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Porto, classified as World Heritage by UNESCO in 1996, reveals in its streets, architecture and monuments, museums, leisure spots, street cafés and commercial zones, the beauty and the unique experience of living by the Douro River.

To discover Porto is to be as surprised as anyone who visits one of the most ancient European cities: the light and sweet foggy atmosphere during an early morning walk that, on sunny days, gives the city a blueish tone; the lunch at Praça da Ribeira, feeding doves and seagulls who swarm the place; the sunset and the perfume of the sea in a street café at Foz.

In the evening, after dinner in one of the traditional restaurants, a coffee in a bar before night entertainment in on of the city’s discos.

Porto is one of the most ancient cities of Europe and Portugal one of the oldest countries in the world. That’s the reason why Porto represents one of the many national relics that characterizes us as Portuguese.

Although Portugal is best known for its beaches and for the excellent climate the whole year, the country is also rich in mountains, green pastures and many other magnificent landscapes. These geographical features are suited for any kind of water or mountain activities and sports, even in winter, either in the city or in the countryside. Everything in perfect harmony that mixes with one of our most precious treasures: our hospitality.

the climate of Porto is typical of temperate Atlantic, and then damp but temperate, with cool nights. In winter, rainfall is high, but there is rarely frost or snow, the temperature seldom below 0 ° C. In summer, temperatures rise and the warmest months are June, July and August during which temperatures vary between 20 º and 35 º C. September, October, April and May are intermediate, with periods of instability. It is therefore advisable to have some warmer clothes for days where the temperature can drop.

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Digital Tour Guide

To help you discover the city of Porto, a student of the Doctoral Programme in Digital Media developed TravelPlot, an interactive tour guide which makes made of the following tools: an application for iPhone, a website, a map, events and social networks ((YouTube, Twitter and Pinterest).

Get to know Porto through a true "treasure hunt"!

To have fun

City Festivities

Festivities in the city of Porto are in June, ending the night of 23rd to 24rd, with the memorable night of “São Joao”. The festival constitutes a major popular cultural expression of Portugal.

On the night of 23rd, from “Ribeira”, until daybreak, scouring the streets, happily, tapping with small and big plastic hammers or giving to smell the famous "Alhos Porros".

Launching hot air balloons and fireworks at midnight are the culmination of the feast of “São João.”

International Festivals

Porto hosts annually several cultural festivals, of which two stand out for its international projection, and now of considerable size:

International Theatre Festival of Iberian Expression - FITEI. This festival is held in March and brings together theater groups from Portugal, Spain and South American countries such as Brazil and Argentina.

Fantasporto is a fantastic film festival of international renown, has traditionally start on the second week of February, and brings into play two weeks about two hundred films in various genres from different countries.

Places to go out in Porto

In Porto, you find in every corner a café, it’s a city that has hundreds of bars, especially in the old and the most typical neighborhoods. Nightlife often ends the next morning.

Over the past year, the Port has witnessed resuscitation of the downtown area.

Night usually starts at Ancora D 'Ouro Restaurant Café, known as the “Piolho”. This coffee is the favorite of college students. The walls are filled with messages of successive generations of students who passed through here.

The night route includes also clubs like the “Armazém do Chá, “Rendez-Vous”, “Radio”, “Tendinha dos Clerigos”, “Plano B”, “Pitch”, Maus Hábitos”, and more.

Exhibitions, Concerts and Shows

In Porto, access to exhibitions, concerts and shows is relatively easy.

Many of these events are free accessible as others; there are ways to reduce prices. The student card and Youth Cards are two ways that offer often discounted entry.

Porto has also been the scene of an increasing number of performances of music and alternative rock, as well as several festivals.

"Noites Ritual Rock" is a music festival that takes place in late August, in the gardens of the Crystal Palace in Porto.

Also Coliseu do Porto , Teatro Sá da Bandeira and Passos Manuel, have been prime locations for this purpose.

Serralves is a European Cultural Institution serving the national community, whose mission is to raise public awareness of contemporary art and the environment, the Museum of Contemporary Art as a multidisciplinary center, the Park as natural assets devoted to environmental education and entertainment and the Auditorium as a center for reflection and debate on contemporary society.

In 2005 was inaugurated Casa da Música , a space devoted to music programming, which promotes regular concerts, from classical to electronic music through contemporary music, world music, and pop-rock. Young people aged up to 25 years enjoy a 20% discount on ticket prices.

Cinema and Theater

Porto has a very extensive film programming, from rooms where they show films of trade (in the shopping centers) to rooms where they show films of a more independent and alternative. Most of these present their sessions from 14:00, with "Midnight Sessions" in the larger venues, and at weekends, sessions at 02h00am.

“Cineclube do Porto “and “Cineclube do Norte” present special sessions, often at ”Rivoli” or”Casa das Artes”, venues which also serve as the stage for some sessions of the Fantasporto.

In terms of theaters, Porto has “ Rivoli “, “São João” National Theatre, “Teatro Carlos Alberto “and “Coliseu do Porto”, the largest room in the whole region north of the country. In addition, there are smaller rooms where they operate the various theater companies, as the” Seiva Trupe” or “Tear”, and many musical groups and entertainment.

University of Porto inaugurated, in 1998, its University Theatre, Campo Alegre. The “Ateneu Comercial do Porto” and the “Palácio da Bolsa” are also used for shows, especially musicals.

Meeting Portugal

Created in the 12th century, Portugal is also one of the oldest nations in Europe, descending from several origins: Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans (who left us our language), northern Europeans and Mauritanians.

Located in the extreme southwest of the continent, Portugal has produced conquerors and men and women of vision, and spread its language and customs around the world. Spearheading the exploration of the world during the Age of Discovery, the Portuguese were the first Europeans to sail to Africa, the distant Orient and the heart of South America.

Nowadays, it is a modern, developed country and a member of the European Union since 1986. It combines harmoniously its time-honoured traditions with a modern approach to innovation, entrepreneurship and international partnership.

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Cost of Living

Despite the large increase in prices after the introduction of Euro, Portugal remains a country with a relatively low cost of living compared to some countries of the European community - though some products may have even higher prices than in other countries.

Prices for accommodation fluctuate between €150 and €200, if you are looking for a room. A 1 bedroom flat will cost you between € 350.00 and € 600.00.

Feed costs are approximately between EUR 200 per month. Regarding transports, opting for Underground, a monthly subscription (pass) costs: € 23.45 (Z2).

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