Portugal

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Porto

Port wine, tiled stations and the Douro

Visa & entry checker Plan a trip to Porto Plan a trip around Portugal

Best time to visit: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Currency: EUR
Time zone: UTC+0
Country: Portugal

Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0

Porto is Portugal's second city, built on the steep north bank of the Douro estuary, with a UNESCO-listed historic centre, a working port-wine trade across the river in Vila Nova de Gaia, and an Atlantic coastline a short metro ride away. People come for the bridges, the azulejo-tiled churches and stations, the cellars and tastings, and the food markets.

Largest cities

Lisbon
Porto
Vila Nova de Gaia
Braga
Coimbra

Quick facts

Figures are rounded recent official estimates.

Country: Portugal
Capital: Lisbon
City population: 273,979
Population of Portugal: 10.3M
Country area: 92,225 km²
Official language: Portuguese
Currency: Euro (EUR) · 1 USD ≈ 0.8934 EUR
Time zone: UTC+0
Calling code: +351
Drives on the: Right
Elevation: 97 m
Plugs: C / F · 230V
Emergency numbers: 112
Best time to visit: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Temperatures through the year

Average daily high and low for each month in °C. Months marked with a drop are often rainy.

Temperatures through the year

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High	14°	16°	16°	19°	20°	22°	25°	25°	23°	21°	17°	15°
Low	8°	8°	9°	11°	12°	15°	16°	16°	15°	15°	11°	9°

Best time to visitOther months

Approximate daily cost

Per adult per day: food, local transport and half a double room, without activities or flights.

ConservativeSimple stays, free and low-cost sights first.$54
HighComfortable hotels, a balanced mix of sights and trips.$117
LuxuryLuxury hotels, more paid experiences and day trips.$275

Plan a trip to Porto

Top things to do

Free
Dom Luís I Bridge
Walk the upper deck of this 1886 double-deck metal arch bridge for the classic view over the Douro, Ribeira and the Gaia cellars; the lower deck carries traffic and pedestrians and the upper deck is shared with the metro.
- Half day
- Ribeira
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
≈ $20
Port wine cellar tour and tasting
Guided tours in the Gaia lodges explain how Douro wines were aged and shipped, ending with a tasting; book a time slot in advance in summer as the well-known houses fill up.
- Half day
- Vila Nova de Gaia
- Indoors
Free
São Bento railway station
The entrance hall is covered in Jorge Colaço's azulejo panels showing battles and rural scenes; it is a working station, so visit outside the morning and evening commuter peaks.
- Half day
- Baixa and Aliados
- Good for kids
- Indoors
≈ $3
Porto Cathedral
The city's oldest surviving structure, a Romanesque fortress-church with a Gothic cloister of azulejos and a terrace over the rooftops; the climb up is steep, so go early and wear grippy shoes.
- Half day
- Baixa and Aliados
- Good for kids
- Indoors
≈ $6
Clérigos Church and Tower
Nicolau Nasoni's 18th-century baroque tower gives the best 360-degree view in the city after 240-odd steps; there is no lift, and the staircase is narrow, so avoid the middle of the day in summer.
- Half day
- Baixa and Aliados
- Good for kids
- Indoors
≈ $6
Livraria Lello
The ornate neo-Gothic bookshop with its sweeping staircase is small and very busy; entry is by timed ticket, which is deducted from the price of a book bought inside.
- Half day
- Baixa and Aliados
- Good for kids
- Indoors
≈ $14
Palácio da Bolsa
The former stock exchange is visited on a guided tour only, and the highlight is the gilded Arab Room; tours run in several languages and sell out, so buy a slot at the desk on arrival.
- Half day
- Baixa and Aliados
- Good for kids
- Indoors
Free
Foz do Douro and the Atlantic beaches
Take tram 1 or the bus to the river mouth for a promenade walk, the Felgueiras lighthouse and Atlantic beaches; the sea is cold and the wind strong even in summer, so swimming is for the hardy.
- Half day
- Foz do Douro
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
≈ $90
Douro Valley day trip
Train or boat upriver to Peso da Régua and Pinhão for terraced vineyards, quintas and tastings in Europe's first demarcated wine region; a full day is needed, and the riverside road is slow, so the train is the easier option.
- Full day
- Baixa and Aliados
≈ $25
Guimarães and Braga day trip
Urban trains from São Bento reach both historic cities in about an hour each, covering Guimarães' medieval centre and castle and Braga's cathedral and Bom Jesus sanctuary; a combined day is tight but doable.
- Full day
- Baixa and Aliados
- Good for kids
- Indoors

Before you go

Entry and visas

Portugal is in the Schengen area, so many visitors from the Gulf, India and Latin America can enter visa-free for short tourist stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period, while some nationalities need a Schengen visa applied for in advance; check your own nationality before booking. British citizens can travel visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180 days and may be asked for a return ticket and proof of funds. The EU Entry/Exit System now registers fingerprints and a photo at the border for short stays, at no cost, and can add time at immigration.

Official website

From the airport

Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO) sits about 15 km north-west of the centre in Pedras Rubras, Maia. Metro line E runs from the airport to the centre in roughly 30 minutes, and STCP buses 601, 602 and 604 also connect; a taxi or ride-hailing car takes about 20–30 minutes depending on traffic.

Getting around

The Porto Metro plus STCP buses and the historic trams cover the centre, Gaia and the coast; validate your ticket at the yellow readers before boarding or risk a fine of at least €100.

Local tips

Winters are mild but wet and humid, with most rain from October to January; pack a waterproof layer and shoes with grip for the steep, slippery cobbles.
Portuguese is the language; Spanish is widely understood, but a greeting in Portuguese goes a long way, and older locals may politely remind you that the local language is Portuguese.
Many small tascas and cafés take cash only, so carry some euros alongside a card; tipping is modest, usually rounding up or about 5–10% in restaurants.
Watch your footing on the tram tracks and wet stone, keep an eye on belongings in the busy Ribeira and São Bento areas, and book Livraria Lello and popular port cellars in advance as they use timed en