Porto is Portugal’s second largest city and one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations. It stands out, among many other reasons, for its Historic Center, considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996 for having “remarkable universal value for its urban fabric and its numerous historic buildings that bear witness to the development over the last millennium of a European city facing west for its commercial and cultural links”. After being voted Europe’s Best Urban Getaway Destination in 2023, the city of Porto was once again distinguished at the “Tourism Oscars”, this time in the European competition, receiving the title of “Europe’s Leading Seaside Metropolitan Destination 2024”.
Known as “Cidade Invicta”, a nickname that derives mainly from the Liberal Wars period (1832-1834), where it proved to be “invicta” against the robberies of the absolutist troops. Being historical, its customs and traditions are intrinsically linked to the Portugal history. A good example of this is the gastronomy, consisting of well-known dishes such as “Tripas à moda do Porto” or “Francesinha“, which can be found in several of the city’s restaurants, first dating, according to legend, from the period of the discoveries (other sources even suggest earlier dates).
When talking about Porto, it is impossible to leave out one of its natural ex-libris, the Douro River, the second longest in the country and the third longest in the Iberian Peninsula. But it is not only its extension that matters. When you get to the famous “Ribeira do Porto” it is easy to identify a type of boat characteristic of this river, the Rabelo boat, typical of the Douro River which transported the barrels of the famous Port Wine from the vineyards of the Alto Douro to Porto/Vila Nova de Gaia, where the wine was stored (Port Wine cellars) and later sold. It is impossible to escape from this tourist spot, namely the Port Wine that precisely bears the city name on the label. Being a naturally sweet wine, it makes the charms of the national and foreign population, contributing not only to Portuguese exports but also to the growing tourism in the northern region of Portugal.
Douro River
Besides these attractions, we can find several of the country’s emblematic monuments in the city of Porto, ranging from the D. Luiz I Bridge and the Clérigos Tower to São Bento Railway Station and Bolsa Palace. Not forgetting the beautiful Foz do Douro that, besides the beaches, is a place where can admire Felgueiras Lighthouse, walk around Foz Velha streets and Pérgola da Foz and where you can find cafes and/or restaurants with the most varied meals.
With a vibrant cultural activity, it is also easy to find spaces dedicated to culture, concerts, art, and exhibition, such as Lello Bookstore, Serralves Park/Museum, Crystal Gardens Palace, Soares dos Reis National Museum, and the Rivoli Theatre, São João National Theatre, and the well-known Sá da Bandeira Theatre. In terms of concerts, one cannot leave out what Nicolai Ouroussoff, architecture critic for the New York Times, classified as Rem Koolhaas’ most attractive project, the Casa da Música or the unmissable Coliseu do Porto.
To finish, it is essential to highlight the city areas where you must walk, areas of the “Baixa”, such as “Avenida dos Aliados” and Santa Catarina Street.
As a curiosity, we leave you below the link to the Lapentor app, in case you want to make your OPorto tours online: Link