Porto and The Costa Verde Holidays
Oporto and the Costa Verde Holidays – Green and lush countryside; rugged coastline; outstanding culture
Situated in the north-west corner of the country, where Portugal meets Spain, the Costa Verde is aptly named the ‘Green Coast’. Its lush countryside of mountains, rivers and nature parks are full of castles and historic sites, and absolutely teeming with wildlife, while its rugged coastline draws surfers who want to brave the Atlantic waves, and families who appreciate its long sandy beaches. The Parque Natural do Litoral Norte, is a protected landscape, which allows the sand dunes and cliffs to support a wide range of wildlife.
Oporto, the regional capital is the second largest city in Portugal, and gave its name not only to the world famous wine – port – but also to the country itself. Sat on the River Duoro, the River of Gold, so called because of the vineyards that cover its banks and produce the excellent light white wine, vinho verde, the city is a wonderful mix of the ancient and modern in its architecture, and the relaxed and frenetic with its wonderful bars, restaurants and nightlife.
The two resorts of Ofir and Póvoa de Varzim offer holiday experience with similarities but also with differences. The former, with its pine forests that come right to the edge of the beach, is for relaxing and taking your holiday easy, while the latter is for culture and nightlife, and is the most popular resort in the north of Portugal. Both have splendid beaches that are a magnet to surfers and families alike.
When to go to the Costa Verde
The Costa Verde is so full of things to do that you can’t cram everything in, so when you go will be determined by what makes a holiday special for you. July and August are the hottest months if you are a beach babe, but will also be the busiest, so best avoided if you don’t want to rub shoulders on the sands. Spring is ideal if you want to get the most out of the beautiful countryside, when everything is in bloom; autumn if you still like shorts and T-shirt weather but don’t want to get overheated while walking or horse-riding.
The weather in the Costa Verde
The Costa Verde enjoys a mild climate, with average summer temperatures of around 25º occasionally rising to 28º, and winter averages of about 14º, cooling to a chill 6º at night. Sea temperatures of between 17-19º from June to August make for pleasant swimming, but can be chilly at other times of the year. With a name like the ‘Costa Verde’ you can expect some rain, most of which will fall from November to March, when you will also have some cloudy skies, although you could expect a couple days a month of light rain during the high season.
Getting the best deal in the Costa Verde
Travel out of the high seasons of July and August, and Easter if you can. Not only will you have more likelihood of securing a good deal on accommodation, but flights are usually also noticeably cheaper. And apart from getting a bargain, you will also find the resorts less crowded.
However, a holiday isn’t just about getting a good deal, it’s about making sure you get the holiday you want. Begin looking early, and if you find something you like – book it! It’s far better to pay the regular price than hold out until the last moment for a cheap rate, only to find that all the accommodation or flights have been sold.
Have a look below to see our current deals to the Costa Verde, and remember also to check our late offers.
Airport and travel need to know
Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport, the official name for Oporto Airport, is one of three international airports in Portugal, and the second busiest, Faro being the leader. There are services for disabled people, including specially fitted toilets, adapted lifts, ramps, easy-to-operate telephones and help with boarding and leaving the airplane. Wheelchairs are provided free of charge. There are plenty of bars, cafes, restaurants and duty-free shops.
TAP, easyJet and Ryanair link the UK with Oporto airport, with flights from London-Gatwick (LGW), London-Stansted (STN) and Liverpool (LPN).
There is a Metro from the airport that connects with Oporto city and some of the resorts. STCP (www.stcp.pt/en/home/principal.htm - English website) is the main regional bus service, which has a text service where you can find out when the next bus is due to arrive by sending a text with the bus stop code (visible on the right by the logo SMS BUS). Oporto is the rail hub of northern Portugal, and Comboios de Portugal (www.cp.pt), the national rail service, has a website in English where you can download maps as well as timetables for mobiles and PDAs.
There are plenty of taxi and airport shuttle services, but be aware that there is a surcharge of 20% from 9pm-6am, weekends and national holidays.
Useful links
