When you think of Portugal, you usually think of sun-drenched beaches, luxury hotels and family-friendly beach resorts. And, if you have heard of Porto at all, it is probably because of their football team.

However, the city’s historical centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site filled with picturesque townhouses, mercantile warehouses, cobbled alleys and wide-open boulevards.

Built along the banks of the Douro River estuary, the city is riddled with hills and is blessed with a constant cooling breeze, which is most welcome during the sweltering summers, when temperatures can peak at 40 degrees.

You should begin your city exploration at the Ribeira. This area lines the river and is the best entry point into the old town. The best way to take in this bohemian city is walking these well-trodden streets.

Staircases climb the city hills and churches cling to every corner and crevice. Small plazas appear from nowhere serving up the best wine in Portugal as well as ultra-fresh seafood. The Mercado do Bolhao is a traditional market of fruit, vegetables, meat and fish and is a real sight for soar eyes.

The Modern Art Museum at Serralves is packed to the brim with art. This new Museu de Arte Contemporanea and the Casa da Musica showcase the best in modern art and performances, but the buildings themselves are works of art in themselves. Alvaro Siza and Rem Koolhaas have excited architectural aficionados.

It’s not just architecture that is of note in Porto. The city has some of the finest restaurants in Portugal. Both the meat and fish are fresh and flavour-some, but expect the food to be quite heavy and portion sizes to be rather generous. Thankfully though, you will not pay heavily.

Hotels in Porto are like the food, very affordable. They tend to be very attractive too, particularly if they are at the upper end of the scale and located in the old town area. Most of the hotels include breakfast in the room rate and some offer other facilities such as swimming pools, spas and gyms. Roof-top pools are particularly appealing for summer stays, as a way of dealing with the extreme afternoon heat.

Some of the cheaper hotels are located in the suburbs in more modern buildings that lack the character of the old town. However, the location shouldn’t be a problem as the city’s metro system is incredibly advanced.

Author: James Holly. James Holly is a long term travel and leisure enthusiast with over 10 years of globetrotting experience behind him. He recommends octopustravel.com, where you can book many types of hotels, including Porto Hotels.

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