Porto-Top tips for a classical and contemporary city
Porto top tips. Porto is one of the major urban areas of Southern Europe and the second-largest city in Portugal, after Lisbon. Located along the Douro river estuary in northern Portugal, Porto is one of the oldest European centres.
Once an outpost to the Roman Empire, the city dates back quite a few centuries. This makes it a fascinating place to discover. Porto has a semi-Mediterranean climate, but the Atlantic ocean is a catalyst for the cooler climatic conditions than other cities with this climate. That said, temperatures can still rise as high as 40ºC in the peak month of August during a heat wave (which are not uncommon).
Winters are mild and humid, with occasional cold nights where temperatures can drop below 0ºC.
Modern day Porto
Any Porto top tips have to be about seeing the architecture and investigating it. Porto is a mercantile city, and this is especially obvious with the architecture of the buildings that line the Avenida dos Aliados – essentially the downtown area. The center of town, unlike other major Portuguese cities, which tend towards the baroque, is granite and monumental. But be prepared for lots of walking. Porto is a sprawl of winding alleys, narrow streets, plenty of hills and more than a few staircases.
The residents of Porto are a proud lot, whilst Portuguese, they see themselves apart from the rest of Portugal – a nation among themselves. Outsiders in Portugal call them the Tripeiros (tripe eaters). The story goes that the city went without meat in order to provision the fleet that left to conquer Ceuta in North Africa in 1415 and had to subsist on tripe soup, still a specialty of the city. They are seen by their countrymen as the blue collar population – lacking in the social graces and a little crass.
Porto top tips for food
Whatever the economic divisions and class, Porto is definitely a fascinating place to visit. Especially the wine and the food. What about something for you to try, if tripe is not negotiable? I would highly recommend sinking your teeth into a Francesinha. And what might that be? A francesinha is a sandwich consisting of white-bread and is jammed with an assortment of meats, including linguiça which is a garlic infused smoked pork sausage covered in melted cheese and dripped with an egg and mild beer spicy sauce. Yes, it sound…um, interesting. But judge not, lest ye taste it. Messy, for sure, and calorie free, it ain’t. But is it good!
Another one to try is a meal originally from the northern region of Trás-os-Montes. This is a plate of curve shaped Alheira sausages. Very traditional. These are smoked white sausages served with fried egg, rice and fries. The ingredients can vary from chicken and turkey to game meat like pheasant, rabbit venison and duck.
Naturally, you would expect to find some fish in an ancient mariners port such as Porto. And indeed you will. The cod fish cakes are really good. Called bolinhos de bacalhau, these are deep fried. Also try the octopus and cuttlefish
Porto Top Tips for fortified wine
Winerist is a good source for checking out these vineyards..
The Douro Valley is the perfect place to explore the rich history of northern Portugal and taste some fabulous wines. Although famous for its Port wines, there is a lot more on offer for wine lovers than you might think, from cruises along the river Douro to splendid palaces! Check out their guide to the top 5 wine tours in the Douro Valley.
Porto Portugal attractions
Miramar Porto beach: Miramar is in fact a sea town and popular domestic beach in Vila Nova de Gaia. Miramar Porto beach is among the top romantic locations to spend vacations in Portugal.
The 2 main destinations of this coastline are: Chapel of Senhor da Pedra and the Rocks. The beach itself is bustling with coffee shops and esplanades.
There is a golf club close to the beach. The coastline is good for various water sports such as surfing, wind surfing and fishing. A sunset walk along the beach at sunset is pure magic! .
If you are staying in Porto city or in Vila Nova de Gaia, access to the coastline is simple with the use of domestic trains or buses. Sightseeing Porto tour buses also do shuttle bus journeys to the Miramar Porto coastline. Miramar Porto beach is actually ten kilometers outside of the city.
Porto is right up there with some of the top places to visit in Portugal – and, I would go as far as to say Europe or the world. The charm and feel of the region has no equal.
Porto top tips for tourist attractions:
Vila do Conde Porto beach:
Vila do Conde Porto beach offers another splendourful coastline that is close to Porto city. The town of Vila do Conde has more than 18 kilometers of safe beaches and coast to enjoy .
Here you will find a number of watersports activities to be involved in.
The Vila do Conde Porto beaches are around 20 km from Porto and can be visited using the public or private transport system. If you want to enjoy the charm of the rural landscape along the way, take the A28 roadway. The Metro is an additional method of quick access to the beaches in Vila do Conde.
Tourists with their own transport can take the A-11 freeway to reach Vila do Conde Porto beach. Four famous coastlines in Vila do Conde are:
- Castelo-Forte S.João Baptista situated at Avenida Brasil
- Vila do Conde, Praia Olinda Av Brasil
- Castelo Forte S.João Baptista
- Praia Da Azurara
Porto Portugal destinations:
Espinho Porto coastline: For those who seek a quieter ambience and setting, Espinho Porto beach is the right location. The coastline is located 15 Km away from Porto city.
