Porto, an adicting wine

If we had to choose one place that tourists cannot miss in Porto, apart from many great options listed below, the Porto wine cellars (Caves de Vinho do Porto) would be the must see number one. Located on the south margin of the Douro River, a few meters walk thru Dom Luis bridge, in a neighbour town called Vila Nova de Gaia, you will find many cellars to explore, with guided tours and wine tastings.

In those old warehouses the Porto wine is aged, it is a Unesco World Heritage landmark. This fortified wine is the first in history protected designation of origin product, even before the famous french protected origins as Cognac, and Champagne.

The Porto wine has a high alcohol by volume degree, of around 20° , the sweetness is due to its production process in which the grape juice, at an early fermentation stage, is added "aguardente", a distilled of grape, preserving the taste of the grape fruit. It is also called "fortified wine", as Moscatel de Setúbal and Vinho da Mandeira.

Yeas ago, I went to a friends house in Brasil, to meet a few friends. I had brought to them a Porto wine bottle. His father showed up, and I offered him "would you like some Porto?", he replied "no thanks, it´s too adicting" :)

By the way, many people drink Porto in very small classes, that is not correct, it is much better to enjoy it in a regular red wine glass.

The Funicular dos Guindais

A great transportation for walkers: Funicular is an inclined cable car that links uptown, with downtown, from Batalha Square right down to the Douro River, by Dom Luis bridge. It is an easy way to visit the Porto Wine Cellars, crossing the river to Vila Nova de Gaia. (fotos by GolfoNorte)

Eating and drinking in Porto

Portugal is probably one of the best countries to eat on Earth. Sea food is really good and the wine is among the best in Europe. You will find simple restaurants where you can eat very well and cheap, and also some very sophisticated ones like Café Majestic (photo by fofo), an old art deco cafe.

Try "bacalhau" (cod fish) cooked in many different ways.

Soft "polvo" (octopus) as you never tried, very well prepared. Lulas (skid) grilled or stuffed, and "filetes de pescada", the portuguese version of fish and chips.

In Churrasqueiras (barbecue restaurants) you can have grilled chicken, meat, sausages, and more fish. Beer ir really good. Bakeries are all over town, try Pastel de Natas (the Porto version of Pastel de Belém of Lisbon)(photo mariavaicomasostras.blogspot).

Why staying longer in Porto?

Porto is the famous city of the Port wine, by the Atlantic Ocean and the Douro River valley, so you will find a diversity of landscapes to enjoy, beaches, parks, river, cliffs and the metropolitan area full of cultural programs, museums, shops, restaurants, concerts, bars, galleries, gardens and parties.

By statistics, tourists stay just 3 nights in Porto, but that is changing recently, the city is getting very famous and metropolitan area has many new attractions in the

recent years.

Porto airport is also the base of two Low Cost airline companies: Ryan Air, and Easy Jet. It is at the moment one of the most popular destinations for europeans on vacation.

You will miss a lot of Porto staying just 3 nights. Five nights are more reasonable, but many people are staying for a week or more. Porto is also a lot cheaper than Lisbon, and Algarve. This blog will give you some ideas! Check Casa da Música, home of Porto Orchestra, with all kinds of music programs. Take the modern subway metro and go everywhere, even come and go to the airport in it.

I put this signs in my Porto Tour map, on Google Maps.

Get lost in Porto.