Flight to Porto (OPO)

Flying to Porto: tips and information for your trip

Famed for the ruby-coloured wine named in its honour, Porto, or Oporto, is a lively city of hilly streets, sumptuous food and decadent drinks. Flaunting the traditions that are still imprinted on its way of life, Porto's creative spirit blends the old with the new, through its thriving art, food and shopping scenes. With buildings that range from Baroque to Art Deco to Postmodern, it's an open-air museum that will thrill architecture lovers. Visit Porto for a take on modern living that's a world apart from other European cities.

Book your Porto flights with Brussels Airlines today and set off to explore Portugal's second city.

What to do in Porto?

1. Porto's cobbled streets are perfect for ambling around independently. The Porto map is dotted with beautiful Baroque and Gothic churches, as well as 19th-century palaces bedecked in gold, their old-world glamour still vivid despite the ravages of time. Visit the 15th-century Church of São Francisco for a Gothic façade and a surprising Baroque interior. For Art Deco, check out the Coliseu do Porto theatre. And to glimpse traditional, terracotta-roofed houses, make your way to the Baixa district; it's most beautiful at night. For ultramodern Porto, head to the Casa Musica concert hall.
   
   
2. Take the Porto Bridge (Dom Luis I Bridge) across the Douro River to Vila Nova de Gaia. Here, you can view the old port lodges and take a tasting tour.
   
   
3. For a guided tour with a difference, take the free 'Worst Tours’ – an edgy, unconventional view of the city, courtesy of local architects. Or, mix a workout into your Porto visit – Porto Running Tours offer a guided run through the city.
   
   
4. Just outside the city, in Matosinhos, you can take a dip in the spectacular pools cut directly into the rock face.
   
   
5. Visit the Clérigos Tower. Built in 1732, this local landmark is a must on the tourist trail – it's also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
   
   
6. Porto’s nightlife belies the delightfully slow pace of this town. Catch a rock or jazz performance at the "Centro Comercial Stop", a former shopping mall where each shop has now been transformed into a music studio or pint-sized performance space. The city also has late-opening bars and cafes aplenty, catering for every taste.
   
   
7. Porto is covered in public art, from the traditional azulejo – blue tiles which line the façades of many buildings – to modern street art spray-painted by influential local artists on walls along the Aliados and Massarelos streets. For exhibits, go to the Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art. It's Portugal's leading museum of modern art.
   
   
8. For foodies, things to do in Porto definitely include wandering through the dizzyingly colourful Bolhão Market, famed for its fresh produce.

Practical information for your trip

• Brussels Airlines flights to Porto land at Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport, also known more simply as Porto airport. Just 11 km outside the city, you can take a taxi into the centre. Or for a direct Porto airport to the city centre route on public transport, take Line E on the Porto Metro.
  
• Currency: Euro. Many places will accept credit cards, but having some cash on you is always a good idea for smaller places.
• Telephone calls and Wi-Fi: : The country code is +351. Free Wi-Fi is widely available throughout public areas in the city.
• Electric sockets: Types F. Standard voltage is 230 V, and standard frequency, 50 Hz. Visitors from the UK or the US will need an adapter.
• Travel Information: Portugal is a full member of the Schengen Area. Non-EU citizens require a valid passport with a minimum of 6 valid months remaining. Children travelling with you must have their own passport or ID card.

Dos and Don’ts in Porto

• Porto is a very walkable city, but it's also easy and affordable to get around by public transport. Just pick up an Andante ticket, which can be purchased for multiple days, and use it to take unlimited buses, metros and trains within its time limit.
  
  
• Hotels and boutique hotels in Porto offer plenty of variety, so do your research beforehand to pick your perfect match in budget and style. For an authentic Porto stay, check into one of the city’s pousadas, or traditional Portuguese inns.
  
  
• For a good hostel in Porto, check into the "Gallery". Boutique B&Bs, are also affordable yet chic places to stay on your Porto city break.
  
  
• Don't be surprised if servings are more generous in your average Porto restaurant or bar. Food and drink in Porto tend to come in larger portions than in other major European cities – with much more favourable prices too.
  
  
• If you’re a football fan, try to get tickets at the local Porto Stadium for a Porto FC match, book well in advance for a good seat. If you’re lucky, you might even get to see them play old rivals Benfica, one of the fiercest derbies in world football.

Local phrases & essential vocabulary

Here are some essential phrases of Portuguese to help you get by:

• Hello: Olá!
• Good morning/good day: Bom dia
• Good evening: Boa tarde
• Good night: Boa noite
• Goodbye: Adeus
• Please: Por favor
• Thank you: Obrigado/a
• You're welcome: Você é bem-vindo
• Yes: Sim
• No: Não
• How are you?: Como está?
• Fine, thank you. And you?: Estou bem, obrigado/a. E o você?
• Sorry / Excuse me: Desculpe
• Do you speak English?: Fala inglês?
• I don't understand: Não compreendo
• What's your name?: Como se chama?
• My name is...: Chamo-me...
• Pleased to meet you: Prazer!

Cultural events in Porto

• The city's biggest event is the São João Festival, held on the night of 23-24 June. An ancient festival of courtship that's celebrated nationwide, Porto's version is the biggest. The whole city is decked in colourful bunting, the roads lined with stalls, and the bars are thrown open to the public. The street party continues until midnight, then moves to the beaches until dawn.
• Every year, Porto also hosts the Fantasporto, an international film festival held from late February to early March.

When to go to Porto?

Porto’s weather offers mild but rainy winters, while summers are warm and dry. To enjoy Porto’s beaches or rock pools, plan your trip between June and September. Cinema lovers should pencil in their holidays in Porto for late February to early March for the Fantasporto Film Festival.

What to eat in Porto?

• Near both the Douro River and the Atlantic, Porto is close to a number of fishing villages. Foodies can buy their fish fresh from the boat, or taste the area's beloved grilled fish at several cosy local spots. It’s best washed down with a glass of port, which is originally from this region.
• The region is famed for its caldo verde, a cabbage-based soup. Meat lovers can sample alheira, a traditional sausage made with smoked chicken or game and lamego bola, a meat-stuffed bread.
• In the summer, locally made Porto ice cream is hard to beat. For a cone topped with fresh ingredients from the local Bolhão market, step into "Gelataria Sincelo", on Rua de Ceuta.