Porto is the second largest city in Portugal. It is a UNESCO world heritage site, and one of the oldest European city centres.

Airport

Porto is accessed by air through the superb Francisco de Sa Carneiro Airport, 15km west of the city centre itself. The airport is state-of-the-art thanks to the refurbishments made to accommodate Euro 2004.

Railway travel

The major railway station is situated at Campanha, in the eastern part of the city, and it connects to Douro (Peso de Regua/Tua/Pocinho), Minho (Barcelos/Viana do Castelo/Valenca) and Norte (on the main line to Aveiro, Coimbra and Lisbon). Light rail and suburban rail services take you from Campanha to the city centre. The main central station is Sao Bento Station, a striking landmark in the centre of Porto.

Subway

Porto has the biggest metro system in Portugal, stretching 60km (37 miles) and incorporating 68 stations. Its six lines are colour coded in a similar fashion to the underground railways in London and Paris: lines A (blue), B (red), C (green) and E (purple) all start at Estadio do Dragão (which is home to the city’s football team, FC Porto) and end at Senhor de Matosinhos, Póvoa de Varzim (via Vila do Conde), ISMAI (via Maia) and Francisco Sá Carneiro airport respectively. The yellow line (D) takes you from the north at Hospital S. Joao to D. Joao II on the southern side of the Douro river. Line F, which is orange, takes you from Senhora da Hora (Matosinhos) to Fânzeres (Gondomar). The lines intersect at the central Trindade station.

Light rail

Historically, Porto operated the first tram system on the Iberian peninsula. The system opened in 1895, and the lines still in use today all employ vintage tramcars, so the service is an enjoyable heritage tramway which is a relaxing way to tour this lovely city and some of its sights. There is also a more modern tram or light rail system in the city, which has been running since 2003.

Buses

Porto has an excellent bus network, with services connecting you not just across and around the city but also out to local towns like Santo Tirso and Pacos de Ferreira.

Culture and entertainment

Porto was European capital of culture in 2001 and remains a vibrant, exciting place to explore music, dance, theatre and other arts. The city has a range of excellent art galleries, museums, cinemas, theatres and libraries. The best museums to visit are the Museum of Contemporary Art and the National Museum Soares dos Reis. Notable film, theatre and music venues are the Coliseu do Porto, the Sao Joao National Theatre, the Rivoli theatre and the Batalha cinema, along with the recently built Casa da Musica. For book-lovers, the best book shop in the city is certainly ‘Lello’, which was ranked as one of the world’s top bookshops by The Guardian in 2008.

Food and drink

Fans of Portuguese cuisine will find plenty to enjoy in Porto; the city is home to some of Portugal’s most famous traditional dishes, including the indulgent Francesinha meat sandwich, and ‘Tripas à moda do Porto’ (cooked tripe with white beans), which is considered Porto’s traditional dish. Wine enthusiasts will want to sample some authentic local port, a sweet red dessert wine, and you can even take a tour of Taylor’s lodges at Vila Nova de Gaia, where you can learn about the history of port production in the city.

For meals out, Porto has a fantastic array of restaurants to enjoy, whether you are staying for just a few days, a week or more. Some of the freshest seafood available can be had at A Marisqueira de Matosinhos, on Rua Roberto Ivens. Varanda da Barra affords a great view of the Doura River which flows through the city, and serves a huge choice of different local dishes. Other great dining options include the well-priced Restaurante Abadia and the Café Majestic.

Recommended things to do during your stay

Porto is such a varied city, you will find something new to do every time you visit, from tours of its winding, fascinating back streets to visits to its state-of-the-art cultural venues. Porto Cathedral is a must-see for those interested in the history of architecture; you should also visit the Palacio de Cristal, 6.1 miles from the city centre. Lovers of the football must not miss out on a trip to the Estádio do Dragao and the Estádio do Bessa, two temples to Portugal’s passionate love of football. Wine connoisseurs and lovers of beautiful scenery might be interested in taking a day trip to Douro, which can include wine tasting and beautiful stops close to the River Douro. There are also plenty of guided city tours available, which enable you to really make the most of Porto’s fascinating history and all its cultural delights.

Weather and climate

Porto has a warm, Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. Average summer temperatures range from 15 degrees Celsius to 25 degrees, and can get as high as 35 during heat waves. Winter temperatures, meanwhile, range from 5 degrees Celsius to 15 degrees, and do not often drop below zero at night.

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