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Oporto Travel & Sightseeing Guide

January 10, 2008 |

A trip to Oporto

The city of Oporto has more to offer than its famous wine, yet the wine is not a bad reason for a visit as the port cellars here enthusiastically welcome tourists. The food, charming historical architecture, art and markets all attract visitors from afar. An easy train ride from Lisbon will take you to this city that’s steeped in history and also for a great night out!

Flights to Oporto
Passengers arriving from points worldwide can fly to Lisbon and make onward connections to Oporto’s Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport on one of several flights available daily. The seven mile trip from the airport to the centre is quick and easy by taxi or Aerobus service. If you are looking for a cheap flight to Oporto try Ebookers.

More than two dozen trains arrive daily from Lisbon, taking 3 to 5 hours; and one arrives from Paris, taking 27 hours. Bus service to Oporto offers a cost-effective and popular option, with five daily departures from Lisbon, a trip that takes about the same amount of time as the train.

Oporto’s public transport network is excellent, with convenient, inexpensive and reliable service: the buses, metro, trams and trains do a good job of covering the area. Taxis are also a good choice, as they’re metered and offer value for money.

Oporto


Sightseeing in Oporto
A tour of the city will take you to a number of cathedrals including the well-known 12th century church and fortress at Terreiro de Se. Close by you’ll come across a museum dedicated to a poet, known as the Casa Museu de Guerra Junqueiro. Also in the centre is the Barredo section, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site and loaded with attractions of interest including churches, markets and museums.

Tours of the port vineyards and wineries are readily available and visitors are encouraged to sample the goods. Wine lodges are located across the river from Oporto, in Vila Nova de Gaia.

Book Sightseeing Tours

Fun by night – eating drinking and partying
A wide range of nightlife options is on offer here, and will meet your needs whether you want to dance the night away in style or have a quiet, romantic meal before a moonlit stroll through the old city. There’s a good selection of live music, dance and gay clubs, and even art galleries that turn into trendy clubs late at night. Look to the streets around rua de Santa Catarina for the best in bars and other nightspots.

For a good meal out, the Barredo quarter is home to some of the best restaurants, and also quaint riverside cafés along with some lively bars and interesting shopping. Barredo mixes up the old and new, and offers up enough variety in entertainment to please most visitors.

The locals have a preference for traditional Portuguese fare, and it’s recommended that you give some of the special dishes a try. Authentic cuisine can be had at many eateries including popular dishes such tripas à moda do Oporto (tripe with beans and sausages), caldo verde (potato and cabbage soup) and bacalhau à gomes de sá (salt cod baked with potatoes).

Fun by day - shopping and activities
There are some well-stocked shops and colourful, traditional markets in the city, where you can find a selection of souvenirs, accessories, craft items and fashion. The markets in particular offer a uniquely Portuguese experience for visitors, which can then be followed by coffee and people-watching from one of Barredo’s riverside cafés.


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