What's up guys! We're here in Porto and in this video we're going to show you the best
things to do in the city and around it. It's a really romantic city with a ton of history
and of course some really tasty wine. So I hope you enjoy this video.
We are Zac and Ine, full-time digital nomads from the United States and Belgium.
We met while studying abroad in 2018 and have been traveling the world together ever since.
We're here to inspire your next adventure, whether it's hiking in the Canadian Rockies,
a road trip through the US, or backpacking across Africa. On our channel, you'll find
unfiltered videos of hiking guides and the best things to do in destinations around the world.
Located in northwest Portugal along the Douro River,
Porto is the second largest city in the country. The city played an important role in Portugal's
history and was a flourishing trading port from early on. But only in the 18th century
did Porto really establish itself as a key trading hub. This was thanks to the export
of port wine to England and the rest of the world. While porto is still famous for this type of wine,
there are also a ton of other reasons why this is a must-visit travel destination.
From its stunning old town to its authentic cuisine and romantic viewpoints, Porto has
so much to offer. In this video, we highlight our favorite activities in and around the city.
Whether you're religious or not, visiting the churches of Porto
is a great way to get to know the city's history and architecture. There are dozens of beautiful
churches in Porto but a few stand out, such as Clerigos Church and Tower, St. Francis Church,
the Church of Carmo, and the Porto Cathedral. If you only want to visit one,
we recommend the Porto Cathedral as it's one of the city's oldest and most historical monuments.
One of the most visited attractions in all of Porto is undoubtedly the enchanting Lello
Bookshop. The building dates back to 1906 and is often nicknamed "the most beautiful bookshop in
the world" due to its blend of different architectural designs. The unique wooden
staircase, ceiling piping, and stained glass skylight are just mesmerizing. However, the shop
is small and the queue to get inside can be very long. We recommend buying a skip the line ticket
voucher which comes with a free book. In this way, you'll potentially avoid hours of waiting.
Apart from its traditional port wine, there's a lot of food to experience in Porto.
You can try local and national specialties, such as "tripas",
which is a hearty stew made with white beans and beef stomach. You can also try cod fish
and grilled sardines. But our favorite regional dish was "francesinha", which
is made up of various kinds of meat inside bread with melted cheese on top and sometimes an egg.
So this is one of the most traditional Porto dishes and it's called "francesinha"
and you can try it anywhere in any restaurant in Porto.
But the recommendation from our guide was to try it at Café Santiago, so let's try it.
At number seven, we have the riverfront promenade along the Douro.
It's one of the liveliest parts of Porto and a great place to walk,
dine, and sightsee. Here, you'll observe beautiful views of the river and the iconic
Dom Luís 1 bridge. When we were there, it was the busiest day of the year: St John's Fest.
At this festival, the city commemorates their Patron Saint on the 23rd of June, with live music,
drinking, grilled sardines, lots of dancing, hitting each other with plastic hammers,
and tons of fireworks. If you have the chance to visit Porto on that day, we highly recommend it!
Another great thing to do in Porto is to embark on a classic Six Bridges Cruise on the Douro River.
From the water, you can admire the beautiful landscapes and red roof buildings of Porto
as well as Vila Nova de Gaia. All while learning about the historic bridges
that connect both cities. The crews will even take you near the seafront,
where the river pours into the ocean. Boat tours leave from the riverfront in Porto
and last about 50 minutes. To book your tour, click the link in the description below.
Similar to Lisbon, Porto is a hilly city with many breathtaking viewpoints.
The Vitória viewpoint is among the best known ones with views over the Old Town and the river. Other
beautiful viewpoints include the street next to the Porto Cathedral or from the Cathedral itself,
as well as the Virtudes Promenade and Park, and from the waterfront of Vila Nova de Gaia.
Our favorite sunset view was from the Ribeira viewpoint.
We're right now walking the Luís 1 Bridge, and if you cross it you actually come
into a new city, which is called Vila Nova de Gaia. And from there you can watch the sunset
over the city of Porto, which is incredible.
Located near the Spanish border, the Peneda-Gerês National Park is a two-hour drive from Porto.
It's the oldest protected area and the only national park in Portugal,
covering about 695 square kilometers. From authentic mountain villages to amazing landscapes
with numerous viewpoints and waterfalls, this place is truly breathtaking. The park can be
easily explored by car as many roads connect the remote villages and beautiful viewpoints.
However, the best thing to do is to get out in nature and take it all in.
You can find a link to a 4x4 day tour from Porto in the description below.
One of the best things to do near Porto is to visit Portugal's most beautiful wine country.
The Douro wine valley sits on the banks of the Douro River,
upstream from Porto and almost to the border of Spain. This region is where the famous
port wine is produced and it's known as the first demarcated wine region in the world.
But besides its wines, this valley is also worth visiting for its incredible landscapes,
nature, and history. We spent two days in Peso da Régua and enjoyed wine tasting,
hiking, and learning all about the region. You can also do a day trip to this region by
embarking on a boat cruise from Porto. Find more info about that via the link in the description.
If you don't have time to go to the Douro Valley, there's also a closer option. While less idyllic,
Vila Nova de Gaia is also known for its port wine. In fact, all of the port wine that's produced
in the upper Douro Valley would historically be transported here in barrels on traditional boats.
This is why the riverbanks of Porto today are filled with wine cellars and tasting rooms.
Most wine cellars offer wine tastings and guided tours,
during which they'll explain more of the history. But besides the wine cellars, this
waterfront is also home to numerous restaurants and offers some of the best views of Porto.
One of the best ways to get to know Porto and the history of Portugal in general is by taking
a free walking tour. During a two and a half hour guided tour, you'll see the main highlights of the
city like São Bento train station, Café Majestic, Aliados Avenue and much more. But you'll also get
some recommendations for where to eat, go out, and just have fun. The tour we did leaves a few times
per day from the Liberty Square. Find more info about it via the link in the description below.
So my name is Jorge and I'm from a small town very near Porto, actually it's called
Sever do Vouga. In your opinion why do you think people should visit Porto? Oh wow,
I think this speaks for itself right? And this is a very very beautiful town not only because
it's a historical city, but because it's very much alive. This is basically where Portugal was born.
The city, the name of Porto, actually originated the name of Portugal.
And that's it for our video on Porto. There are a few places we didn't mention
that are definitely worth checking out. If you have the time for more information such as the
best time to visit and to download the actual maps used in this video,
check out our blog link in the description. We'll catch you on the next adventure.