again I'm not a fan of cheese or tomato based sauces, Bifana however is definitely something I'd recommend.

The bookshop as previously mentioned looked great but you could be queuing for an hour or so just to get in.

Hoping to go back for a couple of days again this year.
 




B

Baldrick

Well-known member
Aug 24, 2020
255
If you are staying centrally, its all walkable. Local food and drink is wonderful in Porto.

If you want to vist a port house consider Churchill Graham Port Lodge or Ferreira Cellars.

If you fancy a day trip go to Braga. Its quick and easy to get to by train.
 










Gabbiano

Gabbiano

Well-known member
Dec 18, 2017
1,840
Spank the Manc
I've been twice in the last couple of years, but mainly working. I'd echo some of the other recommendations, eg port on the riverside at Gaia.

Galería do Largo is a restaurant slash stationery shop (unusual combo but a beautiful building and wonderful if a little pricey food)

Get the tram out to Matosinhos for the best seafood.

Mercado do Bolhão is worth a visit, something akin to Borough Market but smaller and more local, although it has been a bit sanitised with tourist interest.

And if you're there at the right time, FC Porto tickets are easy to get hold of and the access by metro is easy peasy to the stadium.

Historical landmark not to miss - Palácio da Bolsa, particularly the Arabian Room.

If you have time I'd recommend going out into to Douro Valley for a few days, really beautiful there and an interesting history around the port viniculture. There's a train line out of São Bento which follows the valley.
 
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WhingForPresident

WhingForPresident

.
Feb 23, 2009
17,549
Marlborough
I'm there for a few days at the beginning of March (three nights in Porto then making our way down to Lisbon on the rattler) so I'm also monitoring this thread!

Anyone got any insight as to whether Braga is worth a day, or if it'd be better spent in Porto as we're only there for a few days?
 




Peteinblack

Peteinblack

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jun 3, 2004
4,228
Bath, Somerset.
Nothing to add to previous advice, but will reinforce the point about Porto being a beautiful city, and pretty walkable.

We had a few days in Porto before travelling by train - from the architectural splendor of Sao Bento station - down to the charming town of Cascais on the coast near Lisbon.
 
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North of Robertsbridge

North of Robertsbridge

Well-known member
Sep 22, 2023
314
East Sussex
WhingForPresident said:
I'm there for a few days at the beginning of March (three nights in Porto then making our way down to Lisbon on the rattler) so I'm also monitoring this thread!

Anyone got any insight as to whether Braga is worth a day, or if it'd be better spent in Porto as we're only there for a few days?
Click to expand...
Braga is nice too. If you're stopping off on the way from Oporto to Lisbon, then Coimbra is worth a look, a nice compact university city (with more hills to climb)
 


W

Wardy's twin

Well-known member
Oct 21, 2014
9,016
North of Robertsbridge said:
Cracking place. My little one spent half a year at university there. Must-do’s include visiting the port lodges over in Gaia, the bookshop that inspired the Harry Potter staircases, in warmer weather a river cruise, the azulejo tiles in San Bento station.

There is a metro in the upper town, trams on limited routes and a cable car to get down to the wine lodges from the Ponte Luis I metro bridge, but yes it’s hilly and involves a bit of up and down walking

Super food, the only places I’d avoid are the obvious tourist traps down on the quays in Riberia towards the bridge
Click to expand...
My little one....they are always that aren't they.
 


R

robmank0572

New member
Jan 19, 2025
1
I visited Porto for a couple of days last Year. Found the place easy to walk, but as you say, very hilly. I did pick up an Andante Travel Card which covers the central travel zones and allows you hop on the Metro etc as needed which costs about 5 Euros for 24 Hours. There ia also a Funicular and Cable car down to the River at each end of the Ponte DeDom Luis.

For food I like the Markets. This one on the southern bank of the river https://mercadobeirario.pt/ is basically a very nice food court with lots of differnt local Food outlets operating around a central seating area. Great for a cheaper lunch. This Market is much bigger in Central Porto https://mercadobolhao.pt/ and is great to pick up lunch on the go.

I visited the Taylors Port House, which has a great museum and the Tour includes a few samples in their bar at the end. I was there a couple of hours on a very rainy afternoon. The area around it being redeveloped and it is well worth a wander round the narrow lane that lead down to the river.
 




North of Robertsbridge

North of Robertsbridge

Well-known member
Sep 22, 2023
314
East Sussex
robmank0572 said:
For food I like the Markets. This one on the southern bank of the river https://mercadobeirario.pt/ is basically a very nice food court with lots of differnt local Food outlets operating around a central seating area. Great for a cheaper lunch. This Market is much bigger in Central Porto https://mercadobolhao.pt/ and is great to pick up lunch on the go.
Click to expand...
And Mercado Bom Sucesso near the Casa da Música metro stop - excellent food stalls and one selling a large selection of Belgian beers on draft
 




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