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Porto

Porto, Portugal · Europe

About Porto

Porto works well as a base: 6km from Circuito da Boavista.

Porto is a city located in Porto, Portugal. With a population of 252,687, it is an important destination in Europe.

On a road trip, Porto sits in Portugal, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Lisbon time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Porto to your route.

About Porto

Porto, officially the Ancient, Very Noble, Ever Loyal and Undefeated City of Porto, also known in English as Oporto, is the second largest city in Portugal, after Lisbon. It is the capital of the Porto District and one of the Iberian Peninsula's major urban areas. Porto city proper, which is the entire municipality of

Read more Porto, is small compared to its metropolitan area, with an estimated population of 273,476 people in a municipal area of 41.42 km2 (16 sq mi). As of 2025, the Porto metropolitan area has around 1.9 million people in an area of 2,395 km2 (925 sq mi), making it the second-largest urban area in Portugal. It is recognized as a global city with a Gamma + rating from the Globalization and World Cities Research Network. On the Douro River estuary in northern Portugal, Porto is one of the oldest European centers, and its core was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996, as the Historic Centre of Porto, Luiz I Bridge and Monastery of Serra do Pilar. The historic area is also a National Monument of Portugal. The western part of its urban area extends to the coastline of the Atlantic Ocean. Settlement dates back to the 2nd century BC, when it was an outpost of the Roman Republic. Its combined Celtic-Latin name, Portus Cale, has been referred to as the origin of the name Portugal, based on transliteration and oral evolution from Latin. Port wine, one of Portugal's most famous exports, is named after Porto, as the metropolitan area, and in particular the cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia, were responsible for the packaging, transport, and export of fortified wine. Porto is on the Portuguese Way path of the Camino de Santiago. In 2014 and 2017, Porto was elected The Best European Destination by the Best European Destinations Agency. In 2023, Porto was named City of the Year by Food and Travel magazine. In 2024, the city was named World's Leading Seaside Metropolitan Destination at the World Travel Awards.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Porto

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Porto?

Porto offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to Porto?

Plan your road trip to Porto with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Porto as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is Porto located?

Porto is located in Porto, Portugal, Europe. The coordinates are 41.1485 latitude, -8.6110 longitude.

What is the population of Porto?

Porto has a population of approximately 252,687 people, making it a city in Portugal.

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Quick Information

Population
252,687
Continent
Europe
Country
Portugal
Region
Porto
Timezone
Europe/Lisbon
Coordinates
41.1485, -8.6110

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in Portugal

Police
112
Ambulance
112
Fire
112
Driving side
right
Full driving guide for Portugal

Tags

EuropePortugalPortoCity

Worth the detour from Porto

8 notable places within an hour's drive.

landmark

Livraria Lello

A breathtakingly ornate neo-Gothic bookshop in Porto with a famous crimson staircase, often called the world's most beautiful bookstore.

0 km · about 5 min drive

cafe

Café Majestic

Porto's Belle Époque showpiece on Rua de Santa Catarina, open since 1921: carved wood, leather benches, chandeliers and mirrored walls attended by white-jacketed waiters. Regularly listed among the most beautiful cafés in the world.

0 km · about 5 min drive

landmark

Dom Luis I Bridge

A striking double-deck iron bridge designed by a student of Gustave Eiffel, spanning the Douro gorge between Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia.

1 km · about 5 min drive

famous road

Circuito da Boavista

A genuine city street circuit in Porto that ran Formula One in 1958 and 1960 and was revived for historic racing. Off-race weekends you simply drive or walk the seafront and boulevard sections as ordinary city streets.

6 km · about 10 min drive

bridge

Arouca 516 & Paiva Walkways

One of the world's longest pedestrian suspension bridges, 516 metres of open mesh deck swaying 175 metres above the Paiva gorge: linked to 8 km of riverside boardwalks through the Arouca Geopark. Book a timed slot; not for vertigo sufferers.

42 km · about 50 min drive

castle

Castelo de Guimarães

A 10th-century castle associated with the founding of Portugal, beside the Paço dos Duques in UNESCO-listed Guimarães.

43 km · about 50 min drive

cathedral

Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte

Braga's UNESCO pilgrimage church crowning a 116-metre baroque zigzag stairway devoted to the five senses: climb it or ride the 1882 water-balance funicular, the oldest of its kind still running in the world.

49 km · about 55 min drive

landmark

Aveiro

The 'Venice of Portugal,' a colorful canal city with art nouveau buildings and traditional striped moliceiro boats gliding through its waterways.

57 km · about 65 min drive

Driving roads near Porto

  • Right hereCircuito da BoavistaA genuine city street circuit in Porto that ran Formula One in 1958 and 1960 and was revived for historic racing. Off-race weekends you simply drive or walk the seafront and boulevard sections as ordinary city streets.
  • 42 kmArouca 516 & Paiva WalkwaysOne of the world's longest pedestrian suspension bridges, 516 metres of open mesh deck swaying 175 metres above the Paiva gorge: linked to 8 km of riverside boardwalks through the Arouca Geopark. Book a timed slot; not for vertigo sufferers.
  • 59 kmMarão TunnelAt 5.7 km the longest road tunnel in the Iberian Peninsula, carrying the A4 under the Serra do Marão between Amarante and Vila Real: gateway to the Douro wine country.
  • 69 kmDouro ValleyThe oldest demarcated wine region in the world, with terraced vineyards lining the dramatic slopes of the Douro River gorge.
  • 72 kmEstrada Nacional 222 (Peso da Régua–Pinhão)A 27km stretch of the EN222 following the Douro river past terraced vineyards, frequently cited as one of Europe's best driving roads.
  • 80 kmEN222 Régua–Pinhão RoadVoted the world's best driving road, this riverside ribbon snakes through terraced port vineyards.

Driving in Portugal

Drives on
the right
Petrol
~€1.78/litre
Motorway tolls
~€9.00/100km

When to drive here

April to October

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Porto.

Massarelos

🇵🇹 Portugal

2 km awayPop. 6,789

Godim

🇵🇹 Portugal

2 km awayPop. 4,667

Bomfim

🇵🇹 Portugal

2 km awayPop. 22,978

Ameal

🇵🇹 Portugal

2 km awayPop. 9,763

Noeda

🇵🇹 Portugal

2 km awayPop. 6,100

Bonjoia

🇵🇹 Portugal

2 km awayPop. 7,509

Neiral

🇵🇹 Portugal

2 km awayPop. 2,341

Bela Vista

🇵🇹 Portugal

3 km awayPop. 5,198

Plan a trip around Porto

Portugal road trip plannerLisbon → Porto drive · 3 hr 26 minPorto → Faro drive · 5 hr 57 min

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Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence