Porto
Porto sits by the river, waiting for you with open arms and, oddly, the faint smell of grilled sardines floating in the air. Locals walk up hills as if gravity never got invented here; tourists try, but their calves protest loudly. When the time comes for picking a travel destination, popular things to do include chasing the tram, sipping something strong in a riverside bar, and searching for the best hotel in Porto—which, depending on who you ask, could be the one with the most stubborn doorman or the softest pillows. There was once a guy who tried to pay for his coffee with a metro ticket, and the barista just shrugged. Try that in Brussels. At sunset, the city glows, or maybe that's just your eyes after a glass too many of local wine.
Local weather in Portugal
SPRING
mild & temperate
SUMMER
warm & sunny
AUTUMN
mild & temperate
WINTER
cool
Accommodations in Porto
Discover the best accommodations for Porto and start planning your holiday.
Long-term travelers in Porto: lingering longer, walking further
When you stay in Porto long enough, the city starts to share its secrets. There's the bakery with the unpronounceable name, where the baker sometimes forgets to wear shoes, and the cat who guards the door like it owns the joint. You might find yourself on a hunt for the best hotel in Porto, only to realize that the definition of 'best' changes after a week—sometimes it’s the view, sometimes the breakfast, or sometimes just the proximity to that one shop selling tinned fish in every flavor imaginable (including, believe it or not, banana). The best travel destination popular things to do or visit list usually skips the late-night elevator that never stops at your floor, but hey, that's part of the charm.
Don’t forget to visit the bookstore with the spiral staircase that allegedly inspired a wizarding school, though the staff will neither confirm nor deny it. Locals will tell you to walk the bridge, but they never mention the wind that tries to steal your hat every time. For travelers who want to blend in, order a 'cimbalino' and act like you know what you’re doing, even if you get a pastry you didn’t order. After all, if you never get lost in Porto's winding streets, did you even visit? Just remember: in Porto, the best moments tend to happen when you stop looking at the map and start following the smell of roasting chestnuts, or was it laundry detergent? Hard to tell, sometimes.
Other cities around Portugal
These popular destinations have a lot to offer for you next holiday or city break.
