Oporto
Amazing architeture, churches, monasteries and terraces are submerged, almost drowning, in a maze of crumbling old houses, narrow snakey streets, and stairs, a lot of stairs. You feels lost, wanders around, and suddenly…a big square or a belvedere opens up in front of him and… wow….
Oporto was the first Portuguese city I visited.
The morning that I arrived, I left at 7AM from Vigo, Spain, and arrived at 8AM in Porto, skipping one hour due to the time zone and jumping to the Portuguese future. I looked at the big old clock on the azulejos wall of Sao Bento and adjusted my watch like other hundreds of travellers do probably everyday on that specific spot. Then I turned around, stepped into the crowded, traffic-jammed street and head on full of good expectation.
From what I saw, and learned from Sandra, my hostel guide, the city can be thought of in 3 areas: The riverside, the steep old center called Ribeira and the neoclassical, more modern neighbourhoods that developed on top of the hills. Crossing on a horizontal line these three areas means going from a lighthearted sunny stroll at the water flanks to a narrow, cold labyrinth of stoney lanes and finally to big parks, tall statues of some brave military guy, building telling long stories of a country. The journey makes the heart bump a few times.
5 Tipps for SOLOTraveller
For a beginnerSOLO, Porto is a great city to start with. It is small enough to not get overwhelmed, yet is very cosy at times, and there is a lot of different stuff to do.
Here are our top 5 tipps to have a good time there.
– Join one of the TATTVA Hostel free tour. Usually start at Praça da Liberdade, close to the main station, at 10.30 or at 16.30. Those are great ways to meet other SOLOs, make new friends, and learn the history of the city for free (small tipp is advisable). By the way, the Tattva Hostel is also a great place to stay!
– Nightlife in Porto is one to experience. Even if you are tired and have to get up early the next day, try to join the extravagant, inspiring collection of students and young professionals that animate the streets of Porto after dark. Many hostel offer pub crawls and get togethers to get you started.
– For basic sightseeing you don’t really need the metro at all. Walk around, climd the many thousands stairs instead of using the elevators from the riverside to the higher town. It will strengthen your muscles and your spirit, not to mention keep your wallet healthy.
– If you want to spend some quality SOLO time go to Leitaria da Quinta do Paco. This cosy bakery is a perfect rainy-day retreat spot where you can sit with your book enjoying delicious pastry and little lunch menus. Their Eclairs are know to be the best in town!
– Bring always an umbrella with you! It does rain a lot
My SOLOTUR
– how long: 3 full days
– where I stayed: TATTVA Design Hostel
– what I saw: old harbour, Ribeira, Baxia, Casa da Musicà, Torre dos Clerigos, Livraria Lello, the ocean
– what I skipped: Porto wineries, Vila Nova de Gaia, boat tour on the river
