Cocorico is near the centre of Porto, near the Douro River and Batalha Square.
Planes
Porto Airport is 13 kilometres away. There are direct flights from London and cities throughout Europe on British Airways and Tap Portugal, and from London Stansted and Liverpool with Ryanair. Contact Smith24 for travel and transfer arrangements.
Trains
The beautiful, historic São Bento Station – known for its 20,000 azulejo tiles – is a 5-minute walk from the hotel, with regional connections and a metro station; it also connects to Campanhã, the main Porto depot for train service to Lisbon (approximately three hours) and into Spain.
Automobiles
If you’re planning to drive, let the hotel know well in advance: there’s only one private parking space nearby for €10 a night, and it must be reserved.
Worth getting out of bed for
Stroll the banks of the Douro River, then cross it via the Dom Luís I Bridge, a soaring two-level metal expanse designed by a protege of Gustave Eiffel – a 10-minute walk from the hotel. The top level is closed off to cars and ideal for capturing views of the city. On the other side, in Vila Nova de Gaia, await several port caves that host tours and tastings. Wander along and choose any that look welcoming, but Ferreira and Taylor have especially rich histories, and the more contemporary Espaço Porto Cruz has a fantastic rooftop terrace with panoramic river views. To sample the wines in a more natural setting, arrange a trip into the Douro Valley, which is home to the port vineyards. Not feeling thirsty? On a hill above town, the Crystal Palace Gardens have beautifully curated garden paths and fountains, with sweeping river views. Stock up on reading materials at the wonderfully gothic Livraria Lello, with towering stacks of books and stained-glass windows. Catch a concert at the Casa da Música, designed to celebrate Porto's 2001 designation as European Capital of Culture. Designed by Rem Koolhaas, the stark marble polygon is the home of the National Orchestra of Porto and was designed to maximise acoustics.
Local restaurants
Set in a historic pharmacy, Traça specialises in meaty Portuguese dishes like rolled breaded pork with prosciutto, venison carpaccio and stewed pigs’ feet. Hidden away in a cave-like setting near the hotel, Ode prepares traditional Portuguese dishes with local ingredients to pair with its exceptional wines. Dried, salted cod is a local classic known around the world. If cravings strike, head for a place where it’s the name of the game. With a riverfront balcony, Bacalhau prepares exceptional fish, including its namesake bacalao (salted codfish).
Local bars
There are plenty of sultry, dimly lit wine bars around town, with exceptional selections of vinho verde and port. For a change from the norm, head to Base, a garden-set bar by Torre dos Clérigos, with icy cocktails, sangria, cider and wines.
