Fly from Cardiff to Oporto with a one stop connection

Porto, or commonly known in English as Oporto, is the capital of Portugal’s Northern region. It is the country’s second largest city and is known for being more of an exciting metropolis than a popular tourist destination. This gives the destination an undiscovered feel, making it the perfect place to explore and feel like one of the locals! It is also a picturesque city, with brightly coloured houses that are built on a hillside overlooking the delightful Douro River.

Due to its location, visitors to Porto should always remember their comfortable walking shoes as the city’s attractions are dotted throughout steeped streets. This adds to the charm as the city rewards those willing to sightsee with stunning views.

For those looking for historic sites, Porto excels, with the Old Town of Ribeira awarded World Heritage status in 1996. Equally, if visitors want to see more of Porto’s present, they can visit its seaside suburbs where they will experience modern attractions accompanied by fine restaurants.

Enjoy the view. If you don’t fancy walking up to the top of Ribeira, then hop on a bus or grab a taxi so that you can reach the top quicker. Once you have soaked up the view, you’ll find that walking down the hill is very enjoyable.
Go to the seaside. If you want to explore away from the city centre, head to the suburbs, where you will find beaches and fishing villages. Matosinhos, which is further north, has some great swimming pools and is known for its fishy cuisine.
Enjoy an evening of music. For those that want to experience an exceptional orchestra, Casa da Música has three! This concert hall was designed by Rem Koolhaas and is architecturally stunning. Whether you book a performance or tickets to explore the auditorium, this won’t disappoint.
Hire a bike. Although Oporto is described as a “walkable city”, there is also a cycle track that runs along the river. Consequently, visitors can hire bikes and tandems easily.
Cool down. After exploring the streets of Oporto, visitors should treat themselves to an ice cream. Although not famously known for the sweet treat, ice cream has become very popular in the city and is made using fresh local ingredients.

Cross the Ponte de D.Luis birdge, and you can get some excellent photos of the bridge and the surrounding landscape from the river bank.

By Tiago Benigno

Cais da Ribeira - This is a great place to grab a drink and something to eat. There are lots of people, and the atmosphere is great. If you like to people watch, this is the spot!!

By Tiago Benigno

Villa Nova de Gaia (the other side of the river). - This is a nice old part of the city, and is great for a romantic stroll. I would recommend visiting this place at the end of the day, good spot for sunsets.

By Tiago Benigno