Porto City Breaks

City breaks to Porto are most popular in the spring and autumn when the temperature in the city drops to an agreeable level.  However, despite the heat of the summer months, tourists do flock to this city that, due to the fact that it is located partly on high slopes, alongside a wide river not far from the ocean, has a rather more airy and seaside feel about it than some cities. 

The beautiful old area of Porto named the Ribeira is UNESCO protected and a highlight of a visit to the city.  The city is set upon the high slope of a gorge through which the wide mouth of the river Douro winds.  The oldest part of the city is a fascinating tapestry of steep, narrow streets that sometimes evolve into flights of stairs and allow glimpses out across the water to the wineries on the opposite bank of the river.  Typical of Portuguese life, the streets are alive with children playing, old gentlemen sitting and talking and women chatting from their balconies hung with fresh washing.

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Porto cities breaks are never complete without sampling port wine in the city itself or visiting a port house.  Porto’s many port houses are a great attraction.  Nearly half of then offer tours and some also fine dining in restaurants overlooking the river Douro.  The river is attractively adorned with historic rabelos, the boats that used to transport the wine barrels.  A river trip by rabelos is an exciting journey for visitors on a Porto city break.  Such an excursion allows an interesting view of the city and not least the monumental, iron bridge by Monsieur Eiffel that spans the water.  The bridge’s design has noticeable similarities to that of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. 

On a city break to Porto, you will notice many houses and public buildings decorated with attractive, tiled murals and patterns.  This is a Portuguese tradition and in Porto, the train station San Bento is certainly worth a visit.  It boasts impressive, tiled depictions of historical events and rural life.  The Church of Our Lady of Carmen is also a sight worth visiting for this same reason. 

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There are other great sights to visit on a Porto city break.  The Cathedral of Porto has its roots in the early 1300s and is a mixture of styles from many different eras.  The smart Bishop’s Tower (Torre dos Clerigos) is another famous landmark of Porto.  It is a tall, lavish clock tower that offers incredible views across Porto and on a clear day even the ocean.  Visitors are also particularly drawn to Porto’s Contemporary Art Museum Serralves, which houses contemporary art and architecture of the country. 

If you wish to make a city break to Porto, Cities Direct offers a hand picked selection of very central hotels.  A very popular 3* hotel is the Quality Inn Porto which is great value and very well located alongside one of Porto’s main squares.  The Vila Gale Porto is a central, modern but classically decorated 4* hotel boasting a large health centre with breath taking views across the city.  If you wish to opt for 5* luxury the InterContinental Porto – Palacio das Cardosas is an excellent choice.  This hotel offers 5* service and facilities in a superb location within easy walking distance of the majority of tourist attractions.

Click here to see all our Special Offers for Porto City Breaks