Great question! Porto is the Portuguese word for Porto, but the city is also known as Oporto.

Oporto: as visitors call it;

Porto: like locals call it.

How did this happen?

When the Portuguese refer to the city of Porto, they precede it with the male article “O” which means "The".

The Porto = O Porto

Long Story Short

Since the XVIII century, there has been a strong investment and settlement of British companies in Porto with the goal of trade. When traders (and non-Portuguese speakers in general) referred to Porto, they would imitate phonetically as they heard it: "O Porto" (assuming the actual name of the city was "Oporto").

And this is how the word "Oporto" got into the dictionary.

Porto is a city you must visit at least once in your life. Of course, we are biased and that’s why we keep publishing articles on our Facebook page and Instagram account of others saying the same. Porto is no longer Lisbon’s ugly sister but instead became the most authentic one. That’s right, we’ve said it: Porto is the most authentic city to visit!

• Please confirm your eligibility to enter or transit to Portugal with the Portuguese Embassy/Consulate and/or airline (and don't forget to review the airline’s policy on refunds before purchasing tickets).

We are frequently asked what is the best time of the year to visit Porto. It’s easy: from January to December… But you know us, we are madly and deeply passionate about this city! Then again, this question got us thinking about which time of the year would be the best to visit Porto from a visitor’s point of view.

We have to say that late spring/early summer is an amazing time to visit Porto. The weather is perfect with mild temperatures (between 22ºC to 30ºC), the public gardens look like paintings with all the colors of a rainbow and you can also enjoy the sandy beaches of Porto. The cherry on top of the cake for this time of the year is called Saint John – the city’s patron saint and biggest party. We celebrate Saint John on the night of the 23rd to 24th of June, in a citywide event. We call it “the longest night of the year” (which is pretty self-explanatory of what this party is all about, right?).

If you have been here already, you know Portugal is a country where you’ll easily find people speaking English. If you haven’t, believe us when we say that it is. Everyone, from the young to the elder, speaks at least some English and will be happy to talk to you. Come to think of it some elders might not, but there will always be someone else nearby. Don't worry!

Porto Airport, also known as Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, is the second-largest airport in Portugal.

In Portugal, there are 5 major airports located in the main cities of Portugal. They are: Lisbon, Porto, Faro, and the two others situated outside the mainland: Funchal in Madeira and Ponta Delgada in the Azores.

The airport is located around 11km from the city centre of Porto, and the journey by car should take around 20 minutes in normal traffic. You can easily get to the city centre by metro. It will take you no more than 30 minutes. Line E (Purple) runs every 20 or 30 minutes, depending on the time and day of the week. The metro journey from the airport to the city centre passes through four fare zones and a Z4 ticket is required. This metro ticket can be purchased from a ticket machine.

Yes. But, in our opinion, of all the different ways of getting around Porto, the city's metro is the fastest, most affordable and most reliable way. Trains are great for taking day trips from Porto, such as Braga, Douro, Guimarães or Aveiro. Getting around Porto on foot is a great option as well - pick a street and follow your instinct!

If you want authenticity, Porto is the place to go. No tie or coat is required. We look forward to showing you a side of Porto that most travelers never get to see.

Are you an art lover? A total foodie? A nature enthusiast? A wine lover? A beer lover? Whatever you are looking for on your next trip, you will surely find it here in Porto.

Yes. Portugal was considered the safest country in the EU and the third safest country in the world. Come and see it with your own eyes!

We’ll be honest with you: Portuguese do food pretty well. There’s the famous Francesinha, of course. But there’s also Porto-style tripe, white bean stew; there’s “prego” (rump steak with ham and a fried egg), “chanfana” (slow-cooked goat with wine and spices), “moelas”, “patanisca”, “bacalhau”… and the list goes on forever. Porto’s food can be easily considered comfort food.

Yes. Over the last few years, Porto has become increasingly open to different lifestyles. Popping up all over are record stores, vintage markets and shops, surf schools, and, increasingly, more vegetarian places. While it is true that most restaurants in the city are not vegetarian (or vegan), in fact, a lot of regular restaurants and cafes now offer vegetarian options.

Whenever we want to show what Portuguese cuisine means in only one dish (a task which is both difficult and stifling) we think of … “Cozido à Portuguesa” (literally translated: “Boilt a la Portuguese”). Do not be fooled by its simple name though, this is considered by many to be the national dish (we cannot say 100% of Portuguese agree with this, but then again, try getting two Portuguese to decide what is the best sweet made in Portugal and you could be in for hours of discussion). We invite you to book a Food Tour today toget exclusive access to an online show cooking class where you'll learn how to make Cozido à Portuguesa. Always with the guidance of our food-obsessed tour guide.

Let’s be honest, when we choose a travel destination, there’s one thing that immediately goes to the top of our list: taste the local food! While it’s true that we simply want to indulge our palate with new flavors, we also know that a food experience usually adds something more: you taste the food of locals, you get to interact with them, you learn something about the place and the food, and sometimes, you even make new friends. Overall, it’s an enriching experience, which is why we travel in the first place.

We refuse the idea that food tours are just for foodies. In our opinion, food tours are a vehicle for a city’s culture. Nothing captures the essence of a culture like the tastes, smells, food, and wines of the local cuisine. What locals eat, when, where and how much is a window into their every day and, therefore, into the country’s way of life. During our food tours, you’ll often meet and be welcomed by local families in their small, authentic restaurants, cafes, and bars and immediately swept into the taste of life in Porto. Therefore, Taste Porto Food Tours will please any curious traveler that wishes to dive deep into a new culture. Book your place today!

We recommend booking your food tours on one of the first days of your trip. You’ll get great tips from the guide and you will most certainly want to return to some of the locations on the tour to taste the food again and to take some sweet memories back home.

Your accommodation in Porto is more than just a place to lay your head down, instead, it is whatever you want it to be: a place to make friends and share stories, a spot to feel that you are in a home away from home, a romantic getaway for two… no matter what, we’ve got you covered! Book a Food Tour today and get an exclusive Free Guide where we point out the best places to stay, eat, drink or visit in Porto.

Snowfall in Porto? No, not really. However, if you head to Serra da Estrela in Continental Portugal, you'll find the country's highest peak, reaching an impressive 1,993 meters. It's a popular destination for people from Portugal and other places who want to experience the magic of snowy landscapes.

Just an hour and a half away from Porto, you can find the Douro Valley, one of the most beautiful wine regions in the world. Visiting Porto gives you the opportunity to experience the Douro valley. If you want to enjoy a day in the wine region where Port wine and other table wines originate from, we recommend Douro Exclusive for the most authentic experience.

The only Portuguese National Park (Peneda-Gerês) is just a couple of hours away from Porto. Here you can enjoy amazing landscapes and natural waterfalls. Call Carla and Sérgio from O’Porto Adventure Tours and ask them to take you to their favorite hidden spots on this tour.

You can spend a week in Porto and still have plenty left on your to-do list.

If you have the benefit of time, we recommend that you explore some great nearby destinations, such as Aveiro, Braga, Guimarães and Coimbra.

You can either fly, drive or take the train.

Yes. We launched a brand new app for iOS and Android: the Taste Porto APP. It is an easy way for first-time visitors to explore Porto and make the most of their time in town. The Taste Porto APP is free to download and install and includes free (and amazing) content created by passionate locals. On your device, go to the Google Play Store or the Apple APP Store and search for “Taste Porto”. Don't forget to share your user experience with us!

Yes. We are proud to confirm it.

Portugal is known on a worldwide scale for its wonderful gastronomy. We know a few Portuguese food markets around the world. Send us an e-mail ([email protected]) and we'll share the list with you.