Gaia Cable Car Ride in Porto

Porto

Destination

Take a look at Orbzii’s Porto travel guide to discover the best of the city. Download the app to Dream, Plan & Book your next trip. 

Can we interest you in a Big Mac in possibly the most beautiful McDonald’s in the world? A strange opener to a Porto travel guide, but if you’re planning to visit this gorgeous city, it pays to be abreast of the sights. And, yes you can really grab a happy meal in an art deco styled, chandelier-adorned Maccys. You can also shop for your next page turner in an eye-wateringly stunning bookshop. Though, the stained glass ceiling of Porto’s Livraria Lello proves so popular with Harry Potter fans, there’s now a ticket system just to browse the shelves. This, of course, is all before we’ve had chance to wow you with tales from Porto’s soft sanded shoreline. In short, this is a city where beautiful sights abound.

And, the travel joy doesn’t stop there. This is a city that takes its food seriously. Much more seriously than any fast food outlet could, no matter how luxe it may be. Traditional recipes are found at every turn, more often not paired with the local, and historic tipple. Port might not be your go to drink order when you arrive, but you’ll find yourself musing the merits of a port cocktail long after you leave.

people dancing in club in porto

After dark: A guide to nightlife in Porto 

See & Do

When we say Porto’s nightlife is eclectic, we really mean it. Porto bars can be found in everything from former churches and courthouses to simple roof terraces with amazing views. And, while most of Porto’s nightlife takes place downtown, if you happen to find yourself on the coast, you’ll do well to check out the beach bars and beach clubs staying open long into the night. A little champagne under the stars never hurts, does it? For the chicest venues, a wander around the Foz do Douro puts you at the heart of Porto’s upscale nightlife scene.

drinking port with view of porto

A wine and port lover’s guide to Porto

Food & Drink

Second only to France’s champagne region (in terms of history and provenance) Porto is a wine lover’s haven. Porto wine flows freely in the city’s restaurants, wineries fling open their doors for tastings and tours and the Duoro Valley wine region’s right on your doorstep. The birthplace of port is as awash with history as is it is full-bodied vintages. We’ve taken a look at the best places to buy port in Porto, where the port tours take you and handpicked the best wineries in Porto for you. All that’s left for you to do? Raise a glass or two during your stay in the city. 

Porto Zenith Restaurant

Breakfast, lunch & dinner in Porto

Food & Drink

It doesn’t matter whether Michelin stars or quick and tasty bites get your mouth watering. In Porto, food options are bountiful. And, they do stray into quirky on occasion too. The travel essentials are, of course, there as well. Sea views, breakfasts that fulfil your entire daily calorie allowance and spots you’ll long to return to long after you’ve left. We’ve given the Porto food scene a taste check and picked out dining destinations you’ll want to have on your radar…

Church Senhor da Pedra beach porto

Battle of the cities: Porto vs Lisbon

Guides & Tips

When you’re deciding between two cities in the same country, travel choices can be tough. And, when it comes to Porto vs Lisbon you could be in for quite the dilemma. Both are beautiful Portuguese spots on the map with plenty of pull to lure in eager nomads keen to clock up the sights. Happily, we’ve broken the Porto or Lisbon decision down to help you pick between the two. No spoilers here, but you’ll be pleased to know, whichever city you choose, you’ll never be too far away from a pastel de nata…

surfers walking on Matosinhos Beach

The secrets of Porto’s beaches and bays

See & Do

One essential accessory for making the most of the beaches near Porto? A hire car. Yes, you can have a sunny day on the sands on a town beach, but the best Porto beaches are a small drive away. Public transport’s an option – but it’s also one that’ll unfortunately see you treble your journey time – at least. No ideal when you’ve an inflatable under one arm and a sizeable picnic under the other. With road trips starting at a trifling 15 minutes, there’s really no excuse no to show up on these stellar sands…