General Information about Porto

General Information about Porto

Find here all of the information you'll need to plan a perfect trip to Porto. Read about the city's business hours, language, public holidays, and more!

Travel Advice

Latest information on the entry requirements for Portugal including, the necessary documentation, passport and visas to visit Portugal and Porto.
Read more

Medical Insurance

Before visiting Porto, you should reserve medical insurance to eligible for healthcare should you need it.
Read more

Language

Although English is widely spoken in Porto, it is always fun learning a few words and expressions that you can practice once you get to Portugal.
Read more

Prices

Generally, prices are cheap in Porto, although they are a little pricier during the summer. We’ve included lots of examples, so you can plan your budget.
Read more

Weather

Porto has a temperate oceanic climate with mild and humid winters and warm summers. Information on the weather averages by seasons.
Read more

Public Holidays

Before you go to Porto, discover when Porto and the rest of Portugal celebrate its public holidays, so you can make the most of your holidays.
Read more
History of Porto

History of Porto

Discover the history of Porto since its foundation as a pre-Roman settlement called Calle up until the present day.
Read more

Neighbourhoods

Praça da Liberdade

Praça da Liberdade

Praça da Liberdade (Liberdade Square) is the most important square in Porto. It connects the old town with the modern part of the city.
Rua Santa Catarina in Porto

Rua Santa Catarina in Porto

Rua de Santa Catarina is Porto’s main shopping street. Apart from numerous boutiques and international brands, it houses the famous Café Majestic.
Ribeira

Ribeira

Located on the riverbank of the Douro, Ribeira is one of the most beautiful and liveliest districts in Porto’s historic centre. Discover the things to do.
Vila Nova de Gaia

Vila Nova de Gaia

Vila Nova de Gaia (Gaia) is a separate city facing Porto. It is a great place to go for a walk on the waterfront and visit some of Porto’s famous wineries.

More useful information

Porto facts & figures

Porto has over 230.000 inhabitants and its metropolitan area has over 1.7 million citizens. It is the second-city in Portugal, after Lisbon.

Necessary Documentation

Residents of the European Union can enter Porto with their valid national identity card or passport.

Citizens visiting from outside the EU can enter with a valid passport.

Currency

The official currency used in Porto is the Euro, like in the rest of Portugal.

Current local time

The timezone is GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). This means that it is the same time as London, it is 5 hours ahead of New York and 11 hours behind Sydney.

Electricity, plugs and sockets

The power sockets in Porto and the rest of Portugal are type F, with two round prongs. The standard voltage is 230V.

Opening hours

Most stores in Porto open from Monday to Friday: 9:30 am – 1 pm and from 3 pm – 7 pm. The city’s shopping centres and souvenirs are usually open until later.

Healthcare

Just as in the rest of Europe, if you are an EU citizen and would like free healthcare in Porto you will need the European Health Insurance Card. If you are from the UK you can apply by clicking on this link.

If you have the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) you will receive free care at medical centers in Porto. The card is free and can be obtained by presenting your national EU ID card at any Social Security center.

For those traveling from outside of the EU, you can easily opt for travel insurance via this link.

Helpful telephone numbers

  • Emergency number: 112
  • Porto area code: 2
  • Portugal area code: 351
  • Phone information: 118
Porto Card

Porto Card

The Porto Card is the official city pass in Porto. It offers numerous discounts and free entry to the main monuments, museums and points of interest.
Read more