The second largest city in Portugal, Porto has plenty of charisma and makes no excuses about it.
Considered one of the country’s most charming cities, its die-hard fans swear by Porto’s exquisite allure and claim it as the city of cities, with a grace beyond compare.
Does that sound a bit over the top? Perhaps, but it’s a reflection of the character of the city and its people. More on that later.
Even though Porto is smaller than Lisbon, it’s packed with services, it has solid infrastructure, and it offers never-ending things to do, see, and enjoy.
Art, impressive architecture, historical neighborhoods, beaches, parks, and gardens are some of the perks of this city—and port, of course. Don’t forget about port wine.
The cities around Porto, like Vila Nova de Gaia, Matosinhos, Gondomar, and Maia, are home to roughly 1.7 million people, although Porto itself only has about 220,000 inhabitants.
Known as the capital of the north, Porto is a wonderfully central spot to explore all the northwest parts of Portugal, cities like Braga and Guimarães, the banks of the Douro River, and the national park of Peneda-Gerês, and more are easy to reach. Many people who walk the Portuguese Way of Saint James start their itinerary here.
A 30- to-45-minute drive will take you to a few river beaches along the Douro. If you want to go for a swim and don’t feel like facing the Atlantic, you have more options not far away.
Like most of mainland Portugal, Porto has hot summers and moderate winters. Because it’s in the north of the country, it’s colder and rainier than the southern cities. Still, temperatures can reach the 104ºF (40ºC) mark in the summer and drop to below 32ºF (0ºC) in the winter.
Porto wins the hearts of tourists, expats, and digital nomads. Feel like you’re missing out on something? Make sure to keep reading.
