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- Destinations
- Europe
- Portugal
- Porto
Porto
Bridges and port wine are what characterises Oporto, Portugal's
gracious northern capital and second largest city after Lisbon.
Oporto sits astride a great gorge at the point where the River
Douro enters the Atlantic, and although it is mainly industrial,
the city centre has plenty of charm with some art treasures,
medieval cathedrals and museums, along narrow streets sporting
wrought-iron balconies and bright splashes of potted geraniums.
The main reason tourists visit Oporto is to sample its legendary
port wine, processed, blended and aged in the various lodges of the
Vila Nova da Gaia district across the river from the city, via the
spectacular two-tiered Dom Luis bridge. Visitors can tour the
lodges and finish up with a tasting session. The city also has an
historic riverside district called Ribeira, which is undergoing
restoration and has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage
Site.
Within easy reach of Oporto there are numerous coastal resorts
and fishing villages on the Atlantic coastline, well known for
their seafood restaurants. It is possible to cruise down the River
Douro to take in the scenic splendour of the area.
Information & Facts
Climate
Oporto has a Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summer weather
and mild, wet winters. The average summer temperature is 68°F
(20°C) but can rise as high as 104°F (40°C). Winter temperatures
typically average at about 50°F (10°C) but occasionally drop below
32°F (0°C) at night. Weather-wise, best time to travel to Oporto is
probably between June and September, when temperatures are
comfortable and rainfall is low.
Getting Around
Oporto has a comprehensive bus network, and a limited
underground Metro which serves mostly the outer suburbs. Taxis are
plentiful and cheap.
Language
Portuguese is the official language, but English is
widely spoken and understood.
Money
Portugal is a member of the European Union and its official
currency is the Euro (EUR), which is divided into 100 cents. There
are numerous banks, bureaux de change and ATMs available in main
cities and tourist destinations. Foreign currency can be exchanged
at banks, bureaux de change and automatic currency exchange
machines. Banking hours are generally 8.30am to 3pm Monday to
Friday. Major credit cards are widely accepted, as are travellers
cheques.
Time
Local time is GMT (GMT +1 from last Sunday in March to
Saturday before last Sunday in October).