Porto was easy to fall for. The practical side of staying there took quite a bit longer. We had to work out where we actually wanted to be based, what made Gaia feel useful rather than inconvenient, how the transport and payment systems worked, where we shopped, what we cooked, and what made our apartment feel comfortable enough for a full month rather than just a few nights.
So this page is not a perfect Porto checklist. It is the practical side of our Porto basecamp: the setup that helped, the choices we would make again, and the small things we would ask about before booking next time. Some of it is obvious once you are there. Some of it only starts to matter after a couple of weeks.
Accommodation
We booked a one-bedroom Airbnb in Vila Nova de Gaia after going back and forth on whether to stay on the Porto side or in Gaia. In the end, Gaia felt like the better base for a month. It was quieter than the centre, but Porto was still easy to reach on foot, by tram, or by bus. Walking across Ponte Luís I (Luís I Bridge) became a daily pleasure.
What worked best was the setup that makes daily life easier over time: air con is essential for us in summer, a shared laundry facility is important for longer stay and a decent enough bed.
The Airbnb was not perfect. The cookware was worn, the kitchen was less well equipped than we had hoped, and there was construction opposite for part of the stay. A dog across the way also spent a lot of time barking from the balcony. None of it ruined the month, but those are exactly the kinds of details that matter much more on day nineteen than on night two.
Next time, we would ask directly about noise before booking, especially construction and dogs, and we would ask for a quick photo of the kitchen setup rather than assuming the listing tells the whole story. For a short break we probably would not bother. For a month, it changes daily life.
In our Airbnb, rubbish went into the big green bins on the main street, and the recycling bins were nearby too. It was simple once we knew where they were, but not especially obvious on day one. That is the kind of small practical detail we would ask about upfront next time, just to make the first few days a bit smoother.
Flights and getting around
Flights: We booked our flights to and from Porto through Trip.com. It was useful for comparing timings and prices side by side, and we have generally found it competitive on price. The app was also handy for practical details like boarding gate information, which makes travel days feel a bit less stressful.
Airport transfer: After some debate, we took an Uber from the airport to the Airbnb in Gaia and did the same on the way back. Both journeys were smooth, the drivers were friendly, the cars were comfortable, and it saved us the usual hassle of dealing with luggage straight after a flight. It cost roughly €15 to €20 each way.
Getting around locally: Inside Porto, we mostly walked. For day trips, we relied on trains and buses. We checked train times on Comboios de Portugal, bought an Andante card, and topped it up at the station machines as needed. Once that routine was in place, getting around felt straightforward.
Money and payments
Most everyday places such as supermarkets, cafés, and restaurants were happy with cards, and we used our Revolut cards throughout the month. We have used Revolut for years, and it still worked well here. The app was easy to manage, the card worked reliably, and the exchange rate felt fair enough not to think about constantly.
That said, Porto is not completely cashless. Some smaller cafés, shops, and restaurants still preferred cash, so it is worth carrying some. We withdrew cash using Revolut at one of the city-centre ATMs that did not add a fee, but it is worth checking the machine carefully before accepting anything.
It is also worth keeping some coins on you for places like station toilets.
Phone and privacy
Phone and data: For this trip, we used UK SIMs with EU roaming. That worked well enough that we never felt a strong need to switch to a local setup for a one-month stay. The main value was arriving with data already sorted.
Both 1pMobile and Lebara worked well for us in Porto using our existing UK plans. 1pMobile is usually a bit more expensive, but we have found its coverage slightly better in some parts of the UK. Lebara is generally cheaper and also straightforward to use. In Porto itself, there was no meaningful difference between them for us.
Keeping things secure while travelling: For privacy and connectivity protection, we use Proton VPN while travelling, especially on networks we did not set up ourselves. We also use more of the wider Proton ecosystem, including Proton Drive for storing and organising files and photos during travel, so it fits naturally into the way we already manage things. It is not something we think about much once it is set up.
Travel insurance
For this trip, we had cover through Revolut Metal as well as TrueTraveller. We did not need to make a claim on either, so we would not pretend to know how good either is when something actually goes wrong. What we can say is that both gave us the level of cover we wanted on paper.
One reason Revolut Metal worked well for us is that we already use the wider Revolut ecosystem, so the bundled insurance felt like a useful extra rather than the whole reason for choosing it. TrueTraveller, meanwhile, is one of the standalone providers I would still compare for longer trips.
Whatever you use, it is worth checking the limits properly and making sure the policy actually fits the kind of trip you are taking. Standard cover can look fine until you realise certain activities, like higher-altitude hiking, sit outside the normal range.
Groceries and cooking
For everyday shopping, we used Lidl in Gaia and Continente in Porto. Both were good enough that we did not feel the need to keep hunting around for something better, which is usually a good sign on a longer stay.
Lidl was especially handy for basics, and the bread-cutting machine was surprisingly useful. We also had good luck with a lot of the Portugal Original items, especially veg, meat, and cheese.
What we cooked most was uncomplicated: pasta with tomato sauce, usually with meat or seafood, boiled veg on the side, and tinned sardines on toast on lower-effort days. It was easy food, but easy food is often exactly what a month abroad needs.
To lean a bit further into Porto life, we also tried making arroz de marisco with ingredients from Lidl and Continente.
The main thing we would do differently is buy a cheap pan or saucepan in the first couple of days instead of putting up with damaged cookware for a month. It is one of those small decisions that would have improved daily life more than expected.
Food and drink
This was the part of Porto we enjoyed most casually. Sometimes we searched properly, sometimes we just walked into somewhere that looked good and had the right atmosphere. A lot of the best moments came from stopping somewhere mid-walk and seeing how it felt.
Places I would happily return to
- Minore: Good prego sandwich, good view, good service. The francesinha was decent too, though the gravy was heavy and a bit salty for me.
- Cafetaria do Mercado da Afurada: Plenty of breakfast options and a good prato do dia (dish of the day).
- Manteigaria and Castro: Our regular pastéis de nata (Portuguese egg tart) stops.
- A Fabrica: Good house-brewed beers and a small steak sandwich. The brewery is actually in the basement, and the staff were friendly and attentive.
- OMA: When we went, the executive lunch felt like excellent value. Pork cheek was great, and the charred broccoli was the standout dish. They do not offer that menu anymore, but we would still keep it in mind for a celebratory meal if budget allows.
Fine if you are nearby
- Bella Mia: Pretty good pizza. Small restaurant, so some waiting is likely.
- Cafe Corcel: Nicely decorated and a good long-walk stop.
- Real Cervejaria: Fine for lunch or a main meal, but not somewhere we would cross town for.
Mixed
- Garcia & Marquez: Expensive for what it was.
- Mercado do Bolhão: Worth seeing, mixed for actually eating.
Comfort and health
It is easier to enjoy Porto when you are not underestimating heat, insects, hills, or sore feet.
- Sun cream, hat, and sunglasses: Must-haves in summer.
- Mosquito repellent: We were bitten at times, and it saved us some real irritation.
- Good shoes: Porto is very walkable if you like walking, but the ground can be uneven and the mileage builds up quickly.