Boutique hotels
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Hotel Teatro
- Style
- Drama queen
- Setting
- Arty theatre district
Porto Overview
Portugal
- Cityscape
- Miles of tiles
- City life
- All sorts of port
Rising from the banks of the Douro passing through it, Porto is a hilly, historic mix of bridges, Baroque churches and narrow mediaeval alleys…
Portugal’s second-largest city is home to the Unesco-favoured Ribeira district, a picturesque patch of winding streets and steep staircases, and tiled buildings abound: blue azulejos are the Porto ceramic of choice. Look closely and you’ll see the Roman ruins under the foundations, a reminder of the empire’s fourth-century occupation. Along the river, tree-lined boulevards shadow grand houses, and, to the south, Vila de Gaia is where to head with a hearty appetite for port, the city’s namesake drink, proudly produced here for centuries. Porto has spread past its original confines, and with it some of the population, setting up seaside suburbs, such as Foz do Douro. Porto is enticing them back, though, with exciting new projects: architecture fans will gawp in admiration at the Casa da Música and the Museu de Arte Contemporânea, two striking visions in white.
Perfectly Porto
Named in the city’s honour, port was first produced and exported from the adegas (cellars) of hilly Vila Nova de Gaia, and many are still open today, hosting free tours and tastings. These days, cruising along the tree-canopied Douro means passing the world’s most prestigious producers, each lodge emblazoned with the family name. Take a trip to Taylor’s on Rua do Choupelo (+351 22 374 2800; www.taylor.pt) for fortified wine and fantastic views.Local Knowledge
- Taxis
- It’s easy to flag cabs in the street, and there are ranks outside the main stations.
- Tipping culture
- It’s the norm to round up the bill if you’re happy.
- Siesta and fiesta
- Shops stay open until around 7pm in the city centre; outside of it, some close between midday and 2pm. Dinner is usually at 9pm, and bars and clubs don’t get busy until midnight.
- Packing tips
- You’re bound to develop a taste for the stuff, so travel light, leaving room in your suitcase for some port. Flat shoes will come in handy for the hilly, cobbled parts, too.
- Recommended reads
- Hunting Midnight by Richard Zimler tells a story of Jewish diaspora from Porto to Africa; learn more about the city’s famous tipple with Rich, Rare and Red: A Guide to Port by Ben Howkins.
- Regional specialities
- Hungry sorts will find sandwich heaven in the form of the franceschina, slices of bread packed with cuts of meat, cheese and a beer-y gravy. Bacalhau, seen on menus everywhere, is salted cod, served in various forms, often with potatoes. The Douro Valley is known for its wine, both regular white and red, and white and red port.
- Currency
- Euro (€).
- Time zone
- GMT+1.
- Dialling codes
- Country code for Portugal: +351; Porto: 22.
- Do go/don't go
- With a mild Mediterranean climate all year round, it’s hot from June to September, and only marginally chilly in winter (November to February).
Don't go home without...
Trying tripe. It’s Porto’s signature dish, and its people are even named after it: the nickname tripeiros comes from the fact that quality cuts of meat were shipped off with the sailors in the 14th and 15th centuries, and scraps were left for the locals. They soon got used to it, and now make a delicious soup with tripe, sausages and beans. The best offal in town is at award-winning Tripeiros on Rua de Passos Manuel (+351 22 200 5886).
