{"id":98865,"date":"2016-05-02T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-05-02T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/travelstartblg.wpenginepowered.com\/affordable-charming-porto-portugal\/"},"modified":"2025-11-04T13:53:23","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T13:53:23","slug":"affordable-charming-porto-portugal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/affordable-charming-porto-portugal\/","title":{"rendered":"Discover Affordable, Charming Porto"},"content":{"rendered":"

You\u2019d never think it used to be the mercantile capital of Portugal, so charming are the brightly coloured buildings and playfully winding cobbled streets. And if this comes as a surprise to you, get ready for the myriad of delights waiting for you in this unpredictable city. The vibe is so unique, a meeting place where contradictions shake hands like old friends\u2026 antiquity and modernity, grunge and colour, classicism and edge. Whoever you are, there\u2019s something for you to discover, explore and fall in love with in Oporto.<\/p>\n

Find cheap flights to Porto here<\/a>.<\/h3>\n

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Eat<\/h2>\n
Alright let\u2019s be honest, one of the most important things when choosing a destination is, well, the food. Of course. What\u2019s amazing about eating out in Oporto (also known as Porto) is firstly, it\u2019s cheap as chips and secondly, those chips are bound to be a gourmet fusion of local prices, spices and artesian quality. If you\u2019re inclined towards a vegan or veggie diet there’s good news for you, as there seems to be a trend towards this here. You can put to rest those travel nightmares of dry baguettes because there are delicious options for you in most restaurants and cafes. Again the feeling of two worlds meeting as traditional Portuguese cuisine combines with modern food trends, landing on your plate at any of the hip little cafes dotted about the old town. Look out for combo specials where you can feast on a delicious sandwich or burger plus chips and beer or coffee for an average of 7E.<\/div>\n

\"Burger<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re more of a meat lover, sink your teeth into a Bifana, a pork fillet tucked into a freshly baked Portuguese roll and spiced perfectly. Not just your average prego roll, it\u2019s the simplicity and authenticity of eating one on Portuguese soil that gives it it\u2019s glory. The Bifana can be found in most Pastelerias (traditional bakeries) for 1.50E. Together with a local sweet pastry you have yourself a perfect little meal. Try the \u2018Pasteles de Belem\u2019, a parcel of perfectly homemade vanilla custard cupped in a flaky pastry base. It will become a habitual part of your day. Consider yourself warned.<\/div>\n

\"4.<\/p>\n

Get cultural<\/h2>\n
Now for the real reason you\u2019re here: commence tourism! Start at Harry Potter\u2019s Library because queues accumulate quickly after it opens at 10:00<\/span><\/span>, and you can only get good photos of the interior before the people start flooding in. Officially named Livraria Lello & Irm\u00e3o, the bookstore is said to have inspired JK Rowling\u2019s novels.<\/div>\n
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All that reading is bound to have made room for a treat (surely), so stop by the pasteleria next door for possibly the best Pastel de Belem in town, before heading across the square to the Igreja dos Carmelitas, a beautiful gothic style cathedral with a dark exterior that belies the elaborate, gold-plated interior.<\/div>\n
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The true magic of Oporto is discovered by getting lost in its tiny streets and it\u2019s best traversed mapless, with just a vague idea of North, South, and where the river is. You\u2019ll wind your way past the main cultural attractions unexpectedly, and stumble upon quirky shops selling unique souvenirs like hand-crafted jewellery, cork goodies and trinkets detailed in Portuguese iconography. Try to get some height on the North bank as the views of the Douro river, Mosteriro da Serra do Pilar and Ponte Luis are spectacular.<\/div>\n

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Port<\/h2>\n

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Once you hit the river, you\u2019ll understand why it\u2019s so important. Sitting smugly along the Southern shore of the Douro river lie the infamous Port cellars, housing the liquid gold that is produced in the Douro valley nearby and shipped out from the river. Definitely do a Port tour because the history and processes behind it are really interesting, even more so if you\u2019re a wine fan. At the end of your journey through the dark and mysterious tunnels, inhabited only by wooden barrels filled with wine, there\u2019s a tasting to top off a well-rounded Port experience.
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If you\u2019re a wine fundie, read on. If not, you may want to skip to the fun part: Nightlife!<\/div>\n
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The Port is stored in vats of various sizes, until it\u2019s ready to be stirred \u2018nd served. Well, not exactly. First, pure brandy is added to the wine to stop fermentation. Then the port is stored for three to five years in a wooden vat, the size of which is determined by the type of wine. The lighter colour port, Tany, is aged in smaller vats so it comes into more contact with the wood and air. It ages more quickly and develops stronger flavours of dry fruit, spices and caramel. It\u2019s a versatile wine enjoyed chilled as an aperitif or at room temperature as a dessert.
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\nThe deeper red Port, Ruby, holds more fruity, chocolate notes. It\u2019s a younger wine as it\u2019s stored in 73 000L vats, so it has less contact with the wood and air during the ageing process. These giants yield around 60 000 bottles that are distributed across the world to be enjoyed as a digestif or dessert, along with nuts and dark chocolate.
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\nThe remaining two types of Port include the clear, white Tawny stored and served cold, and the voluptuous Vintage which is only produced every few years\u2026 but you\u2019ll learn more about these once you\u2019re trawling through the belly of the Port lodges yourself! Tours can cost anywhere between 7E (two tastings) and 12E (more).<\/div>\n

\"11.<\/p>\n

Night Fever<\/h2>\n
There is something for everyone in Porto. Most deserving to be mentioned are the trendy bars scattered in the general area betweenVit\u00f3ria and Cedofeita. Embaixada do Porto (http:\/\/embaixadaporto.com<\/a>) is an epic photography store stocking film and lomography products, and if you go up the stairs at the back you\u2019ll transport through a set of heavy velvet curtains into a retro bar playing music on vinyl. The music is good, the crowd is hip and the drinks are cheap -Super Bock is only 80c a bottle, and that\u2019s 340ml! If you haven\u2019t tried this version of toasty malt beer\u2026 stop wasting time and get over there! Unlike other hefty stout beers it holds only a 5% alcohol content, so sip freely.
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\nIf you\u2019re into beers then you\u2019ll be happy to hear that the Super Bock is just the tip of the iceberg my friend! Head over to Catraio nearby, a lovely little bar that serves local and imported craft beer on tap. The staff are happy chat about your tastes and help you find the perfect beer to suit your mood. In truth, most of the bars in Porto stock an impressive variety of local and imported beers, and even ciders. Wander around, pick a place at random, and if you\u2019re looking to rev things up later on in the evening head over to\u00a0Rua Campo dos M\u00e1rtires da P\u00e1tria where you\u2019ll find a handful of cheap bars crowded with Erasmus students and Couchsurfers. Trundle around the Northern end of Avenida dos Aliados and the parallel streets to the east for a more alternative vibe and slightly older crowd. The party only pushes into full swing between midnight and 7am<\/span><\/span>, so don\u2019t be skipping siesta on dancing day!
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Sleep<\/h2>\n
These unusual party hours mean two things: one, you\u2019re certainly getting full value out of the 24 hours in your day; and two, you need to choose carefully where you stay. If you plan to be out dancing ’til dawn then there\u2019s no harm in plugging yourself into vibe areas in the Old Town like Vit\u00f3ria or Cedofeita. Alternatively, book outside of these areas or ask your host what the noise levels are like. If you want to be part of the action but still value your beauty sleep, head over to the pharmacy for a pair of ‘tamp\u00f5es para os ouvidos’ and plug them earholes!<\/div>\n
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Airbnb is always a cheap option if you\u2019re traveling in a pair or more, although be sure to tick the checklist of important questions to avoid mad scrambles for wifi on arrival. Checklist:<\/div>\n
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