Travel Guide: Porto, Portugal
Portugal is a fairly easy place to navigate, (I don't think we met one person who didn't speak English perfectly!) with plenty to see and do, so even if you find yourself without a whole lot planned as we did, it is incredibly easy to plan an itinerary on the fly. The first stop of our trip was Porto, located in the northern part of the country where the Door river meets the Atlantic Ocean. Porto is, if the name didn't already give it away!, the Port wine capital of the world. The downtown area is a UNESCO World Heritage area and is beautifully preserved. There are actually two cities here, Porto the commercial center, and across the river Gaia where the Port wine caves are. These are the long, red roofed buildings visible in some of the photos above. We stayed on the Gaia side at The Yeatman hotel, which was a lovely boutique hotel with absolutely stunning views of the Porto side.
Stay
The Yeatman - Each room at The Yeatman is decorated differently, and they all have views of Porto as the hotel is built into the side of a cliff. Don't forget to check out the amazing pools, indoor and outdoor, and the Caudile spa. Also breakfast is a must. Sit outside, soak in the sun and the view.
Eat
Canthino do Avillez - This is Portuguese celebrity chef, Jose Avillez's one restaurant in Porto, and was one of my favorite meals of the trip. I will totally own to not knowing much about Avillez before this trip, but after eating at Canthino in Porto and Mini Bar in Lisbon I am a newfound fan.
The Restaurant at the Yeatman - I am not normally one for fancy dining experiences, but after reading great reviews of the restaurant at The Yeatman we went one night for dinner and nothing disappointed.
Things to Do
Port Wine Tasting/Tour (Taylor’s) - As Porto is famous for its Port wine, no trip would be complete without a tour and tasting of the caves. For 5 euro each the tour and tasting at Taylor's was a great deal, and I have to say I walked away with a whole new understanding and appreciation of the industry and Port. Yes, there are many variations of Port, including a dry, white which will probably change all of your preconceptions about this fortified and usually very sweet wine.
Ribeira - The area of town (on the Porto side) down by the river. Lots of restaurants with outside seating, small shops and narrow winding streets to explore. Pick up a hat for 5 euros, or less if you care to bargain at one of the stalls. You will definitely need it, the sun in Portugal is very strong!
Torre dos Clerigos - The city symbol of Porto. I can't tell you if the view from the top is worth it as we did not pay to climb up, but the church at the base is definitely worth a visit.
Sao Bento Station - Not a typical tourist must-see, the train station in Porto is beautiful and the main hall is decorated with tiles as can be found across the country.
