Porto

Mini Guide

Where to eat, stay, shop and explore in Porto.

Porto is one of those destinations that has it all and can easily be explored in a few days–or much longer if you decide you can’t leave. The food, the architecture, the wine, the river and the people will keep you busy–and may just entice you to stay longer than you intended. Let’s find out why Porto should be your Next Destination. Porto gets its name from being a Port city (the Portuguese tend to name things quite literally). It’s a gateway to the Atlantic Ocean and also the home of the Douro River that winds through the city into the Douro Valley and into Spain. Known for its hills, stunning blue tiles on buildings, views from the water, churches, food and of course that famous Port wine.

a food tour with Taste Porto

An easy way to get your bearings in a city is to do a food tour–and one of the best in all my travels has been with Taste Porto. This is my third time doing a tour with Taste Porto and I’m with co-founder Andre as he takes me through the city in search of incredible eats, history and sips. Taste Porto is Porto’s longest-running food tour company. André has even taken Anthony Bourdain around Porto, so you know their selections will be top notch. As the first and only tour company focused solely on gastronomic experiences in Porto, Taste Porto team members are passionate about local gastronomy and strive for each and every guest to fall in love with the city and its food. The tour will take you through the Bahlo Mercado and out into the streets of Porto, from old taverns to coffee shops and wine bars, with stops along the way to chat about the city’s history and culture.

TAKE a Douro River boat tour

There’s nothing quite like the views of Porto from the Douro River, and it’s one of the best ways to spend a first day in the city. You can grab private boat tours, tours that take an entire afternoon, sunset tours, or a quick hour-long tour like I did to glide under the six iconic bridges of Porto. There are six bridges (pontes) stretching over the Douro River and connecting Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia: Ponte D. Maria Pia, Ponte de São João, Ponte do Freixo, Ponte Infante D. Henrique, Ponte Dom Luís I, and Ponte da Arrábida.

SIP Port wine at Ramos-Pinto

Portuguese wine is having a moment–it’s suddenly on the radar of wine enthusiasts of all levels. And the most famous of all the Portuguese wines has to be Port. Porto is the place to get to know this sweet wine–and you can start your Port journey at Ramos-Pinto. Ramos Pinto was founded in 1880 by Adriano and Antonio and is known not just for its Port wine, but for its innovation while maintaining tradition. A visit to the Ramos Pinto museum gives a behind the scenes look at the making of Port wine, the history of the company and, of course, some Port wine tasting as well.

Tour

the World of Wine (WOW) Museum

After a Port tasting, you can dive deeper into the world of wine at a museum nearby named World of Wine. Housed in several old distillery buildings, and new extensions, the World of Wine (WOW) museum pours up glass after glass of wine information. From the history of cork (one of Portugal’s biggest exports), to learning about grapes and how wine is made, to a rosé museum and a stunning Michelin star restaurant, plus views overlooking the river and the city, you can easily spend an entire day here.

VISIT the art museum

Porto’s love for the arts and creativity and crafts can be seen throughout the city. From local shops owned by artists to the stunning architecture you can find around every corner, it’s clear that artistry is a very important part of Porto and Portugal’s culture. You can’t miss a visit to the Fundação de Serralves Museum in the city. It’s built on a 44-acre park within the city and is home to some exquisite art exhibits and beautiful outdoor gardens where locals like to spend sunny afternoons and have picnics.

STAY at the Renaissance Porto Lapa

Porto is all about the views–those hills mean you get some great lookout points. But instead of hiking up all the hills on your first day, book a stay at the Renaissance Porto Lapa in the Lapa neighbourhood. It is close to both the Sao Bento Train Station and the Boavista Roundabout, and has incredible views from their rooftop pool.

STAY at the Vila Foz

Finish up your time in Porto by staying at the Vila Foz just outside the city centre. A converted, Old World manor house with a new build next to it will give you views of Porto and the sea, and is home to a Michelin-star restaurant.

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