Porto. Where Do I begin? After a long four days in Lisbon of taking advantage of the crazy night life and waking up at 8-9am every day to do a full day of walking around the city and sight seeing, we were ready to take it easy in the Paris of Portugal, Porto.
Porto is a place where you would go with your other half or a girls trip and want to try all the wines at the cellars along the river. The romantic charm, the cobalt side walks and roads and cute cafe 3oo meters away from you every where you go, perfect to relax and have a espresso before you start your day of walking.
The first day we rested as I was starting catch a flu and our bodies needed rest. We checked in at the Piolet hostel which was about 15 euro a night. Great price! Only down side it did not include breakfast and I usually always book a hostel with free breakfast ( its just one less thing to think about), though it was a 10minute walk of the center of the city and a 5 minute walk from the night life. So all in all we got a good place. They had a lounge, kitchen to cook meals if you wish to do so, free wifi and all you can eat breakfast for 3 euro.
After checking in we decided to take advantage of a free culture tour at 4:30pm. They showed us where the Harry Potter book store was, the difference between the Italian and British colonized area of the city, the street Santa Catarina which is the shopping hub for Porto and the art district where all the hipsters can be found and the cute boutiques with amazing jewelry and fashion ( this was my favorite area).
After we decided to go to the grocery store to get some food for dinner during our stay in Porto. I tend to cook one meal at my accommodation when I travel and one I have out.
Once we got to the hostel I started to feel my temperature increase. My flue was getting worst. All the walking and traveling was getting to me. I had dinner and then went to bed.
The next morning…
The next day I felt horrible and decided to sleep the whole day. I slept for over twelve hours and had fever medication and advil. This ment I had only a day and a half left before I left Porto to go the south so I was determined to take a day off and rest so I can be ready for the day tommorow.
Last hours in Porto
The following day we had a full day planed:
- We went to a cute cafe we found near out hostel and had a long espresso and Portuguese pastries.
- Walked all over the city and took pictures of the amazing arcitecture
- Went near the harbour and saw the two our of the seven bridges in Porto
- We had to go to a Port wine cellar so we went to the Taylor’s Cellar and it was amazing. We got a full tour of the cellar and tasted two port wines all for 12 euro which is amazing ( I suggest not going with a tour group and going directly to the Port wine cellar your self. Its much cheaper)
- Watched the sunset at the top of the bridge and it was amazing ( I try and watch the sunset in every city I visit. it is so magical)
- We went out to a nice a la carte restaurant with 6 courses and I got to try the one thing I really wanted to try in Portugal, black ink pasta sea food linguine
- Then for the last night we decided to join the Piolet Hostel’s pub crawl for 10 euros including 3 bars and one club and a complimentary drink at each location. The people we went with were amazing and I couldn’t have asked for any other people to end our Porto trip with a bang
To say the least, Porto was a dream. Would I go back again? Yes. What would I de differently? Not get sick haha. Probably also go to my cellars because I love wine tastings and went to the gardens as all the locals suggested it but it was a good distance away and due to the amount of time we had in Porto we were not able to go.
Hope that helps you guys out with your trip if you are thinking of going to Porto and your enjoy the city of romance for Portugal
Budget
- Accommodation- 15-20 euro a night
- Food- 15 euro a day ( eating one meal at the hostel)
- Transportation- 2.95 euro per trip
- Spending money- 15 euro a day ( I would spend less then that since I just walked around the city)
