Waterfront restaurants, attention-grabbing buildings and old-meets-new skylines are the headliners on city breaks to Porto.
Portugal’s second city
As far as city breaks to Portugal go, Porto is one of the big players. It’s the right-hand-man to the capital, Lisbon, and rules the roost in the north of the country. But while Lisbon lives life in the fast lane, Porto pootles along at a more leisurely pace. The focus is on centuries-old architecture, cosy wine cellars and plenty of good food, with dashes of modern living filling in the gaps.
Clear-cut culture
Shopping, sightseeing and snacking all come with a side of character here. Well-trodden cobbles run along the centre of the fashionable Rua Santa Catarina street, while Avenida dos Aliados has architectural gems everywhere you look – the clocktower-topped Câmara Municipal town hall is a standout. For something with a less urban vibe, the Jardins do Palácio de Cristal botanical garden brings sculptures, fountains and manicured hedgerows to your itinerary.
Beaches and boats
Porto’s known for its city rep, but it knows its way around a beach day, too. The city brushes shoulders with the sea, so you’ve got plenty of sandy stretches within walking distance. They range from sunbathing specialists, like Praia de Carneiro, to coastal walking spots like Praia de Gondarém. If you’d rather float than flake out, boat trips along the Douro River take you beneath the grand Dom Luís I Bridge and past the riverside restaurants of the Ribeira area.
