There are places that you fall in love with the first time you visit them and promise yourself that you will definitely come back to them again. And it is not at all difficult to fall in love with Porto. I also promised myself that I would visit here again someday. ♥ The city will offer you romantic streets full of beautiful buildings made of azujelos tiles, breathtaking views, the sea with beaches, taverns, restaurants and of course Porto. In some ways, it will probably remind you of Barcelona.
But don’t be fooled, unlike it, Porto is small and I would say more peaceful. It exudes a great sense of well-being. If you go to Porto for a long weekend or even for a longer period, you probably won’t get enough of this Portuguese port city. Come visit with me and enjoy the places that will absolutely enchant you.
SARDINE CITY
The country has a long fishing tradition and canned sardines are a popular delicacy in Portugal. They are an icon of the city. Sardines are steamed before canning, i.e. the heat treatment does not take place during canning, as with other manufacturers. As a result, there is not as much fish oil in the can and the taste is different. You will also find various shops specializing in sardines. You will find many beautiful cans in the markets. However, be careful not to buy a can of chocolate sardines instead of the real cans. Although it is not harmful either and it can easily be a nice gift.
What I liked most about Porto is the fact that you don’t need much transportation here and you can get everywhere on foot.
1♣ TASTE PASTEL DE NATA
Start your visit in style and start it with a tasting of the traditional egg yolk cake PASTEL DE NATA. It’s hard to avoid it anyway. This traditional dessert is brought to true mastery here. I would say it’s complete “food porn” in your mouth. 🙂 The puff pastry together with the filling just melts on your tongue. Of course, you can buy this dessert in any bakery or cafe, but we said that you’ll start your day in style, so go to MANTEIGARIA. This bakery has the advantage that you can watch the bakers in action as they make the pastel de nata.
2♣ MAIN CATHEDRAL IN PORTO
Situated in the middle of a huge open square, Porto Cathedral is the symbol of the city. It was built in the 12th century. Although its stone facade is impressive, its true beauty lies inside!
And who lived here? Mostly Portuguese kings. It was here that the parents of the famous King Henry the Navigator, John I and Philippa of Lancaste, were married in 1387. Henry the Navigator was even baptized here.
You will find impressive corridors, vaults and symbolic blue and white tiles. The main motif of the precisely painted blue and white tiles is biblical and mythical stories. The cathedral is also built on the highest point in the city, so be sure to take a walk around the Batalha district afterwards, where you will discover the best views in all of Porto.
And most importantly, the Portuguese Way of Saint James, which leads from Porto, begins here.
The Batalha district is also very nice and you will find many romantic streets that make you want to stop and enjoy yourself for a moment.
3♣ SAO BENTO RAILWAY STATION
Sao Bento Station is located in the historic center of Porto, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The building is not only a functional station, but also a celebration of Porto’s history and the beautiful blue tiles “azulejos” for which the city is famous. The blue paintings on the tiles depict historical events of the country, and you can also find various scenes from the regions. They were designed by Jorge Colaco and completed in 1916.
4♣ CHURCH OF SANTO ILDEFONSO
5♣ CAIS DA RIBEIRA
When most people think of Porto, they think of the stunning old riverside district of Ribeira. Colorful townhouses line the banks of the Douro River, restaurant terraces are bustling, and street musicians play in the streets. The colorful houses here will make you want to keep your camera out.
LOUIS I BRIDGE
The main landmark is the two-story steel bridge of Louis I, which connects the historic Ribeira with the port wine district of Vila Nova de Gaia. Both sides of the river are lined with promenades with many restaurants and bars offering relaxation with a view of the cruise ships sailing the Douro in all directions. The bridge was built by Gustave Eiffel’s student Théophile Seyrig in 1881 and is the most famous bridge in Porto. Unlike other Porto bridges, the Louis I bridge has two floors, where the upper one is used by the metro line and the lower one is reserved for other transport. You can walk on both floors, however. From a height of 45 meters, there are wonderful views of Porto and it is also something for us squeamish people who are afraid of heights.
There is no doubt that this is the heart of the city, which is alive at any time of the day or night. I enjoyed the harbor with a view of the river and the majestic Dom Luis I Bridge. But what I enjoyed most was walking through the charming streets on the hillside.
MY TIP:
Don’t miss Praca da Ribeira: one of the oldest and most famous squares in Porto.
6♣ BOOKSTORE LIVRARIA LELLO
Immerse yourself in the magical world of Livraria Lello, made famous by J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter stories. It is said that when she lived in Porto, the bookstore became an inspiration for her novels. Looking at the magnificent shelves full of books and the vast wooden staircase with a dark ruby red staircase, it is easy to see why. It is no wonder that Livraria Lello is known as one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world! It is no wonder that it is one of the most popular places to visit when visiting Porto. The bookstore is really popular and expect to stand in line, as only a limited number of people can enter. Well, you can follow in the footsteps of Harry Potter with me in my article.
7♣ IGREJA DO CARMO
Just around the corner is the Igreja do Carmo, a beautiful church that offers another opportunity to see the azulejos. This amazing structure is actually two churches, separated by a narrow house. This house was inserted in the middle to separate the monks and nuns. The facade and interior of the church have beautiful details, but the main attraction of this structure is the huge exterior wall of azulejos that tell the story of the Carmelite order.
8♣ MERCADO DE BOLHAO
I probably don’t need to explain to you that I love visiting local markets all over the world. I simply enjoy this atmosphere. Nothing tells you more about a place than the food and believe me, you will definitely find what you are looking for here. It differs from other markets in that it is beautifully clean. At the market you can find fruit, vegetables, you can buy freshly caught fish and meat. So you can see where my steps were leading. I had to try the local oysters, which were really delicious.
9♣ IGREJO MONUMENTO DE SAO FRANCISCO
If you only visit one church in Porto, I recommend this one. Here you will find a beautiful altar depicting the family tree of Jesus. The roots of the tree begin in Bethlehem and branch out to the crown of the 12 kings of Judah. In the niche is a statue of the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus.
10♣ TASTE PORT WINE
And of course, you have to end your visit to Porto in style by tasting port wine. If you like port wine or wine in general, be sure to visit the local cellar or wine bar, which are located in Vila Nova de Gaiga. The port wine label can only be used for wine made from grapes harvested in the Douro River Valley. In the past, it was brought to the city by river on rabelo ships. After the grapes are pressed, the must ferments, and after about half of the sugar has fermented, wine brandy is added to stop the fermentation process. Port is therefore a fortified (or fortified) wine with an alcohol content of about 20 percent. The wine is then aged in wooden barrels (Tawny) or steel tanks (Ruby), but white port wine (White Port) is also produced and there is also a dry version.
The most famous include: Cálem, Taylor’s, Graham’s, Porto Cruz, Offley, Quevedo, Ferreira and Ramos Pinto. Cellar tours and wine tastings are not expensive, prices do not vary much and range between 10-20 euros. Wine prices vary, of course, depending on the quality, type and age, but in general it can be said that in Portugal it is possible to buy port wine cheaper than in the Czech Republic.
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