About Porto
Porto, also known in English as Oporto, is the second largest city in Portugal, after Lisbon. It is the capital of the Porto District and one of the Iberian Peninsula's major urban areas. Porto city proper, which is the entire municipality of Porto, is small compared to its metropolitan area, with an estimated population of 273,476 people in a municipal area of 41.42 km2 (16 sq mi). As of 2025, the Porto metropolitan area has around 1.9 million people in an area of 2,395 km2 (925 sq mi), making it the second-largest urban area in Portugal. It is recognized as a global city with a Gamma + rating from the Globalization and World Cities Research Network.
Cheap flights to Porto
The lowest round-trip fare found by Destina Holidays travellers in the last 30 days was $638 from Vancouver, travelling 24 May – 7 Jun. These are the cheapest fares from the most searched cities.
- YTO Toronto to Porto23 May – 28 Jun · OPO from$686
- YVR Vancouver to Porto24 May – 7 Jun · OPO from$638
- YQB Quebec to Porto28 Mar – 7 Apr · OPO from$733
- YHZ Halifax to Porto3 Mar – 17 Mar · OPO from$776
- YOW Ottawa to Porto11 May – 25 May · OPO from$709
- YEG Edmonton to Porto28 Mar – 28 Apr · OPO from$758
- YWG Winnipeg to Porto5 Feb – 14 Feb · OPO from$777
- YYJ Victoria to Porto1 Apr – 8 Apr · OPO from$802
Cheapest month to fly
Airlines travellers compared most often: Austrian Airlines, KLM, United Airlines, Air Canada, Air France, Lufthansa.
Prices are per adult in US dollars, taken from searches between 12 Oct and 11 Nov 2026. Fares change often, so search your dates for live prices.
Search flights to PortoPlaces to visit in Porto
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Ribeira
NeighborhoodPorto's riverside quarter of colorful tall houses, narrow alleys, and outdoor cafes facing the Douro. Take a short river cruise from here to see the city's six bridges from the water.
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Dom Luís I Bridge
LandmarkA double-deck iron arch bridge linking Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia, with metro trains on top and cars below. Walk the upper deck for the best views over the river and old town.
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Livraria Lello
LandmarkA bookshop famous for its carved wood interior and curving red staircase. Buy a timed ticket online, which can usually be deducted from the price of a book, and go at opening time.
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Clérigos Church
ViewpointA baroque church with a tall bell tower that dominates the skyline. Climb the narrow stairs of the tower for one of the best panoramic views of Porto's rooftops and river.
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São Bento Station
LandmarkA working train station whose main hall is covered in thousands of blue-and-white tiles showing scenes from Portuguese history. Stop in any time, since it costs nothing to look around.
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Port Wine Cellars
Entertainment · 42 mi from centreAcross the river in Vila Nova de Gaia, historic lodges age port wine in huge barrels and offer cellar tours. Book a tour with tasting in advance, especially on weekends.
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Serralves
Museum · 2 mi from centreA contemporary art museum set in large gardens with an Art Deco villa, a treetop walk, and sculptures. Plan half a day, as the park alone is worth a long walk.
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Bom Jesus do Monte
Religious · 31 mi from centreA hilltop sanctuary near Braga reached by a monumental zigzag baroque staircase. Ride the old water-powered funicular up and walk down the stairs to see them properly.
Top experiences in Porto
Tours, tickets and experiences you can book with Destina Holidays, from 66 available.
Explore the Douro Valley - Full-Day Wine Tour
From $115 per adult
Visit to Douro Valley - Full-Day Tour
From $103 per adult
Douro Wine - Fula-Day Small-Group Tour
From $123 per adult
Braga and Guimaraes - Full-Day Small-Group Tour
From $84 per adult
WOW Cultural District - Ticket
From $35 per adult
Porto´s History with a Local - Private walking tour
From $497 per adult
Discover Porto in 60 minutes - Walking tour
From $59 per adult
Six Bridges of the Douro River Cruise
From $18 per adult
Essential Tour of the two banks of the Douro - Small group
From $30 per adult
Santiago Compostela and Valença do Minho Tour
From $78 per adult
Fátima and Coimbra
From $68 per adult
Aveiro Half day tour
From $45 per adult
Best time to visit Porto
Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Porto is July to August, when average daytime highs are around 77–78°F and rain falls on about 4 days a month.
Average daily low and high temperatures and days with at least 1 mm of rain, from recent weather records. Highlighted months are the most comfortable for sightseeing.
Porto weather forecast
- Wed 11 Nov 62° 60° 100%
- Thu 12 Nov 62° 60° 100%
- Fri 13 Nov 62° 59° 98%
- Sat 14 Nov 59° 57° 88%
- Sun 15 Nov 63° 57° 68%
- Mon 16 Nov 64° 60° 92%
- Tue 17 Nov 64° 60° 100%
Know before you go
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)1 US dollar ≈ €0.89
- Language
- Portuguese
- Calling code
- +351
- Driving
- On the right
- Time zone
- Europe/LisbonUTC+0
- Capital
- Lisbon
Upcoming public holidays in Portugal
- Restoration of IndependenceRestauração da Independência
- Immaculate ConceptionImaculada Conceição
- Christmas DayNatal
- New Year's DayAno Novo
- Good FridaySexta-feira Santa
- Easter SundayDomingo de Páscoa
Banks, offices and some attractions may close on public holidays, and flights and hotels often fill up early around them.
Getting to Porto
These are the airports closest to central Porto. Compare fares into each one, as a slightly longer transfer can sometimes mean a much cheaper flight.
- OPO Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport7 mi (11 km) from the city centre
Getting around Porto
Porto, like most Portuguese cities, is a nightmare to drive in. Roads vary in conditions - from fully paved to cobbled lanes that can make even the most shortest of distance seem like a go-kart rally. With that said, keep in mind that the tourist parts of the city (the Ribeira and Baixa) are a never ending maze of narrow streets, short tempered drivers and snakelike alleys. Better to walk (despite the fact that it's very hilly).
By metro
Porto Metro is a modern light rail/subway system, which was only constructed at the turn of the millennium and is still being expanded. It has several lines, that run across the centre of Porto, and reach out to surrounding municipalities. It is quick, and probably the most efficient way to get around Porto. Some major areas of the city, however, are not that well served by the metro.
By bus
STCP[dead link] is the best way to move around if you don't want to waste money on taxis. It's the public bus operator in the region, and the only one operating inside city borders. Suburbs are served either by STCP or private companies. STCP buses are the largest eco-friendly fleet in Europe, modern, comfortable, and lines cover the entire city, as well as major suburbs.
By taxi
A fast way of getting around the city, although traffic congestion near the city centre might be a problem. However, be expected to pay a high price for these services, especially compared to the other public transportation such as bus and subway. Uber offer their services in Porto providing both the standard 'UberX' service available in many cities, and a 'Green' option that guarantees you an electric car. Prices are the same for either service.
Porto travel FAQ
When is the best time to visit Porto?
Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Porto is July to August, when average daytime highs are around 77–78°F and rain falls on about 4 days a month.
What is the weather like in Porto?
July is usually the warmest month in Porto, with average highs of 78°F (25°C). December is the coolest, with average lows of 46°F (8°C). The wettest month is typically January, with about 289 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Porto?
Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO) is the closest airport, about 7 miles (11 km) from the centre of Porto.
How much are flights to Porto?
The cheapest round-trip fare Destina Holidays travellers found to Porto in the last 30 days was $638 from Vancouver, travelling 24 May – 7 Jun. May is currently the cheapest month to fly, with fares from $638.
What currency is used in Porto?
Porto uses the Euro (EUR). At the latest exchange rate, 1 US dollar ≈ €0.89.
What time zone is Porto in?
Porto uses the Europe/Lisbon time zone (currently UTC+0). Remember to check for daylight saving changes when planning connecting flights.
How do I get around Porto?
Porto, like most Portuguese cities, is a nightmare to drive in. Roads vary in conditions - from fully paved to cobbled lanes that can make even the most shortest of distance seem like a go-kart rally.
What are the best places to visit in Porto?
Top sights in Porto include Ribeira, Dom Luís I Bridge, Livraria Lello and Clérigos Church. Porto's riverside quarter of colorful tall houses, narrow alleys, and outdoor cafes facing the Douro. Take a short river cruise from here to see the city's six bridges from the water.
What are the top things to do in Porto?
Popular experiences you can book in Porto include Explore the Douro Valley - Full-Day Wine Tour, Visit to Douro Valley - Full-Day Tour and Douro Wine - Fula-Day Small-Group Tour. Destina Holidays offers 66 tours and activities here.
