The second-largest city in Portugal after Lisbon, Porto is a budget traveler’s paradise. Eating and drinking, even in more upscale, sit-down restaurants is still substantially cheaper here than elsewhere in Europe, and centrally-located, comfortable accommodations can be had for less than a nice meal out in London or Paris.

While Porto proper reaches further than you might imagine, its historic old town, Ribeira, is easily explored on foot. If you want to wander beyond the center, city transit options (trams, buses, and metro) are reasonably priced and relatively easy to use if you buy an Andante ticket — which is valid for all three.

Getting There

From Lisbon, Porto is an hour and twenty minutes via plane, 2 hours and 50 minutes on the train, or between four and five hours on the bus.

Flights: Budget airlines fly direct to Porto from all over Europe and Lisbon, and start at around €70 round-trip.

Train: From Vigo, Spain, or Lisbon, you can also catch the train to the lovely São Bento Railway Station in Porto from about €25-30. You can search for tickets on the official train site, Comboios de Portugal.

Car: If you’d rather rent a car, expect to spend €70 or less (not including gas) for a two-day rental. For groups traveling together and planning on exploring the countryside, renting a vehicle is probably worthwhile for flexibility and cash savings. Just remember, Portuguese drivers are notoriously aggressive on the road, and centrally-located budget accommodations don’t usually include free parking, so it might be best to rent a car just for trips out of town.

Hop on one of Porto’s historic trams. Photo: jocelyn777

Getting Around

The city is great for walking (and even biking), and Porto is well-connected with a modern metro system, a few tram lines, a light rail, and buses.

Andante Ticket

If you plan on using transit to get around the city, go for an Andante Tour ticket. At €7 for a one-day pass or €15 for a three-day pass with unlimited trips on buses, metro, and train, it is well worth the investment. You also won’t have to worry about figuring out the zone system.

However, if you’re only planning to grab the metro to and from the airport, grab an Andante card for €0.60 and charge it up with one Zone 4 (Z4) trip. Wait to add a return trip until you’re ready to leave Porto, as each Andante card can hold only one type of zone ticket at a time. For example, if you wanted to use the bus to get around the city center on a rainy day, you’d either have to waste a Z4 ticket, or buy another Andante card to keep track of it.

Whatever Andante ticket you choose, make sure to validate it — the fines can be steep, to say the least.

Historic trams

The city’s historic tram lines are popular with visitors, but they are not included in the Andante ticket. You can buy tickets on board for €6 or combine with a visit to the Museu do Carro Eléctrico for a slight discount.

Stroll the shops and stands at the Mercado do Bolhão. Photo: celine181

Free and Cheap Entertainment and Attractions

Your number one free option in Porto is touring its charming old town, Ribeira, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Enjoy great people-watching in the city’s sun-soaked plazas and venture into free attractions as you go. Don’t miss the city’s massive Sé Cathedral and the stunning golden interior of São Francisco Church or tile murals at São Benton Train Station.

Shopping

The recently renovated 19th-century Mercado do Bolhão is a great place to buy olives, local sweets, sample local cheeses and charcuterie, and eat freshly caught fish on the cheap. The market features a mix of traditional stalls and modern eateries, offering an interesting blend of old and new Porto. Browse a wide range of local wares (everything from soap to sneakers) on display at A Vida Portuguesa.

Later on, continue to Avenida Miguel Bombarda to get a glimpse of some of the city’s coolest graffiti and galleries full of work by local artists and artisans. Peruse the ancient shelves at the stunning Lello & Irmão Bookstore, considered by many to be the world’s most beautiful bookstore. Note that there’s now an entrance fee of €8, but it’s redeemable against book purchases.

Douro River Walk

Another great option is a walk along the Douro River, snapping shots of the colorful houses along the banks and the city’s iconic bridges.

The most famous is the Ponte D. Maria railway bridge, designed by Gustave Eiffel (of Eiffel Tower fame), often confused with the strikingly similar Ponte Dom Luís, designed by one of Eiffel’s former partners. There’s a trick to distinguishing the two: The Ponte D. Maria is a one-level bridge whereas the Ponte Dom Luís is a double-decker. Head to the pedestrian walkway on top for views of the city’s old town from above.

Porto’s Green Spaces

Get away from the traffic and noise in the center. Pack yourself a picnic and spend an afternoon exploring the city’s green spaces. Head to Portugal’s biggest urban park, City Park, designed by landscape architect Sidónio Pardal or the Pasteleira Urban Park to see a few of Portugal’s famous Cork trees.

You can also follow one of the themed learning trails from the Romantic gardens at Palácio de Cristal to the riverside to find interesting factoids about the city plus sweeping views of the river Douro and Porto. If you’re after avoiding the crowds, midweek is best.

Related: The perfect Cheapo day in Porto

Cheap eats in Porto

Local restaurants serve up hearty traditional fare, like the ubiquitous Francesinha, a Portuguese take on a Croque monsieur, as well as Italian, Chinese and Turkish options. The Francesinha is made with local sausage, steak, and ham with a thick tomato and beer sauce, and usually served with fries or tripe and bean stews (if you’re not a fan, avoid dishes listing tripas among the ingredients),

As in the rest of Portugal, creamy pasteis de nata pastries and bacalhau (salt cod) are ever-present, and portions are generous, to say the least. Order up a “Prato do Dia” (dish of the day) at small local cafes from €6, or a multi-course menu at upscale establishments for as little as €12.

Wine in restaurants and bars is very cheap, particularly if you stick to Vinho Verde whites and Douro reds. Whatever you do, don’t leave without trying a glass of the heady local drink famous the world over, Port. You can sample this fine fortified wine at one of the city’s oldest makers, The House of Taylor’s.

For the freshest fish and seafood at the best price, take the metro to Mercado station in Matosinhos and choose from dozens of restaurants that grill fresh fish in the area around Rua Herois de França. For the best Francesinhas in town, head to Capa Negra (Rua Barros Lima 487), but expect to set down between €12-18 for your Francesinha and fries with a beer or two. (That said, it’s totally worth it, as chances are you’ll be so stuffed you’ll want to skip your next meal.) Or you could always learn to share and split the plate with a friend.

The Moov Hotel Porto Centro

Sleeping cheap in Porto

Comfortable mid-range budget hotels can be had from around €55 a night. Like neighboring Spain, Portugal has plenty of clean, basic accommodations at rock-bottom rates. Want to go even cheaper? Dorm rooms in hostels start at around €12 per night.

A few hotel suggestions:

• We like the clean, and stylish Moov Hotel Porto Centro –within walking distance to historic sights in Porto’s city center. Make sure to request a room on an upper floor facing away from the Praça de Batalha for a quieter night.
• Traveling with a big group of friends? For a slightly more expensive but infinitely cooler hostel experience, we recommend CATS Porto Hostel. It’s centrally located and bright and airy with a boutique feel.

Want more suggestions? Search over 700 hotels in Porto on EuroCheapo.

The Porto Card

Starting at €7.50 per day, the Porto Card can be a good deal if you’re really interested in seeing many of Porto’s museums. The basic card covers free entrance to five museums, and depending on the card, may also cover transportation.

Have fun!

The post Budget travel guide to Porto, Portugal appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Porto is days nine and ten in EuroCheapo’s 10-day itinerary for Portugal.

Spend your final two days getting to know Portugal’s second largest city. Walkable, well-connected with inexpensive public transportation and visually stunning, Porto is a budget traveler’s paradise.

Free and Cheap Things to Do in Porto

Without spending a single euro, walk along the Douro River and snap shots of the colorful waterfront buildings and the city’s iconic bridges (one designed by Gustave Eiffel and the other by one of his cronies). Or gawk at the salt cod and fresh produce on display at Bolhão Market.

Search out your favorite azulejo tiles around town, and don’t miss the stunning tile murals at the São Benton Station. Admire funky art in the galleries and the graffiti outside on Miguel Bombarda Street. Window-shop in the city center, or buy a book at Lello, one of the world’s most beautiful bookshops.

Eating and drinking on the cheap in Porto

Shell out a few euros for a tour of a port cellar — beyond learning about this vital local industry, your tour’s likely to include samples that make it worth your while. Wash down Francesinha sandwiches with beer or feast on tripe stew, a local specialty. Hop the light rail to Matosinhos port for the city’s freshest seafood.

Cheap Stays in Porto

Sleeping in Porto shouldn’t cost you more than €50 euros/night for a centrally located, basic accommodation with private bath. For a private room for less, try guesthouses, but be prepared to share a bathroom and walk up a few flights of stairs. Bunks and shared showers at a hostel run €8-15 per night per person. Search over 900 hotels in Porto.

For more on Porto, check out our guide to Porto on a Budget and our article A Cheapo day in Porto.

Our 10-day Portugal itinerary

Porto is days nine and ten of our recommended itinerary for a 10-day trip in Portugal. Click below to see the previous days.

Days 1 and 2: Lisbon

Days 3 and 4: Sintra, Cascais & Coimbra

Days 5 and 6: Valença and Ponte de Lima

Days 7 and 8: Braga and Guimarães

The post Two days in Porto: 10-day Portugal itinerary appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

It’s also a great city for those traveling on a budget: it’s cheap, it’s welcoming and it has loads to explore and plenty of cheap hotels. Strapped for time as well as cash? Well, it’s possible to get a good sense of Porto in a day.

Here’s how to tackle the city like a true Cheapo.

Books after breakfast

Heading to a bookshop straight after breakfast may seem a bit eager even for the biggest bookworms, but it’s more than justified when that bookshop is Livraria Lello & Irmão (Rua das Carmelitas). It’s regularly included as one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world and, with its ornate carved staircase and glass-fronted bookshelves, it’s easy to see why. J.K. Rowling started drafting Harry Potter while living in Porto, and there’s certainly more than a touch of Hogwarts about this bookshop.

However, it gets so busy that photography is forbidden except for an hour each morning before the shop officially opens. Hence the early start: you’ll need to get there for 9 AM if you want to take any snapshots.

Take a walk through the historic river district. Photo: Frances Ambler

Get to know the city with a free walking tour

Tour buses do wind their way around the city, but a much better—and cheaper way—to get to know the city is on a Wild Walking tour. The tours are completely free (although tips are welcome) and last an impressive 2.5 hours. The morning tour takes you through hundreds of years of history and ticks off many of the city’s must-sees, from the blue tiling of São Bento railway station to the Sé cathedral and through the twisty turning historic backstreets of Ribeira, a UNESCO World Heritage site, places where the buses simply cannot reach.

A traditional Francesinha. Photo: Frances Ambler

Sample a local specialty

After all that walking, you’ll be hungry. What better time to sample Porto’s specialty, the Francesinha? Meaning ‘little French girl’, it’s a reinterpretation of a croque monsieur. And by reinterpretation, I mean adding layers of different kind of meats, and a slightly spicy alcohol-infused sauce. This is one place not to scrimp: a good Francesinha will cost around €8 to 12.

The Francesinha’s at Café Santiago (Rua Passos Manuel) come highly recommended (in fact, they are so popular, you’ll probably have to wait for a table) and are €9 a serving. One way of saving money is to share: half a portion (as pictured here) is more than enough for the average appetite.

Sample more specialties

However, when it comes to specialties, Porto is probably best known for its Port wines: fortified wines that started being exported in the 17th century. Made using grapes from the Douro valley, it is in Vila Nova de Gaia that the wine is stored and aged. Although technically a different city to Porto, Gaia is just a short walk over one of the impressive bridges over the river from Porto’s waterfront. The House of Taylor’s is one of the oldest and famous, and their introduction to their port is a definite bargain. For only  €5, you can get a 20-minute tour of their cellars. Even better is that price also includes three different samples of Port that you can enjoy at your leisure in their English-style rose garden: the effect completed by their parading peacocks.

Eat, drink and be merry

Head back over to Porto to enjoy some of their laid-back drinking scene. The bars and restaurants by the riverfront are both overpriced and underwhelming and better bargains can be found elsewhere. Clérigos Vinhos e Petiscos (Rua das Carmelitas) is a great contemporary tapas bar, offering tasty takes on Portuguese classics. If you’ve not yet adapted to local eating and drinking times (i.e. late!), you can take advantage of their happy hour, with two for one on the house wine. You’re also handily situated for exploring the bars that line the Galeria de Paris and Rua Cândido dos Reis and that offer inexpensive cocktails, beers and, naturally, port to a cool, relaxed crowd.

And to bed

From there, it’s just a short stumble to a bed at Yes! Porto, an excellent value for money hostel. Yes! Porto is clean, safe and friendly: in fact, everything you’d want in a hostel. Needless to say, booking ahead is advised. And, if a night here isn’t enough to make you want to stay for at least another day in Porto, I’m not sure what is….

The post Portugal on a Budget: A Cheapo day in Porto appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.