Porto is Portugal's second-largest city and a great location for both city breaks and longer holidays to explore the north of the country. In 1996, the city's medieval historic centre was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s popular for its architecture and gastronomy and as the home of the fortified wine named after it – port.
Set inland on the banks of the Douro River, the city is served internationally by the recently renovated and expanded Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport (OPO) and is a sophisticated blend of the modern and the traditional. It boasts a shopping area of quaint, old-fashioned boutiques alongside modern brand names, the modern concert hall Casa de Musica and a number of architecturally significant cathedrals and churches. Baroque influences have left buildings and bridges covered in gold and other ostentatious decoration, with striking tiled walls and carvings next to modern architecture.
The lively and atmospheric Cais de Ribeira waterfront area is full of bars and eateries and is the centre for nightlife, with great views across the river and its numerous bridges. As a historic trading centre, Porto still contains lots of picturesque mansions and other historically important buildings built on the profits of trade, such as the riverfront port wine houses of the Cais de Gaia. These are open to visitors for tours and tastings. You could also take a boat trip along the river for a better view of the scenery.
Getting around by car is simple if you avoid the narrow cobbled lanes, and booking Porto car rental before you arrive is always the best option to secure a great deal. You can collect your vehicle from the airport and downtown locations in the city. When you rent a car, Porto serves as a fantastic base for seeing more of this part of Portugal. Read on to discover what else you can see and do.
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