Porto

Porto

At the mouth of the Rio Douro, the hilly city of Porto presents a jumble of styles, eras and attitudes: narrow medieval alleyways, extravagant baroque churches, prim little squares, and wide boulevards lined with stately beaux-arts edifices.

Yet despite signs of decay, in the last two decades Porto has undergone a remarkable renaissance – which is expressed in the hum of its efficient metro system and in the gleam of some ambitious urban renewal projects in other parts of town. The crowning glories of the town are the two recent masterworks, Álvaro Siza Vieira’s Museu de Arte Contemporânea and Rem Koolhaas’ Casa da Música, which have turned the city into a pilgrimage site for architecture buffs. And there are signs that an infusion of youthful vitality is returning to the centre, with the arrival of new galleries and boutiques.

Getting there and away

Unless you are local, you will most likely be approaching by air, and arriving into Francisco Sa Carneiro Porto airport (OPO). Click here for a map of the area including the airport.

We would recommend that you take a taxi for the short transfer into the city.

Accommodation

There is a wide range of accommodation depending on your budget and taste. We do not recommend any specifically, but would advise that you use an agent or tourist information centre, unless you know the city. TripAdvisor is also a good resource.