Hostelworld Guide for PortoFamous for its six impressive bridges and medieval old town, Porto is home to hilly streets, leafy parks,golden beaches and friendly natives. Situated along the Douro River, this is the second most importantcity in Portugal and is in the north of the country. Around 220,000 people call this city home, with large

numbers of visitors increasing that number each year. Porto's historic centre has been designated aWorld Heritage site, and here's where you'll find the Clrigos Tower, the So Bento railway station and

the Ribeira area. The city's main export is the world-renowned Port wine, and there are plenty of places allover Porto where you can sample this famous tipple. All-in-all, thanks to its welcoming atmosphere,

pleasant climate and top-class attractions Porto is well-worth a look.

In this Guide...

Useful InformationAfter Dark

Places to EatTop Attractions

Budget TipsWhere to Shop

The Essentials Climate

Getting There

By plane: Porto Airport, officially known as theFranc isco Sa Carne i ro A i rpo r t , i s l oca tedapproximately 11km from the city. One of Porto'smetro lines terminates here, and a number of busand taxi services also deliver passengers from theairport to the city centre.

By train: So Bento Station is the city's majorcentral train station. Porto's light rail and suburbanservices run through here.

By bus: An extensive network of buses operatesbetween Porto and the neighbouring towns, as wellas throughout the city itself.

Getting Around

On foot: It is possible to explore large sections ofPorto on foot; however, it's likely that you'll alsoneed to use public transport during your stay.

By metro: The city's metro system operates on fivedifferent lines and visits approximately 68 differentstations. These lines criss-cross Porto, connectingmany of the city's main attractions and popularneighbourhoods.

By funicular: To get from Ribeira to the areaaround So Bento station, you can use the scenicfunicular service. It's a quick and easy alternative tonavigating the hilly streets on foot.

Useful PhrasesHello: OlGoodbye: AdeusPlease: Por favorThank you: ObrigadoYou're welcome: De nadaYes: SimNo: NoOf course: Com certezaExcuse me: Disculpa (Sorry) / Com licena(with your permission)How are you?: Tudo bom?Open: AbertoClosed: FechadoWhat is your name?: Qual o teu nome?My name is...: Meu nome ...How much does it cost?: Quanto custa?The bill please?: A conta por favor?

Thanks to its location, Porto generally boasts mildwinters and warm summers. During the summer,the city tends to see a lot of sun, but this can beinterrupted by periods of rain. In the winter,temperatures fall, but they don't usually drop belowfreezing. July and August tend to be the hottestmonths, with temperatures averaging out at around20C, while January tends to be the coldest monthwith an average low of 9C. December is generallythe wettest month, whi le July sees the mostsunshine.

Good to know...Language: PortugueseCurrency: EuroElectricity: 220 Volts, AC50/HzArea code: +351 (Portugal), 022 (Porto)Emergency codes: Police 112 / Ambulance112 / Fire 112Time zone: Greenwich Mean TimeCentral Post Office: Praa General HumbertoDelgadoMain Tourist Office: City Council TourismOffice - Center, Rua Clube dos Fenianos 25

Embassies/Consulates

UK: +351 (0)21 392 4000*USA: +351 (0)21 727 3300*Canada: +351 (0)21 316 4600*Australia: +351 (0)21 310 1500*South Africa: +351 (0)21 319 2200*Ireland: +351 (0)21 392 9440*Spain: +351 (0)22 536 3915***Germany: +351 (0)21 881 0210Italy: +351 (0)21 351 5320*New Zealand: +39 (0)6 853 7501**France: +351 (0)22 607 8220****Embassy in Lisbon**Embassy in Rome***Consulate in Porto

Hostelworld Guide for Porto www.hostelworld.com

Cheap Eats After Dark

Lusiada, Rua de Cames 398, Santo Ildefonso Atrue local restaurant, Lusiada is off the beatentourist track and has a real family-run feel. ThePortuguese menu is pretty comprehensive and, witha little help, you'll be able to figure out what's what.Try the specially priced sampling menu for realvalue. Open Mon-Sat 8am-10pm, closed Sundays.

Confeiteria Mengos, Rua de Santa Catarina 161,S This popular spot sits on Porto's main shoppingstretch. The location might be what brings thecrowds but the array of delicious sweet treats iswhat keeps them here. For your mid-shoppingbreak, Mengos offers cakes and pastries, plussavoury snacks. Open Mon-Sat 7am-10pm, closedSundays.

Chic Dream, Campo Mrtires da Ptria 64,Clrigos Beside the Pc da Cordoaria, this funkylittle restaurant has plenty of seats inside andoutside. An English menu is available, with the localcodfish speciality a particularly popular dish. Ifyou're looking to save a few euros, check out thegreat value set meal for two. Open Mon-Sat10.30am-4pm & 7pm-11.30pm, closed Sundays.

Franc-ly delicious

Francesinha Porto's favourite snack firstappeared in the 1960s and no trip to the city iscomplete without a bite of this filling sandwich.It's made from bread and various meats, allcovered in melted cheese and doused in secretsauce. Prices vary throughout the city, but forthe amount of food you get, it's a real bargain.

Terrace Arts Caf, Rua Fernandes Tomas 985,Santo Ildefonso If you fancy some breakfast, headto the Terrace Arts Caf. Breakfast specials suchas coffee and a croissant are offered at incrediblylow prices. Sit under UFO-like lights and wait forservice from the quick and friendly staff who willexplain the menu. Open Mon-Sat 7am-8pm, closedSundays.

Praia da Luz, Avenida do Brasil, Foz do Douro Abeachside bar with waves lapping almost right up toits side, trendy Praia da Luz is perfect for arefreshing drink. Out on the deck you can lounge oncomfy couches or sit at one of the many tables,complete with sun umbrellas. Sip cocktails in thehip surroundings and watch the waves, the surfersor the setting sun. Open daily 10am-4am/5am.

Casa da Msica, Avenida da Boavista 604-610,Boavista Opened in 2005, the Casa da Msicahosts a wide variety of jazz, world music, orchestraland choral performances. An attraction in itself,guided tours of the venue's stunning interior areava i l ab le . Open Mon-Sa t 10am-7pm, Sun10am-8pm, opening times vary on performancedays.

Plano B, Rua Cndido dos Reis 30, Vitria Fromits long entrance hall to the giant red curtains at thedoor, this bar oozes boho chic. There are plenty ofplaces to sit, from mismatched couches to artytables around the L-shaped bar. Ornate lamps andquirky light fixtures add to the impression that this iswhere the cool crowd hangs out. Open Tues-Wed2.30pm-8pm & 10pm-2am, Thurs-Sat 2.30pm-4am.

Gay/Lesbian PortoWhile still a bit closeted, Porto is becomingmore welcoming to LGBT individuals. Each yearthe city holds a gay pride event and you'll findquite a few gay bars scattered around. Three ofthe most popular are: Boys 'R Us (Rua Dr.Barbosa de Castro 63), Moinho De Vento (Ruade S de Noronha 76-78) and Pride (Rua doBonjardim 1121).

Labirintho, Rua Nossa Senhora de Ftima 334,Cedofeita Close to the Casa da Msica, this is apopular spot for a post-show drink. It's also afavourite with locals who come here late at night tochat and smoke over coffees, before samplingsome of the alcoholic tipples on offer. Small andintimate, this is the perfect place to get a real tasteof Portuguese nightlife. Open daily 10.30pm-4am.

Triplex, Avenida de Boavista 911, BoavistaFound inside a sprawling townhouse, the bar heretakes up a number of different low-lit rooms. There'san area where you can dance to the music providedby the guest DJs who play here almost every night.Popular with a younger crowd, Triplex offers a widevariety of reasonably priced drinks, from cocktails toport. Open Mon-Thurs 9pm-2am, Fri-Sat 9pm-4am.

Don't Miss Mark Your Calendar

Torre dos Clrigos, Rua de So Filipe de Nery,Clrigos Once you climb the 225 stone steps to thetop of this, the highest tower in Portugal, you'll findamazing views of the city. Built between 1754 and1763, it stretches up for 76 metres. A beautifulchurch is attached to this bell tower, and it's wellworth paying it a visit while you're here. Open daily9.30am-1pm & 2.30pm-7pm; admission 2.

We are sailing, we are sailing

Douro Acima River Boat Tours, Cais daRibeira, Ribeira Lasting around 50 minutes,these boat tours take you up and down the riverproviding great views of the bridges and areaslike Gaia and Ribeira. Tours depart every halfhour from 10am-12.30pm & 2pm-6.30pm;admission 12.50.

Palcio da Bolsa, Rua Ferreira Borges, SoNicolau Visits to the Palcio da Bolsa are byguided tour only as the building is still in use. All therooms are done in a different style and the Arabianroom, which took 18 years to complete, is arguablythe most stunning. Open Nov-Mar 9am-1pm &2pm-6pm, Apr-Oct 9am-7pm; admission 5.50.

Serralves Park, Rua D. Joo de Castro 210,Lordelo do Ouro Verdant and vibrant, SerralvesPark covers an impressive 18 hectares. Strollthrough the shaded woods, enjoy the blooms in thesweet-smelling rose garden or have a seat and takein the park's free standing art works. Open Apr-SeptTues-Fri 10am-7pm & Sat-Sun 10am-8pm, Oct-MarTues-Sun 10am-7pm; admission 2.50.

Igreja de So Francisco, Rua do Infante D.Henrique, So Nicolau So Francisco church is anincredibly ornate and open house of worship. Youcan literally walk right up to the altar and wanderaround. Make sure to check out the incrediblydetailed statues. Open Nov-Feb 9am-5.30pm,Mar-Oct 9am-7m, Jul-Sept 9am-8pm; admission 3.

January - Dia de Reis Dia de Reis or 'Night ofKings' is an annual celebration that marks the endof the Christmas season. An important part of thisfestival is the eating of the traditional 'King's Cake'.

February - Fantasporto Porto's International FilmFestival has been taking place for almost 30 years.During this popular event, feature films from all overthe world, along with shorts and much more areshown across the city.

March - Black and White Festival During thisfestival up and coming artists who specialise inblack and white creations get the chance toshowcase their work.

May - Queima das Fitas Held in the second weekof May, this event takes place just before the run upto end of year exams in Porto. Over the course ofthe week, a series of different events take place,including concerts and marches.

May-June - Feira do Livro Porto An importantliterary event, the Feira do Livro has been held inPorto for many years. A large number of writers andpublishers take part. Readings, discussions, booksales and more are all a part of this popular festival.

June - Festa de Sao Joao This lively festival is themost important annual event in Porto. CelebratingSt. John, the festival includes street concerts,barbecues, all night parties and a spectacularfireworks display.

August - Noites Ritual Rock A rock festival,Noites Ritual Rock features the biggest local bands,as well as various up and coming acts. Held in theJardim do Palacio de Cristal, the festival attracts aquirky line-up and audience.

September - FIMP (Festival Internacional deMarionetas) Puppets are the focus here and a widevariety of performances take place over the courseof the event. Musical acts and workshops also playan important part.

November - Frame This festival is al l aboutcelebrating and promoting the artistic medium ofvideo-dance. A wide variety of performances arescreened during the event.

December - Christmas Fair Porto's ChristmasHandicraft Fair showcases a huge variety of locallymade handcrafts. It's the place to go in the city forunique Christmas gifts and is very popular.

Hostelworld Guide for Porto www.hostelworld.com

Neighbourhood Watch Retail Therapy

Ribeira Porto's historical centre Ribeira has actuallybeen designated as a World Heritage site. Alongthe quays here you'll be able to catch one of thepopular river boat tours, or alternatively you canstroll through the medieval streets and check outthe old colourful buildings. You can also samplesome Portuguese cuis ine at any number ofrestaurants, bars and cafs beside the river.

The wonderful seaside of Foz

Foz do Douro A visit to the Foz area revealsmore than just beach-front beauty. Here you'llalso find pretty parks filled with colourfulflowers, as well as shops and cafs. Theseafront walkways are a delight too, completewith beachside bars where you can practicallydip your toes in the ocean while you sip on acocktail or two.

Villa Nova de Gaia Generally known as Gaia, thisarea is across the river from Porto and is animportant town in its own right. Locally producedport wines are aged here and the 'caves' where thewine barrels are stored can be visited. Take a strollalong the quayside to see traditional rabelo boats,used to transport port.

S Another of Porto's most renowned historicalparishes, S contains some of the city's mainattractions. The Romanesque Porto Cathedral andthe tile-adorned So Bento train station are two ofthe most popular. In this area you'll also be able tohop on Porto's panoramic funicular service or headacross the Ponte D. Luis I.

Matosinhos North of Porto's city centre and handilylocated along the metro line, Matosinhos is apopular seaside suburb. Golden sands stretch outalong the seafront, while the waves make this afavourite with surfers. When you're here, check out'She Changes', a giant public sculpture along by thesea, or have a look in some of the f i rst-rateboutiques.

Rua de Santa Catarina, Santo Ildefonso SantaCatarina is a mix of hip boutiques, local brands andwell-known global names. A number of stalls set upshop along the street too, offering leather goods,jewellery and more. The three-floor Via Catarinamall can also be found along this stretch.

El Corte Ingls, Avenida da Repblica 1435,Gaia A well-known institution in these parts, ElCorte Ingls is filled with internationally renownedbrands l ike Clinique, Hugo Boss and TommyHilfiger. This giant department store also boasts tendifferent floors. Open Mon-Sat 10am-11pm.

Dolce Vita, Rua dos Campees Europeus28-198, Campanh Beside the Estadio do Dragao,this shopping mall is spread over five different floorswith plenty of top-notch shops to catch your eyeand compel you to reach for your wallet. Pull &Bear, Quicksilver, Foot Locker, Lacoste, PepeJeans, Zara, and Vodafone are just some of thestores. Open Mon-Thurs 9am-11pm, Fri-Sat9am-12am.

A bookworm's paradise

Livraria Lello, Rua das Carmelitas 144,Clrigos Step inside this bookshop and you'llfeel like you've stepped into somewheremagical as it earns its place as one of the mostbeautiful bookshops in the world. Spread overtwo levels, Lello was built in 1906 and is anenticing spot for a wander, especially for anybibliophiles out there. Open Mon-Fri10am-7.30pm, Sat 10am-7pm, closed Sun.

Shopping Cidade do Porto, Rua GonaloSampaio 350, Boavista Another of Porto's largeshopping centres, the stores in this mall are spreadover four different floors. Furnishings, clothing,accessories, cosmetics, perfumes and more can allbe bought here, with brands like Zara, Mango,Accessorize and Benneton all present. Open daily10am-11pm.

Porto for Free A Day in Porto...

Have a look around the So Bento railwaystation So much more than somewhere to justarrive in or depart from Porto, So Bento is animportant landmark building complete with hugeareas of painted tiles on the walls. Battles scenesand more can be seen in the blue and white worksof art, encompassing around 20,000 different tiles.

Wander through the Praa da Cordoaria Thisopen park area sports a pond, lots of shaded areaswhere you can lounge on the grass, and plenty ofbenches to sit on. If you've got your laptop, you canwhip it out and check your email while you're heretoo, as the park has its own WiFi.

Just beachy

Go to the beach at Matosinhos One of thebest places around Porto to enjoy sun, sea andsand, this stretch of golden beach is popular onwarm, sunny days. Sunbathing and swimmingare popular activities, with surfing also all therage. Numerous surf shops along the beachoffer equipment and lessons. So if you feel likecatching your first wave, head to Matosinhos.

Walk across the Ponte D. Luis I From this bridgeyou'll see some of the most stunning views of Portoand of the River Douro. Along with pedestrian pathsat both sides, it's also traversed by one of the city'smetro lines. Meandering across the tracks is easy,though. Well, when a train isn't coming, at least!

Visit the Catedral de Porto Inside this imposingRomanesque cathedral you can take in the contrastbetween the plain stone walls and the ornate altar.Sit in one of the wooden pews and look around atthe many beautiful stained glass windows. On thewalls just outside the entrance, you'll see more ofthe blue and white painted tiles that feature onmany of Porto's most beautiful structures. OpenApr-Oct 8 .45am-12.30pm & 14.30pm-7pm,Nov-Mar 8.45am-12.30pm & 14.30pm-6pm.

Start your day with breakfast at the Terrace ArtsCaf close to the Trindade metro station.

Walk from here towards Rua de Santa Catarinawhere you can sample some of the best shoppingPorto has to offer. Check out the Via Catarina malland the stalls too.

Pay a visit to the nearby Sa Bento railway stationwith its painted tile art or climb the Clrigos Towerfor stunning views of the city.

Have lunch at one of the cafs or restaurantsaround the Praa de Cordoaria such as the popularChic Dream.

After lunch, wander down to the Palcio da Bolsa(below) and take one of the guided tours offered invarious languages.

Head to the Ribeira area and check out thecolourful buildings. Take a river boat trip from hereto see the city's six famous bridges.

Jump on the metro and head out to Matosinhos,where you can stroll along the beach, peek insidesome of the shops, or even try your hand at surfing.

Have dinner in the Foz do Douro area, whichboasts numerous beachside restaurants and barssuch as the trendy Praia da Luz on Avenida doBrasil.

Head towards the Boavista area where you'll findpopular local bars such as Labirintho. Here you canenjoy a drink and some tunes.

End the night at Triplex, a multi-roomed bar withlive DJs, space to dance, and a garden where youcan drink beneath the stars.

Hostelworld Guide for Porto www.hostelworld.com

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