The beating heart of the "Douro Litoral", bordered by the magnificent waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Porto is one of the most popular districts (counties) in Portugal. Cultural, suitable for hiking as well as for city outings and lazy breaks by the sea, it concentrates in one place the most beautiful assets of this fashionable destination.
A star destination for vacations in Portugal, the district of Porto is made up of a small group of twenty cities, enjoying a Mediterranean climate that is particularly conducive to rest and escape. To begin your discovery of the Porto district, Amarante is a good option. Located 60 kilometers from Porto, this medieval city brilliantly combines religious heritage, history and gastronomy. Situated on the banks of the Tâmega river, it invites you to stroll through its old city center with its ancient stones. The Bridge of Sao Gonçalo, the Solar dos Magalhaes, the convent of the eponymous church, but also the museum of Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso are among the places to visit during your stay in Amarante.
Continue your stay in Porto by visiting Gondomar: particularly pleasant, this municipality was once THE resort of the nobility of Porto, who built there magnificent houses on the river bank, decorated with sumptuous gardens. Not far away, Vila Nova de Gaia is a must-see: south of the Douro River, this wine city owes its popularity to its many wine cellars, which tourists like to visit both for their own pleasure and to cool off on hot summer days. With the family? Stop by the Santo Inacio Zoo located just across the street from the town of Gondomar: the largest zoo in the north of the country, it has more than 262 species of animals, including several endangered species such as cheetahs, camels and pygmy hippopotami.
Take a trip to the beaches of Maia, sail on the Tâmega and Douro rivers to discover Marco de Canaveses, before lingering a while in Santo Triso. Built around the Monastery of Sao Bento, founded in the 10th century, this charming city is also famous for its thermal baths, the Caldas da Saude thermal baths, which attract many people every year thanks to the quality of their waters and the treatments they provide. The fishermen's town of Matosinhos is a must: dynamic and known for its good gourmet restaurants, it is also a delight for children thanks to its large salt water pools, but also for surfing aficionados thanks to its huge waves off the Praia de Matosinhos, which attract a large number of surfers on sunny days.
Finally, from Matosinhos, head for Porto located a few kilometers further south: an emblematic destination of Portugal, it surprises by its authenticity, its varied gastronomy and its cultural wealth. From picturesque and narrow streets to wide quays along its port, Porto will surprise you with the richness of its built heritage. What to see? Its cathedral built on the highest part of the city, but also its wine cellars, its church of the Clerics, its magnificent and very colorful market of Bolhao, its stock exchange palace, its bookstore Lello & Irmao, its "Casa de la Musica", its so exotic district of Ribeira (classified as World Heritage by UNESCO), or its tramway museum, dedicated to its famous means of locomotion all in yellow paintwork