A First-Timer’s Guide to Porto

Although a part of the same country, Lisbon and Porto could not be more different. Porto is grittier, you feel it as soon as you exit the train station. The buildings are older and the weather is a little drearier. But what it has in common with Lisbon is its undeniable charm.

Melissa and I spent 3 days exploring the tiny city of Porto. This gave us enough time to explore it inside and out. So without further ado, here is everything to know:

• You can travel to Porto from Lisbon via Alpha Train, which is the high-speed train. It’ll take you 3 hours.
• Definitely carry cash with you
• The city is a lot smaller than Lisbon, so 2 days is enough to see it
• There are a lot of stairs and uphill walks, wear comfortable walking shoes

Where to stay
Since Lisbon is the capital of Portugal, it has no shortage of luxury hotels. Porto, on the other hand, is more quaint, and as a result, has more apartment-hotels. The main difference here is that you feel like you have your own living space. The space is cleaned for you daily like a hotel, but the service isn’t available 24/7 like at a hotel.

Melissa and I split our time between two beautiful properties:

Arco Apartments
If you’re someone who enjoys beautiful views, then Arco Apartments is the place for you. The property is located at the highest point of the city and offers 4 different apartments.

We stayed at the Mentiras apartment which is a two bedroom space with a bathroom, living room, dining room, and fully equipped kitchen. We absolutely loved the decor which was sophisticated yet cozy. Most importantly, however, the view is absolutely unbeatable. The living room and bedroom both offer views over the Ribiera, Luis I Bridge, and the Duoro River. Not to mention, the space is massive and can fit a group of 5-6 people easily. It’s a great option if you’re traveling in a large group.

MyHomeInPorto
A complete contrast from the modern look of Arco Apartments is MyHomeInPorto, which takes you back in time. This stunning house was built in the 1930’s and refurbished by the owner, who did a brilliant job adding modern finishings while still maintaining its character.

The house has 3 rooms, one downstairs and two upstairs, along with a common dining area and kitchen. We stayed in the room upstairs facing the street and loved how bright and beautiful it was. The room featured high ceilings and an interior that truly made us feel like we were living in a different era. Melissa and I came to the conclusion that it reminded us of Jane’s father’s jungle office setup from Disney’s Tarzan.

Breakfast is served in the communal dining area, where you can chat with other guests and the owner, Juan (who is just lovely). True to its name, MyHomeInPorto truly felt more like a home than a hotel.

Where to eat
There is absolutely no shortage of great eats in Porto. These were some of our favourites:

Zenith
Make sure you go here first thing in the morning in order to avoid the hour long lines. We made the mistake of going just an hour after it opened and ended up waiting an hour for a table. That being said, the food was phenomenal, so I highly recommend you go.

Cantina 32
For a modern take on Portuguese cuisine, don’t miss out on Cantina 32. The food here was incredible, and the decor was beautiful. One of my favourite experiences in Porto.

Combi Coffee
This little gem was our first stop in Porto. Try their mocha and their pasteis de nata which will surely blow you away.

Cafe Progresso
We’d heard so much about the talented baristas at Cafe Progresso that we had to stop by here. And they certainly lived up to the hype. Not only is the coffee excellent, the latte art is some of the best I’ve seen. I actually ended up going here twice. The first time I went, Dennys created some great latte art for us, but told us to return when his colleague, Alexandr was working since he’s a very talented latte artist. I returned on my last day and Alexandr proceeded to create his famous rose latte art for me. Also noteworthy: the food. Don’t miss out on Cafe Progresso.

What to do

• Porto has some of the most beautiful tile-work I’ve seen. One of the most noteworthy ones can be found inside the train station, Sao Bento
• The city has a ton of beautiful churches, check out Igreja do Carmo and Igreja de São Lourenço
• Right outside Igreja de São Lourenço a beautiful viewpoint that looks over the city
• Enjoy a view of the Ribeira over a meal – I recommend Bacalhau for dinner
• Palacio da Bolsa has the most beautiful interior and a lot of great Portuguese history
• For any fellow Harry Potter fans, head to Livrario Lello, which is said to be JK Rowling’s Inspiration for the series. The bookstore is unlike anything I’ve ever seen – it’s absolutely stunning. Make sure you buy your tickets a day from the shop right next to the library as the line tends to be quite long

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