The 76m-high (249ft) Torre dos Clérigos, designed by Italian architect Nicolau Nasoni in the 1700s, is Porto’s signature landmark. The baroque tower soars above the city rooftops and visitors can climb 225 steps to reach far-reaching city views from the top. It's not an experience for the claustrophobic – the structure definitely wasn’t built with big crowds in mind! Such is the draw of the city’s vibrant, historic riverside that it’s easy to forget that the Atlantic Ocean lies just a stone’s throw away along its banks. On summer days, surfers and sun-bathers fill the sandy shoreline. The year-round stalwarts of the sea, however, are Porto’s fishermen. For a sight (and smell) of their deep-water catches, take a half-hour bus ride to Matosinhos and stroll around the fish stalls of the bustling Mercado Municipal, where talkative stallholders will happily advise not just on what is freshest that day, but on how best to prepare it. If descaling and gutting sounds a bit much, fear not – dozens of cooks are waiting along Rua Heróis de França to do the honours. The restaurants may all look a bit spit-and-sawdust, but that’s just a sign of their harbourside heritage. The food is universally excellent, with Salta o Muro and O Lusitano particularly recommended (two courses from around €20 a head). Port, a sweet dessert wine, hails from this region, and the mountainous Douro Valley is filled with small family-owned wineries. These wineries are all high up in the hills, offering jaw-dropping views as you sip your wine. If you don’t have your own vehicle, full-day wine tours usually last around 8-10 hours and include multiple stops, lunch, and usually a river cruise as well. Get Your Guide runs a popular full-day tour for 95 EUR that visits two wine estates and includes lunch and a cruise. 4. Admire the city’s azulejo art The obvious downside is that the vast majority of these buildings are serving as Airbnb rentals and the housing industry is now completely unbalanced. Owners are now much less keen on doing long-term rentals and the few of them who still do it, ask for ridiculously high rents that locals can’t afford.

Giving its name to the nation, Porto dates from Roman times, prospering during the age of Portugal's overseas expansion as explorers and adventurers sailed to South America, Africa and Asia and its city merchants developed the lucrative port wine trade with England in the seventeenth century. Practical information on eating out, including a handy glossary and detailed restaurant listings, as well as a comprehensive A-Z of travel tips on everything from getting around to health and tourist information. Further north of the Ribeira is the Parisian-style Avenida dos Aliados, the transport hub of the city with the imposing train station at Sao Bento and various bus stations spread around the boulevard. Sights in this central

Porto has a lot to offer, but so do the surrounding areas. If you visit Porto, it would be a waste to not take a day trip. Here are our top 3 favorite day trips from Porto you cannot miss. If you are visiting for at least a week, taking all 3 would make it the perfect trip. 1. Douro Valley Gazing defiantly over Porto from its hilltop perch, the fortress-like Sé evokes the city’s imperial past. This handsome cathedral wields serious historical clout as the spot where Prince Henry the Navigator was baptized in 1394 and where King John I married in 1387. Of Romanesque origins, the 12th-century cathedral was given a baroque facelift in the 18th century. A barley-twist pillar crowns the cathedral courtyard, which commands sweeping views over the sagging houses, terracotta rooftops, and crocheted alleyways of Ribeira. 7. Browse for one-of-a-kind gift ideas at the Mercado do Porto Belo The network of the Metro is very good, considering the scale of the city. It can take you to all major spots, including from the airport. You’ll need a reusable Andante card which you can top-up with individual trips. Bike rental– Porto is relatively flat so riding a bike is an easy and fun way to see the city. Bike rentals cost around 15-22 EUR per day.

Porto was one of the last undiscovered European metropolises, but, thanks to direct flights from New York and numerous connections to and from the rest of Europe, it is now a popular city break destination. This article contains links from which we may earn revenue. These links are signposted with an asterisk. More information here . And there’s also the having fun part. I’m not a party animal – far from that actually! – but somehow Porto is one of the places I feel the urge of going out for drinks or even partying all night long. It’s cheap, people are super friendly, and it has some hell of cool places to choose from. Pastries. Obviously don’t miss on the unbeatable pastel de nata, available at literally every pastelaria of the city. And there’s éclair. This pastry with sweet whipped cream filling is the highlight of Leitaria da Quinta do Paço.Francesinha. Probably one of the most caloric meals you’ll ever have but hey, save your diet for later. This massive sandwich on a platter dish has all the goods on it: cured meats, linguiça, steak, cheese, egg and a delicious beer-and-tomato sauce. Have it at lunch time rather than at the evening.