Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Porto
Tiled churches, a river gorge and port cellars, all within walking distance.
A steep granite city tumbling down to the Douro: tiled churches, a towering iron bridge and the port-wine cellars across the river in Gaia. Compact, walkable and good value.
Places to see
- Dom Luís I BridgeSight · A great iron arch spanning the river gorge with two decks: the top one for walkers and…Free
RibeiraWalk · The old riverfront: narrow, brightly painted houses stacked up the slope, arcades of…Free
São Bento StationSight · A working railway station whose entrance hall is covered floor to ceiling in around…Free
When to go
- Jan14° / 5°Often wetQuiet
- Feb15° / 6°Often wetQuiet
- Mar17° / 8°Often wetBusy
- Apr18° / 9°Some rainBusy
- May20° / 11°Some rainBusy
- Jun23° / 14°Mostly dryVery busy
- Jul25° / 15°Mostly dryVery busy
- Aug25° / 15°Mostly dryVery busy
- Sep
Staying and getting around
Good areas to stay
Baixa, Aliados and Clérigos. The upper town around Avenida dos Aliados and São Bento: central, flatter at the top and full of hostels and cafés.
Flying in
Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro (OPO): Metro line E (violet) to the centre, about 35 min, ≈ A$4. Plus about €0.60 for the reusable Andante card (check).
Flewaway's estimate for the usual budget way into Porto; check times and fares before you fly.
Getting around
Mostly on foot. A single ticket is ≈ A$2. The centre, Ribeira and Gaia are walkable but steep. The metro links the airport and Campanhã; buses or the old tram line 1 go out to Foz, and a bus to Serralves (check).
Andante Tour 1 (≈ A$14, 24 hours): Metro, buses and local trains for a day; worth it with four or more rides (check).
Tourist tax
Porto's tourist tax: usually about €3 a person a night for up to 7 nights; children under 13 usually don't pay. Paid at check-in (check).
Day trips
, about 1 h 5 min by alfa pendular or intercidades train. A hilltop university with a baroque library and an old town of steep lanes.
