Oporto Holidays – A fascinating, unpretentious and atmospheric city
Oporto is a city with a long and fascinating history built on steep hills surrounding the mouth of the River Douro, on Portugal’s west coast. Holidays in Oporto are popular all year round, offering a fascinating mix of architecture, an atmospheric old riverside quarter, steep cobbled lanes, waterfront cafes and bars and plenty of unpretentious workaday life. Oporto holidays feature an absorbing mix of neighbourhoods. There are medieval alleys, an imposing 12th century cathedral, fine old churches, wide avenues, pedestrian shopping streets and excellent parks and gardens. Oporto holidays tend to focus on the atmospheric riverside Ribeira quarter, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A great deal of the interest of Oporto holidays lies in exploring this characterful maze of narrow lanes packed with colourful houses with characteristic blue and white tiled facades and flower-decked balconies. Oporto holidays should include the climb up the Baroque Torre dos Clerigos for fine views of the old city. Another Oporto holiday highlight is the walk across the fabulous two-tiered Dom Luis Bridge to the suburb of Vila Nova de Gaia, famous for its great port wine lodges. Oporto holidays should include a tour and tasting session in one of over 50 famous port houses, including famous cellars like Sandemans and Grahams.
Restaurants in Oporto - Traditional taverns and trendy bars
Oporto holidays offer a great collection of economical traditional taverns and restaurants with plentiful servings of seafood, fish and local cuisine washed down with local vinho verde. There are charming traditional stores and a colourful covered market. Holidays in Oporto offer a rich cultural life, with plenty of live music, theatre and galleries along with museums featuring art, ceramics and furniture. Oporto holiday nightlife centres on the old riverside neighbourhood, the Cais da Ribeira and the lively student bars in the steep streets of the Cordoaria. Oporto holidays can sample Art Deco cafes, smart restaurants, trendy bars and several lively clubs.
Holidays in Oporto – Beach resorts on the Atlantic coast
Oporto holidays offer dozens of interesting excursions to an attractive variety of seaside resorts, fishing villages, small towns and villages, with many fine old churches, castles, forts, mansions, bridges and monasteries. Holidays in Oporto offer excellent river cruises exploring the picturesque scenery along the River Douro. Visit Guimares, another World Heritage Site with fine medieval, Gothic, Romanesque and Baroque architecture. For a beach near Oporto most visitors head out to the Atlantic beach resorts of Foz, Cabadelo, Vila Cha, Povoa de Varzim or Santo Tirso to the north, or the beaches at Espinho, Cortegaca and Esmoriz to the south. Local buses link Oporto with the beaches.
Porto and The Costa Verde
Portugal holidays
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