Travel guide · Portugal

Porto

Why visit Porto?

Porto climbs the hillsides above the north bank of the Douro, a tangle of tiled façades, steep lanes and terracotta rooftops. People come to wander the Ribeira, tour the port wine lodges across the river in Vila Nova de Gaia, and dig into hearty local cooking, from salt cod to the famous francesinha.

Not to miss

white and brown concrete building under blue sky during daytime — Photo : Adelio / Unsplash

Ribeira

The old riverside quarter, where brightly painted houses crowd together above stairways and alleys tumbling down to the Douro.

gray bridge near building at sunset — Photo : Everaldo Coelho / Unsplash

Dom Luís I Bridge

This two-level iron bridge links Porto with Vila Nova de Gaia; the upper deck carries the metro and is open to pedestrians, with sweeping views.

brown wooden barrels on brown wooden barrels — Photo : Hayffield L / Unsplash

Gaia wine lodges

On the south bank, the port houses open their cellars for tours and tastings, looking straight across the water at the Ribeira.

a train pulling into a tunnel — Photo : Rui Alves / Unsplash

São Bento Station

The entrance hall of this central station is lined with vast blue-and-white azulejo panels depicting scenes from Portuguese history.

a tall building with a clock tower — Photo : Arthur Hinton / Unsplash

Clérigos Tower

This baroque bell tower rises above the Baixa, and climbing its steps rewards you with a view over the city's rooftops and the river.

Cityscape with bridge and river at sunset — Photo : Jan Suchánek / Unsplash

Foz do Douro

Where the river meets the Atlantic, this residential district offers a seafront promenade and rocky beaches, an easy tram ride from the centre.

When to go?

Spring and September bring mild days and less rain, which suits a city best explored on foot. Summer is dry and sunny, with afternoons that can turn hot. From October through January, heavy showers are common, so pack a rain jacket and shoes with good grip for the slick cobblestones.

The warmest month is Aug (around 37 °C by day), the coolest Mar (-1 °C at night); the driest is Jul and the wettest Nov.

Month	Day / night	Rain	Flights from Marseille	Flights from Quebec City	Flights from Montreal
Jan	18° / 0°	141 mm	US$56	—	US$520
Feb	21° / 0°	96 mm	US$72	US$767	—
Mar	25° / -1°	117 mm	US$78	US$793	—
Apr	26° / 3°	91 mm	US$144	US$799	—
May	30° / 6°	64 mm	US$118	—	—
Jun	34° / 9°	37 mm	US$97	—	—
Jul	37° / 11°	17 mm	US$158	—	—
Aug	37° / 12°	26 mm	US$163	—	US$679
Sep	34° / 10°	49 mm	—	—	—
Oct	31° / 7°	141 mm	—	—	—
Nov	23° / 3°	142 mm	US$34	US$761	US$595
Dec	18° / 0°	131 mm	US$73	US$792	—

Climate: 1991-2020 normals (NASA POWER), daytime highs and night-time lows. Prices: the lowest round-trip fares Voly saw in recent months for a departure that month; they change all the time.

Practical tips

The centre is walkable, but the hills are steep, so lean on the metro, the vintage trams and the Guindais funicular for the climbs. Staying in the Baixa or near the Ribeira keeps most sights within walking distance. Try a francesinha, tripas à moda do Porto and a bifana, washed down with a glass of vinho verde.

At a glance

Country : Portugal
Currency : euro (EUR)
Languages : Portuguese
Time zone : Europe/Lisbon (UTC0) — difference with Montreal: +5 h, with Paris: -1 h (varies with daylight saving)

Entry requirements (passport, visa) depend on your nationality and change: check them with your government before booking.