Five charming places to make the most of a gateway to Porto

• 31 October, 23

Located in the north of Portugal, next to the mouth of the Douro River, Porto is the second largest city in Portugal. Coming to Porto, the tourists immerse themselves in its long history to get lost in its cobbled and steep streets, try to best Port wines and soak up its rich culture.

In addition to exploring on foot its beautiful historic center, which declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, you can admire the mix of styles that characterizes its buildings and ranging from baroque to modernism such as the Crystal Palace Gardens or the Jardim do Morro, the Clérigos Tower , built in the 18th century together with the baroque style church, São Bento station, covered by more than 20,000 tiles; the cathedral, built in the 12th century in Romanesque style, etc.

For those who wish to get to know Porto from different perspectives, discover great treasures that do not appear in the typical city guides, become a local or soak up its essence, Renaissance Porto Lapa Hotel has an exclusive personalized tour serviceled by a team of ‘Navigators’. These are some of the ideas to consider.

Listen to an organ concert at the Lapa Church

The construction of this temple dedicated to Our Lady of Lapa began in 1756 and took more than a hundred years (1863) to complete it. The church has neoclassical and rococo style, especially the heart of King Pedro IV of Portugal, Portuguese monarch responsible for the independence of the colony in America. This treasure is hidden in a seven-meter-high mausoleum located in the main chapel, on the Gospel side, and to access it five keys are needed, which are kept under the custody of the Porto City Hall.

Buy typical products at the Mercado do Bolhão

Occupying an entire block in the city center, Mercado do Bolhão is an architectural jewel that houses almost eighty stalls, ten restaurants and more than thirty outdoor-oriented shops. In recent years, modernization work has been carried out on the complex by the Nuno Valentim architecture studio, which has made this gastronomic space a perfect place to purchase souvenirs, buy fresh products and taste Portuguese delicacies.

Delve into the world of wine at WOW Porto

Since 2020, Porto has a new cultural and tourist center named WOW (World of Wine), a district in Vila Nova de Gaia that covers 35,000 square meters. It has a wide gastronomic offer made up of eleven restaurants, bars and cafes that offer a careful selection of broths and Portuguese coffee and a varied cuisine in which there is no shortage of some of the most famous dishes in the country such as francesinhas, bolinhas de cod or green broth.

Discover some of its oldest shops

Beyond the famous Lello bookstore (1906), Porto has a handful of established shops that are worth visiting. Among its oldest grocery stores are Casa Natal (Rua de Fernandes Tomás), which since it opened its doors in 1900 has offered different delicacies such as dried cod or tuna fillets in olive oil from Aveiro, and Confeitaria do Bolháo ( Rua Formosa), a place where upper-class people came to have breakfast back in 1896 when it was inaugurated and whose products, which can also be tasted in its cafeteria, are made in-house.

A boat ride on the Douro

This is one of the classics that is included in all the itineraries but getting on one of the many tourist boats that travel the waters of the Duero is a perfect option to obtain a beautiful panoramic view of the city, as well as to discover the six bridges that connect it with Vila Nova de Gaia. 

New hotel: Renaissance Lapa Porto Hotel

Renaissance Lapa Porto opened in 2023, this is a good option for tourists to stay when come to visit Porto. Located in Lapa, one of the most historic and vibrant neighborhoods of this destination, this luxury accommodation offers 163 cozy rooms and suites, a 17-meter heated infinity pool, and a state-of-the-art gym with high-technology equipment. The highlight decoration in pastel pink and champagne gold tones, combined with an unexpected touch of petrol blue – paying homage to the iconic Douro River – various artworks and vintage Portuguese tiles used for centuries in the local buildings and floors. In addition, Lapa Porto Hotel has spent 17,000 m2 to build the new urban park. This is considered the largest park in the city center of Porto. Regarding the statistics, the report showed that the hotel has high booking point reaching 9.6.

Mercan Asia – Part of Mercan Group of Companies is the Global Support Center for International Investors. If you would like to enjoy your stay at our hotel, please do not hesitate book your stay with us at: https://mercan-asia.com/book-your-stay-today/ or contact us via email hello@mercan.com to get special offer.

Cre: ABC Viajar