Porto Travel Guide

Lisbon might catch most of the tourist lime light, but those who take a chance of the northern Portuguese city of Porto find an intriguing place with charismatic locals, unique attractions and spectacular architecture along the banks of the Rio Douro. It’s a hilly city, but those who’ve nabbed one of the Porto car rentals can scoot between the attractions with ease. Spend your days kicking back in one of the sunny parks, go walking along the riverfront, dive into Porto’s gastronomic scene or sample one of the famous fortified drinks which takes its name from the city. It’s a subtly sophisticated place which leaves its mark on everyone who visits.

Dining in Porto

Porto’s culinary scene is quickly on the rise. With some of the country’s finest chefs pitching outposts in the city, it’s not hard to find high end gastronomy during your stay. That said, like most parts of the world, the foodie scene is best found in the humble eateries. Kick off the day with a cimbalino coffee at Café Christina, an historic café which has been brewing up food stuff since the early 19^th century. For lunch, you shouldn’t skip the francesinha, an absolute gut-buster of a sandwich made using smoked sausage, ham, cheese and egg before being topped with lashings of beer sauce. If you’ve still got room left, hop in your Porto car rental to head out to some of the local eateries dotted outside the city centre.

Attractions in Porto

You’ll never be short of things to do when you visit Porto. Nabbing a Porto car hire just makes getting around between the attractions so much easier. You could spend your days soaking up the sunshine on one of the nearby beaches, gawping at the contemporary art at the Serralves Museum or ambling around Ribeira district which is packed with character and history. For something a little more unique, don a harness and join one of the tours to climb the arches of the Arrabida Bridge to enjoy spectacular views 65 metres above the River Douro before descending the 262 steps down the 20^th-century beauty.

Porto driving routes

Picking up a car rental in Porto gives you the opportunity to drive out of the city and visit the mesmerising Douro Valley just an hour and a half from the city. The Douro Valley serves as one of the most spectacular wine regions in the world. Mile upon mile of vineyards line up along the riverbanks. Spend your days hiking along the valley’s trails, diving into the wineries to sample different ports or hop on board one of the boats for a half-day adventure up the river. Those who make the effort to reach the valley are never disappointed. Alternatively, drive 45 minutes south to Aveiro, a fishing village often referred to as the “Venice of Portugal”.

Porto car rental

Whether you are coming to Porto on a romantic break or a weekend getaway with the whole family, you’ll always find a car hire in Porto which fits the bill. The most convenient place to pick up a car rental is at the airport just a short drive from most of the hotels. Try to nab accommodation with spots to leave your car overnight because parking in the city’s narrow streets can often be tricky. The Portuguese drive on the right hand side of the road and have similar diving laws as the UK – everyone should use the seatbelts, third party insurance is compulsory and the use of mobile phones while driving is illegal and punishable by a steep on-the-spot fine.