Destination guides > Europe > Portugal > Norte region > Porto (Oporto)
Porto (Oporto)
Portugal's second-largest city is often regarded as an industrial city not worth visiting. However Porto is the home of port (the fortified wine named after the city) and it also boasts an historic centre that has been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Practical information
Porto Tourist Information Centre
Rua Clube dos Fenianos 25, Porto
Tel 222 052 740
Website www.portoturismo.pt
Open Jan-Jun Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm, Sat-Sun 9.30am-4.30pm; Jul-Sep 9am-7pm daily; Oct-Dec Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm, Sat-Sun 9.30am-4.30pm
Coming & going
Porto's main train station is Estação Campanhã, which handles trains to destinations throughout Portugal as well as international trains. The more centrally located Estação São Bento handles suburban and regional trains. Frequent trains run between the two stations.
Porto has several bus terminals. Rede Expressos buses go to most destinations in Portugal and depart from the Paragem Atlântico terminal on Rua Alexandre Herculano 370. Renex have frequent buses to Lisbon and Braga and some buses to the Algarve and depart from Rua das Carmelitas 32. International buses depart from Praça da Galiza 96.
Porto's Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (tel 229 482 552) is 20km north-west of the city centre. The airport is connected to the city centre by the metro; the one-way fare is €1.40.
Local transport
STCP (tel 0808 20 01 66) operates Porto's bus network and one tram route. Single bus and tram tickets cost €1.20.
The buses are supplemented by suburban trains, which are a handy way to get between the two main train stations.
Porto's metro is an easy way to get around the city. Although there are several underground stations in the city centre, most of the metro runs along the street like a tram.
Fares are based on a zone system with fares based on which zones you travel through.
| 1 zone | 2 zones | 3 zones | |
|---|---|---|---|
1 journey |
€1.45 |
€1.45 |
€1.45 |
2 journeys |
€1.75 |
€2.20 |
€2.55 |
10 journeys |
€7.40 |
€9.20 |
€11.30 |
The Andante Tour ticket is a day pass for visitors to Porto that costs €5 for 24 hours and €11 for 72 hours. This is valid on buses, trams and the metro.
Hostel accommodation
Andarilho Oporto Hostel
Rua da Firmeza 364, 4000 Porto
Metro Bolhão
Tel 222 012 073
Black & White Hostel
Rua do Barão de Forrester 944 - 1, Porto 4050-072
Metro Carolina Michaelis
Oporto Poets Hostel
Travessa do Ferraz 13, Porto 4050
Metro São Bento
Tel 223 324 209
Oporto Sky Hostel
Rua da Lapa 33, 4050 Porto
Metro Faria Guimaraes, Lapa
Tel 222 017 069
Porto Downtown Hostel
1st floor, Praça Guilherme Gomes Fernandes 66, 4050-294 Porto
Metro Aliados
Tel 222 018 094
Porto Riad Guest House
Rua de Dom João IV 990, Porto
Metro Bolhao, Faria Guimaraes, Trindade
Pousada de Juventude do Porto
Rua Paulo da Gama 551, 4169-006 Porto
Tel 226 177 257
Rivoli Cinema Hostel
1st floor, Rua Dr Magalhães Lemos 83, 4000-332 Porto
Metro Aliados, Trindade
Tel 220 174 634
Steps House
Patio das Escadas do Monte dos Judeus 5, Miragaia, Porto
Tel 224 054 051
Yellow House Hostel
Rua Joao das Regras 96, Porto
Metro Faria Guimaraes, Trindade
Tel 222 014 229
Sightseeing, museums & tourist attractions
Igreja de São Francisco
This church features one of Portugal's most elaborately decorated interiors.
Rua do Infante Dom Henrique, Porto
Bus 1, 57, 88
Tel 222 062 100
Admission €3
Open 9am-6pm daily
Museu Nacional Soares dos Reis
Porto's most important museum contains mostly Portuguese art, with an emphasis on the 19th century sculptor, Soares dos Reis.
Palácio das Carrancas, Rua Dom Manuel II, Porto
Bus 3, 6, 20, 35, 37, 41
Tel 223 393 770
Website www.mnsr-ipmuseus.pt
Admission €4
Open Tue 2pm-6pm, Wed-Sun 10am-6pm
Palácio da Bolsa
Porto's stock exchange was built in the 19th century and is worth visiting for the impressive Sala Árabe (Arabian Hall) which tool 18 years to complete.
Rua Ferreira Borges, Porto
Bus 1
Tel 223 399 000
Website www.palaciodabolsa.pt
Tours cost €5
Open Jan-Mar 9am-1pm & 2pm-6pm daily; Apr-Oct 9am-7pm daily; Nov-Dec 9am-1pm & 2pm-6pm daily
Sé
Porto's Romanesque cathedral was built in the 12th and 13th centuries. The cathedral's exterior resembles a fortress, inside there is a 17th century silver altar and azulejos (Portuguese tiles) and a fine view from the cloisters.
Terreiro da Sé, Porto
Bus 15
Tel 222 059 028
Admission free; cloisters €2
Open Jan-Mar 8.45am-12.30pm & 2.30pm-6pm daily; Apr-Oct 8.45am-12.30pm & 2.30pm-7pm daily; Nov-Dec 8.45am-12.30pm & 2.30pm-6pm daily; cloisters Jan-Mar Mon-Sat 9am-12.15am & 2.30pm-5pm, Sun 2.30pm-5pm; Apr-Oct Mon-Sat 9am-12.15am & 2.30pm-6pm, Sun 2.30pm-6pm; Nov-Dec Mon-Sat 9am-12.15am & 2.30pm-5pm, Sun 2.30pm-5pm
Torre dos Clérigos
This ornate 18th century tower rises 75 metres above the city. There are nices views from the top.
Rua São Filipe Nery, Porto
Bus 15
Tel 222 001 729
Admission €1
Open Jan-Mar 10am-noon & 2pm-5pm daily; Apr-Jul 9.30am-1pm & 2pm-7pm daily; Aug 10am-1pm & 2pm-8pm daily; Sep-Oct 9.30am-1pm & 2pm-7pm daily; Nov-Dec 10am-noon & 2pm-5pm daily
PORT TASTING
Walk across the upper level of Ponte Dom Luís I to get to Vila Nova de Gaia where Porto's 60-odd port wine lodges are situated. Many of the lodges offer free tastings and some of the larger ones run tours.
Some of the better lodges include:
Ferreira
Avenida Diogo Leite 70, Vila Nova de Gaia
Metro Jardim do Morro
Tel 223 746 100
Open Jan-Mar Mon-Fri 9.15am-12.30pm & 2pm-5pm; Apr-Oct Mon-Fri 10.15am-12.30pm & 2pm-5.45pm, Sat 10.30am-12.30pm; Nov-Dec Mon-Fri 9.15am-12.30pm & 2pm-5pm
Graham's
Quinta do Agro, Rua Rei Ramiro, Vila Nova de Gaia
Tel 223 776 330
Website www.grahams-port.com
Open Jan-Apr Mon-Fri 9.30am-1pm & 2pm-5.30pm; May-Sep 9.30am-6pm daily; Oct-Dec Mon-Fri 9.30am-1pm & 2pm-5.30pm
Sandeman
Largo Miguel Bombarda 3, Vila Nova de Gaia
Bus 900, 901, 906
Tel 223 740 533
Website www.sandeman.eu
Admission 4-14
Open Jan-Feb 9.30am-12.30pm & 2pm-5.30pm daily; Mar-Oct 10am-12.30pm & 2pm-6pm daily; Nov-Dec 9.30am-12.30pm & 2pm-5.30pm daily
Taylors
Rua do Choupelo 250, Vila Nova de Gaia
Tel 223 742 800
Website www.taylor.pt
Admission free
Open Mon-Fri 10am-5pm
|
|
|
