Intern Adventures: 48 Hours in Porto

There is so much to see in Lisbon that it is easy to feel as if you never even need to leave the city, but with so many other things to see and do in Portugal it is a great idea to do at least one trip out of the city! Porto is Portugal’s second city, located in the North of the country. It is a great weekend trip reachable by bus or train within only a few hours.

Last weekend Nicole, one of our newest short term interns ,decided to enjoy a spontaneous solo trip to the city. After booking a bus at midnight, she quickly set her alarm for 5 that morning and got packing!

Porto is one of those cities where you can easily spend a day simply wandering around, listening to the sounds of the city and admiring the architecture. Whilst Nicole did this too, with only 48 hours in the city it was important to also hit some of the main attractions and landmarks

One place that simply cannot be missed is the stunning Livraria Lello, known for being the ‘Most Beautiful Bookshop In The World’. Opened in 1906, Livraria Lello has over a century's worth of history and stories. It is one of those places that can transport you back in time, with architecture that looks straight out of a fantasy novel and a gorgeous spiral staircase. It sometimes feels as if you are walking into the Hogwarts Library from Harry Potter. J.K Rowling had the exact same thought and actually wrote parts of the 4th Potter book in the Livraria cafe. It is a place worth visiting even if you don't consider yourself a particularly avid reader.

With Porto being set amongst many hills it is certainly a place that you will need to bring a pair of comfy shoes. Thankfully though this is not just a complaint from tourists and there is a great public transit funicular railway system to help combat those hills. This allows you to get to the top of the magnificent Dom Luís I Bridge with ease. From here you can enjoy the stunning view over the city, and marvel at the incredible sunsets. 

Whilst in Porto there are many great drinks and foods that you can try, but perhaps the most iconic is the Francesina. A multilayered meat sandwich, covered in cheese sauce,topped with a fried egg and served with a mountain of fries is not something for the faint-hearted (or those with a weak stomach). If you somehow manage to finish the whole thing and still feel as if you could manage a drink, be sure to follow it up with a Porto wine (or a porto tonic)

If you are making the trip to the City and have a day or so spare, be sure to visit the beautiful nearby beaches or explore the Douro Valley. An area known for its gorgeous scenery and incredible wine ( it is actually the oldest demarcated wine region in the world)

With so much to see in this special part of Portugal we would recommend at least a few days to truly get the most of your time and to enjoy the laid back atmosphere of the city. However if this isn’t possible, get ready for a workout walking up those hills and be prepared to be dying to come back!