The colourful houses on the riverbank, with cafés and street musicians. Take the 50-minute boat cruise under Porto's six bridges for the best views.
Portugal
Porto travel guide
A city of bridges, tiled churches and river views, with the green Douro Valley at its door.
- Best time to visit
- May-September
- Flight from the Gulf
- 9-10 h from the Gulf with one stop
- Airport
- Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro (OPO), 25 min to the centre
- Time difference
- 3 h behind Riyadh in winter, 2 h in summer
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Language
- Portuguese
- Visa
- Schengen visa (UAE passports visa-free for short stays)
Porto is Portugal’s second city, built on steep hills above the Douro river. Its old riverside quarter, the Ribeira, is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and its blue-and-white tiled churches and iron bridges make it one of the most photogenic cities in Europe.
Two or three days are enough for the city: the historic centre and the riverside, a river cruise under the six bridges, and an afternoon at the beach in Foz or Matosinhos, where fresh fish is grilled in the street. Add one day for the Douro Valley, with its vineyard terraces and quiet river towns.
Porto is less busy than Lisbon and easy to combine with it – the train between the two cities takes about three hours.
Things to do in Porto
The places our guests love most, with the time you need and how to avoid the queues.
The double-deck iron bridge built in 1886. Walk across the upper deck to the Serra do Pilar viewpoint for the classic view of Porto, especially at…
One of the most beautiful bookshops in the world, with its famous red staircase and stained-glass ceiling. Book a time slot online.
The railway station hall is covered with 20,000 blue-and-white tiles telling Portugal's history. Nearby, the churches of Santo Ildefonso and Carmo have spectacular tiled façades.
The 19th-century stock exchange palace, famous for its Arab Room decorated in the style of the Alhambra. Guided visits only.
Terraced hills along the river, a UNESCO landscape. Stop at the viewpoints of São Leonardo de Galafura and Casal de Loivos, take a boat ride from…
Hotels in Porto
Hotels we know and recommend. Send your dates: we book the best rate for you and confirm on WhatsApp.
Summary
Porto ★★★★★
Avenida dos Aliados
Historic palace · Central location
Best priceon request
Summary
Porto ★★★★★
Ribeira
River views · Historic buildings
Best priceon request
Summary
Porto ★★★★★
Miragaia, above the river
Outdoor pool · River views
Best priceon request
Summary
Porto ★★★★★
Baixa, near Aliados
Historic · Courtyard
Best priceon request
Tours, packages and transfers in Porto
Private day trips with your own driver and guide, complete holidays, and airport transfers at a fixed price.
2 days
Price on request
Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport
OPO Arrival or departure, to or from any hotel in the city
Book transfer
Price per vehicle, one way. Meet and greet with your name, flight monitoring and waiting time included.
Car with driver in Porto
A private car and a professional driver for half a day or a full day: shopping, visits, day trips or business meetings. Arabic-speaking drivers on request.
- Sedan, minivan or large family van
- Hotel pick-up, waits for you at every stop
- Child seats and water on board
Where to stay in Porto
Aliados and BaixaThe elegant city centre with the town hall, shops and cafés. Walk to the riverside and Livraria Lello.
Ribeira (riverside)Picture-perfect river views, but steep and busy. Lovely for one night, less practical with heavy luggage.
BoavistaModern business area with large hotels, shopping centres and easy access to the beaches.
Foz do DouroWhere the river meets the ocean: a calm, upmarket area with seafront walks and restaurants.
Halal food and prayer
Fish grills of Matosinhos
Seafood & veggie Grilled fish and seafood · Rua Heróis de França, Matosinhos
A whole street of restaurants grilling the morning's catch on charcoal outside the door - sea bass, sole, sardines and prawns. 20…
Majestic Café
Historic café · Rua de Santa Catarina
A beautiful Belle Époque café from 1921 on the main shopping street - perfect for coffee, tea and cakes after shopping.
Halal curry houses near Bolhão
Halal Indian and Pakistani · Around the Bolhão market
Several small South Asian restaurants around the Bolhão market serve halal meat - biryani, karahi and grills. Ask us for the current…
Halal status is what the restaurant tells its guests and can change. When you book with us, we check it again before your trip.
Tips for your trip to Porto
- Porto is very hilly. Use the funicular (Funicular dos Guindais) or a taxi between the riverside and the upper town.
- Livraria Lello needs a ticket booked online; go at opening time to avoid the long queue.
- The best view of the city is from the upper deck of the Dom Luís I bridge or from the Serra do Pilar viewpoint at sunset.
- Ocean water is cold even in summer (around 18 °C). The beaches are for walking and sunbathing more than swimming.
- Many restaurants serve port wine and dishes cooked with wine or pork. Ask, or choose grilled fish.
- Porto is a good starting point for the Douro Valley and for Santiago de Compostela in Spain (3 hours by car).
Questions
Lisbon or Porto?
Both! Lisbon is bigger with more to see; Porto is smaller and more relaxed. Five to seven days covers both comfortably.
Is the Douro Valley worth it if we do not drink wine?
Yes. The scenery of terraced hills and the river is the main attraction. We plan the day around viewpoints, a boat ride and lunch, without wine tastings.
Is Porto good for children?
Yes - the river cruise, the cable car in Gaia, the beaches and the Sea Life aquarium are popular with children.
Can we fly into Porto and out of Lisbon?
Yes. We arrange the driver or train between the two cities and your airport transfers.
Plan your trip to Porto with us
Hotel, car with driver, tours and restaurants: tell us your dates and who is travelling. We reply in Arabic or English with a full plan and one price. No payment until you confirm.
- Reply within a few hours
- Family rooms and halal restaurants checked for you
- Support on WhatsApp during the trip
Photo credits
- Porto — Photo: Deensel · CC BY 2.0
- Livraria Lello — Photo: Guinness323 · CC0
- São Bento Station and the tiled churches — Photo: HombreDHojalata · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Palácio da Bolsa — Photo: Krzysztof Golik · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Porto — Photo: Vitor Oliveira from Torres Vedras, PORTUGAL · CC BY-SA 2.0
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under their free licences.
