Porto - September 2024

[N111BJG]

We are planning two nights in Porto, this will be a rest day as we swing round & make our way home.
I've been to the city several times but never on a bike, seems to me that secure parking would be a challenge, any recommendations appreciated including, 'why don't you do this instead?'

 

[stever1]

We are planning two nights in Porto, this will be a rest day as we swing round & make our way home.
I've been to the city several times but never on a bike, seems to me that secure parking would be a challenge, any recommendations appreciated including, 'why don't you do this instead?'

We stopped in the Neya hotel on the river front. Nice hotel, good breakfast, underground parking. All good……until I found I really enjoyed a glass of port…or six

 

[N111BJG]

We stopped in the Neya hotel on the river front. Nice hotel, good breakfast, underground parking. All good……until I found I really enjoyed a glass of port…or six

That looks really nice & well located, but a bit above our usual budget as we all want our own rooms. Six mature blokes, no women.
But of course big city centres in popular tourist spots are always higher, on my short list, thanks.

 

[stever1]

That looks really nice & well located, but a bit above our usual budget as we all want our own rooms. Six mature blokes, no women.
But of course big city centres in popular tourist spots are always higher, on my short list, thanks.

Ok, I know we struggled to find a cheap hotel, even though we booked a couple of days ahead.

 

[Joca]

Could try to get accommodation in Matosinhos (just a short tram ride away) or Vila Nova de Gaia. (This is just over the bridge..
It it was less than 6, probably easier to get transport, ie, Uber

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[Joca]

Or even Vila do Conde.. Still in tram distance.
Visit Viana do Castelo, about 50 minutes north of Porto, (maybe on your way down to Porto)

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[wessie]

I stayed in the Ibis over in Porto Gaia for 3 nights. They have security hoops for chains outside the main entrance. I just used a disc lock. Regular bus service costs pennies into the city centre. It was a pleasant walk down to the river and along the quay but arduous in 35C heat so I used the buses for most trips.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Qq9YgsZp756cxrXZ9 - you can see the bus stops either side of the hotel. Stop NOC into town, CHAS1 on the way back. I had dinner in the city centre then went back to the Ibis for a nightcap on the bus. They had a decent range of locally made craft ales with Belgian levels of alcohol that made for a good digestif.
Street view of the parking: https://maps.app.goo.gl/cdTUQnbPAZ4sE1un9
There's a Budget Ibis next door of you want £15 a night cheaper

I sampled several port tastings. This was by far the best https://burmester.pt/en/ - hadn't heard of them before but stumbled on them, right by the Nova de Gaia side of the Luis Bridge. Grahams was the best of the big brands.

 

[wessie]

Or even Vila do Conde.. Still in tram distance.
Visit Viana do Castelo, about 50 minutes north of Porto, (maybe on your way down to Porto)

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lovely Pousada (like a Parador) in Viana with superb views over the harbour

maybe a bit pricey for this group!

 

[Joca]

If late September, maybe easier to get cheaper...

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[squibb34]

Lat time we treated ourselves & stayed at the Pestana Palacio Freixo, to the east of the City Centre. Expensive, but spectacular. IIRC it was a tobacco Baron's residence originally, built with no expense spared in the Baroque style.

Plenty of secure parking, just take a cab or wander into town.

September should be good - Porto gets blisteringly hot in peak summer.

​

 

[N111BJG]

lovely Pousada (like a Parador) in Viana with superb views over the harbour

maybe a bit pricey for this group!

Yep, €200 B&B is our budget per night. But an early couple of cheap nights at Logis has produced some float. Can’t live like kings every day as SWMBO might see the CC statement.

 

[N111BJG]

I stayed in the Ibis over in Porto Gaia for 3 nights. They have security hoops for chains outside the main entrance. I just used a disc lock. Regular bus service costs pennies into the city centre. It was a pleasant walk down to the river and along the quay but arduous in 35C heat so I used the buses for most trips.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Qq9YgsZp756cxrXZ9 - you can see the bus stops either side of the hotel. Stop NOC into town, CHAS1 on the way back. I had dinner in the city centre then went back to the Ibis for a nightcap on the bus. They had a decent range of locally made craft ales with Belgian levels of alcohol that made for a good digestif.
Street view of the parking: https://maps.app.goo.gl/cdTUQnbPAZ4sE1un9
There's a Budget Ibis next door of you want £15 a night cheaper

I sampled several port tastings. This was by far the best https://burmester.pt/en/ - hadn't heard of them before but stumbled on them, right by the Nova de Gaia side of the Luis Bridge. Grahams was the best of the big brands.

I’ll look at these, thanks

 

[Joca]

You could try Airbnb and ask about bikes secure parking around, maybe a secure car park.. Again, depends how early September it is as Porto is very busy till end of October nowadays.

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[wessie]

You could try Airbnb and ask about bikes secure parking around, maybe a secure car park.. Again, depends how early September it is as Porto is very busy till end of October nowadays.

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and still very hot - I was there in 2017 for my birthday, so 2nd Oct. 35C at least every day and 43C on one day. I sat in the shade and watched kids jump off the Luis bridge into the Douro in the early afternoon. Only jumping from the lower deck so not that impressive.

 

[G&T]

I stayed in Porto for a couple of nights at the end of September 2023. It was expensive and busy. I chose the Moov Hotel, just North West of the city but easy access via the metro which is walking distance. from the hotel @ €100 per night + underground secure parking at €6 euros.

Quote below from the trip report: Criss- Crossing Caminos

Mind the gap

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Porto. I’ve been looking forward to this city for a while and I’ve a ‘two-nighter’ to explore it. But first breakfast in Combarro. Joining me is a fantastic bunch of Indian pilgrims walking up from Porto (the route of St. James’ coffin). We share stories, as you do, and having lived in Dubai, they ask when I was there? “2011 onwards,” I reply, to which their loud and giggling response is, “You’re such a baby, we were there in the 70’s.” It’s then they give me a big Indian family hug and a beautiful reminder that I might be on this trip by myself, but I’m certainly not alone.

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Off into the country now and practically no cars on the road, especially through the national park of Penada Geres. What a place!

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Making good time too and with just 4hr 25m to go I stop and do something I’ve been meaning to for years – start sketching. I bought a little notebook and pen in Lugo to just scribble my thoughts and pen a few memories. To just slow down really. I want to soak this time in, to really look at what I’m seeing, to listen, to smell and ‘be calm’.

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Turns out that somehow I didn’t quite have as much time as I thought as between the Nav (Arrival time) and the time I still had to travel something was out. Maybe time zones, maybe Garmin – who knows. As a result, I was now about to hit Porto in rush hour and at 36C – this is going to be a cooker!

On D’WFR, I have 2x 30ltr soft panniers, which as it happens turn out to be quite helpful in rush hour. Squeezing through the traffic is not easy at any time, but with panniers - dicey. I must apologise to the Portuguese driver who I bounced off as no matter how much I sucked in air I couldn’t quite make the gap. But with a cheery tap of my bag (no damage done mate) and a wave in the air whilst looking behind at his startled face, I continue on.

Sweaty and tired, it’s time for the pleasure of the Moov Hotel Porto Norte. To be honest it is a soulless trendy student looking dorm and like any city place expensive at over €100 a night. Add to that €6 each day for basement parking, but I want D’WFR off the street. The young lady described how to enter the garage with a keypad code. So down the steep ramp and no keypad? Over my shoulder I look back to see it at the top! I’m committed now, no way up, no way down and no way of parking without D’WFR falling over. In God we trust, a car came by to the rescue. I’ve never been so happy.

This busker seemed to catch my mood after the ramp incident....

Porto is a wonderful place but hordes of tourists – just like me. Hot again, so its doodle time in the shade.

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Dom Luis bridge over the Douro River
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[richh]

Deffo air b and b job.


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[N111BJG]

As unsurprisingly most of the advice was on the theme of ‘why don’t you do this instead’, we are are going to do something else instead.

Thanks all

 

[Bloomers100]

Useful info for this year. Thanks.

 

[Wapping]

As unsurprisingly most of the advice was on the theme of ‘why don’t you do this instead’, we are are going to do something else instead.

Thanks all

Care to share what, in case it interests others?

 

[Guru Gora]

Hi sorry missed this.

I used the holiday inn at edge of town last year.

It’s near the expo centre.

Lovely place and covered parking.

Done good day trips from there too.

Easy bus to Porto.

Porto is nice too


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