Practical tips for Porto

Porto is a welcoming, safe, down-to-earth city, and its people are known for their frankness and hospitality. A few practical tips help you enjoy it more. It is part of the Porto guide.

Hills and granite

Porto is built on granite hills dropping steeply to the river: streets are often stone-paved and slippery in the rain. Wear comfortable shoes with good grip and plan visits downhill: walk down to the Ribeira and come back up by the Guindais funicular, the metro or a taxi.

Rain

The Atlantic climate brings plenty of rain from October to April, and even in summer a sudden shower or morning mist can arrive. Always carry a light raincoat or umbrella. Rainy days are ideal for museums, historic cafés and the Gaia lodges.

Restaurants: couvert and portions

• The couvert (bread, butter, olives, sometimes cheese or charcuterie) brought to the table is charged only if eaten: if you don't want it, send it back.
• Portions are generous: a meia dose (half portion) is often enough for one.
• The francesinha is a full meal: don't order it as a starter.
• Matosinhos fish is priced by weight: ask first.

Money and tipping

The euro is the currency and cards are accepted almost everywhere, though some tascas and stalls prefer cash. Multibanco ATMs are the best value. Tipping is optional: small change at the bar, 5-10% at restaurants.

Safety

Porto is a safe city. As in all tourist destinations, watch for pickpockets at the Ribeira, on the Dom Luís I Bridge, at Livraria Lello, on the metro and trams; keep an eye on luggage at stations. Ignore anyone offering drugs in the street.

Language

In the north Portuguese is pronounced differently from Lisbon, with v often sounding like b. Many locals speak English. A few useful words: bom dia (good morning), obrigado/obrigada (thank you), por favor, a conta (the bill). In Porto an espresso is a cimbalino and a small draught beer a fino (in Lisbon an imperial). See useful Portuguese phrases.

Hours

• Shops generally open 9 or 10am to 7pm, some small shops closing at lunchtime; shopping centres until 11pm.
• On Sundays many central shops are closed.
• Lunch is 12.30-2.30pm, dinner 7.30-10pm.
• Some museums close on Mondays, and churches at lunchtime.
• Portugal uses Western European Time, the same as the UK.

Booking

Livraria Lello, the Clérigos Tower, Palácio da Bolsa, the Gaia lodges and Douro cruises are best booked ahead, especially in summer. For São João book accommodation months in advance.

Scams and tourist traps

• Restaurants with touts and photo menus on the Cais da Ribeira.
• Tuk-tuks without a price agreed beforehand.
• "Port" bottles at suspiciously low or high prices in tourist shops: buy at the lodges or in wine shops.

Useful numbers

See also when to go and getting to Portugal.