Why visit
Porto is port wine at Vila Nova de Gaia, the Ribeira riverfront (UNESCO), Livraria Lello's staircase, and francesinha sandwiches that should probably be illegal.
Porto at a glance
City population
230k
Metro: 1.7 million
Elevation
104 m
341 ft
Time zone
UTC+0 (UTC+1 DST)
Europe/Lisbon
Airport
OPO
Francisco Sá Carneiro
Founded
Pre-Roman (Portus Cale)
Getting around
Metro (6 lines, partly surface), trams, buses
Signature dish
Francesinha sandwich, tripas à moda do Porto, port wine
Neighborhoods for travelers
RibeiraFoz do DouroBonfimMiragaia
Portugal at a glance
Country center
39.5°, -8.0°
Coast
Has coastline
Country area
92,090 km²
35,556 mi²
Country population
10.3 million
111/km²
Subregion
Southern Europe
Currency
Euro (€)
EUR
Dial
+351
Language
Portuguese
Demonym
Portuguese
Internet
.pt
UN
Member state
ISO code
PT / PRT
Where in the world
39.5° · -8.0°
Portugal
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Click the map to open in Google Maps. Outline via svg-maps/world · CC BY 4.0
Did you know
- Porto is the origin of "Port" wine, which must still be produced in the Douro Valley upriver.
- The city's São Bento train station has 20,000 hand-painted azulejo tiles depicting Portuguese history.
- Porto was named a UNESCO World Heritage site for its Ribeira district in 1996.
- Portugal had the longest colonial empire: spanning 584 years (1415 to 1999 when Macau was returned).
- The oldest bookstore in the world still in operation is in Lisbon: Livraria Bertrand, since 1732.
Bordering Portugal
Traveler notes
- Port wine cellar tours in Gaia
- Day-trip up the Douro Valley by train or boat
- Traditional azulejo tile walks at São Bento station
Plan checks
- Build a three-day plan before extending. Most travel cities are easy to undersell to yourself.
- Check seasonal timing: high season can triple costs on some coastal destinations.
- Reserve top restaurants 2–4 weeks out and plan two standout meals per city.
- Check opening days. Major sites close on Mondays or Tuesdays in many countries.
Explore more
Frequently asked about Porto
What currency is used in Porto?
Porto uses the Euro (€), ISO code EUR.
What languages are spoken in Portugal?
The primary language is Portuguese.
What is the international calling code for Portugal?
The calling code is +351.
What airport serves Porto?
Francisco Sá Carneiro (IATA: OPO).
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