Thetownend.com

Off to Porto next month with the wife...anyone been, any suggestions?  Hoping FC Porto will be at home in the Portuguese Cup to try to get to see them.

Went to Porto last year and it's one of the most picturesque places I've been to (albeit a bit dilapidated in places) The centre piece being the amazing King Louis Bridge. No amount of photos could do it justice.

We went to the football, it was quality - Porto v Sporting in their first home game after clinching the league. Even for such a high profile game as that, it was no problem getting tickets, I just jumped on a tram down to the ground and got the tickets the day before. Unless they're playing Sporting or Benfica you would have not trouble just paying on the day.

One thing you will notice about Portugal is that the country may be broke but you can see where the money went - on its brand spanking new transport system. Everything is brand new - trains, trams, airports, taxis, the lot.

On one day we took the red tram line (see map) out to Vilo do Conde which is a quiet little, very Portuguese, seaside town where you will get a whole beach pretty much to yourself
http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/pt/porto/porto-map.htm
It only cost about 3 quid return or something stupid. Pacos Fereira play out that way as well.

You've got all the Port Houses to look around of course. We did Crofts but I imagine the're all much the same - It's a bit of 'must do' when you're in Porto really. A trip on the river is always good whatever city you're in as well.

Good place - The Super Bock's not too bad either (see avatar).

[url width=500 height=325]http://www.my-world-travelguides.com/pics/dom-luis-i-bridge-porto.jpg[/url]

Agree with everything OST says. One of the most under-rated weekend break spots in Europe. Beautiful location with old streets winding down to the historic river with its spectacular bridge and wooden boats carrying the port barrels from the cellars, loads of lovely restaurants, and an authentic, unreconstructed charm. And the Portuguese are lovely people. Drink the Vinho Verde and go out to the nearby beach resorts. Lucky man.

Been there a few times as I'm a port swigger.

The riverside is good but the boat tours might not be running out of season.

Port houses are dotted along the riverbank over the bridge.....try the Burmeister port house for a tour....is a bit more difficult to find but worth it. Look on google maps and get a map printed.

Nice to buy a cheap bottle of quality port and sit and drink the fucking lot.

Try a look around the food Market in the centre.

Also good for leather goods.

Been there too, great place!

Had a wander around Grahams Port Lodge, got there just in time to see a guy on a fork lift manage to tip/knock over 250 bottles of 12 year old port  :doh:, smelt lovely though.

Did you use your long tongue to help mop it up?  :)

:)
If it wasn't for all the glass and the fact that for some reason port gets me pissed quicker than anything else I'd have been in the drain head first !

Never been there but I love a good vintage port! :)

Cheers chaps.  Some planning to do, but it does look great.