The city of Porto gave the name to the proud sailor country Portugal. She is called Cidade Invicta, the undefeated city, and rightfully so. Porto offers visitors impressive experiences in numerous areas, historic and architectonic as well as gastronomic and cultural. The Baixa (old town) was named World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1996. The Baixa impresses not because of special single buildings but rather as an incomparable complex of a completely preserved historic old town.

 

The Tower „Igreja dos Clérigos“, which can be climbed by foot, is one of Porto's most famous landmarks. On its top one is rewarded with a beautiful view of the city. Porto has the unique charm of an old town at the shores of a river. The iron bridge „Ponte de Dom Luis I“, which was designed by a former student of Gustave Eiffel in 1886, connects Porto with the port wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia.

 

Lots of shops and malls are scattered through the mosaic-filled pedestrian area of Santa Catarina. After a shopping session, you can relax in one of the numerous cafés. The great coffee is enjoyed best the portuguese way, with a Pastel de Nata. Night owls also don't miss out. One of the most popular spots is the Galeria de Paris in the old town. On both sides of the street, bars and clubs invite you to have a drink and dance. Quite often, beach and city festivals are held. Highlights include the Queima das Fitas, the student's fest, and of course the Festa do São João, which starts on June 23. For that fest, the whole city goes out and meets up in the old town to celebrate the city's patron St. John.

 

The river Douro flows through one of the world's oldest wine regions, from its spring in the mountains of northern Spain until its mouth into the Atlantic right next to Porto. A great dinner in Porto naturally includes a good glass of port wine. The sweet wine is one of the classics of the wine world. In the port cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia, directly across the old town, one can not only marvel at the barrels in the wine cellars, but also have a tasting. After that, Porto seems even

lovelier than it is anyway.

 

The Portuguese coast with the long, fine-grained sand beaches provides a great deal of space to surf or swim quite unlike the usual mass tourism at the Atlantic.

 

Apart from Porto we recommend trips in the countryside, to combine your holidays in this beautiful region with nature and adventure. The park „Serra de Estrela“ is one of many highlights. Pictorial giant rocks make way for crystal-clear mountain lakes and in the scattered villages, time seems to have stopped.