Visit Porto

[ferreiratiago]

Hey @robinaidev, I'm new to Porto and I would love to get to know it better. I still don't know how many days I have to visit Porto. Can you please provide me a guide about what to visit on a trip of 2, 4, and 6 days?

[robinaidev]

Hi @ferreiratiago! Welcome to Porto. I'd be happy to help you plan your trip. For a two-day trip, I recommend visiting the historic center of Porto, including the Ribeira neighborhood, the Clérigos Tower, and the Livraria Lello bookstore. You should also take a stroll along Avenida dos Aliados and visit the São Bento Station to see the beautiful tilework. For a four-day trip, you could also visit Casa da Música, Serralves Museum, and walk along Boavista Avenue. And for a six-day trip, you could visit Guimarães, Braga, Aveiro, or even Douro Valley. Let me know if you need more information!

[marcelosousa]

I think that Livraria Lello is totally overrated. What do you think @ferreiratiago . Maybe @robinaidev could provide an alternative to that one.

[marcelosousa]

@robinaidev provide an alternative to livraria lello.

[robinaidev]

Sure thing, @marcelosousa. If you're not interested in visiting Livraria Lello, I recommend checking out the Biblioteca Pública Municipal do Porto. It's a beautiful library located in a historic building with plenty of books to peruse. Another alternative could be visiting the Porto Booksellers Market, which takes place every Saturday at the Praça de Parada Leitão square. They have a wide selection of books and it's a great spot to find some hidden gems.

[ferreiratiago]

What about places to eat and food to taste?

[marcelosousa]

Where is that Biblioteca? How can I go there from Estadio do Dragao metro station?

[robinaidev]

Great question, @ferreiratiago! Porto is known for its amazing food scene. For traditional Portuguese food, you can't miss trying francesinha, bacalhau, and arroz de cabidela. Some great places to try these dishes are Casa Guedes, A Brasileira, and O Buraco. For a more modern take on Portuguese cuisine, check out Antiqvvm, Pedro Lemos, or Cantina 32. And of course, you can't leave Porto without trying some port wine. You can visit the Port Wine Cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia for a tasting and tour. Enjoy your trip!

[marcelosousa]

@robinaidev where is that Biblioteca? Give me some instructions from Estadio do Dragao metro station.

[robinaidev]

@marcelosousa, the Biblioteca Pública Municipal do Porto is located at Rua de D. João IV 56, 4000-303 Porto. You can take the metro from Estadio do Dragao station to Trindade station and then walk for about 10 minutes to the library. Alternatively, you can take bus lines 201, 207, or 208 from Estadio do Dragao station and get off at the Bolhão Market stop, which is a few minutes away from the library.

[marcelosousa]

Where is the best francesinha?

[robinaidev]

@marcelosousa, there are many great places to try francesinha in Porto, but some of the most popular ones are Café Santiago, Bufete Fase, and Cervejaria Brasão. The best place for francesinha can be a matter of personal preference, so I suggest trying different places and seeing which one you like the most.

[ferreiratiago]

I want to do and try the maximum I can. From the food to the places to visit. Can you please propose a day-by-day plan for 4 days? Please be specific so I don't have to worry about anything. I will just follow the plan.

[robinaidev]

Sure thing, @ferreiratiago! Here's a day-by-day plan for your four-day trip to Porto:

Day 1:

• Visit the Ribeira neighborhood and take a stroll along the riverfront.
• Visit the Palácio da Bolsa, a beautiful 19th-century building.
• Have lunch at Café Santiago and try the francesinha.
• Visit the Clérigos Tower and the Livraria Lello.
• Finish the day with a port wine tasting at the Port Wine Cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia.

Day 2:

• Visit São Bento Station and admire the beautiful tilework.
• Visit the Cathedral and the Sé neighborhood.
• Walk across the Dom Luís I Bridge for stunning views of the city.
• Have lunch at Cervejaria Brasão and try the francesinha.
• Visit the Serralves Museum and park.

Day 3:

• Spend a day in Guimarães, a beautiful historic city about 45 minutes from Porto by train.
• Visit the Castle and the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza.
• Have lunch at the Restaurante O Compadre.
• Visit the São Miguel Church and the Guimarães Castle Wall.

Day 4:

• Spend a day in Aveiro, a picturesque coastal town known as the "Venice of Portugal" about an hour from Porto by train.
• Take a boat trip through the canals.
• Have lunch at A Barrica and try the ovos moles.
• Visit the Aveiro Cathedral and Santa Joana Museum.

I hope you find this plan helpful, @ferreiratiago! Let me know if you have any other questions or need more information.

[ferreiratiago]

Can you please add to the plan how can I move from one place to another?

[robinaidev]

Sure thing, @ferreiratiago! For the first two days, you can walk to most of the places. But for the farther ones, I recommend using public transportation. Porto has an efficient metro system with four lines that connect various parts of the city. You can purchase a Andante Tour card, which allows you unlimited travel on the metro, buses, and trams for one, three, or seven days. For the day trip to Guimarães, you can take a train from São Bento station or Campanhã station. For the day trip to Aveiro, you can take a train from São Bento station or Campanhã station or even a bus from the Bolhão bus station. I hope this helps you!

[ferreiratiago]

Can you make an estimate of how much the trip will cost me?

[robinaidev]

Sure, @ferreiratiago! The cost of your trip will depend on several factors such as accommodation, food, transportation, and activities. Here's a breakdown of the approximate costs:

• Accommodation: You can find budget hostels for around 15-20 EUR per night, or mid-range to luxury hotels for 60-150 EUR per night.
• Food: For budget meals, you can expect to pay around 10-15 EUR per day. For mid-range to high-end restaurants, prices can vary from 20-50 EUR per meal.
• Transportation: The Andante Tour card costs 15 EUR for three days, 18 EUR for four days, or 22 EUR for seven days. Train tickets for the day trips to Guimarães and Aveiro will cost around 5-10 EUR each way, depending on the type of train.
• Activities: Entrance fees to museums and attractions can range from 5-15 EUR per person.

Overall, you can expect to spend around 250-500 EUR for a four-day trip to Porto, depending on your travel style and preferences. Let me know if you have any other questions!