Porto Part II

I loved Porto so much my first visit that I went back again this June. Last time, I was a solo traveller on a budget. But this time, I was on a fully-fledged birthday trip with lots more Euros to spend. And I got to see a whole other side to the magical city. So let's get into it.  

Accommodation

We booked a GuestReady apartment via Airbandb. The charming studio was in the Batalha district, sat directly next to Porto Cathedral and cost £123 each for 3 nights. 

Landmarks

Palacio de Bolsa (Stock Exchange Palace)

Palacio de Bolsa is one of the most interesting landmarks in Porto. Constructed in the 19th Century, the Neo-classical building was built on the ruins of the old Sao Francisco convent and sits in Porto's city centre. The palace offers a guided tour in 4 different languages that costs 11 euros and lasts an hour. Make sure to go in advance to book your allotted time slot. 

A knowledgeable tour guide talked us through the rich history of each room in the building. The Court Room (which featured stunning murals of Portugal through the years) and the Golden Room (which was completely covered in gold leaf) were brilliant. But the Arabian Room was my favourite. The Arabian Room was adorned with gold, intricate geometric patterns, columns and tiles in a Moorish Revival style. 

 

Time Out Market  

Porto's Time Out Market is way smaller than it's Lisboan counterpart, but it's worth a visit nonetheless. It's located inside Porto's Sao Bento Railway Station, and offers a range of tasty meat and fresh seafood. It's a great spot to grab a latte and people-watch Porto's busy streets.

Jardim do Morro & Dom Luis Bridge  

The Dom Luis Bridge is one of Porto's most iconic spots. It connects Porto with its neighbouring city, Vila Nova de Gaia, which is famed for it's vineyard tours and rolling hills. Dom Luis Bridge offers exquisite panoramic views over both cities, and walking across it takes you to one of my favourite parks in the city, Jardim do Morro. 

Jardim do Morro is a small garden that sits on a hill. It's got a bar, food trucks and live music - and is truly one of the best spots to catch one of Porto's famous sunsets. There was even a TV showing the Euros! 

Matosinhos Beach  

To me, Porto has everything. History, culture, pretty parks, delicious food. And it's home to some stunning beaches past the Douro River. A 25 minute Uber from the city centre takes you to the gorgeous Matosinhos Beach, where you can get surfing lessons, rent a jet ski, or simply drink and sunbathe in the glorious heat. 

There's plenty of authentic Portuguese joints along Matosinhos' main road, Av. de Republica, where I would recommend going for lunch. We found a little hole in the wall (the name of which escapes me) and enjoyed some pork chops with a hearty helping of Porto's famous dish, Francesinha. Francesinha is a sandwich with an assortments of meats, cheese and a fried egg atop some toasted bread - and it's delicious.  

As we visited Matosinhos during the Euros, there were bleachers, a bar and a massive TV showcasing the latest football match live and direct from the beach, which was definitely a holiday highlight. 

Activities

Porto F.C Stadium Tour 

Whether you're a football fan or not, you should pay a visit to Porto's Estadio do Dragao. Estadio do Dragao costs about 16 euros for a tour via the Get Your Guide app. The in-depth tour lasted 2 hours and took us through the entire stadium. 

From the changing rooms, to the pitch, to the museum showing Dragao's achievements and memorabilia throughout the years, the tour left no stone unturned when it came to showcasing the club's impressive history and influence in the world of football.

Via Catarina Shopping Mall  

Close by to Estadio do Dragao is the massive Via Catarina Shopping Mall. This is a great place to stop into for a snack after the tour, and boasts a massive food court offering everything from traditional Porto dishes to Pizza Hut and KFC. Oh, and there's a huge indoor fountain. 

Live Fado Show 

Fado is a genre of traditional Portuguese folk music that originated in Lisbon in the mid-1800s. It's also known as "Portuguese blues",  and I can confidently say that watching a live Fado show was one of the best things we did in Porto.  

We paid about 19 euros each for an hour-long Fado show (and a free glass of Port wine for those who indulge). The show took place by candlelight in a tiny tavern tucked along the Douro River, and featured 2 guitarists and 2 vocalists. It felt like something out of an old movie. 

 

Restaurants

Adega Sao Nicolau 

Porto is home to some of the best food I've ever sampled in Europe. We chose Adega Sao Nicolau on our first night, and it set the bar incredibly high for the rest of our trip. The teeny-tiny restaurant sits downtown by the river, and offers a delicious selection of traditional Portuguese specialities. 

It's one of the most popular eateries in the city (but doesn't take reservations) so make sure to get there around 7pm in order to secure a table. We shared a sea bass and the best veal I've ever had. 

Brosao Coleseu

Brosao Coleseu is a bistro that boasts a selection of traditional Portuguese dishes, past and present, and has a wide range of craft beers. We shared a steak and some tasty pork chops in the buzzing two-story restaurant. 

Porto McDonalds' 

Culture vultures will kill me for saying this. But you've got to see Porto's world-famous McDonald's. It's located in downtown Porto and is widely known as "the most beautiful McDonald's in the world." Even if you detest fast food, the interior alone is worth a visit! By the way, it's always rammed, so be prepared to wait for your McCafe goods. 

Elemento

The final restaurant we ate at, Elemento, was one of the most special eateries I've ever visited. Elemento is a Michelin Star fine dining restaurant located in Downtown Porto. Not only does the restaurant exclusively use locally-sourced ingredients, the entirety of the cooking is done on open wood fires! 

Elemento offers an a la carte menu and a 7-course tasting menu - which changes daily as it only features what's been sourced that very day. We opted for the tasting menu and sat upfront by the bar that overlooked the open kitchen. It was then that we realised we weren't just having dinner - we were watching a whole a** show. When the talented chefs cooked at lightening speed and chimed "Si, chef!" in perfect unison, we felt like we were witnessing a real-life Portuguese rendition of The Bear unfold. 

The staff thoroughly explained each decadent dish upon presentation, which was a nice touch. And from the black rump, to the prawn tartar and guanciale, to the braised pork cheek and homemade bread, every dish was simply mouthwatering. Although it's on the (incredibly) expensive side, Elemento is a once in a lifetime experience. 

There you have it, folks. Everything you need to know about my most recent holiday to Porto. My second time there was even better than my first trip, and I know that I'll return again in the (not so) faraway future.