About the city of Porto and its region
Porto is the largest city of Northern Portugal. The Historic Centre of Porto, classified as World Heritage by UNESCO, is one of the most attractive entertainment venues for visitors, providing a rich variety of monuments and ordinary dwelling, from different periods stretching back as far as the 14th century. Porto will also be European City of Culture in 2001.
The city of Porto and its river, Douro, cannot be dissociated. The Douro valley, with its lovely terraces of vineyards clinging to the hillsides, is the kingdom of the famous Port Wine and offers visitors spectacular views.
From springtime till autumn many festivals and fairs follow in rapid succession in the whole Northern Portugal. June 24 is Porto largest annual festival, celebrating the city patron saint, São João (Saint John).
How to get to Porto
The city of Porto is easily accessible from abroad. Several airlines offer service to Francisco Sá Carneiro International Airport, situated about 12 Km from the City Centre. Please contact the Abreu travel agency if you need help to get to Porto.
Local Transportation
From the airport to the hotels, you can take a taxi or use the bus service nº 56. There are taxis available just outside the airport terminal. Taxi fares to the City Centre costs near 3000 PTE. The bus service nº 56, just outside the airport terminal, runs every 30 minutes. The journey to the City Centre costs about 180 PTE and takes about 40 minutes. Tell the driver the name of your hotel in order he can help you to choose the stop where you should leave. If you arrive at Porto by train (Campanhã Railway Station) it is better to take a taxi. The cost is about 1500 PTE. If you drive from Lisbon to Porto, there is the A1 motorway, the entire 310 Km. Choose the signs "ARRÁBIDA" to cross the Arrábida bridge and leave the motorway to "Porto Cpo. Alegre" direction. You come to a junction with traffic lights after a few hundred meters. Almost the recommended hotels are nearby. See the interactive city map for orientation. Information about bus transportations can be found here http://www.stcp.pt/en/.
