210,000 or so people live in the city of Porto, big enough for varied holiday experience to remember but small enough to get to know intimately. We’ve put together this list of Porto facts to give you some at-a-glance inspiration, get a feel for the place before you go, and help plan your Porto experience.  This, in a nutshell, is what Porto is all about.

  1. This is one of Europe’s oldest cities
  2. It’s pedestrian-friendly
  3. The public transport is excellent
  4. The people are famously warm and welcoming
  5. Voted best European Destination three times, this is somewhere visitors flock for the big city vibe and mellow Portuguese ambience
  6. To avoid the biggest crowds, the best time to visit Porto is April to June or September to October, when the weather is lovely and mild and it’s easier to get around
  7. For the hottest weather and the biggest crowds, go for July and August
  8. The Celts called it Cale or Portus Cale, portus meaning ‘port’, until they dropped the Cale bit. The two parts, combined into ‘Portucale’, is where ‘Portugal’ came from.
  9. The locals proudly call themselves Tripeiros or ‘tripe eaters’ after a local tripe recipe
  10. The city’s nickname is Invicta, which means ‘invincible’, named that way because it survived a year of brutal siege during the 1800s civil war
  11. People have lived on the site of Porto for thousands of years, at least 10,000, as proved by evidence found near Morro da Sé
  12. It started growing in earnest in the 4th century, under Roman control
  13. The city’s beautiful bridges are popular attractions in themselves
  14. Porto is the only European city with 6 bridges: Maria Pia, Dom Luis I, Arrabida, Infante D. Herique, Sao Joao, and Freixo. They all cross the Douro, connecting Porto with Vila Nova de Gaia
  15. The Maria Pia Bridge was designed by Eiffel himself, the man who designed the famous Parisian landmark 
  16. The Dom Luis I bridge on the Douro River dates back to 1885, designed by a student of Gustave Eiffel
  17. When Napoleon attempted to invade Porto, thousands of locals fled across the Ponte das Barcas bridge. It collapsed, killing hundreds
  18. It’s home to one of the oldest tram networks in Europe, a fun way to get around
  19. The city centre is World Heritage site
  20. The Luiz l bridge and Monastery of Serra do Pilar are also UNESCO World Heritage Sites
  21. Deep Catholic roots mean there are zillions of pretty churches and cathedrals
  22. Dramatic Gothic architecture is the name of the game, and earlier, but there are also some amazing modernist buildings
  23. The most popular churches to visit are Porto Cathedral, Church of Saint Francis, and Clerigos Church with its famous 75m bell tower – which you can climb for a small fee
  24. Sinuous late Art Nouveau Decor splendour is yours at the Cafe Majestic,  and the coffee house inside it is excellent
  25. Livraria Lello bookshop offers swirly Art Nouveau architecture and intricate wooden bookshelves, delighting the eye and inspiring great thoughts since 1906
  26. Who knew a rail station could be so gorgeous? Don’t miss the lovely tiling at Sao Bento station
  27. This is where Port comes from, a strong and fragrant fortified wine a bit like Sherry
  28. The Douro Valley itself is famed for its wineries and natural beauty
  29. Holidays in the Douro valley start here, a perfect base for wine-inspired adventures
  30. September is the best time to visit wineries – that’s when they harvest the grapes  
  31. It’s heaven for lovers of seafood but there’s also plenty for vegetarians and Vegans to get their teeth into
  32. This is where you’ll find the planet’s biggest street festival, the Festas de São João, held in week 3 June to celebrate the city’s patron saint, John
  33. The festival involves a special dish: sardines and boiled potatoes with red wine
  34. Locals stand vases of Basil in their homes during the festival, as a symbol of fertility and good health
  35. They light fires and leap over them in a show of bravado to attract love and good fortune
  36. They also bash each other with inflatable hammers and wave garlic in each other’s faces. We have no idea why… but on the other hand why not! 
  37. If you love your butties, you’ll be a happy bunny thanks to the five-layer Francesinha sandwich full of cured ham, roasted meats, linguica and sausage. This is smothered in melted cheese and served with a thick, spicy tomato and beer sauce. It is usually eaten with chips. Crikey
  38. A long formal relationship between the UK and Portugal dates back to 1387, when their João Ist and our Philippa of Lancaster got married in Porto. The connection is recognised by NATO and it is one of the world’s longest-lasting military alliances
  39. The city’s football team, FC Porto – Futebol Clube do Porto – was founded by a wine salesman in 1893, one of the country’s best teams  
  40. Like us, they’re football-obsessed
  41. The ultimate in Instagrammable, there are countless official viewpoints for photos to die for
  42. Think of York’s Shambles and you get the idea – the maze-like streets of the Ribeira district are very old and totally gorgeous
  43. Centre your holiday around the river where there are boat rides and river cruises, beautiful walks, scenic promenades, great places to eat and drink, lovely views and interesting  destinations to discover
  44. The nightlife is lively and friendly, going on to early in the mornings
  45. There’s loads of impressive street art, murals and graffiti
  46. Find yourself a Fado venue – a pub, gig, restaurant or club – to lose yourself in the sentimental traditional tunes that still bring tears to Portuguese eyes
  47. There’s a million museums and a zillion art galleries to fire your imagination and satisfy your intellect
  48. There’s plenty to find out about Portugal’s fascinating Age of Discoveries: the explorers, their derring-do deeds and legendary voyages
  49. A city with beaches… that’s what we call the best of all worlds
  50. Look out for the Porto International Film Festival – you might spot a celeb or two
  51.  There’s excellent international shopping along with delicate local filigree jewellery and works of art made from cork
  52. Cork trees grow around here, although many wines now have recycled plastic corks

Now you know more about the place, you’ll find it easier to decide what to do and where to go. Happy holidays!

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