Local Porto Life
An authentic perspective of the city is best experienced with the help of the locals. See the city through their eyes. Seeing the locals living day-to-day is a remarkable sight.
Porto is the pulsating city of Portugal. With a population of 2.1 million people, it is the second-largest city in the country. Porto is the incredible chance to explore some fascinating Portuguese culture amongst the locals! Touristic attractions of this beautifully diverse city, includes the Coliseu do Porto, Serralves and the Casa da Música.
Cheap flights to Porto are now available for a limited period of time, so get ready to experience this fabulous city! Porto is home of Porto Airport (OPO), which is located a short 10-minute drive from the city centre. Porto Airport serves a multitude of airlines – including Iberia, Lufthansa, TAP Portugal and TAAG Angola Airlines. Popular international flights depart from Cape Town and Johannesburg. Flight duration from Johannesburg to Porto is approximately 12 hours and 25 minutes!
An authentic perspective of the city is best experienced with the help of the locals. See the city through their eyes. Seeing the locals living day-to-day is a remarkable sight.
The city is the food capital of Portugal. Booming with enticing food markets, bistros and family-run tascas (taverns), tourists are exposed to a cultural gastronomic extravaganza.
Porto is prosperous with sublime natural landscapes. Words fail to capture the vastness of the Douro River. The city blooms with scenery that affords tourists the necessary calmness they seek.
Essential details you need to know before your trip
| Country | Portugal |
|---|---|
| Currency | Euro |
| Exchange Rate | 1 ZAR = 0.07 EUR |
| Language | Portuguese |
| Hub Airport | Porto International Airport |
| Airline | TAP Portugal |
| Time Zone | GMT +1 |
| Travel Adaptor | Type F |
Porto experiences a moderate climate. During autumn (September to December) the colours of the city are incredible. The temperatures tend to fall immensely at night. Porto experiences a grey hue during winter (January to March), there is a magical atmosphere in the crisp air. The winter months are great for dining and exploring the wine cellars, along with tours to the incredible museums and galleries. To fully capture the vibrant and jovial feel of Porto, the best time to visit is during summer (June to September). Festivities are well under way during the sunshine filled month. In May, the Primavera Sound music festival delights all music lovers. For a cultural celebration, attend the Serralves em Festa in the city garden.
Average temperature (°C) & rainfall (mm) per month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low °C | 5°C | 6°C | 8°C | 9°C | 12°C | 15°C | 16°C | 16°C | 15°C | 12°C | 9°C | 7°C |
| High °C | 14°C | 15°C | 17°C | 18°C | 20°C | 24°C | 26°C | 26°C | 24°C | 21°C | 17°C | 14°C |
| Rainfall (mm) | 160 | 145 | 110 | 85 | 40 | 20 | 25 | 50 | 105 | 150 | 170 | 170 |
Porto’s culturally textured aesthetic is magnificent in its standing. The city’s contrasting architecture dates back to the establishment of the Romanesque Cathedral. Renowned artists have left their mark in the city, which can be seen on medieval walls, the metro and Rua São Pedro de Miragaia.
Tourists are welcomed into this soulful city, greeted by friendly locals and unique aromas. Porto is nestled along the Douro River, which leads to an eternity of historical buildings, marvellous bridges and world-famous port wine houses.
The author, J.K Rowling, lived and taught English in this magical city. It is here that she found inspiration for the mystical world of Harry Potter. Lello, a Gothic-style bookstore will ignite pure appreciation within die-hard fans, as they observe the similarities of many scenes from Harry Potter. It creates a transcending nostalgia for Hogwarts!
Compare several airlines, and book your cheap flights to Porto online at Travelstart!
South African passport holders require a Schengen Visa to enter Porto and Portugal. Applicants should apply no more than three months prior to departure of their trip.
Visa requirements:
• South African passport valid for six months beyond date of return from trip. • Two blank pages available for stamps. • One recent passport photograph. • Return flight tickets from South Africa to Portugal.
The Embassy of the Republic of South Africa is located in Lisbon, Portugal.
Address: Avenida Luis Bivar 10 1069-024 Lisbon Portugal
Phone: (+351) 21 319 22 00
All travellers should be covered for diphtheria, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella and polio.
Tap water is safe to drink in Porto. However, it tastes quite chlorinated and people prefer bottled water.
Porto is a safe city, with a low crime rate. However, it is encouraged to be cautious when travelling to any new city.
Safety tips to keep in mind when visiting the city:
• Always keep a watchful eye over your valuables on the city’s public transport system – pick-pockets and bag snatchers are prevalent.
• Do not keep money and passport in one place as these are often targeted.
• Tourists should be wary of their surroundings at night. Areas to be vigilant in are the Riberia District alleys and the São Bento train station.
| Item | Cape Town | Johannesburg | Porto |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal inexpensive restaurant | R 100.00 | R 100.00 | R 87.36 |
| Domestic beer (0.5 litre draught) | R 25.00 | R 21.84 | R 25.00 |
| Cappucino (regular) | R 22.96 | R 22.05 | R 25.00 |
| Taxi 1km (normal tariff) | R 10.00 | R 6.91 | R 10.00 |
| Packet of cigarettes (Marlboro) | R 39.00 | R 40.00 | R 72.04 |
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