Lonely Planet Pocket Porto: Top Experiences; Local Life (Pocket Guide)

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On Rua da Aveleda, the charming, ivy-festooned Quinta da Aveleda is source of the local vinho verde. The guided tours include a visit to the bottling hall, and a wine and cheese tasting (and there’s more on sale in the rather nice shop), but it’s really the gorgeously unkempt, wooded gardens and their follies that make the visit. Penafiel and around Francesinha. Probably one of the most caloric meals you’ll ever have but hey, save your diet for later. This massive sandwich on a platter dish has all the goods on it: cured meats, linguiça, steak, cheese, egg and a delicious beer-and-tomato sauce. Have it at lunch time rather than at the evening. In any case, the landscape is the selling point. Steep terraced vineyards dotted with quintas (farms) are a recipe for a very chilled day. Learn More About Wine Uuuuuhhh spooky. HostelPass– This new card gives you up to 20% off hostels throughout Europe. It’s a great way to save money. They’re constantly adding new hostels too. I’ve always wanted something like this and glad it finallt exists. Another local favorite is francesinha. It’s a sandwich typically made with bread, ham, linguica (Portuguese sausage), and steak, with everything covered with melted cheese and a rich tomato sauce. A fried egg is placed on top of the sandwich and it’s accompanied by fries (that you dip in the sauce). It’s incredibly heavy and filling (and delicious) and should be tried at least once. Expect to pay around 9-14 EUR. For one of the best in the city, visit Bufete Fase’s.

Just in front, the recently renovated Passeio dos Clérigos is a shopping street with a neat-looking garden with olive trees on top. The outdoor seating of BASE is a cool spot to grab a drink or a coffee. Livraria Lello (Lello Library) Suddenly books got even more cooler.

Visiting one of Europe's most charismatic cities and the Douro Valley -- Two World Heritage Sites

Colour-coded chapters focus on where to go and what to do in a highly-readable descriptive style, featuring historical information and tips on what to look out for Currently five trains a day run from Porto to Pocinho at the end of the line (around 3hr 30min), so you can make the return trip in a day if you take a morning train: there are also summer weekend steam-train services between Régua and Tua. For timetables, see cp.pt or call 808 208 208 (local-rate call in Portugal) or 707 201 280. Peso da Régua Top Travel Credit Cards– Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel! If you have extra time to explore the surroundings of Porto, well great, because indeed there’s a lot to do in Northern Portugal. I’ve listed some day trips from Porto before, but here are some of the most popular:

Take a free walking tour– If you want to understand more about the history, architecture, and people of Porto then take a free walking tour. They last a couple of hours and are a great introduction to the city. Just be sure to tip your guide! Porto has several historic, classic cafes. Chief among them is Cafe Majestic on the fashionable shopping street of Rua de Santa Catarina. Opened in 1921, Cafe Majestic is known for its lavish Art Nouveau architecture including its lovely marble facade and ornate, wood and glass interior. The Majestic soon became a meeting place for Porto's elite including artists, politicians, and writers.

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You should also visit a Casa Da Musica (House of Music), an iconic concert hall in the center of the city, built in 2005. Designed by architect Rem Koolhaas. Although a tour of the inside costs €10, the best part of this place is the exterior. Perfect to take photos! Casa da Musica. Photo by Andy White (Unsplash) trains daily to Coimbra: 1 hour, 15 mins. 12 trains daily to Lisbon: 3 hours and trains to Aveiro (40-55 minutes), Barcelos (60-100 minutes), Guimaraes (65 minutes), Viana do Castelo (90 minutes-2 hours). For a relaxing break from the city, take a boat trip up the Douro River. The river stretches some 897 kilometers (557 miles) into Spain, though tours focus almost exclusively on the section around Porto where the city’s six famous bridges can be seen. During an hour-long cruise, you’ll pass under the city’s six massive bridges that span the river while learning a bit about the history of the city. Living Tours offers a scenic hour-long cruise for just 15 EUR. 3. Take a tour of the Douro Valley Porto offers the perfect mix of culture and cuisine, sightseeing and shopping. Start by getting an overview from the Baroque Clérigos Tower, built by Niccolò Nasoni and at 75m still one of the country’s tallest. Once you’ve recovered from the somewhat dizzying 240-step climb, you’ll have magnificent views of the city, with the coastline and the Douro Valley laid out before you. Another inspiring set of stairs can be found at the neo-gothic bookshop Lello*, supposedly the inspiration for Hogwarts library — Harry Potter’s creator, JK Rowling, spent the early 1990s in Porto. Pastries. Obviously don’t miss on the unbeatable pastel de nata, available at literally every pastelaria of the city. And there’s éclair. This pastry with sweet whipped cream filling is the highlight of Leitaria da Quinta do Paço.

Our newly updated Top 10 travel guide breaks down the best of Porto into helpful lists of ten - from our own selected highlights to the best museums and galleries, places to eat, festivals and, of course, wineries to sample a glass of Port or two! The Centro Português de Fotografia (Tel: 220 046 300), just south of Jardim da Cordoaria, is housed in the former 18th century prison with the cells and workshops now exhibit rooms for both historic and contemporary photography as well as a collection of classic cameras.Vera Cruz Porto Downtown Hotel is a budget accommodation option in the historical heart of Porto, less than a minute's walk from Aliados Metro station - the ultimate in good location. This older establishment has its own bar and restaurant, and a staff that extends every guest a warm welcome and unstinting service. Although in a vintage building, the rooms are modern, extraordinarily clean, and comfortable. Atmosphere in unbeatable location. Hotel Accommodation in Porto The average high June temperatures for Portugal is between 22 degrees Centigrade and 26 degrees Centigrade. For those with more time to spare, take a stroll down the bustling Rua das Flores, or a boat ride along the Rio Douro, or even a bus out to the Atlantic coast at Matosinhos.