You have a long weekend in prospect to visit the city of Porto which has been tempting you for a long time and which you do not yet know. This magnificent Portuguese metropolis is located at the end of the superb Douro Valley. Here are some tips for organizing your trip and the main sites not to be missed.
Before leaving for Porto on a long weekend, you can prepare your trip. Depending on when you are visiting this beautiful city, think about the clothes you will take in your bag. We advise you to take a good pair of walking shoes although this city is easy to explore on foot. If you stay in the center, you will discover the monuments of the city and the small cobbled streets. On the other hand, if you want to extend your visit to the Douro Valley, consider booking a car with free cancellation . Although Porto is in Europe, also remember to check that your credit card does not incur additional charges when using it. Also be sure to ask Ameli (if you haven't already) to send you a European Health Card . It will allow you to not advance any costs in the event of a health problem on site.
If you have a long weekend, to visit Porto, it is imperative to take the plane, because other means of transport take too long. You will therefore land at the “Franco Sa Carneiro” airport. If you want to go to the city center, you can take the metro line E . You need 40 minutes. The ticket price is €1.60 and is valid for one hour. This Andante ticket also allows you to take another metro or bus of your choice. The metro is open from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. the next morning. You can still buy a 3-day metro pass worth €15. Your ticket is rechargeable and should not be thrown away, because if you want to use it again, you will have to pay an additional €0.60. There is a metro linking the airport to the city every twenty minutes. The station is located opposite the arrival hall and you can purchase a metro ticket using your bank card.
To find a friendly, comfortable hotel room at an affordable price in Porto, the Ribeira district located on the banks of the Douro River is ideal. This historic district is very well located and you will find very good addresses there. In addition, many cafes and restaurants are present along the river. You will also be a five-minute walk from the Da Bolsa Palace, for example. You can still cross the Luis bridge to visit the Gaia district on the other side of the Douro as well as the extremely pleasant quays. If you arrive by metro, you will need to get off at Trindade station.
The Porto card allows you to use public transport such as the metro and buses unlimited. It also allows you to acquire great discounts for wineries and museums. On the other hand, it does not give access to the tram or the funicular . So it's up to you to see if you should take it depending on what you want to visit or where you are going to go.
Porto, meaning port, was a Roman city more than 2,000 years ago. The city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its magnificent historical and cultural architecture. From your hotel, start by visiting the docks of Ribeira and Gaia. Pay a visit to the Palais de la Bourse or Palacio da Bolsa where you will admire an extraordinary Arabic salon. You can then climb to the highest point of the city offering you a breathtaking view. This panorama is called the Tower of Clérigos or Tower of Clerigos 76 meters high and 200 steps (for the bravest). In your visits not to be missed, note the Convent Nosa Senhora da Serra do Pilar at the Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar open by appointment only. For the occasion, cross the Luis bridge to get there and admire the landscapes. In the Palazzo dos Carrares, the oldest in Portugal, you can visit the Soares dos Reis Museum. Do not miss the Porto Cathedral and Sao Francisco Church. The Lello bookstore is considered one of the most beautiful in the world and is well worth a visit. You will see very old copies of books rising to the ceilings, but also the busts of great writers as well as a superb glazed ceiling in very shimmering tones.
You cannot go to Porto without visiting the Douro Valley. Try to dedicate half a day or even a day if you can to get to know at least three of the wineries in order to taste the:
For this discovery, there is the Douro Tour that you can take to visit this wonderful place by car. The boat trip on the Douro is also exceptional, but takes time. If you have an extra day, it is possible to discover the valley along the water. The landscapes are exceptional.
Here are some tips and ideas for visits, the list of which is not exhaustive, because this magnificent Portuguese metropolis is well worth a few additional visits. Now it's up to you to see what tempts you the most to come back with your head full of dreams and an irrepressible desire to return to the place for longer.
