Porto

A few things to do in and around Porto

I have always wanted to visit Portugal and last year managed to get there. I was in need of a few days away after feeling slightly stifled and always find its good to shake things up a little when feeling this way and do something new (it doesn't have to be an adventure either but in this case it was). For me, a trip somewhere can reignite the power of possibility which exists out there but can easily be forgotten in the day to day routines.

I was on a limited budget and traveling solo but wanted a good way to connect with others whilst doing some exploring in Porto. I looked at some Surf camps and yoga retreats but they were a tad out of my price range and I wasn't willing to take the risk of paying £500 plus to perhaps end up somewhere I wasn't that into. In the end I went for a week in Portugal flying in and out of Porto and adding Lisbon to the end of trip.

On arrival in Porto, traveling from the airport is easy and there is a tourist information centre conveniently placed directly in the airport. I popped in to double check the best way to get to Sao Bento train station, ask a few questions and buy a reusable andante travel pass. Buying the travel pass here saved time trying to navigate how to use the ticket machines after an early flight, a massive win for me. I took the blue line from the Airport to Trinidad and made a small change to get to Sao Bento, easy peasy.

I pre booked a hostel located in the Sao Bento train station aptly named The Passenger Hostel, as I thought it would be incredibly easy to find after traveling and it was. I mean most people know where a major train station is, don't they? In my opinion, its a surefire win for any hostel located near public transport, especially a main railway station, so good I did it twice on this trip, The Destination in Lisbon was the other one.

The Passenger Hostel is a gem of a hostel, brilliantly located, clean with friendly staff. Upon arriving the staff were welcoming and helpful which is hugely important when arriving in a new Country or anywhere for that matter. Unfortunately, it doesn't always go that way. When traveling solo or with others, its nice to have a warm welcome and this can hugely impact the trip, time in a place and memories of the time there. Have you ever had a great experience in a hostel and its made your trip? or one so bad its affected how you felt about a place afterwards? Spill the beans, if so.

There were free activities arranged by the hostel making it easier to meet people, free tasty chorizo at the bar which was a relaxed opportunity to chat with others. There was a huge communal space upstairs, live music downstairs, night dependent and a delicious complimentary breakfast, amongst much more (and you get to see the gorgeous tilework in Sao Bento station every day!). Whats not to love?

On the first night at The Passenger hostel there was a sunset tour to the Jardim das Virtudes. This was a great way to get my bearings, connect with people, see what they were up to and explore the City with local knowledge. The best introduction to Porto and its beautiful sunset.

Porto is a very managable City to see by foot but another brilliant way to see the city is by tram. I jumped on one at the top of a random street and stayed on the whole route next to the driver, as the views were good up front. I found it to be a brilliant way to gauge the size of the City, spot areas of interest for further exploration and give my legs a rest.

If you feel more inclined to stretch your legs there are walking tours available in the City too, one local company is Porto Walkers, a good way to explore Porto through the eyes of a local and Sandemans New Europe walking tours.

One of the main things to see in Porto is the famous Luis bridge which isn't too far from Sao Bento station. There are beautiful views to either side of the bridge and its easy to cross on foot. However, if you haven't got a head for heights there is the option of taking the Funicular dos Guindais, this way you can cross the bridge from below, giving you a whole new perspective, minus the vertigo.

I crossed the Bridge from above and below, on the above journey its important to keep your eyes peeled for passing transportation. Once over the other side there is a beautiful garden to relax in or you can head up a small hill to discover the Monastery of Serra do Pillar, where you can see yet more incredible views of the City.

Whilst crossing the Luis Bridge you'll pass over the Douro River to the other side, Cais de Gaia, an area famous for Port wine, its import/export and production. This area is great to explore day or night and there are many great restaurants, bars and shops. Of course, its also an excellent place to try some port and port cocktails whilst watching the sunset. I can highly recommend The George restaurant terrace located outside the Sandman Cellars, for delicious Port cocktails, relaxing vibes and stunning river views. There are also bustling nighttime markets to be found here too and river cruise options.

From here, you can walk up a steep side street at the bottom of Cais de Gaia and arrive at the gardens to the side of the Luis Bridge. If time permits, its definitely worth crossing the bridge at night, as its a visual delight.

One thing I would never normally recommend to do is visit a McDonalds in any City but in Porto I have to say its one thing you must do. There is no need to buy anything, of course but just pop in, its unlike any other McDonalds. It is like a fancy restaurant, super clean, stain glass and chanderliers. My friend from Porto said it used to be a fancy bar, hence the reason it has all the stain glass windows and detailing. It is very elegant and although I didn't eat there it is probably the most glamorous of places to eat a 99c cheeseburger.

The brilliant thing about Porto is the ease of being able to travel within the region on a limited budget. There are many interesting things to see and do near by including the famous Douro Valley, Peneda Geres National Park and beaches to try a spot of surfing. There are options for daytrips run by tour operators, airbnb experiences or you can choose to plan your own. There are pros and cons to each option. I always find taking an organised trip is a good idea when traveling solo as it can be a good way to meet other people or an airbnb experience to see the area through the eyes of a local. If you are with friends or on a limited budget, organising your own trip is usually cost effective and fun, its all personal preference.

I was lucky to meet some great people on my trip to Porto and traveled by train with a friend to the Duoro Valley. We were able to get a return train ticket for minimal cost, the exact price I can't quite remember but perhaps something like 20/25 euros which was a lot less than the 80/90 euros daytrips. The train journey through the Douro Valley is spectacular especially on a sunny day, it takes a little time to get there but is worth it.

This was a brilliant trip where everything just seemed to slot into place with the people I met, food I ate and places visited. I can highly recommend anyone in need of a few days away on a limited budget to go and explore Porto.

Have you ever visited Porto and do you have any recommendations for the City?

Helpful Links
Visit Porto
Introducing Porto

Travel
Andante Travel Pass
Tram travel
Train travel

Food
Tapobento (recommended to book in advance as it gets very busy)
The Traveller Caffe

Drinks
Ferro bar (bar with a great roof terrace)

Walks
Porto Walkers
SANDEMANs NewEuropetours

Interest
Day trips to Douro Valley
Airbnb Experiences
Six Bridge Cruises
Peneda Geres National Park
Livaria Lello