{"id":1082,"date":"2025-04-16T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-16T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/?p=1082"},"modified":"2025-04-22T12:00:49","modified_gmt":"2025-04-22T12:00:49","slug":"i-love-portugal-but-its-second-city-left-me-cold","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/16\/i-love-portugal-but-its-second-city-left-me-cold\/","title":{"rendered":"I love Portugal, but its second city left me cold"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n\t\t\"\"\t<\/div>
Don\u2019t hate me, but Porto left me underwhelmed (Picture: Sophie-May Williams)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the first installment of\u00a0Metro\u00a0Travel<\/a>\u00a0Hot Takes<\/em>,\u00a0Sophie-May Williams <\/a>recalls her disappointment with Porto, the second city of a country she loves.<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013<\/p>\n

Ever heard the phrase, it\u2019s the people who make the place<\/em>? That\u2019s how I felt about Porto, Portugal<\/a>\u2019s second city.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I adore this country, especially its capital. I remember setting foot in Lisbon<\/a> for the first time and knowing immediately it was somewhere I\u2019d return.<\/p>\n

From quaint cobblestones to kitschy trams and the ever-present aroma of pastel de nata, it has all the ingredients for an elite city break. What\u2019s not to love?<\/p>\n

In hindsight, I blame such high expectations for the feeling I got when I arrived in Porto and immediately thought: \u2018This is a BTEC version of Lisbon.\u2019 <\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\t\tSign up to The Getaway newsletter\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
\n

Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration.\u00a0Sign up here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

When you\u2019re travelling, first impressions are everything. But let\u2019s backtrack a bit.<\/p>\n

Grey concrete<\/h2>\n

From the moment I received my Airbnb<\/a> booking confirmation \u2013 a sprawling apartment in the affordable Marqu\u00eas district \u2013 I was itching to get to Porto and start exploring with friends.<\/p>\n

Last October, 17 of us descended on the city \u2014 an infinitesimal 0.00024% of the seven million international tourists Porto and the North region of Portugal welcomed in 2024.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"A\t<\/div>
The sunset river cruise was a highlight, affordable too (Picture: Sophie-May Williams)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The grey skies and drizzle that greeted us on arrival didn\u2019t help. <\/p>\n

Neither did the shabby Metro journey from the airport. One of my favourite parts of a city break is jumping off the plane and onto public transport to reach my accommodation. It\u2019s the best way to take in the sights on the outskirts of a city. <\/p>\n

In Germany, I\u2019ve made this commute captivated by rolling fields and verdant forests<\/a>. In Zanzibar<\/a>, my eyes goggled at colourful markets and off-grid villages. <\/p>\n

On my way to Porto? I was disappointed to see a mix of grey concrete walls and barren patches of dirt. <\/p>\n

\n
Comment now<\/title><span class=\"metro-comment-cta__text\">Have you been to Porto? What did you think? Tell us in the comments<\/span><\/span><a class=\"metro-comment-cta__button\" href=\"#metro-comments-container\">Comment Now<\/a><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>Not the end of the world, but not the prettiest sight either, especially in a country with such spectacular scenery.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Redeeming features<\/h2>\n<p>All of that said, when the rain finally stopped, the heart of the city sprang to life.<\/p>\n<p>The S\u00e3o Bento train station in the historic centre is so impressive, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a National Monument of Portugal. The building houses over twenty thousand Portuguese azulejo tiles, while the ornamented exterior showcases Beaux-Arts architecture.<\/p>\n<p>Likewise, the vibrant buildings on the Douro River and Vila Nove de Gaia didn\u2019t disappoint in real life. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-tiktok wp-block-embed-tiktok\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" cite=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@kybetravel\/video\/7273848720888712480\" data-video-id=\"7273848720888712480\" data-embed-from=\"oembed\" style=\"max-width:605px;min-width:325px\">\n<section> <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"@kybetravel\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@kybetravel?refer=embed\">@kybetravel<\/a> <\/p>\n<p>How to spend a perfect day in Porto, Portugal \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf9 <a title=\"porto\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/porto?refer=embed\">#porto<\/a> <a title=\"citybreak\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/citybreak?refer=embed\">#citybreak<\/a> <a title=\"whattodoinporto\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/whattodoinporto?refer=embed\">#whattodoinporto<\/a> <a title=\"europedestinations\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/europedestinations?refer=embed\">#europedestinations<\/a> <\/p>\n<p> <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"\u266c Injabulo - Juls & S.O.N\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/music\/Injabulo-7191156089310840833?refer=embed\">\u266c Injabulo \u2013 Juls & S.O.N<\/a> <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Neither did the one-hour sunset river cruise, where we passed vineyard slopes, pastel-hued riverbanks, and the six famous bridges of Porto in a traditional <em>rabelo<\/em> boat, all for a very reasonable \u20ac17.50 (\u00a315).<\/p>\n<p>Later that day, we piled into swanky rooftop bar DeCastro Gaia and admired the view below. Considering the setting, prices weren\u2019t extortionate; a 15cl glass of white wine cost \u20ac4.50 (\u00a33.85), while a side of padr\u00f3n peppers was \u20ac5 (\u00a34.28). <\/p>\n<p>If there\u2019s one thing I will say about Porto, it\u2019s easy on your bank account.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"646\" height=\"363\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"article-image wp-image-22914054 lazyload\" alt=\"A view of Porto's river, bridge and cityscape.\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-04-15-at-16.36.18-4-a63b.jpeg\">\t<\/div><figcaption>Once the rain stopped, I did see why it\u2019s a such popular destination (Picture: Sophie-May Williams)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>But on the ground, it was a different story. The riverside bars were heaving with people; some weren\u2019t even open. The shoulder season is supposed to have fewer crowds, but it seemed everyone had the same idea. When I visited Lisbon in April 2022 with the same group, we didn\u2019t have this problem.<\/p>\n<p>Aesthetically, I must say I also prefer Lisbon \u2013 I found it to be prettier, quirkier, and brighter. <\/p>\n<p>Even the infamous \u2018Pink Street,\u2019 which has long divided opinion (you can read <strong>Metro<\/strong>\u2018s <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/04\/07\/visited-lisbons-hottest-destination-absolutely-sucked-22772519\/\">Alice Giddings\u2019 take on it here<\/a>), lured me more than Porto Cathedral or the imposing Lu\u00eds I Bridge.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The verdict<\/h2>\n<p>My final word? For me, Porto feels a bit like when a buzzy band drops their sophomore album, and it\u2019s not quite as good as the debut. <\/p>\n<p>Or when your favourite TV series ends on an underwhelming cliffhanger. <\/p>\n<p>I wonder, if I hadn\u2019t already fallen in love with Lisbon, would I have enjoyed Porto more? <\/p>\n<p>Probably. While both destinations left me with wonderful memories, it will always be the former that I recommend to a friend.<\/p>\n<p>But isn\u2019t that the great thing about travel? It\u2019s all subjective.<\/p>\n<div class=\"factbox\" data-ico=\"factbox_article\" data-track-module=\"factbox_article\">\n<h2 class=\"factbox-title\">\n\t\t\t\tHow to get to Porto and best time to go\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<div class=\"factbox-content\">\n<p>Like the majority of Portugal, Porto is easy to reach. <\/p>\n<p>Budget airlines like <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/easyjet\/\">easyJet<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/ryanair\/\">Ryanair<\/a> fly to the city from various UK airports, including <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/gatwick-airport\/\">London Gatwick<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/manchester-airport\/\">Manchester<\/a>. Rates start from \u00a339.<\/p>\n<p>Porto enjoys an oceanic climate with mild, rainy winters and warm, dry summers. From November and April, temperatures range between 14\u00b0C and 18\u00b0C. From May onwards, expect a comfortable heat between 20\u00b0C to 25\u00b0C.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re more interested in getting off the beaten track in Portugal, <strong>Metro<\/strong> has guides to up-and-coming destinations:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/03\/02\/venice-portugal-a-lesser-known-gem-costs-23-travel-22638167\/\">The \u2018Venice of Portugal\u2019 is a lesser-known gem that costs \u00a323 to travel to<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/04\/08\/5-best-lesser-known-portugal-destinations-tourists-always-forget-22866806\/\">The 5 best lesser-known Portugal destinations that tourists always forget about<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Don\u2019t hate me, but Porto left me underwhelmed (Picture: Sophie-May Williams) In the first installment of\u00a0Metro\u00a0Travel\u00a0Hot Takes,\u00a0Sophie-May Williams recalls her disappointment with Porto, the second city of a country she loves. \u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013 Ever heard the phrase, it\u2019s the people who make the place? That\u2019s how I felt about Porto, Portugal\u2019s second city. Disclaimer: I adore […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1084,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1082","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1082","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1082"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1082\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1088,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1082\/revisions\/1088"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1084"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1082"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1082"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1082"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}