Porto

Living in Porto - The complete guide to Portugal's 2nd largest city

1 320 000 people

Located along the Douro River

14ºC - 25ºC

Historical heritage

Located along the Douro River estuary in northern Portugal, with a western part extended to the coastline of the Atlantic Ocean, Porto is Portugal’s second biggest city, with about 1 million 320 people living in the metropolitan area. Is considered by many the capital of the North.

During the summer, the weather in Porto is usually good, with an average daily temperature of 25ºC (occasionally, it can be warmer, with temperatures hovering between 26ºC and 30ºC). In the winter months, the average temperature is about 14ºC and it’s common to rain (sometimes, in the coldest days, the temperatures can drop as low as 5ºC and 0ºC).

World-famous for its port wine and the stunning views over the Douro River, Porto is also a city with an extraordinary historical, architectural and gastronomical heritage, in fact, its historical core was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996.

The history of Porto goes all the way back to the Ancient Romans. At the time, the city was known as Cale and was a small Celtic Village where the romans built a port, called “Portus Cale”, which later gave rise to the name Portugal.

As the story goes one, there is a theory that says that people from Porto are called “Tripeiros” (tripe eaters) due to the sacrifice of the inhabitants in order to help the army that conquered Ceuta at the beginning of the 15th century and that started the Epic of Portuguese Discoveries. The rumors say that they gave away all the good meat to the expeditionary forces that set sail from Porto, keeping only the tripes for themselves. Today, one of the most traditional dishes of the local cuisine is “Tripas à moda do Porto” (Porto-style tripe).

Port wine, one of the great classic European wines and one of Portugal's most famous exports, is named after Porto.
Port Wine is a sweet fortified wine that can be found in several styles, including red, white and rosé (there is also an aged style called Tawny Port).

Eating in Porto is not only a culinary experience but a truly adventure. From the ocean side to the hillsides of Douro Valley, the cuisine reflects the surrounding terrain. You’ll find tripe soups, several kinds of sandwiches (being the most known “Francesinha” and “Bifana”) and even codfish casseroles.

Porto is known for its eclectic mix of historic and contemporary architecture.
From famous Portuguese tiles to amazing contemporary buildings, Porto is the perfect combination between tradition and innovation.

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