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Porto

Port Lodges, Azulejos and Bridges over the Douro

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3 daysIdeal stay₹9,050From / night₹2,130Food / day₹2,130Entry

Portugal's second city on the steep banks of the Douro, and its second arrival airport (one stop from India; the metro runs into town): the UNESCO-listed Ribeira waterfront, the two-level Dom Luís I bridge, São Bento station's azulejo halls, the Clérigos tower, Livraria Lello, and the port-wine lodges of Vila Nova de Gaia across the river, with tastings. Take the six-bridges river cruise, the Serralves museum and park, and the old tram to the seafront at Foz. Porto is hilly: the funicular and lifts help. It has fewer Indian restaurants than Lisbon, but several in the centre. São João, on the night of 23 June, is the city's great street party. The tourist tax (€3 a person a night) is in the stay prices.

Highlights

  • Ribeira and the Dom Luís I bridge
  • Port tasting in Gaia's lodges
  • São Bento station's azulejos
  • Clérigos Tower
  • Six-bridges river cruise
  • Sunset from the Jardim do Morro

Things to do

  • Ribeira, the Dom Luís I bridge and a Gaia port-lodge tastingAfternoon · 3h
  • São Bento station, the cathedral and Clérigos TowerMorning · 2h 30m
  • Livraria Lello and the Avenida dos AliadosMorning · 1h 30m
  • Six-bridges cruise on the DouroAfternoon · 1h
  • Serralves museum and parkAfternoon · 2h 30m
  • Sunset from the Jardim do MorroEvening · 1h 30m
  • Palácio da Bolsa guided tour and the São Francisco churchMorning · 1h 30m
  • Bolhão market in its restored hallMorning · 1h 30m
  • Crystal Palace Gardens and their river viewAfternoon · 1h
  • Foz do Douro: along the river to the Atlantic by the old tram 1 or on footAfternoon · 2h 30m
  • Francesinha dinner and an evening on the Rua das FloresEvening · 1h 30m

Tours & tickets

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When to go

Best time: April – October

Heads up

Summer Heatwaves

Heatwaves of 35-40 °C reach Lisbon, Porto and the centre in July and August, a few days at a time. Lisbon's and Porto's hills are hard work in the afternoon heat: start early and keep the middle of the day for museums.

Heads up

São João: Porto's Night of 23 June

On the night of 23 June the whole of Porto is in the streets for São João, with fireworks over the Douro at midnight and parties till dawn. Rooms sell out and prices rise: book early.

  • São João (Porto) — Porto's all-night street party for St John: crowds tap each other on the head with plastic hammers, grill sardines, release paper lanterns and watch midnight fireworks over the Douro, then walk to the sea at Foz for sunrise. Hotels sell out and prices rise; the 24th is a city holiday.
  • The grape harvest (vindima) in the Douro — From early September into October the quintas pick their grapes, and some still tread them by foot in stone lagares at night; several offer harvest days for visitors. The valley's most beautiful and busiest weeks: book quinta stays well ahead.