10 ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR TRAVELING TO PORTO

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This guide of tips for traveling to Porto It will help you prepare a trip to a city famous for its wine, full of charming corners and considered one of the essentials of Portugal.
A walk along the Ribeira at sunset, get on one of its historic trams, have a glass of wine in one of its famous wineries, listen to Fado or get lost in the old Do Barredo neighborhood, are just some of the experiences that will make you fall in love from this small town, located on the banks of the Duero.

Based on the time we spent in the city during our 4-day trip to Porto and Guimaraes, we have made this list of 10 essential tips for traveling to Porto.We start!

1. What is the best time?

We can say that Porto is a city that can be visited at any time of the year, having a time similar to Spain although if we had to opt for a time of the year, this would be from mid-April to the end of October, avoiding the months of Colder and rain.
Another thing to value, if you want to save and avoid temperatures close to 30 degrees, is to avoid the high season, which is concentrated in July and August, at which time the prices of accommodation also rise in price.

2. Entry requirements when traveling to Porto

For travel to Porto, if you are a citizen of the European Union, you will only need to carry the ID. If you are not from any European Union country, we advise you to check the page of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country, to see what type of agreement it has with Portugal and what are the required documents.

Another requirement that is not mandatory, but highly recommended, is to carry the European Health Card. Do not forget that although the European Health Card covers any medical setbacks, there are situations such as repatriation, which are only covered if you have good travel insurance.
We always travel insured with Mondo, with whom we carry a totally adequate insurance to the needs that we will have on the trip. Hiring your insurance here with Mondo, just for being a Street Travelers reader, you have a 5% discount.

3 How to get from Porto airport to downtown?

Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, located 12 kilometers from the city center, is well connected by public transport to the center.
To make the transfer from the airport to the center of Porto or to your hotel you have these options:

Meter: Metro line E, which operates from 06h to 01h, will take you to the center in less than half an hour for less than two euros.
Bus: You have the Terravision bus, which takes half an hour to reach the center, at the Boavista and Avenida dos Aliados stops, for a price of 5 euros. The departure of this bus coincides with the arrival of the flights.
Bus lines 601 and 602 and the night 3M, also connect to the center for a price lower than 2 euros, although they take much longer.
Direct transfer to the hotel: This is the most comfortable way to get to the hotel by having a driver waiting at the arrivals hall, with a sign with your name. You can book it here.
Cab: It has a price of about 25 euros, similar to direct transfer, something that makes it the least recommended option.

In this post you can find more information on how to go from Porto airport to downtown.

Porto Station

4. Hotel in Porto

If you go to travel to Porto, especially in high season, it is advisable to book several months in advance, to be able to secure the place in the accommodation you want and also have adjusted prices.
Our favorite area to stay in Porto is Avenida dos Aliados, in the part that is closest to the Plaza de la Libertad. If you stay here you will be a few minutes walk from the center and you will have a good restaurant offer as well as a good metro connection to the airport.

We were at the Universal Residential Hotel, located in this area and with one of the best quality / price ratios in the city.
Another good area to stay is in Bolhao, where you will be in the historic center and within walking distance of the most interesting places in Porto.
If you want to stay in another part of the city you can search here for the best hotels in Porto at the best price.
For more information you can read this complete post about the best neighborhoods and hotels where to stay in Porto.

Views from the Universal Residential

5. Transportation in Porto

Porto concentrates most points of interest in the old part of the city, which you can explore perfectly on foot, something that will also allow you to get to know the city much better.
In case you do not want or can not walk much, you can use the subway, uber or book the tourist bus, which is a highly recommended option to discover the city from another perspective.
The city also has the Funicular Do Guidais, which allows you to save the cost between the Praça da Batalha and the Ribeira.
An original option to move around the city is to use some of the historic trams that run through the city center and are an experience in themselves.
It is advisable to see if it is profitable to book the Porto Card that includes public transport and discounts of up to 50% at numerous attractions in the city.

Porto Tram

6. Places of interest

Before traveling to Porto it is advisable to make a list of all the places you want to visit and the experiences you want to enjoy, to make the most of your time.
Among the most essential places in the city is the Lello e Irmão Bookstore, one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world and a source of inspiration for writers such as J.K.Rowling. This bookstore is also located near the Clérigos Tower, considered the best viewpoint in the city, which you can not miss either. You can book the entrance to the tower here in advance.
In the early hours of the morning, don't miss the Bolhao Market, from the beginning of the 19th century, and spend a moment at the Sao Bento station, to see its beautiful tile murals.
In the upper part of the city you can also visit the magnificent cloister of the Cathedral and go down to the Ribeira through the charming Barrio Do Barredo.
Upon arriving at the Ribeira nothing better than booking this cruise, which passes through the 6 bridges that the city has over the Duero and from where you can enjoy magnificent views with the colorful houses on both banks.
Another of the best things to do in Porto is to cross the Don Luis I Bridge, where you can enjoy a magnificent sunset over the city, to arrive later in Vilanova de Gaia where you can visit one of its wineries to see the process of making the famous It came from Porto.

A good way to get to know the history of the city and not miss anything important is to book this tour of Porto with a guide in Spanish that includes the boat ride, the wineries and the food, or this free tour of Porto Free!, Considered one of the best free tours in Porto.

Another of the best tips for traveling to Porto is to complete this list of the 10 essential places to visit in Porto and this one of the best things to do in Porto.

7. Routes through the city

As we mentioned before, Porto has a historic center that concentrates most interesting places and is easily explored on foot on a weekend. This makes it a relatively small city although it is important to chart the routes well to make the most of the time and have the most experiences.
Based on the time we spent in Porto we have made these two guides that will help you not miss anything interesting about the city if you have 2 or 3 days. In case you only have one day, you can complete the first part of the two-day guide, which will allow you to know the most important of the city.

Port

8. Where and what to eat in Porto

Another reason for travel to Porto It is to taste their delicious food, always accompanied by a good port wine. Some of the most typical dishes are:

Francesinha: a type of bread sandwich stuffed with meat or sausages, covered in cheese and a tomato sauce.
Bacalhau a Brás: a cod casserole with onion, french fries and egg.
Fashionable guts of Porto: gut stuffed with pieces of chorizo and white beans.
Creams: some sweets very similar to Belém's cakes, which you cannot miss.
Bifanas: rolls stuffed with pork.

Among the restaurants, located in the most recommended tourist areas to try these delicious dishes, you have: Petisqueira Voltaria, Casa da Mariquinhas, Café Guarany, Tapabento, Droop food & Wine and MUU Steakhouse.
To fully enjoy Portuguese cuisine you can follow this list of restaurants to eat in Porto cheap.

Little Frenchie

9. Tours and excursions

If you have more than two days in Porto, we recommend you take an excursion to one of the most essential places to see in Portugal.
The first recommendation would be the visit to the medieval town of Guimaraes, which has a historic center declared a World Heritage Site. To get to this city you can take a train at the Sao Bento Station that takes an hour.
Another of the best excursions in Porto is the visit to the city of Aveiro where you can enjoy a walk along its canals and its long beaches. Aveiro is less than an hour by train from Sao Bento Station.
The last proposal is the visit to the Sanctuary of Fatima, one of the most important pilgrimage centers for Christians. To get to Fatima you can take the Rede Expressos bus that leaves from the Sete Rios Terminal, which takes just over two hours.
A more comfortable and interesting way to visit all these places, learning its history, is to book some of these excursions with a guide in Spanish:

More tours and excursions in Porto here

Aveiro

10. More tips for traveling to Porto

Other of the best tips for traveling to Porto They are:

Remember that in order not to pay commissions and always have the current change we recommend you use the N26 card to pay and the Bnext and Revolut cards to get money at the ATMs. They are the ones we use, They are free and will save you a lot. You can find more information in this article about the best cards to travel without commissions.
Listen to Fado, the best known expression of Portuguese music, while dining at Casa da Mariquinhas, Mal Cozinhado or Café Guarany. If you don't want to have dinner, you can book this fado show at Casa da Guitarra, another of the most recommended places in Porto.
Go shopping on Santa Catarina Street, the most commercial pedestrian street in Porto and have a drink at the historic Café Majestic.
Choose a good winery to learn about the winemaking process like Sandeman, Ferreira or Croft. If you are a wine lover it may be more advisable to book this visit to the Sandeman winery with a guide in Spanish, specializing in Porto wines.
Follow the list of the best tips for traveling to Portugal.

Croft wineries in Vila Nova de Gaia

Do you want to organize a trip to Porto?
Get it here:
The best offers of Flights to Porto here
The best hotels at the best prices in Porto here
Get € 35 for your reservation with AirBnb here
Book your travel insurance with a 5% discount here
Rent your car in Portugal at the best price here