Porto

Today, I'm here to make a song and dance about my new favourite Portuguese city - Porto. Porto is a cosmopolitan city soaked in old world charm. It's the most densely populated Portuguese city after Lisbon, and is charmingly referred to as "Portugal's second city." 

I recently took myself to Porto for an impromptu trip away, and soon realised it's one of the best places to go for a European city break. Thinking about booking a long weekend away soon? Here's my take on Porto and why you need to visit A$AP Rocky. 

How to Get There 

Porto is a city in the North West of Portugal, and has a population of over 1.3 million people. Although "Porto" is inspired by the country's name, the city was briefly named "Portus Cale" following Roman occupation in the 4th century. It sits on the mouth of the mighty Douro River, and is you guessed it - a port city. And a hilly city, at that. 

 

From Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport, get the E Tram (purple line) to Estadio do Dragao, and ride 17 stops to 24 de Agosto, and then walk 20 minutes downwards until the city centre (you can't miss it). The tram takes about 30 minutes, costs 3 euros for a single and runs from 6am to 1am. If you want a bit of a walk, get off at Trinidade. You can also get a taxi from the airport to the city centre starting from about 25 euros.

Where to Stay 

I stayed at Porto's O2 Hostel, and I'd sing its praises to any traveller that wants a last-minute, budget friendly stay. It's located on R. de Ferrieira Cardaso 66 and is just a 7 minute walk from the 24 Agosto metro station. 

 

 

The O2 Hostel offers mixed dorms for 11 euros per night in the off season and from 17 euros per night in the summer months. It had speedy wifi, comfy beds, clean rooms, above average showers, and a charming little patio garden. It was the perfect spot to sip a Portuguese coffee and soak up the morning sun. 

The staff were super friendly and came through with plenty of Porto recommendations. The hostel was a 20 minute walk from the centre, but the picturesque, tree-lined streets make the walk it feel even shorter. And there's lots of sweet little cafes to stop in along the way. 

 

Walking Tour & Site Seeing 

As a tourist, a walking tour is undoubtedly one of the best ways to get the 411 on wherever you're visiting. I went on a Revolutours through GuruWalks and it was brilliant. Shout out to our fabulous tour guide, Joao Costa. His purposeful and entertaining tour covered all of Porto's most important historic landmarks - and we learnt so much about the city that we wouldn't have otherwise. 

Fun fact: J.K Rowling based Hogwarts student's famous gowns on Porto Uni's traditional uniforms! Some of Porto's must-see landmarks are: Porto University, the Jewish Quarter and its lookout point, Matasinhos Beach, Clerigos Tower, Bolsa Palace, the Contemporary Art Museum, the Porto Train Station, the Chapel of Souls Church, and the grand Luis Bridge. And that's just a few. Saying that, Porto's so pretty you spend hours simply walking around. 

 

Pretty Parks 

I always make sure to check out the local parks when visiting new places. And one of the things that makes Porto great is that it's a green city.

As Porto is hilly and coastal, every park has breathtaking views. Countless terracotta roofs, lush vineyards, the Dom Luis Bridge, and the Freita mountain range dot every viewpoint. Oh, and lots of fountains and palm trees, too. 

Some of the best Porto parks are Parque de Sao Roque, Palacio de Cristal Garden Parque, and Parque da Quinta da Macieirinha. Parque de Sao was my favourite. It's located a stone's throw away from a local art school and has a hedge maze in the middle.

Walking around you'll catch young artists seated by the fountains, carefully tending to their impressive watercolour paintings to the sound of chirping birds and babbling fountains. 

Palacio de Macieirinha was also stunning. It overlooked the beautiful Porto cliffs, had loads of gorgeous trees and even had a heard of peacocks on one of the ponds! 

Rent a Bike 

Renting a bike will ensure you'll get the best out of Porto. As long as you keep your wits about you - that is! I rented a bike from Velurb Rent-a-Bike on Rua de Fernandes Tomas 207 and paid 10 euros for 4 hours. From there, it's 15 minutes downhill to the centre. You can even cycle to one of Porto's beautiful beaches in an hour. 

For the beaches, cycle downwards until you reach the riverfront (you can't miss it), then take a right and follow the tram line. Make sure the Duoro River is to your left. Follow this line for 50 minutes until you reach Matosinhos Beach. One thing to note: get an electric bike, you'll thank yourself when you see those steep Porto hills! 

 

Visit the Porto Churches 

Porto is a city rich in history. And like many other older European cities, it's got a plethora of old Catholic churches. Even if you're not religious, churches make up an area's key history. And you don't need to be religious to appreciate a beautiful building. 

Most Porto churches are free to enter, but the Clerigos Tower and the Church of Sao Francisco cost a small entrance fee. The most beautiful Porto churches are Porto Cathedral, Iglesia de San Antonio de los Congregados and Church of the Lord of Bonfim. 

 

Sample the Local Cafes and Eateries

Porto is home to a bunch of tasty (and cheap) restaurants. You can get lunch for as little as 6 euros and dinner for 9-11 euros. You can even get a large latte for a euro! I recommend going to Sical, a traditional Portuguese cafe. There's lots of them dotted around Porto.

And in true Portuguese style, Porto's rammed with bakeries selling the flakiest, tastiest pastries. I visited an amazing cat cafe called O Porto dos Gatos that even had it's own kitten room! 

Some of the best restaurants in Porto are: Santiago, Cana Verde, Casa Guedes and Gazela. There's plenty of Porto food places to choose from, especially on the river front. But if you're an Indecisive Ingrid, there's Food Corner, a 5-level restaurant that serves a different cuisine each floor! 

That's my take on Porto, and why it's an underrated choice for a European city break. Until next time, Porto.