Portugal > Porto > Porto
Porto
N 41°9.329', W 8°37.591'
2015-10-04
http://www.visitporto.travel
Our rating: 8.20
Overall rating: - Rate this place - 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Porto is a medium-sized european city and is one of the most important treasures of the Old World. It's famous for a football club and a port wine - wine that is produced only here.
Porto ©Yuriy Buriak
However, the main attraction of Porto is the old town with the cathedral of the XIII century, Clérigos tower (1754-1763) and Ponte de Don Luis (1881-1886). Porto is located on two levels: promenade is located on the lower level and the rest of the old town on the upper. They are connected by the expensive funicular and cable car, therefore, prepare to walk a lot. We had lived on the lower level on the waterfront Ribeira, in the Muralha da Barca Apartamentos (booking.com , ~90 euros per night). If you are ready to go up on foot, we recommend it for a good location. District of Ribeira is the oldest and most picturesque in the city. You have to live here to feel the spirit of old Porto.
Porto ©Yuriy Buriak
Porto ©Yuriy Buriak
The old town of Porto is quite large, but the main interest is Ponte de Don Luis (Ponte Luís I). Moreover, the area around it is so great that you can come to Porto only because of this place. Bridge has two levels with sidewalks on the both levels. Morning view of the bridge from the Ribeira waterfront.
Porto ©Yuriy Buriak
On the other side of the river, at the top, you can see a dome of Serra do Pilar monastery. Here it is.
Porto ©Yuriy Buriak
Here located the best viewpoint of Porto - Miradouro da Serra do Pilar. From the promenade it can be reached either on foot or by cable car. Find here opening times and prices.
Porto ©Yuriy Buriak
The cable car goes over wine cellars, which can be visited with a tour.
Porto ©Yuriy Buriak
At the top station of cable car there is an observation deck, but you need to go upper. Come in the evening, this is the best time.
Porto ©Yuriy Buriak
If you go up on foot, then find many cats on the Calçada da Serra street, we even brought them food.
Porto ©Yuriy Buriak
The bridge is beautiful from any point in the morning, day and evening - this is the main hallmark of the city.
Porto ©Yuriy Buriak
Porto ©Yuriy Buriak
Porto ©Yuriy Buriak
Before going up, it makes sense to take a stroll along the promenade to the Transport and Communications Museum (Museu dos Transportes e Comunicacoes, address R. Nova da Alfândega, 4050-430), it is a huge building on the waterfront. It is not necessary to visit the museum, just use it as a landmark. On the way you will see a lot of beautiful old houses.
Porto ©Yuriy Buriak
Porto ©Yuriy Buriak
Porto ©Yuriy Buriak
Porto ©Yuriy Buriak
Porto ©Yuriy Buriak
Porto ©Yuriy Buriak
Then you can continue on the old tram to the ocean.
Porto ©Yuriy Buriak
But the better idea is to take a bike, here is an article about this trip .
Bike Path in Porto ©Yuriy Buriak
"Upper" old town is quite large and you can wander around for several days.
Porto ©Yuriy Buriak
Porto ©Yuriy Buriak
Porto ©Yuriy Buriak
Porto ©Yuriy Buriak
Porto ©Yuriy Buriak
Porto ©Yuriy Buriak
City hall
Porto ©Yuriy Buriak
Stairs on the street near the city hall
Porto ©Yuriy Buriak
Porto has the world-famous bookstore Livraria Lello & Irmão (R. das Carmelita, 144), that inspired Joan Roulling to write a series of books about Harry Potter. Now the store has become a place of pilgrimage. On the Internet you can find the information that on Monday from 9 to 10 the store is open for photographers and at other times taking pictures is prohibited. We came at 8:30 am and found there... all the "photographers" from the whole Porto. Moreover, now you have to buy a ticket to visit a shop! At 9 am appeared few tour groups which entered without a queue! So, we decided just to avoid this place and that was a good idea.
Porto ©Yuriy Buriak
Want to see the cult of Harry Potter?
Porto ©Yuriy Buriak
Well, just a joke, it's a student ritual that happens throughout Portugal. More photos of Porto
Porto ©Yuriy Buriak
As elsewhere in Portugal, the streets and houses in Porto tiled.
Porto ©Yuriy Buriak
Luxury second hand store!
Porto ©Yuriy Buriak
Nice idea for graffiti
Porto ©Yuriy Buriak
Porto ©Yuriy Buriak
Map of Porto (9 Mb) Getting there: The airport of Porto has the metro station, a day ticket on the metro and buses cost about 6 euros (Z4 zone). Porto has two main railway stations: Porto Sao Bento in the center and Porto Campanha on the outskirts. High-speed trains leave from Porto Campanha.
Tags, Portugal: bridge , city , observation deck , river Tags, all countries: bridge , city , observation deck , river
- Rate this place -
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
Our rating - 8.20
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
Visitor's rating - 0.00
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help