It gave its name to Portugal (Portucale), was European capital of culture in 2001, has its name in the famous Port wine and was three times elected as the best European tourist destination. Porto is the second largest city in Portugal and has a unique charm that perfectly combines tradition with contemporary, giving rise to a cosmopolitan and intimate place that is really worth visiting.

We bring together in this text some of the most emblematic places in the city of Porto and we still give you some uncomplicated tips for those who, besides Porto, want to know a little of Portugal, especially the northern region, which also has so much to offer, where car rental, or purchase a ticket that allows you to visit the Douro and the cellars can further improve your tour.

São Bento Railway Station

São Bento Railway Station

São Bento Station, with its first stone laid in 1900 by King Dom Carlos I, is one of the most emblematic places in the city of Porto. The interior of the atrium is lined with 20,000 pictorial tiles by Jorge Colaço, representing historical and ethnographic paintings that will leave you amazed at the first impact with the city.

The station is centrally located and from there you can easily visit other points of interest. For those who choose to reach the city through Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, they easily reach the station through frequent public transport connections, which take about 50 minutes from the airport to the station, and it is also possible to visit the main hall of the station without purchasing a ticket.

As it is faster to access the airport to the city center by car (about 15 minutes), tourists can benefit from online platforms specialized in comparing prices and models of cars available for rent in Portugal that can often be even more comfortable. and economical than your own car.

Other visitors arriving in the city through the airport choose to rent a car directly from the many car rental companies available, thus being able to choose the model that suits their needs.

Thanks to the region's wealth, many visitors also choose to visit other points of interest in the north of Portugal, such as the Douro, one of the most important wine regions in the country, which is a more rural region. makes it more comfortable and quickly accessible by car.

Uncomplicated tip: if your visit to Porto includes points of interest outside the city center, it may be interesting to choose an accommodation that provides you with comfort in order to better enjoy your trip while offering you an experience related to the wine atmosphere from the region as in the Yeatman Hotel located in Vila Nova de Gaia, surrounded by Port wine cellars with panoramic views of the river and the city of Porto.

Livraria Lello

Livraria Lello

At number 144 on Rua das Carmelitas is the Lello & Irmão bookshop. In the heart of the city of Porto and close to the Torre dos Clérigos, this is another place that is worth visiting. We advise you to park your car at Parque Saba located in Praça de Lisboa, which is just a 2-minute walk from the famous bookstore, while giving you quick access to other attractions in the city.

This bookstore is not just a store where you can buy books. It is a space enveloped in magic capable of transporting you to a century ago and that brings with it the urban legend of having been the inspiration for J.K. Rowling to write the famous Harry Potter saga.
The bookshop has wooden shelves that go up to the ceiling and a wooden staircase carved in the center, which, together with the stained glass on the ceiling that projects natural light, can provide you with a magical moment that you will hardly forget.

Uncomplicated tip: currently an entrance fee of 5 € is charged to visit the space. In the case of purchase of any item from the bookstore, the value is discounted. Do not forget, therefore, to acquire that book you really wanted to read and thus discount the price of the entry.

Majestic Café

Majestic Café

At number 144 on Rua das Carmelitas is the Lello & Irmão bookshop. In the heart of the city of Porto and close to the Torre dos Clérigos, this is another place that is worth visiting. We advise you to park your car at Parque Saba located in Praça de Lisboa, which is just a 2-minute walk from the famous bookstore, while giving you quick access to other attractions in the city.

This bookstore is not just a store where you can buy books. It is a space enveloped in magic capable of transporting you to a century ago and that brings with it the urban legend of having been the inspiration for J.K. Rowling to write the famous Harry Potter saga.

The bookshop has wooden shelves that go up to the ceiling and a wooden staircase carved in the center, which, together with the stained glass on the ceiling that projects natural light, can provide you with a magical moment that you will hardly forget.

Uncomplicated tip: currently an entrance fee of 5 € is charged to visit the space. In the case of purchase of any item from the bookstore, the value is discounted. Do not forget, therefore, to acquire that book you really wanted to read and thus discount the price of the entry.

Caves de Vinho do Porto

Caves de Vinho do Porto

Visiting Porto and not visiting the wine cellars that give it its name is almost forbidden. However, for those who do not know the region, you may be surprised to realize that the Port wine cellars, in fact, are located in Vila Nova de Gaia, the neighboring city of Porto, located on the other bank of the Luís I Bridge.

The most well-known cellars are Ferreira, Sandeman and Ramos Pinto, which has a museum. However, there are several cellars around the place that can be visited and provide you with a great time. If it is of interest to you to visit as many cellars as possible, it may be interesting to choose one of the options available at the various car rental points in Portugal in order to find a model of economy and city car that will allow you to easily navigate the cellars.

*Promotional article written by freelance writer Carlos Sousa.