Porto
Portugal's second city, known for port wine cellars across the Douro, Baroque churches and an old town that rises on hills above the river.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Porto, also called Oporto, is Portugal's second-largest city after Lisbon. It sits on the Douro River estuary in the north of the country, near the Atlantic coast, and its metropolitan area has about 1.9 million people. The old town rises on hills above the river. The Dom Luís I Bridge, a double-deck metal arch opened in 1886, links the old town to Vila Nova de Gaia, across the Douro, where port wine cellars offer guided tours and tastings.
The historic center, along with the Dom Luís I Bridge and the Monastery of Serra do Pilar, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. Its sights include Baroque churches, the Clérigos tower designed by Nicolau Nasoni between 1732 and 1763, and the azulejo tile panels inside São Bento station. Summer is warm and sunny, winter is mild and damp, and rain is concentrated in the cooler months, though sunny spells are common even then. Plan two or three days: one for the center on foot and one for a day trip into the Douro Valley.
Porto in five
- Take the metro from the airportMetro line E (violet) runs from the airport to the center at Trindade in about 30 minutes.
- Book Livraria Lello aheadEntry to the bookshop is by ticket, bought online for a time slot. Lines are long without one.
- Budget for the tourist taxPorto charges a municipal tourist tax per person, per night, paid at your accommodation.Tourist taxes in Europe
- Wear shoes with gripThe streets are steep and paved with granite and small stones that turn slippery in rain.
- Get an Andante cardThe rechargeable card covers the metro, buses and some trains. Tap it on the reader every time you board.
Things to do in Porto
See all attractions in Porto
Need to know
- Airport
- Porto (OPO), about 30 min by metro
- Getting there
- Trains from Lisbon, about 3 hours
- Getting around
- Walk, metro and buses; Andante card
- Best base
- Baixa or Ribeira
- Time needed
- 2–3 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain13 rainy daysHigh14°Low8°Wet, mildJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 194 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, mild
- FebruaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh15°Low9°WetFebruaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 128 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet
- MarchRain15 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°ShowersMarchRain
Poor
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 172 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers
- AprilRain13 rainy daysHigh18°Low11°Mild, greenAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 152 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, green
- MayPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh20°Low13°WarmMayPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 86 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm
- JuneClear8 rainy daysHigh22°Low15°São João festivalJuneClear
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 53 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
São João festival
- JulyClear3 rainy daysHigh25°Low17°Warm, busyJulyClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 14 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- AugustClear3 rainy daysHigh25°Low17°BusiestAugustClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 12 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Busiest
- SeptemberClear6 rainy daysHigh24°Low16°Douro harvestSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 64 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Douro harvest
- OctoberRain12 rainy daysHigh21°Low15°MildOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 200 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild
- NovemberRain15 rainy daysHigh17°Low11°WettestNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 196 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wettest
- DecemberRain15 rainy daysHigh15°Low10°Wet, mildDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 201 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, mild
Average daily high and low in Porto, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Porto
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
14
- Feels like
- 13°
- Humidity
- 77%
- Wind
- 6 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Porto
08:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today22°10°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue18°10°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed17°8°0%Wednesday: Clear. High 17°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu16°6°3%Thursday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Fri13°7°71%Friday: Rain. High 13°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 71%.
- Sat17°13°74%Saturday: Rain. High 17°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 74%.
- Sun17°16°96%Sunday: Thunderstorms. High 17°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 96%.
Updated 08:07 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- AugVilar de Mouros FestivalViana do Castelo, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Douro Valleyabout 2.5 hours by train to PinhãoTerraced vineyards and wine estates along the river.Read the guide
- Bragaabout 1 hour by trainBaroque churches and the Bom Jesus stairway.Read the guide
- Guimarãesabout 1 hour 15 min by trainMedieval center and castle.Read the guide
- Aveiroabout 1 hour by trainCanals, painted boats and Costa Nova beach.Read the guide
Before you go to Porto
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Porto, checked
- Portugal is in the Schengen Area. Check whether your passport needs a visa for your stay on the official Portugal.gov.pt portal before you book.Source
- Carry your passport or national identity card with you.
- Livraria Lello uses timed entry. Check the booking rules on the bookshop's official website before you go.
- Many of Porto's oldest buildings are at risk of collapse. Keep away from derelict or unsafe-looking structures, and do not climb on their walls or balconies.
Plan around Porto
Cities, trains, islands and entry rules
Read the guideThe Douro travel guideTerraced wine valley by train, boat or car
Read the guideBraga travel guideBaroque churches and Bom Jesus, a day from Porto
Read the guideLisbon travel guideFast trains link the two cities in about 3 hours
Read the guideSantiago de Compostela guideCross the border into Galicia from Porto
Read the guideTransport planningTrains to Lisbon, the Douro and Spain
Read the guideTourist taxes in EuropeHow Porto's per-night tax is charged
Read the guidePorto FAQ
How many days do you need in Porto?
Two or three days: one for Ribeira, the Sé and the center, one for Gaia's port lodges, and one for the Douro Valley or Foz.
Porto or Lisbon for a first trip?
Lisbon has more sights and a bigger city feel. Porto is smaller, cheaper and easier to cover on foot, and it has the Douro Valley close by.
Can you visit the Douro Valley without a car?
Yes. Trains run along the river to Régua and Pinhão, and boats and tours leave from Porto.
Where should I stay in Porto?
Ribeira for river views and a short stay, Baixa and Aliados for trains and flatter walking, Gaia for port tastings. Foz suits beach and quiet.
When is the best time to visit Porto?
May, June, September and October are warm and bright. June has the São João festival, and winters are wet but mild.