Porto event weekends: what to do between sessions

Port wine cellars, tiled churches and the Ribeira waterfront on the Douro, with the vineyards of the Douro Valley upriver.

Events we cover in Porto

Arriving

Porto airport (OPO) is 11 km north; metro line E runs to Trindade in 30 minutes. Uber costs about 15 euros.

Where to stay

Three hotels we would book

• Budget: Gallery Hostel
• Mid-range: Hotel Carris Porto Ribeira
• Splurge: The Yeatman

Event weekends sell out early and prices rise as the date gets closer: book a cancellable room as soon as you know you are going.

Tours

Where to eat

• Café Santiago The reference francesinha
• Mercado do Bolhão Restored market
• Casa Guedes Roast pork sandwiches
• Majestic Café Belle Époque café
• Cantinho do Avillez Modern Portuguese

With kids

• World of Discoveries.
• Sea Life Porto.
• Beaches at Foz and Matosinhos.

Rainy-day backups

• Serralves museum.
• Palácio da Bolsa.

Free things to do

• Walk across the Dom Luís I bridge top deck.
• Jardim do Morro at sunset.
• Livraria Lello outside (entry is paid).

Getting around

• Metro and the historic tram line 1 to Foz. Estádio do Dragão has its own metro stop.
• Uber and Bolt are cheap in Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve.
• CP Alfa Pendular trains connect Lisbon, Porto and Faro.