Portugal – Day 2 – All Around Porto

The first half of today was long walks around Porto. We purposely rented a hotel room in the Ribeira district of downtown Porto so that we were within walking or biking distance of most of the sites we wanted to see. It was cloudy with occasional drizzle but it did not dampen our spirits to get out and see the sites. By noon, the drizzling rain went away.

Day 2 Itinerary

From Icon Duplo Hotel:

Douro River Front Walk
Stock Exchange Building
Clerigos Church and Tower
Livaria Book Store
Ponte Louis I Bridge
Jardins do Palácio de Cristal
Drinks at Baraquinho on the river
Dinner at Terreiro in the Ribeira district overlooking the river

Fountain in Front of Porto University
One of a bunch of churches we did not enter
Ribeira District of Porto where our hotel is located
Douro River Front
Douro River
From Gaia looking back at Porto
Top of Porto
Another high point over Porto
Clerigos Tower
Ponte Louis I Bridge

Today was over four miles of hiking and cruising around on foot in Porto. We explored for miles through a myriad of little streets walking from landmark to landmark and passing by a multitude of tour groups all in different languages.

Clérigos Tower: A seven minute walk from the hotel is the Clérigos Church is an iconic 75-meter-tall bell tower. Clérigos tower is a highly distinctive landmark and Porto icon and there are several massive old churches around downtown Porto. Enjoying a renaissance in rebuilding, Porto is undergoing a multitude of large renovation projects of road infrastructure, churches and buildings. Tourism has benefited Porto immensely.

Breakfast at the ICON Duplo Rebeira hotel is a culinary experience unto itself. A plethora of breakfast meats, eggs, pastries, fruits, nuts, yogurts, honey squeezed from the comb in front of you. The Jura coffee machine made authentic cappuccino and lattes!

We finished the day with drinks down at Baraquinho restaurant on the Duoro River where local musicians performed. Lauri tipped the musicians when they came around with their hat (she was mad at the tables that didn’t tip).

Interesting notes:

There are almost no children about town. We are guessing school has started up again in Europe. We also do not see many dogs. Most US cities have a plethora of people walking dogs through out the day but not in the Rebeira district of Porto. However we do see many stray cats!

A little scary (for a person like me that has a fear of heights) is the lack of fencing on the high sea walls along the Douro River. Much of the Douro River in downtown Porto has a sea wall with a thirty foot drop to the river with no railing.

After drinks it was dinner at Terreiro restaurant. Also on the waterfront of the Douro River. It was also suggested by our concierge. It is a seafood and Mediterranean restaurant serving Portuguese cuisine. A 4.5-star rating on TripAdvisor. We agree.

When in Porto you have to finish out the night with port.

Final Thoughts for the Second Day in Porto

Lauri: Very friendly people – when walking around Porto it’s important to take your time experiencing the landmarks and watching every aspect of its culture. This area is beautifully relaxed and rich in architecture and full of experiences with locals. A guided tour is not necessary here – a good travel guide suffices.

Mark: With its steep hills this town is like a San Francisco, but a thousand years ago and with cobblestone streets and castles. Porto doesn’t have the famous landmarks like the Eiffel Tower of Paris or the Roman coliseum but it has plenty of old world charm, noteworthy landmarks and friendly people that make it well worth visiting.