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Bacalhau

The most popular fish in Portuguese cuisine is undoubtedly codfish, or bacalhau in Portuguese, and there are countless recipes. Locals claim that there are 365 codfish dishes, a different dish for every day of the year. A couple of the most popular recipes are the delicious bacalhau com natas and bacalhau à bras. Both contain tiny strips of potatoes, onions and olive oil. The codfish is boiled and then mixed with boiled potatoes and other ingredients. The difference is that with bacalhau com natas, the mixture is subsequently placed in a casserole and cooked in the oven. In the Portuguese kitchen, cod is always salted or dried and must be kept in water prior to cooking. The reason for this is very interesting. Namely, cod is brought to Portugal from the North Atlantic and in the past there were no freezers, so Portuguese fishermen had to resort to either salting or drying the fish. It has become so inseparable from Portuguese cooking that the traditional way of preservation has been kept to this day. Although cod is the most widely eaten fish, it is far from being the only sea ingredient used in Portuguese food. The Portuguese are also avid lovers of shrimp, sardines, squid, prawns, lobster, clams, mussels, hake and many other types of fish and seafood.

Cozido à Portuguesa

Meat is also very present in the Portuguese diet. In the old days, it was reserved for the wealthier families, but there are many savory traditional meat dishes made from pork, beef and poultry. Perhaps the most famous meat dish is the cozido à portuguesa. It is essentially a stew made from different types of meat, including pork, beef, sausages and chicken, and various vegetables. Portuguese sausages are incredibly tasty and very popular in little bars and restaurants. The alheira is a sausage from the north of Portugal made from different types of poultry. There is a very interesting anecdote surrounding the story of the alheira. Namely, when the Jews were forced to either leave the country or convert to Christianity in the fifteenth century, they started making sausages stuffed with poultry meat so as to fool the Inquisition into thinking that they had converted and are showing it by consuming pork. This allowed them to practice their religion in secrecy. Today, the alheira is available in most traditional Portuguese restaurants and has become an important part of Portuguese cuisine.

Vegetarian Dishes

Portuguese dishes are usually based on olive oil. Although it might come as a surprise, the Portuguese do not consume as many vegetables as other Europeans. There are vegetarian dishes and various soups, such as the famous caldo verde, but compared to meat and fish, vegetable-based dishes seem few and far between. The feijoada is a stew based on beans, but it also contains slices of beef and pork. Big cities, however, have a handful of excellent vegetarian restaurants and the younger population is increasing turning to vegetables for a healthier diet.

Cheeses and Desserts

An account of Portuguese cuisine would be incomplete without mentioning Portuguese cheeses and desserts. Portugal is famous for its wide variety of cheeses that are consumed in the company of wine as appetizers. They usually have a rather strong flavor and aroma. Most restaurants place a cheese platter on your table before your main meal arrives, so make sure to taste them. The Portuguese love their desserts and little pastry shops, or pastelarias, are teeming with all kinds of pastries, cakes and biscuits. Most are based on eggs and cream and sprinkled with vanilla or cinnamon. Some of the most famous include arroz doce, a type of sweet rice pudding, and custard tarts called pastéis de nata, which are also known as pastéis de Belém. The latter are a trademark of Portuguese cuisine and are enjoyed worldwide.

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Sheraton Porto Hotel & Spa

Sheraton Porto Hotel & Spa is a five-star establishment located in the center of the city. It is an ideal hotel for both business and holiday travelers, situated only a stone throw’s away from the main commercial, cultural and nightlife places of interest. It boasts 266 convenient rooms with modern and soothing features. For business travelers, the hotel offers large multifunctional meeting spaces equipped with all the necessary technology. The hotel’s magnificent restaurant serves both local and international cuisine and even has “show cooking” as a special form of dinner entertainment. The wellness and spa center leaves nothing to be desired and the hotel also has an indoor heated swimming pool and fitness and health center. At an average cost of 150 euros per night, you can afford the luxury of a high-class hotel in the very heart of Portugal’s magical historical city.

Tiara Park Atlantic

Situated in the bustling business district on Avenida Boavista, the Tiara Park Atlantic Porto Hotel is a four-star luxury hotel and a landmark of Porto. With its 232 rooms and 11 meeting rooms, this hotel can meet all your business and holiday needs. The hotel provides a wide array of services to make your stay more comfortable, including Internet access in the entire building, a billiard room, a discotheque and luggage delivery. The guestrooms boast modern interior design that provides you with a perfect atmosphere for relaxation after a day spent outside climbing through the narrow streets of the city. The hotel runs special rates at certain times of the year, while the average nightly stay will cost you around 115 euros. Its Poivron Rouge bar and restaurant is an excellent place to try some of the region’s specialties with a touch of international cuisine.

Vila Galé Porto Hotel

Another centrally located four-star hotel is the Vila Galé Porto Hotel. Known for its excellent quality at affordable prices, the hotel has a staggering 292 rooms. You can avail yourself of the hotel’s conference and spa facilities or just enjoy the comfort and coziness of your guestroom. Although its name may not suggest it, the hotel’s Paris Texas Restaurant serves wonderful regional cuisine, which means that you can get a true taste of the Douro region straight from the comfort of your hotel. The central location of the establishment means that you are only a step away from the main streets and squares. The hotel is thus an excellent base from which you can explore the city and the region, bearing in mind that the metro and train stations are only a few minutes walking distance away. The average room rate is around 90 euros, making this hotel a truly great deal for your holidays or business trip to Porto.

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Sintra

Sintra is undoubtedly one of the most magical places in Portugal and one of its main tourist attractions. Due to its nineteenth century Romantic architecture, it was included on the list of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. Surrounded by mountains and beaches, Sintra has a unique, cool climate in the summer months due to its abundance of tall trees and other vegetation. It was once the summer residence of the kings of Portugal and is today a haven for amateur photographers. The number of beautiful buildings hidden away in the woods and in the town itself is simply astounding.

Sintra can be conveniently reached by train from the Rossio Railway Station in Lisbon. The ride from Lisbon to Sintra is pleasant and takes about 45 minutes, more due to the large number of intermediate stops than the actual distance. Sintra’s two main landmarks are the Moorish Castle and the Pena Palace. To see the castle, you can either climb all the way up to the hill or wait in the city for public transport to take you there. It is advisable to go on foot because there are many hidden gems along the way that may elude you if you take the bus. Once you get to the castle, you will have a spectacular view of the city and the surrounding area. It is well worth the effort.

Lisbon to Cascais and Estoril

Another great day trip includes visiting Estoril and Cascais, two upscale resort towns on the Atlantic coast just outside of Lisbon. To get there, catch a train at Cais do Sodré and enjoy the ride along the bank of the Tagus and watch the river as it transforms into an ocean. First on the route is Estoril, a seaside resort famous for hosting the Estoril Open Tennis Tournament in the month of May and various motorsport events at the Estoril Circuit. Gambling enthusiasts will also be interested to learn that Estoril boasts the largest casino in Europe. Casino Estoril is notorious for having been the favorite hangout place of many secret agents during World War II. In fact, Ian Flemming’s Casino Royale was inspired by Casino Estoril. Even if you are not really into gambling, you should include the casino on your list of sites to see for its architecture and grandeur. In addition to resort facilities, Estoril is also the home of ancient Roman mansions that date back two thousand years.

A couple of train stations away from Estoril lies Cascais, one of the wealthiest municipalities in Portugal. It used to be an ordinary and humble fishing village until the nineteenth century, when the Portuguese royal family decided to use it as their holiday resort, bringing great development to the area. Like Estoril, it also became prominent during World War II for being the home of many exiled European royal families. The town center is a popular destination for foreign and local tourists due to its warm and characteristic appearance. Both Estoril and Cascais also have many sandy beaches, which are popular due to their accessibility. Namely, Costa da Caparica, on the other side of the Tagus, is much farther away from Lisbon and may be frustrating to reach in the summer months due to the high amount of traffic. The most famous beach in Cascais is the Guincho Beach, a particular favorite of surfers, windsurfers and kitesurfers.

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The nine islands of the Azores are spread out over a vast area. Based on their distance, they are classified in three groups. The western group consists of Flores and Corvo, the central group is formed by Faial, Pico, São Jorge, Graciosa and Terceira, and São Miguel and Santa Maria make up the eastern group.

São Miguel

The island of São Miguel is the largest of the islands and home to one half of the population of the Azores. Ponta Delgada, one of the three capital cities of the Azores and the largest city is also situated on São Miguel. The other two capital cities are Angra do Heroismo and Horta, located on Terceira and Faial respectively. Corvo is the smallest island with a mere 500 inhabitants.

Tourist Industry

The islands’ tourist industry has been steadily developing over the years. Despite the existence of beautiful beaches, with a yearly average air temperature of 17⁰ C (63⁰ F), sunbathing is not the main source of attraction for tourists. This is not to say that swimming in the ocean is impossible, as the waters are warmed by the Gulf Stream. Nevertheless, visitors are mostly drawn by the natural beauty, as well as a range of available activities, such as whale watching, trekking, diving, paragliding, horseback riding, cycling and sailing. In fact, the Azores are the perfect spot for both an active holiday and a quiet retreat. There are both upscale resorts and rural boarding houses that offer a unique countryside experience. The Azores are also one of the safest tourist destinations on the planet, with virtually no reported assaults on tourists and a good standard of living. A considerable part of the islands’ population consists of former emigrants who returned from the United States and Canada, so language differences will not be a problem.

Hot Springs and Lakes

The Azores are famous for their hot springs and lakes that lie inside volcanic craters. One of the most impressive landscapes in the Azores is the Sete Cidades (Seven Cities), a huge volcanic crater on São Miguel that boasts two freshwater lakes. What is particularly interesting is the difference in color between the two lakes; one is emerald green and the other a deep blue color. Equally dazzling is Furna de Enxofre, a 270 feet-deep volcanic tunnel on the island of Graciosa, taking us into the ground to a secluded warm lake.

Ponta Delgada and Angra do Heroismo

The cities of Ponta Delgada and Angra do Heroismo are tourist attractions in their own right. The latter was a very important outpost of the Portuguese empire and has been proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Vacation of a Lifetime

If you decide to visit the Azores, be prepared for the vacation of a lifetime! The islands’ unique setting will make your friends and colleagues blush with envy when you show them your holiday photographs from this extraordinary place on the very border between the Old Continent and the New World!

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Tavira Island Beach

One of the most widely acclaimed beaches is undoubtedly the Tavira Island Beach, or Praia da Ilha de Tavira in Portuguese. As its name suggests, it lies on the Tavira Island, just a few minutes by boat from the town of Tavira. The island itself boasts four sandy beaches, plenty of bars and restaurants and is renowned for being the only place in Portugal where naturism is legally permitted. You can book accommodation in the town of Tavira and catch a water taxi to reach the island. Since the island forms part of the Ria Formosa Nature Reserve, it is also a haven for wildlife lovers, especially bird watchers.

Praia da Galé

Further west along the coast of the Algarve, five miles from the town of Albufeira, we come to a windsurfing and scuba diving paradise, the Praia da Galé. This beach offers a quiet retreat from the thriving tourist resort of Albufeira and hence enables you to balance out a holiday of both fun and tranquility. It stretches for three miles around the Armacao de Pera Bay and boasts a nice beach bar and a couple of wonderful beach restaurants.

Praia da Rocha

Another bustling beach that attracts thousands of visitors each year is Praia da Rocha, literally meaning “Rock Beach”. Its visitors range from young people and students who see it as a great fun spot to families and couples who want to enjoy this great expanse of sand in a location that boasts all the necessary amenities. Located in Portimão, the beach is teeming with huge rocks and was one of the Algarve’s first tourist developments. It has managed to stay on top in terms of popularity.

Praia de Alvor

If you are looking for solitude and are staying in the vicinity of Portimão, then stray away from Praia da Rocha and walk to Praia de Alvor. This beach has a more authentic feel, as the town of Alvor has managed to retain its charms as a fishing village and remain unspoiled by tourist development. At the same time, it also has no shortage of great restaurants, bars and cafés. With excellent facilities for the disabled, Praia de Alvor is a great spot for sailing, waterskiing and windsurfing.

Praia da Falésia

East of Albufeira, lying between Olhos de Água and Vilamoura, Praia da Falésia is one of the Algarve’s and Portugal’s longest beaches. The word “falésia” means “cliff” in Portuguese and the beach is dominated by red cliffs, which have stairs cut into them to provide access to the shore. Although it has a few golf courses, upscale resorts and countless bars and restaurants, Praia da Falésia is one of the most serene beaches in Portugal.

Every corner of the Algarve is special

This list is far from exhaustive and you should keep in mind that every corner of the Algarve is special and has some of the best beaches in Europe. Around the town of Lagos, in particular, there are numerous small and intimate beaches that lie between huge rocks. They are definitely worth a visit.

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Pearl of the Atlantic

Being volcanic islands, the Madeira archipelago abounds with greenery and wildlife. There are many autochthonous bird and plant species that are of particular interest to amateur and professional bird watchers and botanists. UNESCO has proclaimed Madeira as a World Natural Heritage Site. The Gulf Stream ensures a mild water temperature that never drops below 17 degrees Celsius. This makes Madeira a year-round haven for sunbathers and swimmers, as well as fans of other water sports. It is also famous for its deep sea fishing tours. Known as the “Pearl of the Atlantic”, Madeira has become increasingly popular with tourists who seek mild weather and an unspoiled natural environment. Its breathtaking landscapes and mountainous terrain make it especially appealing to hikers. Rich local customs, folk traditions, excellent wine and cuisine, and colorful wooden houses make Madeira a truly unique European island.

Funchal

The capital city of Madeira is Funchal, a modern city containing around half of the islands’ population. The city lies on a harbor and is completely surrounded by hills, giving it the look of an amphitheater. The first settlers chose the spot precisely due to this natural protection. The harbor welcomes most of the cruise ships that enter the archipelago and the international airport is also located just outside Funchal. The birthplace of the famous Portuguese soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo, Funchal is also Madeira’s main tourist resort with several world class hotels, restaurants, bars and numerous shops. Funchal takes unsuspecting tourists by surprise with its architectural treasures, since many of the city’s fifteenth and sixteenth century buildings have been preserved.

Porto Santo

Porto Santo is the other inhabited island in the archipelago and lies around 50 kilometers northeast of Madeira. With a population of only 4,500 people, the island has a small airport that connects it to Funchal and occasionally to mainland Portugal. Its sandy beaches extend over nine kilometers, making it the island with the largest beach area in the archipelago and serving as its main tourist attraction. It was also the home of Christopher Columbus, whose house has been turned into a museum. Furthermore, Porto Santo boasts an eighteen-hole and a nine-hole golf course, several hotels and many restaurants and bars.

Madeira Beach Vacations

Madeira is a safe and friendly tourist oasis with dazzling nature and scenery. It combines everything you need in a holiday, from culture, shopping and wonderful cuisine to great sports facilities and beaches. Regardless of your age, Madeira is the perfect spot to relax, connect with nature and get away from the hassles of the real world! It is also a prime ecotourism destination.

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Northern Portuguese Wines and Port Wine

The northern part of Portugal, namely the regions of the Douro, Bairrada and Dão, are known for their production of high class wines that have received numerous international awards. Perhaps the most famous of the Portuguese wines is Port wine, named after the city of Porto from where it was exported to countries all over Europe. Port is a fortified wine that comes in a couple of varieties, either as a dry or semi-dry white wine or sweet red wine. Produced from the grapes grown in the Douro Valley, Port is fortified with the adding of aguardente, a Portuguese brandy which literally means firewater. This stops the fermentation process and leaves sugar in the wine, making it sweeter and boosting its alcoholic content.

The Douro region also produces many types of table wines. The most famous Douro table wine is undoubtedly the red wine of Barca Velha, which has been produced by Casa Ferreirinha for more than 55 years. The Dão region is famous for its unique grape variety of Touriga Nacional, which is used for the production both red and white wine. The most prominent are Aliança and Grão Vasco. Bairrada produces mainly red wines, but also sparkling natural wines, such as the Marquês de Marialva.

Last but not least, we come to interesting vinho verde, literally meaning green wine. Its name has nothing to do with its color, however. Rather, the green refers to its light and youthful taste. It is made in the northernmost part of the country, in the Minho region, and comes mainly in the form of white wine. It is made to be consumed within a year of its production and possesses either a floral or a fruity aroma, in accordance with the variety used. It is always served fresh and is slightly carbonated; not enough, however, to enable us to categorize it as a sparkling wine or even a semi-sparkling wine. Vinho verde is a unique Portuguese wine. Being very refreshing, it is the ideal wine to accompany a traditional Portuguese fish dish.

Southern Portuguese Wines

In the southern part of Portugal, the most prominent wine region is Alentejo, producing excellent yet accessible fruity table wines. Alentejo’s specific dry and sunny weather give the wines a special taste. While the North has preserved ancient wine traditions and is very typically Portuguese, Alentejo combines modern, state-of-the-art production, still maintaining a Portuguese feel in its wines. North of Alentejo lies the province of Estremadura, where the district of Setúbal is particularly famous for the production of moscatel, or muscat wine. There are red and white varieties of moscatel and it is essentially a liquorish wine with a sweet aroma. The most renowned is undoubtedly Moscatel Roxo, which is stored in the cellar for twenty years before being sold.

Madeira Wine

Another fortified Portuguese wine comes from the islands of Madeira and is hence called Madeira wine. Like Port, it can be dry or sweet, depending on the variety, and is consumed either as an aperitif or as a dessert wine. Furthermore, it also uses distilled alcohol from cane sugar to boost its alcoholic content. There are different aging methods used and they result in different quality wines. The highest quality Madeira wine is aged naturally in rooms heated by the sun for a minimum of twenty years.

Portugal Wine Tours

If you are a wine lover, Portugal is a great country for a wine tasting adventure. You can start from the North and move slowly down to South or vice versa. There countless little estates, or quintas, that you can include on your itinerary. Gastronomic tourism has been developing rapidly in Portugal over the last few years and there are wonderful tours that take visitors to some of the most rural parts of the country, offering a truly unique and remarkable experience.

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Hotel Britania

Hotel Britania is a three-star Art Deco boutique hotel, the only one of its kind in Lisbon. Conveniently located in a side street that intersects Avenida da Liberdade, Lisbon’s most beautiful avenue lined with tall trees, the hotel was built in the 1940s and has recently been refurbished to its original art deco design. While it may seem small on the outside, the hotel boasts large, spacious and luxurious rooms and all the modern facilities. Room rates are in the range of 150 euros. This hotel is particularly appealing due to the combination of its excellent location, unique character and affordable prices.

Hotel Sofitel Lisbon

Nearby, on the Avenida da Liberdade itself, is the magnificent Hotel Sofitel Lisbon. This four-star modern and elegant hotel offers 171 rooms, which range from the classic single-bed to the king-size bed opera suite. The rooms overlook either the city or the park and the average price per night is 170 euros. The hotel also offers splendid leisure and meeting facilities.

Lapa Palace

If you are looking for superior luxury and a quieter location, then Lapa Palace is the perfect hotel for your stay in Lisbon. Situated close to the center, yet in a calm and prestigious residential area on a hill overlooking the river, this five-star palace hotel was built in 1870 and has hosted aristocrats from all over the world. There are 109 rooms on offer, which include 11 signature rooms, 8 palace rooms, 8 deluxe rooms, and 8 suites. This is a truly marvelous hotel with wonderful gardens, river views, a spa, saunas and a business center. It is also the only hotel in Lisbon with outdoor heated swimming pools in its gardens. Golf, tennis, horse riding and sailing facilities are located minutes away from the hotel. The average room rate is 340 euros.

Real Palácio Hotel

Moving back to the center of the city, but still in the spirit of palaces, we find the Real Palácio Hotel. This impressive five-star hotel is located behind the Park of Eduardo VII, just three metro stations away from the downtown, which is also easily reachable on foot along the Avenida da Liberdade. Transformed into a hotel from a seventeenth century palace, the Real Palácio has preserved the building’s original design and adapted it to the needs of modern-day travelers. It is divided into two wings, one of which is the main building boasting 135 rooms. The other part of the hotel is the palace itself and consists of 12 luxuriously decorated majestic bedrooms. The average year-round price of the rooms per night is 170 euros.

Bairro Alto Hotel

Last but not least, we will take a look at a design hotel that was voted one of the 60 best hotels in the world by Condé Nast Traveler Hotlist – the Bairro Alto Hotel. Situated in the very core of Lisbon on the Camões Square and just outside the city’s bohemian quarter whose name it carries, the hotel splendidly combines the old with the new and offers a unique experience to its guests. Boasting 55 rooms and excellent fitness and dining facilities, the Bairro Alto Hotel has a range of different categories of modernly-equipped and stylish rooms, the average price of which runs at 260 euros. Its unbeatable location and tasteful decoration make it a truly one of a kind hotel in the whole of Portugal.

The Algarve is the name of Portugal’s southern region. It is by far the most developed region in terms of tourism, which represents the motor of its economy. This is true especially in the summer months, when its half a million inhabitants are outnumbered by the tourists who flock to the Algarve from all corners of Europe and the world. Its combination of sandy and rocky beaches, grottos, wonderful sunny weather, historical sites and a wide range of activities on offer make it especially appealing to tourists. Moreover, although it can rival any popular holiday destination in Europe in terms of beaches and fun, the Algarve is considerably more affordable than some other resort regions in Europe, particularly in the Mediterranean. All this has guaranteed it a loyal base of holidaymakers, a great number of whom have even decided to either settle in the region or purchase a holiday home, most notably British expats. This has made the Algarve a region in which English is widely spoken and there are even local English newspapers.

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Historical sites abound in the Algarve, including Roman ruins, particularly in the region of Lagos. Due to the long presence of the Moors in the Algarve’s history, there are numerous instances of Moorish influences. The Lisbon earthquake of 1755 also brought destruction to the Algarve, but even more devastation was caused by the ensuing tsunami, which affected all areas except the city of Faro, the capital of the Algarve. Today, the Algarve is a multicultural and safe region with excellent infrastructure and leisure facilities, such as golf courses, camping sites and upscale resorts. In addition to Faro, notable towns and resorts include Lagos, Albufeira and Tavira.

Faro

Being the capital city, Faro is also the cultural and commercial center of the Algarve. It is a university town and possesses an airport, marina and a fast train connection to Lisbon and Porto. If you are flying in to the Algarve, you will inevitably pass through Faro. Do not miss visiting this interesting city even if it is not on your itinerary. Its old city walls have survived the ages, together with sixteenth century houses. Some interesting sites to see in Faro include the thirteenth century cathedral in the center of the city, which is presumed to have once been a Moorish mosque, the squares and the museums, such as the Archaeological and Lapidary Museum and the Ethnological Museum.

Lagos

Situated in the western part of the Algarve, Lagos is undoubtedly the most popular resort town in the region due to several reasons. First of all, it is reputed as having the best beaches in the Algarve. Besides large beaches, it also boasts numerous small beaches that are situated between rocks, some of which are only accessible at low tide. These beaches are very intimate and private; if you go far enough, you will feel as though you were the only person on holiday there. Lagos is also famous for the nearby grottos. A visit by boat to the grottos can be made for a mere ten euros per person and is highly recommended. In the event that you are traveling with a bigger group of people, you can bargain down the price even more. Other attractions include swimming and diving with dolphins, surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing. If you are not a professional in any of these, there are great surfing schools that will teach you how to master the board in no time.

Albufeira

Between Lagos and Faro lies the small coastal town of Albufeira. Its name comes from the Arabic word for “lagoon” and it is one of the most visited tourist resorts in the Algarve. It boasts a marina, countless restaurants and bars and golf courses. Known for its thriving nightlife in the summer months, Albufeira also has several well known beaches, such as Fisherman’s Beach and Praia da Oura. Since tourism is the town’s main source of income, recent years have seen the building of many new tourism developments, including many modern apartment blocks, which inspired the locals to assign it the name of “Legoland”.

Tavira

Last but not least on this list is the town of Tavira. Slightly smaller than Albufeira, Tavira lies between Faro and the Spanish border. It was an important settlement throughout history, situated on the banks of the Gilão River. Its most significant attraction is the Tavira Island, which boasts 11 kilometers of sandy beaches, arguably the best in Portugal. Tavira Island is also one of the few places in Portugal where practicing naturism is legal. The island can be accessed by ferryboat from the town as well as by a floating bridge. It is particularly popular with bird watchers and swimming enthusiasts.

These are just a few tourist resort towns in the Algarve. The entire coastline is replete with beautiful sandy beaches and welcoming small towns and villages. If you have a chance, it is highly advisable to rent a car and go for a drive along the coast up to the westernmost town of Sagres, the best place in Portugal for surfing and body boarding.

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Porto European Capital of Culture

Porto is a bustling industrial metropolis that rivals Lisbon both economically and culturally. In 2001, Porto was named “European Capital of Culture”. It is the home of many contemporary museums and galleries, including the Art Deco building of the Serralves Foundation with its splendid gardens and the ultramodern Casa da Música.

The city center has been proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site and boasts amazing examples of Gothic, Baroque, Neoclassical, Roman and Renaissance architecture. The fact that the center of the city was built into the cliffs of the Douro estuary gives it a recognizable charm. The twelfth-century Porto Cathedral is the city’s oldest building and represents one of its architectural landmarks, together with the remains of the city walls and a few other churches and fifteenth-century houses. The São Bento train station is also one of the city’s monuments with its painted tiles, which number over 20,000.

Best time to Visit Porto

Porto is best to visit in early spring and summer. February is also particularly pleasant because of the blossoming trees on the city’s streets. Winds from the sea in the summer months ensure that the temperature remains comfortable. Late summer, however, is the time of the rainy season in northern Portugal, so make sure to check the weather forecasts well in advance.

Porto Tourist Info

Like Lisbon, Porto is a great city to explore on foot, wandering through the little streets and allowing yourself to be surprised. It is very hilly and has many stairs cut into the cliffs, so be prepared for quite a lot of climbing. The waterfront, or Ribeira, is very popular with tourists, due to its bars and quality restaurants serving seafood. One can still find the traditional rabelo boats along the river, which were once used to transport wine casks down the Douro. Today, they have a purely touristic purpose and greatly contribute to the city’s allure. Porto has six bridges and is often referred to as the “City of the Bridges”, one of which is the metallic Dom Luís the First Bridge designed by a disciple of Gustave Eiffel.

Porto is a city that one should take time to get to know. There are numerous narrow streets that take the form of labyrinths and hide many unique and interesting restaurants, bars, bookshops, and galleries. It is also a very proud city with open and warm people who are willing to help you find your way to wherever you need to go or even suggest something that they think you might particularly like. Unlike Lisbon, Porto is not teeming with tourists throughout the year due to its slightly colder climate and this gives it a more authentic feeling. Be ready to explore and discover a historical city that has successfully combined modern urban development with centuries-old traditions.