7 reasons to visit Porto beyond port
One, admittedly superb, fortified wine does not a great city make. Yes, if you love port, you could have a joyful holiday just easing from one port house in Vila Nova de Gaia in Porto to the next, but why would you when this northern Portuguese charmer offers so much more?
For years, Lisbon grabbed all the Portuguese city break headlines, but that is changing as savvy travellers catch on to what this dynamic city on the Douro offers in such rich abundance. Here are seven reasons you have to visit Porto beyond the port.
Getting to Porto: find great value city breaks to historic Porto with easyjet holidays*.
Old town marvel
No wonder UNESCO gets so excited about Porto*. The city is firmly grounded in granite, perhaps why its historic architecture has managed to survive the ravages of the earthquakes that have troubled its great rival of Lisbon.
Walking down the cobbled streets to the river banks that were once alive with ships toing and froing from ports all over the world, it is easy to peel back the centuries. Church spires soar, those azulejo tiles shimmer, and myriad cafés await for frequent breaks.
Porto's citizens like to take time to appreciate the finer things in life, and you are more than welcome to join them. And then there are the bridges that sweep you across the river; boats are on hand too to help you plug straight into the arteries of Porto's intoxicating history.
This is a city whose old town is a joy to just aimlessly wander around without even mentioning the P word.
The many Michelins
Forget about Porto's more traditional dishes, like surely Europe's most calorific sandwich (the Francesinha) and the tripe tradition, and discover a world of Michelin-starred magic best enjoyed with an evening-long tasting menu.
Porto these days is brilliant at turning the surrounding region's bountiful produce into creative culinary masterpieces. Uber Porto Chef Vitor Matos and his growing team just cannot stop winning stars with another brace of one-star Michelin restaurants added to his stand-out two-star Antiqvvm in 2025.
Henrique Sa Pessoa already boasted a two-star restaurant and added a star for Vinha on the quieter banks of Vila Nova de Gaia at the same awards in Porto. The smart money is on it rising to claim a second star.
Outside the city, Renato Cunha works wonders at Ferrugem; look out for the regular summer outdoor pop-ups where they cook in cauldrons over a wood fire as you dine al fresco.
Hit the Atlantic coast
The Douro has long been the city's lifeblood, but it would be nothing without the Atlantic that it leads to, across which a world of trading opportunities opened up that powered the city on with great riches.
Today, many visitors don't even consider the coast. You should. Ease out to the seaside neighbourhood of Boa Nova for a life-affirming stroll and to savour delicious seafood in one of the excellent restaurants, which are seriously popular with locals.
Casa de Cha da Boa Nova is the best, a two-star Michelin wonder steered by the brilliant Rui Paula. Peer out over the rugged rocks and tumbling surf through the floor-to-ceiling windows as you tuck into lobster and carabinero deep-sea prawns given a deliciously creative touch.
Go to Guimaraes
Porto boasts a sweep of tempting day trip opportunities. None better than Guimaraes, the cradle of modern Portugal, where the Portuguese monarchs forged their fledgling nation.
Getting here is a joy by train from Porto's Estação ferroviária de São Bento, a gloriously old world railway station bedecked in over 20,000 of those lavish azulejo tiles.
Don't miss Guimaraes Castle, where the world of the Portuguese monarchs and their battles comes alive on a tour and with a virtual reality headset. Then explore the UNESCO World Heritage-listed old town and try the tasty local cakes at Pastelaria Clarinha.
Europe's Most Beautiful Bookshop?
If you love books or are looking for inspiration to start reading again, then this is a must. No wonder you have to buy a ticket to get in, as Livraria Lello & Irmao is an unmissable attraction in its own right.
Lonely Planet and The Guardian are among those hailing this not only as one of the continent's finest bookshops, but one of the world's best. It boasts serious heritage, dating back to 1869.
Eking under its arches and up that spiral staircase feels like delving into a secret library at Hogwarts. Just try not to be inspired to buy a book. The architecture itself is a feast for the senses; a striking collage of Art Deco, Art Nouveau and Neo-Gothic.
...and Europe's Most Beautiful McDonald's!
Stick with us here. Yes, everyone knows McDonald's, and you don't often get multinational fast food outlets recommended on itineraries, but this is more than a little different.
If you don't believe us, just Google 'the world's most beautiful McDonald's' and Porto will pop up. It's not really about the burgers, fries or chicken bits, of course: it's all about the building.
And what a building it is. McDonald's only arrived here in 1995, but the Café Imperial has a heritage that dates back to the 1930s. Think Art Deco. Think Portuguese sculptor Henrique Moreira's great bronze eagle. Think chandeliers and stained glass. You can even go local with one of those cheeky pasteis de nata custard tarts.
Wine not port
Here we delve into how port came about. The extra-strength booze was originally conjured up so that the local wines would not spoil on the arduous voyage by sea north to the British Isles.
Porto is synonymous with port these days, but the vineyards of the Douro also conjure up superb, and superb value, white, red and rosé wines.
Take Ferreira in Vila Nova de Gaia. On the face of it, it's a port house that has been in the same Portuguese family for generations, and you won't be disappointed by their excellent range of white, tawny and vintage port.
But they also offer excellent white, red and rosé wines. Ferreira is the perfect microcosm for a city that so demonstrably offers far more than just its world-famous port.
Climate in Porto
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum daytime temperature °C |  14 |
14 |
 16 |
 18 |
20 |
 23 |
 25 |
25 |
24 |
21 |
17 |
14 |
| Hours of sunshine (daily) | ||||||||||||
| Days with some rainfall |  17 |
16 |
 15 |
14 |
13 |
 9 |
 6 |
5 |
8 |
14 |
15 |
15 |
| Sea temperature °C |  14 |
 13 |
14 |
14 |
15 |
 17 |
17 |
 18 |
18 |
17 |
16 |
14 |
The above guide shows the climate in Porto. Find out more about conditions across the country in our complete guide to the climate in Portugal.
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