Porto StoryWalks

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Porto StoryWalks

Private Guided Walking Tours

28/06/2023

Travelling to a foreign country can really test and train our flexibility and resourcefulness, especially when the language we speak is not the primary language used in that country.

Learning about other cultures and experiencing their daily routines and cuisine will also change our perspective of the world, creating lifelong memories and gaining a more worldly, well-rounded sense of ourselves.

Investing in travelling is in investing on our personal growth.

📢 Would you like to know more about what to see in Porto? Don't miss our next post!

Are you planning a visit to Porto and would like a guided tour? DM us and we´ll create the best itinerary for you, based on your interests and needs!

See you soon! ❤️

26/06/2023

Porto’s Highlights – Majestic Café

On the Top 10 of the most beautiful cafes in the world, Majestic Café is the most beautiful cafe in Porto.

Located at Rua de Santa Catarina, Majestic opened its doors on December, the 17th, in 1921, under the name Elite. The following year it was renamed Majestic, a name it has kept until today.

With a chic romantic atmosphere, in the Parisian style of the 1920’s Belle Époque, it was where the most eminent politicians, writers and intellectuals would gather to debate ideas.

Later, with the change in the pace of life, from the 1960s onwards, Majestic started to decline. However, its original beauty and significance to Porto and its people, led it to be classified as a "building of public interest" and "cultural heritage” and, in 1994, the café reopened with all its old splendour, keeping the original Art Nouveau design in the magnificent Antwerp crystal mirrors, in the Indian marble floor, in the beautiful chandeliers and in all the details of its exquisite decoration.

HOW TO VISIT

🔎 Location: Rua de Santa Catarina, 112

🕔 Schedule: Monday to Saturday
9am – 11pm

🏛️ Nearby Places: Saint Catherine’s Church; Bolhão Market; Saint Ildefonso Church; Saint John National Theatre, São Bento Railway Station

📢 Would you like to know more about what to see in Porto? Don't miss our next post!

Are you planning a visit to Porto and would like a guided tour? DM us and we´ll create the best itinerary for you, based on your interests and needs!

See you soon! ❤️

17/06/2023

Porto’s Highlights – Clérigos Church & Tower

📍 Clérigos Church
Commissioned by the Brotherhood of the Clérigos, and designed by the Italian architect Nicolau Nasoni, the Clérigos church was built between 1735 and 1748 in a baroque style. It's topped by the ClérIgos tower.
Every day, at noon, you can attend a 15 minutes free pipe organ concert at the church.

📍 Clérigos Tower
Clérigos Tower is the tallest campanile in Portugal. It stands 249 ft (76 meters) tall and climbing its 225 steps will give the visitors a privileged view over the city and the Douro river.
During the climbing, visitors will come across a large carillon with 49 bells, that can give quite a fright when they ring!

HOW TO VISIT

🔎 Location: Rua de São Filipe de Nery

🕔 Schedule: Monday to Sunday
9am – 7pm

🎟️ Church Price: free
Pipe Organ Concert: free

🎟️ Tower + Museum Price: 8,00€ (free for children aged 10 years or younger)
Tower + Museum Price + Spiritus Immersive Show: 15,00€ (free for children aged 10 years or younger)
Spiritus Immersive Show: 8,00€ (free for children aged 10 years or younger)

🏛️ Nearby Places: Porto’s University Rectory, Carmo & Carmelitas Churches; Lello & Irmão Bookshop; Cordoaria Garden; Portuguese Centre of Photography

📢 Would you like to know more about what to see in Porto? Don't miss our next post!

Are you planning a visit to Porto and would like a guided tour? DM us and we´ll create the best itinerary for you, based on your interests and needs!

See you soon! ❤️

16/06/2023

Porto's Highlights - Lello Bookshop

Considered the third most beautiful library in the world, Lello’s Bookshop is known for its neo-gothic façade and its stunning interior, where you’ll find exquisite wooden walls covered with books, a marvellous stairway in the the centre and a beautiful stained-glass ceiling with Lello’s motto “Decus in Labore” (virtue in labor).

If you're planning to visit the Lello Bookshop, buying tickets online is the best way to go. You’ll be able to choose your preferred entry time and date and also get discounts and exclusive deals.

HOW TO VISIT

🔎 Location: Rua das Carmelita, 144

🕔 Schedule: Monday to Sunday
9:30am – 7pm
(best time to visit is in the early morning, at lunch time, or about 1 hour before closing time).

🎟️ Lello Bookshop: 5,00€ (free for children aged 3 years or younger)

🏛️ Nearby Places: Porto’s University Rectory, Carmo & Carmelitas Churches; Clérigos Tower and Church; Cordoaria Garden; Portuguese Centre of Photography

📢 Would you like to know more about what to see in Porto? Don't miss our next post!

Are you planning a visit to Porto and would like a guided tour? DM us and we´ll create the best itinerary for you, based on your interests and needs!

See you soon! ❤️

15/06/2023

Porto’s Highlights – Rectory Of The University Of Porto

Located in Gomes Teixeira Square, also known as Lions Square due to the Fountain of the Lions, a monumental granite fountain with 8 meters in diameter and 6 meters high, the neoclassical building that currently hosts the Rectory of the University of Porto and its store, as well as the Museum of Natural History, was started to build in 1807, funded by the Literary Tax which is a tax on wine.

The Science and Natural History Museum of the University of Porto is dedicated to the preservation, valorisation, study and dissemination of a vast heritage associated with the natural, exact and human sciences, established through research and teaching activities undertaken at U. Porto for over more than two hundred years. It is home to historical collections in the fields of geology, palaeontology, zoology, archaeology and ethnography and botany.

HOW TO VISIT

🔎 Location: Gomes Teixeira Square

🕔 Schedule: Tuesday to Sunday
10am – 1pm and 2pm – 6pm
(last entrance: 5:30pm)

🎟️ Price: Free

🏛️ Nearby Places: Carmo & Carmelitas Churches; Lello & Irmão Bookshop; Clérigos Church & Tower; Cordoaria Garden, Portuguese Centre of Photography

📢 Would you like to know more about what to see in Porto? Don't miss our next post!

Are you planning a visit to Porto and would like a guided tour? DM us and we´ll create the best itinerary for you, based on your interests and needs!

See you soon! ❤️

14/06/2023

Porto’s Highlights - Carmo & Carmelitas Churches

Located in downtown Porto, the Carmo and Carmelitas churches stand side by side, separated only by the city’s narrowest house, known as the Hidden House.

📍 Carmelitas Church (on the left) is the earlier of the two churches and was part of a convent in the 17h century (the former Carmelite Convent is currently the headquarter of GNR, the Portuguese National Guard). The building has a classical façade, with a single a bell tower on the left, the top of which is covered with blue and white tiles. On the inside, you will find a rich baroque and rococo style decoration, with gilded woodcarvings on the main altar and lateral chapels.

📍 Carmo’s Church (on the right) was built in the 18th century and is a remarkable example of the rococo or late baroque architecture. The church’s façade is richly crafted with a rectangular portal, flanked by two religious’ sculptures of the prophets Elijah and Elisha carved in Italy and on the right, you will find a magnificent panel of blue and white tiles, representing the Brown Scapular imposition on Mount Carmel in Israel.

HOW TO VISIT

🔎 Location: Gomes Teixeira Square

🕔 Schedule: Tuesday to Sunday
10am – 6pm (last entrance: 5:30pm)

🎟️ Price: 5,00€ (free for children under 12 years old)

🏛️ Nearby Places: Porto’s University Rectory, Lello & Irmão Bookshop; Clérigos Church & Tower; Cordoaria Garden; Portuguese Centre of Photography

📢 Would you like to know more about what to see in Porto? Don't miss our next post!

Are you planning a visit to Porto and would like a guided tour? DM us and we´ll create the best itinerary for you, based on your interests and needs!

See you soon! ❤️

12/06/2023

When visiting Porto – General Informations

📍 TIME ZONE
The time zone in Mainland Portugal is Western European Time (WET) equivalent to UTC or Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) - Portugal observes the same time as the UK and Ireland but Spain, Germany, France, Italy, Sweden, and much of western Europe are one hour ahead. Japan and Korea are 8 hours ahead in summer and 9 hours in winter as Portugal employs Daylight Saving Time (clocks go forward one hour from approximately the end of March to the end of October).

📍 WI-FI
When it comes to connectivity, Porto is one of Europe's Wi-Fi-friendliest cities. Wi-Fi is available for free throughout the city and inside buses. Most museums and public spaces such as Port Wine Museum, Serralves Museum, House of Music and Stadium of FC Porto also have free wi-fi.

📍 MUSEUMS
The opening hours of museums in Portugal vary but are generally Tuesday-Sunday 9.30 am -12.30 pm and 2 pm - 5 pm. In Porto, as well as in Lisbon, most museums do not close for lunch. Please be aware that on Mondays and on national holidays national museums are closed and although they are free on Sunday morning, this is only for residents on national territory.
In Porto, the Port Wine Museum and Casa do Infante are free all weekend.

📍 METRO
Porto’s metro runs from 6 am to 1 am daily, with a frequency that varies between 4 and 15 minutes depending on the time you travel.

📍 BANKING HOURS
Banks open their doors Monday to Friday at 8:30 am and close at 3 pm.

📍 SHOPPING
Most traditional shops open from Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 7 pm but close for lunch breaks from 1 pm to 2.30 pm. On Sundays they are generally closed, especially on small cities.
Shopping centres usually open from 10 am to 8 pm every weekday. In big cities, they close at 10 pm during the week and midnight on Saturdays.

Are you planning visiting Porto? DM us and we´ll create the best itinerary for you!

See you soon! ❤️

12/06/2023

As a popular destination, there is always high demand in Porto for accommodation. In order for you to find and secure the best location and prices, we strongly recommend booking your accommodation as early as possible.

To help you find the perfect solution for you, here are the best districts and neighbourhoods to look for accommodation in!

📍 Ribeira – located on the riverbank of the Douro, with colourful and wonderfully decorated façades, this is one of the most beautiful and liveliest districts in Porto’s historic centre. Known for its narrow alleyways and numerous restaurants and bars overlooking the Douro river, this district allows you to explore all of the main sites on foot easily and spend many of your evenings. Nevertheless, for light sleepers, this might not be the best option.

📍 Baixa – the heart of Porto (both Ribeira and Baixa are considered central), many of Porto’s classic and luxury hotels can be found here, as well as the best shops, great cafes and restaurants and also many of Porto’s main sites to visit. This is also where you can find public transportation to go anywhere you want!

📍 Cedofeita – known as the city’s Arts District, where you’ll find concept stores, vintage shops and independent art galleries, it offers a more authentic Portuguese experience. With Clérigos Tower and Church, The Carmelitas and Carmo Churches and Lello Bookshop as the main sites to visit, this district has a lively atmosphere by day before transforming, at night, in the nightlife centre of the city. “Galerias de Paris” and “Rua do Almada” are the two main bar and nightlife streets in Porto.

📍 Boavista – with a grand boulevard where you'll also find many of Porto’s upmarket hotels, although it is a little out of the way for visiting the city’s main sites and landmarks, if you’re travelling in business, this will be the best option.

📍 Foz do Douro – situated in the western part of Porto, where the Douro river meets the Atlantic Ocean, Foz is a very sophisticated neighbourhood with stunning mansions and many excellent restaurants. Here, you’ll be able to go on scenic walks along the river or seafront, visit the fortresses of São João Baptista and Castelo do Queijo and enjoy the city’s beaches during the summer. To go to the city centre, just catch the 500 Bus that connects Foz to central Porto, along the Douro riverside.
If you’re looking for a more relaxed trip to Porto, this should be your number one choice.

📍 Vila Nova de Gaia – situated on the southern side of the Douro River, this is where you can find the Port Wine Cellars and enjoy amazing views of the historic centre of Porto, Luis I Bridge and the Douro River itself. It also has easy access to a few beaches such as Praia da Madalena and Praia da Aguda.

Are you planning visiting Porto? DM us and we´ll create the best itinerary for you!
See you soon! ❤️

07/06/2023

When visiting Porto – Renting a Car

Renting a car: is it worthy? Porto’s one-way, narrow and steep streets with heavy traffic, trams, bikes and electric scooters, plus metro’s new line construction zones with detours and challenging car parking (not enough parking spots in the city centre), can be quite nerve-wracking even for us, local drivers.

Regardless, Porto has an efficient public transportation network with 6 metro lines and 72 buses lines, including trams, that connect Porto’s different districts.

For that reason, our advice is if you’re considering spending your entire vacation in Porto, purchase an Andante Card or a Porto Card with the Transport option (for more information, see our previous posts) or, if you’re arriving by car, to park on the outskirts or at your hotel, and take the metro or a bus to the city’s centre.

We only recommend renting a car if you’re planning to explore other regions and/or cities beyond Lisbon and Porto. By doing this, you’ll have full flexibility over where you go and when.

Want to know how to save money when renting a car in Portugal? Don’t forget to follow us!

Are you planning visiting Porto? DM us and we´ll create the best itinerary for you!

See you soon! ❤️

07/06/2023

When visiting Porto – Porto Card

Not all city cards are worth it. Nevertheless, if you are planning to visit many of the city’s paid for attractions, the Porto Card really is rather good!

You can buy a card for one, two, three or four days - with or without unlimited free public transport usage.

Therefore, if you think you’ll be using the metro or buses several times during your trip, in addition to enjoying the various discounts on the Porto Card, it’s definitely more cost effective to add on the transport option rather than bulk-buying single tickets (if you are considering buying the Porto Card with unlimited transport, just pay the €2.60 Andante Card at the airport - see previous post).

Although several museums provide free entry to Porto Card holders, for first-time visitors, these may not be very appealing. The real benefit in this card is that it provides significant discounts of up to 50% on many of the most popular museums, such as:

📍 House of Music (tour)
📍 Clérigos Tower and Church
📍 Serralves Contemporary Art Museum
📍 Sacred Art and Archaeology Museum
📍 Military Museum
📍 The Press Museum
📍 The Puppet Museum
📍 Porto’s Cathedral
📍 Museum and Stadium of FC Porto

There are also bike rental companies and even surf schools that offer discounts of around 20%, as well as port houses offering wine tasting opportunities, money off in bars and even restaurants.

Also, if you are visiting Porto in the cooler/rainier months, when indoor activities are a safe choice, then at only 10 Euro per person for two days, this Card will save you a lot of money!

Are you planning visiting Porto? DM us and we´ll create the best itinerary for you!
See you soon! ❤️

07/06/2023

When visiting Porto - Airport

Whether you are coming to Porto for a short weekend getaway, or a longer stay in the hollidays, here are some useful travel tips.

Without a doubt, the very best way to get to Porto city centre from the airport is with the city’s metro service.

There is also a public bus service from the airport, for the same price, but it takes longer than the metro (which is why we advise against using it unless you have no other choice); authorised taxis from Porto’s airport cost between €20 - €25 (please be aware that some unscrupulous drivers have been known to prey on unsuspecting tourists); and Uber, very popular in Porto and cheaper than a standard taxi.

Porto’s airport is connected to the city center via the ‘E’ line - the final destination of this line is Trindade (in the city centre), but depending upon your accommodation location you may need to change here, or at one of the preceding stops, on to another metro line. This change, if required, is included in your ticket price.

There are 3 departures every hour between 6 a.m. and midnight and journey time to Trindade is 27 minutes.

You can purchase metro tickets, known as Andante Cards, within the airport metro station. Just make sure that it also sells the ‘Andante’ card, a reusable top-up card to which you can load your prepaid journeys. It is quite simple to use these machines - after selecting your language on the machine, select the option to buy a single journey from the airport to the city centre which will cost €2 per person (making the entire journey, including the Andante card, €2.60). Payment can be made in cash or card but do note that not all machines accept both.

Are you planning visiting Porto? DM us and we´ll create the best itinerary for you!

See you soon! ❤️

06/06/2023

Leaving the comfort zone of our daily lives can be quite powerful. It allow us not only to learn about the differences, small and big, in how other countries live, but also reminds us of the vastness and diversity of the planet we live on and of the common humanity we share.

06/06/2023

Why book a tour with us?

Travelling is fun but also challenging, especially when you’re travelling abroad, as the country’s language, culture and system differences can be really confusing and overwhelming.

One way to avoid this and experience the place you’re visiting as best and as much as possible, is to hire a local guide. With PORTO STORYWALKS, we’ll make sure that:

📍 Your experience will be designed just for you
You can find amazing spots to visit in a city just by browsing through the internet, but are you confident that what you picked will offer you value for your money? Booking a tour with us will save you from disappointments as we will create the best itinerary based on your interests and needs, showing you the city beyond the standard and conventional tourist-made routes, on tailor-made experiences.

📍 Your visit will be Time & Cost efficient
We’ll structure your tailor-made itinerary in order to avoid crowds, queues, rush hours and going back and forth.

📍 You’ll have a unique perspective
Each tourist destination has its cultural heritage and diversity. On your own, you might miss the opportunity to enjoy a newfound cultural heritage. With our guides, you’ll benefit from fresh and unique insights, we’ll explain the local culture and traditions and give you other local insights and backstories about the places you’re visiting that no book or website can.

📍 Language won’t be a barrier
We’ll help cut through the complications of a new language by interacting with others on your behalf as you explore as well as teach you just a couple of easy phrases you can use the rest of your trip.

📍 Safety and Trust
Our priority is making sure that you are safe and completely free from worries during your stay. We´ll make sure that your visit will be memorable for the rest of your life.

Are you planning visiting Porto?
DM us and we´ll create the best itinerary for you!
See you soon! ❤️

05/06/2023

How to start planning your visit

In order for you to make the most of your visit, here are the most important factors to consider:

📍 Budget
Budget is crucial, as it can dictate how many days you can afford to stay, where you can stay, and what activities you can do as, from our rich history to our stunning architecture or our delicious food and wine, there are many things to do and see in Porto.

📍 Accommodations
Porto offers a wide range of accommodations to suit every budget and preference. Depending on the time of year and the location, a budget-friendly hostel can cost anywhere from €20-30/night; mid-range hotels typically ranges from €50-100/night; and luxury hotels and high-end vacation rentals can cost upwards of €200/night. We recommend all travellers to research and book in advance, especially during peak travel season (June to September), to secure the best options.

📍 Time of the year
Seasons can impact your trip, as some activities and events may be seasonal or weather-dependent.

📍 Length of the visit
If you’re not sure about how many days you should spend in Porto, here are some general guidelines to help you plan.

⚡1 Day Visit: you can take a walking tour and visit the city’s historical centre, the famous port wine cellars and go on a 6 Bridges Douro River Cruise as well as indulge in some traditional Portuguese food.

⚡2 Days Visit: having an extra day will allow you to explore the city’s charming streets and neighbourhoods in a more relaxed pace plus visit some of the top museums and cultural attractions.

⚡+3 Days Visit: with 3 days or more to spend in Porto, in addition to exploring the city’s historical centre, landmarks, museums and our local food and wine, you will also be able to take a day trip to nearby beaches or towns in the north of Portugal.

Are you planning visiting Porto?
DM us and we´ll create the best itinerary for you!

See you soon! ❤️

05/06/2023

Top Reasons To Visit Porto

Often overlooked, Porto is home to centuries-old architecture, intricately tiled churches and buildings, sandy beaches and some of the best food and drink in Europe. Here are the top reasons why you should travel to Porto!

📍 Port Wine and Port Cellars
Known worldwide, Porto is the home of Port Wine. A little way upstream Douro River, is the Alto Douro Wine Region, the world’s oldest wine region, having been in production here for 2000 years. Produced in traditional ways on wine estates in the Douro Valley, it is shipped downstream to the cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia.

📍 Douro River
The Douro River trickles its way down from the mountains in Spain, and flows through Porto out into the Atlantic. Playing a vital role in the city’s economy and the country’s history for centuries, it facilitated the transport of Port Wine in Rabelo Boats from the Wineries to its cellars.

📍 The Gastronomy
Portugal has a rich Cuisine and Porto is not an exception. The city’s signature dish is the traditional Francesinha, an exceptionally messy sandwich of toasted bread, beef, sausages and ham, covered in melted cheese and doused in a rich tomato sauce. For the ones with a sweet tooth, there is Pastel de Nata, a puff pastry tart filled with a rich custard, similar to Lisbon’s Pastel de Belém.

📍 Porto's History & Art
In Roman times, the city was known as Portus Cale. Later, between the 7th and 9th century, Portus Cale evolved into ‘Portugal’, originating the name of the country. With over 2000 years of history, Porto provides a connexion between Past, Present and Future. You can walk through the beautiful streets of its historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage, and also enjoy the quality of contemporary architecture as the Museum of Serralves, by Siza Vieira, and Casa da Música, of Rem Koolhaas.

Are you planning visiting Porto? DM us and we´ll create the best itinerary for you! See you soon! ❤️

05/06/2023

Embark on a Journey of Discovery into Porto's History

Hi! Welcome to our page!

Our Porto Walking Tours are the perfect way to explore famous attractions and iconic landmarks such as Torre dos Clérigos, São Bento's Train Station, Porto's Cathedral plus so much more!

As experienced travellers, we know how important it is to learn about other cultures' history, architecture and heritage diversity, as well as experience their traditions and gastronomy.

Join us on a guided Walking Tour as we bring Porto's history and secrets behind some of the city's most incredible sights, streets and hidden corners! We'll show you the city of Porto beyond the standard and conventional tourist-made itineraries, with all the well-known highlights, on tailor-made experiences.

Whether it's a Walking Tour through Medieval Porto or a Culinary Tasting at Porto's most iconic restaurants , for small groups, couples, families or individual travellers, anything is possible!

For more information on our Tours, just DM us and we'll create the best itinerary based on your interests and needs!

See you soon! ❤️

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