Porto - practical tips

Francesinha

A Portuguese classic and real "fast food" in a local version. It's a sandwich resembling a toast, filled with different types of meat and cheese, baked under a thick layer of cheese and covered with a beer-based sauce. Sounds heavy and it is - the dish is fatty, very filling, but in our opinion definitely worth trying. The ingredients are usually of good quality, and the taste itself is really original.

There are many restaurants serving this dish, we went to the tiny restaurant Voltaria - Petisqueira Portuguesa, at R. de Afonso Martins Alho 109.

A recommended place is also Cafe Santiago, at R. de Passos Manuel 226.

Kale soup (Caldo Verde)

A delicate, creamy soup with kale and potatoes, often served with a slice of chorizo. Simple, cheap, and very Portuguese, often served as a starter.

Also served in the restaurants mentioned above, as well as many others in Porto. It's really not hard to find it.

Meat and cheese sandwiches

In Porto you'll find them practically at every turn - in bakeries, small bars, and cafes. Delicious, fresh rolls with good quality meat, cheese, and toppings. Perfect for a quick lunch between sightseeing.

Tested by us at Casa Guedes Tradicional, at Praca dos Poveiros 130 - we can honestly recommend them.

Roasted chestnuts

Chestnut sellers are a common sight in many cities, but it was in Porto where we were tempted to try them for the first time. Roasted chestnuts taste like a combination of potato and nut - soft, delicate after peeling from the skin. We didn't particularly like the taste, but it's worth testing. You can find them in many places in Porto, especially in more crowded ones.

Sardines

Being so close to the ocean, it's hard to pass by restaurants serving seafood indifferently. Sardines - most often grilled - are an absolute classic. Walking along the port, you can smell grilled fish. There's nothing to describe here, just try them yourself!

We went to a well-rated, atmospheric restaurant in Matosinhos - Petisqueira Godinho, at R. Godinho 144. The dishes were very good, but beware of additionally paid starters that the owner gives without asking, then adds them to the bill. Prices are not high, but we mention this so that no one is surprised when it comes to payment. If you're not going to the coast, there are also many restaurants serving sardines in Porto. Tested by us at Casa Guedes Tradicional, at Praca dos Poveiros 130 - we can honestly recommend them.

Bacalhau

A very popular snack - crispy on the outside and soft inside croquettes made of salted cod, potatoes, eggs, onions, and parsley. Perfect as tapas or a quick snack. They also come in various flavor variants.

Can be found in many restaurants, bars, or even cafes in Porto.

Pastéis de nata

After savory dishes, it's time for a dessert that we already loved in Madeira and here too it was hard to resist. These are delicate, French pastries filled with cream similar to pudding. Depending on the cafe, you'll find traditional versions or with the addition of various spices (e.g., orange). We warn you - you'll try them once and you'll eat them throughout the whole trip!

The most popular place in the center to try pastéis de nata is the cafe Castro - Atelier de Pastéis de nata, on the main road R. de Mouzinho da Silveira 61, famous for delicious fresh pastéis de nata made on site. The cafe is small and offers only one type of sweet snack, plus coffee and wine. We tested them and they're really amazing.

A place with good pastéis de nata is also the cafe Combi Coffee Roasters, at R. do Morgado de Mateus (it's best to go there before noon, as later the number of sweets may be limited)

Another cafe is Nata Sweet Nata - Porto 31 de Janeiro, as well as Nata Sweet Nata - Ribeira Porto.

According to reviews, it's also worth going to My Coffee Porto on the passage at Escadas do Codecal 22, where in addition to excellent desserts and coffee, there's a beautiful view of the Douro River.

Bolo de berlim

Soft, sweet donuts filled with custard cream or other flavors. Perfect with coffee - especially if you feel like something more caloric and very Portuguese. Available in many cafes in Porto.

Carambola cafe in Guimarães.

When to visit Porto?

You can visit Porto at virtually any time of year, but it all depends on what you expect from the trip. The best time for sightseeing is spring (April-June) and early autumn (September-October) - temperatures are pleasant then, the city is not so crowded, and accommodation prices are often lower than in season.

Summer (July-August) is the warmest and at the same time the most touristy period. Ideal if you plan to go to the beach in Foz do Douro or Matosinhos, but you have to expect larger crowds and higher prices.

Winter in Porto is mild, with temperatures around 10-15°C. It's a great option for a quiet city break, especially if you care about lower prices for flights and accommodation. However, you need to remember that this is the rainiest period of the year, although the city has so many attractions that the weather shouldn't interfere with sightseeing.

How much time to spend sightseeing?

To thoroughly explore the entire central part of Porto and visit the main attractions, 3 days are easily enough. There are really a lot of monuments, but most of them are located in the strict center, so you can easily move between them on foot and not miss anything along the way.

If you have more time, it's worth going outside the center, for example to the Porto coast - Foz do Douro or Matosinhos, where wide beaches, promenades, and a calmer atmosphere await. An excellent idea is also a train trip to other nearby towns, such as Braga, colorful Aveiro, or Guimarães, visited by us, the cradle of Portuguese history. It's a charming, small town with a beautiful, traditional old town and many valuable monuments. We definitely recommend it for a day trip.

Payments

In Porto you can pay by card practically anywhere - from restaurants to shops and tourist attractions. However, it's worth having a small amount of cash with you, as there are small bakeries or small family establishments that still prefer cash payment or have a minimum card transaction amount. Cash may also be useful at markets, in bakeries with pastel de nata, and from street chestnut sellers.

Safety

Porto is considered a safe city, both during the day and in the evenings. The center is well-lit, and the most popular places are full of people. Nevertheless, it's worth taking basic precautions - especially in crowded places such as around Ribeira, the Dom Luís I bridge, or at metro stations. Pickpockets can take advantage of moments of inattention, so it's best to keep your backpack or bag in front. Apart from that, Porto is really calm and tourist-friendly.

Azulejo

Azulejos are one of the most characteristic symbols of Porto, visible almost at every step. These are decorative, painted ceramic tiles - usually white and blue - which cover the facades of churches, tenement houses, train stations, and even ordinary houses. They depict religious, historical scenes or typical Portuguese ornaments. Azulejos give the city a unique atmosphere and are one of the reasons why Porto's architecture makes such a huge impression. The most beautiful ones can be seen at São Bento station, in the Carmo church, the Almas de Santa Catarina chapel, or the Santo Antonio dos Congregados church.

Azulejo on Capela das Almas de Santa Catarina

Igreja Paroquial de Santo Ildefonso

Igreja de Santo Antonio dos Congregados