Top 5 Things to Do in Porto, Portugal

About once a month, I go to my favorite flight-booking website, Skyscanner, and do a search: Madrid, Spain to Anywhere. It gives me a breakdown of how much it would cost to go to a variety of different destinations on my determined dates. Inevitably, Portugal always shows up as one of the least-expensive options. I knew I would get there eventually, but I was waiting for the right time.

So when my friend Laura planned to come visit me in Madrid but also wanted to travel somewhere else, I booked us flights to Porto, Portugal — known as the port wine capital of the world. In fact, Porto was voted the Best European Destination of 2017! Unfortunately, Laura got sick at the last minute and couldn’t make it, but my surprise visitor Matt came with me instead. Porto was a great place to visit on a January weekend, as many other places in Europe were much colder! We had a really good time, so if you’re interested in planning a trip to Porto, here are a few things you can’t miss.

1. Drink Port Wine (duh)

You can get it in almost any restaurant, but south of the Douro River is where port wine thrives. In the Vila Nova de Gaia neighborhood with its waterfront promenade, you’ll find famous port wineries such as Sandeman and Cálem. At only about €2-€3 per glass, there’s no reason not to sample lots of different ones to find your favorite! Do keep in mind, though, that port wine has a much higher alcohol content than regular wine — around 20% or more — so you might feel it after only a few glasses.

Many of the wineries also offer tours of their facilities which also doubles as a history lesson, if you’re really interested in learning more about the process. At some, such as Sandeman, you can walk in and read about the history at some of the placards in the main lobby. If you don’t want to do the tour, this still gives a good insight into port wine’s history and influence in Porto’s culture. And there are plenty of wine tours in the area!

2. Walk across the Dom Luis Bridge

Most of what you’ll want to see in Porto is north of the Douro River, so to get to Vila Nova de Gaia – and the wine – you’ll have to get to the other side of the river. The best (and most fun) way to do this is by crossing the Dom Luis Bridge. This bridge is the icon of Porto; with its double deckers, pedestrians can walk across the top level, while cars drive across the lower level, 80 meters below.

Not only is the bridge a great way to get from point A to point B, but you also get a great view while you do it. On the north side of the river, you see the stacked buildings on the hill with cathedrals dotting the skyline; on the south side, you see the wineries and the Teleférico de Gaia – the cable car — transporting visitors above the promenade.

3. Say olá to the ocean

Despite all the time I’ve spent in Europe, this was my first time visiting the Atlantic Ocean from this side of the world! We walked from downtown Porto, along the Douro River, to the Farolim de Felgueiras Lighthouse. The waves were huge, and we could see them crashing from a mile or two away. You can walk right up to the lighthouse, but be prepared to get a little wet!

There are also plenty of sandy beaches in Porto, but they’re probably better suited for the summer months — rather than January. 🙂

4. Visit the Jardim de Serralves

Since our first day in Porto was rainy, we opted for an indoor activity – the Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art. If you’re a contemporary art fan, check it out. If not, you can still enjoy the gardens surrounding the museum. There are also outdoor art installations sprinkled through the garden. The title of one made us laugh: “Ser árvore e arte” — “Being tree and art.” It must be hard work to be both.

The park is big, at nearly 45 acres, there are plenty of places to explore. Even on a rainy day, it was nice to take a walk through, and I’m sure it’s even more beautiful on a sunny day.

5. Comer

“Eat” is the same in Portuguese as it is in Spanish — comer. With everything you’re doing in Porto – not to mention all the port wine you’re drinking – you’ll definitely want to eat! And you’re in the right place. Being so close to the ocean, great food is not hard to come by. And luckily, the prices are on par with what I’ve experienced in Spain — relatively inexpensive.

I have two main recommendations. First, the Mercado Municipal Da Beiro Rio. This is a very trendy market with different stalls and different types of food. Everyone can find something they want here! It’s located in the Vila Nova de Gaia neighborhood, so you can stop by after sampling all your port wine. Of course, you can get more here, too!

Second, Restaurante Popular da Foz. This was where we ate after going to the ocean; it was only a short walk away from the lighthouse. It was a very homey restaurant with the nicest staff. We only ordered one glass of wine each but the waiter decided to give us a whole bottle for the same price. And the food was delicious! Matt tried their seafood special, and I had the Francesinha, the quintessential meal of Porto. I’m getting hungry again just thinking about it.

Find more things to do in Porto.

 

What else do you want to know, or what are your favorite things to see and do in Porto, Portugal? Let me know in the comments!

-Cathy

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Originally Published on February 2, 2019.