The Trintaeum Cafe Bar and club is one particular hotspot at night found in the Foz district just next to the Duoro River mouth. The excellent DJs here will make your night out worthwhile together with the friendly atmosphere and spacious dancehall. From the Bazaar, Cais das Pedras over the river, one is treated to some wonderful views. Here, culture and leisure are blended so well with a cafeteria and fashion stores during the day and a bar at night. The Cafe Guarany is also another option. This restaurant has a good atmosphere for enjoying one or two drinks as you unwind.

Pitch club is found on the Rua de Passos Manuel 34-38. It is a two-floor club playing some great music that will keep you busy throughout the whole night. For those who love arts and exhibitions, Plano B on the Ruo Candido Reis is a good option for the night. Others include the Vogue on Avenida Fontes Pereira de Melo 481; the Twins’s on Rua do Passeio Alegre 1000 for the 80s rhythms, the Swing club on Rua de Julio Dinis 766 and the Act on Rua Manuel Pinto de Azevedo 15.

Some people prefer the live music night-outs and Porto city offers many options for you to choose from. First is the Hot Five Jazz & Blues Club on 51 Largo do Actor Dias for great jazz and blues music just as the name suggests. Ser’artes Cafe Concerto also offers great jazz concerts. It is found on Rua da Constituicao 2105. Other great live music joints for the night are Cafe Majestic on Rua Santa Catarina 112 for traditional jazz, Restaurante Mal Cozinhada for live frado and Casa da Musica.

Porto’s nightlife also encompasses music and theatre performances. The Casa da Musica has been a popular joint for such as from 2005. Equipped with a nice concert hall, 3 bars and two restaurants, watching the Orquestra Nacional do Porto will surely unwind your evening. The other theatre is the Coliseu do Porto for productions in cultural theatre and opera. One can also opt for the Batalha that has a rich history dating back to 1798, Rivoli Teatro Municipal, Treatro Campo Alegre, Teatro Carlos Alberto and Praca D. Joao.

Finally, a look at the cinema life at night in Porto reveals the following joints: do Porto for contemporary modern movies and Cinema Batalha for watching any type of movie. This cinema is also equipped with a bar and a restaurant. Other cinema halls include the Cineclube do PortolClube Portugues de Cinematografia which is a popular joint for film buffs in Porto. Apart from movies, workshop programmes and lectures and a variety of related events usually take place in these theatres.

There are a number of tour firms operating in Porto, and one particular example is the Porto Tours which is located on the Calcade Pedro Pitoes. Porto Vintage, which is a local company, also provides bus tours. For some adventure experience, one can also opt for the River Duoro cruize using the ‘barcos rabelos’ boats or the Cais da Ribeira. The former are known for the role they played in the transportation of port wine. Let us examine some of these tourist attractions in Porto and see what the city has to offer to its visitokrs.

 Ribeira Area Attractions
There are many attractive sceneries that are found in this district which also give you a clear understanding of the city’s history. First is the promenade of the riverside of River Ribeira. This has a historical link with the ‘barcos rabelos’ which are the traditional boats where they used to transport port wine on River Duoro. Other landmark attractions here include the Caso do Infante which is now renovated, the Igreja de Sao Francisco Gothic Church, the Palacio da Bolsa that a very magnificent Stock Exchange and the 12th century Porto Cathedral. It is also interesting to view the streets that link Praça da Riberia with the numerous tiled houses. All these attractions are open daily for viewing them at absolutely no charge.

Avenida dos Aliandos, Praca da Batalha and Mercado do Bolhao Attractions
Starting with the Avenida dos Aliandos, this attraction is a sight to reckon with especially with its Parisian appearance and style. Local public transport owes a lot to the central square of the avenue. However, these are not his major attractions as compared to the likes of the Torre dos Clerigos tower and the Igreja dos Clerigos church that are found uphill. The Torre dos Clerigos tower in particular rises over 75 meters (225 steps) above the ground and from its top, one can get very wonderful views of the cityscape of Porto. The Mercado do Bolhao is found to the east of Avenida dos Aliandos. This particular market is significant for its vibrancy where you will find many products such as meat, local cheese, flowers and so on. It operates from Monday through to Friday. Adjacent to the market is Rua Santa Catarina. This is also another shopping alternative to your list of choices. Moving southwards, you come across the Praca da Batalha. Here, visitors are met by the amazing site of the Igreja de Santo Iidefonso church and also the Nacional Sao Joao. This historical site has its history dating all the way back to 1794. The landmark incorporates two major functions under one building, and that is servicing as a national theatre as well as an opera house. Admission to all this attractions is free daily.

The Cordoaria Attractions
Jardim Cordoaria is found further uphill and is a much greener attraction area with attractions such as the Palatial Hospital Geral de Santo antonio, the Igreja do Carmo church that is found on the Praca Gomes Teixeira and Judiara which is a former Jewish quarter. Also, one can access these attractions daily without any admission fee.

Boavista and Western Porto Attractions
The first attraction that meets your eye is the Praca de Mousinho vde Albuquerque. This large roundabout is not only a spectacular site but also serves a geographical function of the separating the ‘old’ and the ‘new’ parts of Porto city. At this point, you will again come across the Casa da Musica, which a very popular hall for those who like concerts. There are more attractions some 3 kilometers or so further west of Casa da Musica. There is the peaceful Parque de Sarralves haven that stretches 45 acres in area full of fountains. Try paying these attractions a visit any day free of charge.

From Palacio de Cristal to Foz do Duoro Tourist Attractions
50 years ago, the Crystal Palace (or Palacio de Cristal) which was a very old and spectacular building in the Jardim do Palacio de Cristal Gardens was demolished and in its place the Pavilion Rosa Mota erected. It is a magnificent 30 metre high sports stadium built in a dome shape design with a capacity of over 4,500 spectators. The pavilion is a major tourist attraction due to the many events it hosts every year, including sports events, concerts, conventions, exhibitions, theatrical events and so much more. It is open daily to tourists without any admission fee attachments.

Vila Nova de Gaia (Gaia) Tourist Attractions
Vila Nova de Gaia is adjacent to Porto and hence considered a suburb despite being a separate municipality. Some magnificent bridges across River Duoro connect the city with Porto. The city turns livelier especially at night due to the glitzy clubs and the many restaurants. A spectacular sight of the city are the neon signs that brighten it up at night, which locals consider it to be a Portuguese version of Las Vegas. The attractions are open daily for tourists to view.

The city of Porto may not be host to many major museums but it does however provide a selection of its own kind. This coastal city has some nice museums and also a range of amazing art galleries that anyone visiting there can check. Among the best galleries in Porto is the Museu Nacional Soares dos Reis which is located in the Palacio das Carrances. This area is to the west of Cordoaria, along the Rua Dom Manuel II.

Visitors are treated with a wide range of art works, both local and international. Its extensive collection includes historical Neolithic carvings and some contemporary pieces of art from the 20th century. One can also check out the Porto’s Museum of Contemporary art, also known as the Museu de Arte Contemporanea. The museum has a variety of modern art with its pieces being well displayed.

It does not end there as one can also head to the popular Port Wine Museum which is situated by the river hence giving visitors a nice treat. There are a lot of interactive exhibits that one can get to see when there. Museu do Carro Electrico is another one and it is located close to River Douro. Here, one can find a range of nicely restored vintage trams and also get to learn more about the existing Porto’s tramlines. Admission to this museum comes with a free Andante Transport card, which can use to ride trams, buses, the metro and even the funicular railway. For one to use the card for these services, they have to charge it when required to.

Other Porto museums and art galleries include Portuguese photography Centre in Campo Martines da Patria and Meseu Romantico found in Rua Entre Quintas 220. The fact that Porto is not a famous place when it comes to museums does not mean that you cannot get some nice places to check out once there. You can learn a lot about the rich Portuguese history by checking out some of these museums.

The natives of Porto, those are Portuguese, keeps themselves different from the rest of the country. Outsiders treat Porto to be rather crass and mercantile in comparison to rest of the country and there lacks as in the social graces and aptitudes. This has occurred on the account of the fact that city was earlier been dominated by Portuguese bourgeoisie and English trading factions rather than the nobility. The architecture of the city is quite differentiated along with the medieval as well as modern living side by side. Porto’s geography is hard to feel and yet is robust to be looking to the eyes. The city is entirely hilly and there numerous buildings are constructed into a cliff face that even looks towards the river. Across the river from Porto proper, in the suburb of Gaia, are situated the warehouses of notable companies dealing with Port Wine, such as Cálem, Fonseca, Sandemans, Kopke, and others.

As for visiting and having the tour of the city, one can start tour from the Ribeira that is the part of the city close to tour of area around the World Heritage site. At the other side of the river is Ribeira de Gaia, a common area from the city of Vila Nova de Gaia, where you can find the Port Wine Cellars. Next you can go to the Sao Francisco church and the Stock Exchange nearby. Some of the popular spots to visit in Porto follow as:

• Fundação de Serralves: It is a modern Museum developed by the famous architect Álvaro Siza that has a massive garden/park and an Art Deco Villa. While having the tour of this foundation, there you can make up a tour of exhibitions, relax at the park and can have the lunch at restaurant.

• Pavilhão Rosa Mota: It is a multi purpose pavilion that shows a good number of nice gardens to stay there and take rest. Close to it is situated the Museu Romantico, that is a house where the king of Italy used to stay while on exile.

Other places as worth visiting there are soares dos Reis and the photography museum.

Porto features the warm-summer Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. Summers are typically sunny with average temperatures between 15 °C (59 °F) and 25 °C (77 °F). If there is an occasional heat wave, the temperatures can rise to as high as 35 °C (95 °F) with low humidity. However, during such an heat wave, there can be forest fires and the haze and ash so caused can make breathing somewhat uncomfortable, especially at night. Rains in summers feature occasional showers and cool temperatures of around 20 °C (68 °F) in the afternoon.

Winter temperatures typically range between 5 °C (41 °F) during morning and 15 °C (59 °F) in the afternoon but rarely drop below 0 °C (32 °F) at night. The weather is often rainy for long stretches although prolonged sunny periods do occur.

Looking at the climate of Porto, it can be said that the place has inviting climatic conditions all the year round, though winters witness more tourists in the city.

Crystal Palace Gardens
This favourite tourist attraction gets its name from a former structure made of glass and iron, the Crystal Palace, which was brought down in 1956 and replaced with a domed pavilion, the so-called Pavilhao Rosa Mota. Standing next to this landmark, is the Crystal Palace Gardens which provides exotic views of the Duoro River. The park abounds in various plants and animal species and also features elegant fountains and allegorical statues which add to the beauty of the spot. Amongst the many alleys is the so-called Avenida das Tilias, the alley from which the river can be admired. There are themed gardens like Jardim dos Sentimentos (Garden of Feelings), Jardim das Plantas Aromaticas (Garden of Aromatic Plants) and Jardim do Roseiral (Garden of Roses). The park was designed by ace gardener Emilio David.

Porto Botanical Garden
The Porto Botanical Garden, created in 1951, under the patronage of the Portuguese state, features rare and exotic flora and plant species along with highlights like the cacti garden, a greenhouse and a historical garden (the latter comprising a rose garden). There’s also a lake situated within the perimeter of the Botanical Garden, the habitat of a fairly numerous population of water lilies. The Porto Botanical Garden is managed by the Faculty of Sciences which pertains to the University of Porto.

Sao Roque Park
The Sao Roque Park opened to the pubic in 1979 and was laid out on the site of the former Quinta da Lameira (Lameira Manor), once owned by the Calem family. The highlight of the park is its terraced landscape, a soothing lake, a wrought iron fountain and a cave, giving it a feel of a romantic garden. The park also takes pride in its eucalyptus forest, located on an upper terrace of the garden, and the maze of hedges contemplated from above. The park features a varied species of plants including the oak, the eucalyptus and the camellias.

East City Park
East City Park of Porto is one of the largest urban parks in Porto and also the Portugal as it covers a huge area of 10 hectares. Future projects are intended to enlarge. The East City Park is, as some might consider, a counterpart of the West City Park, being just as splendidly landscaped and sheltering a wealth of plant and animal species. The park stands at one end of the Tinto River and is rightly deemed as a green gem of north Portugal.

Particular attractions in the Ribeira area of Porto include the renovated Caso do Infante, the Gothic church of Igreja de Sao Francisco, and the magnificent Palácio da Bolsa (Stock Exchange). The area is criss crossed with medieval narrow streets and narrower alleyways, with ancient buildings in some stage of decay. Old homes of multiple hues stand guard over the waterfront and the harbor is filled with typical boats, from small to large. In 1996 the Cais de Ribeira area was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The Cais da Ribeira is a romantic spot that springs to life as the sun sets, and numerous bars, pubs and discos in the area start buzzing with activity. Some of these places are pretty small, so it may get crowded. Bear in mind that for the Portuguese, a ‘night out’ only begins around 11 p.m. and often ends when the sun comes up. If you are lucky enough to be there for Saint John’s Day in June, you will be entertained by a must see fireworks display and a huge street party.

The Ribeira square is full of tables, that surround a bronze cube – part of a 20th century fountain by Jose Rodrigues that has pigeons on top. Around the corner on Rua da Alfandega is Casa de Infante or House of the Prince, birthplace of Prince Henry the Navigator which was born in 1934.

Cais da Ribeira Porto area also has a number of cheap and quality hotels to stay as well as various restaurants to quench your appetite.

The celebrations start early in the evening of 23 June and continue until the morning of 24 June. The major draw of this festival include street concerts, popular dancing parties, jumping over flames, eating barbecued sardines and meat, drinking wine and releasing illuminated flame-propelled balloons over Porto’s summer sky.

The most awaited part of the party happens to be the Saint John’s firework spectacle at midnight. The fireworks become special with themes and multimedia shows. The party has sacred roots but is also mixed with pagan traditions, with the fireworks embodying the spirit of tribute to the Sun.

The celebrations go on till the wee hours of 24th morning and many young folks take a walk from Porto’s riverside core – Ribeira up to the seaside in Foz or in the nearby suburb of Matosinhos where they wait for the sunrise near the sea.

Rightly has a journalist from The Guardian commented that “Porto’s Festa de São João is one of Europe’s liveliest street festivals, yet it is relatively unknown outside the country”.

The Museu Serralves is the first large-scale contemporary art museum in Portugal. The public access to the museum’s ground is made at the highest level of the terrain through an opening in the existing wall that surrounds the property.

The building is 13,000 square meters in area and includes 4,500 square meters of exhibition space in 14 galleries. The interiors include hardwood floors and painted walls in gesso with marble skirting in the exhibition halls, and marble floors in the foyers and wet spaces. Exterior walls are covered with stone or stucco.

The collection of the museum comprises of direct acquisitions by the museum, works deposited by the State and private collectors and also donations. From the beginning, the collection and the various exhibitions have focused on the period following 1968. There are no permanent exhibitions, but the museum hosts five exhibits from invited artists every year. In recent years, the museum has organized exhibitions by Franz West, Roni Horn, Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, Richard Hamilton, Christopher Wool, and Luc Tuymans.

The citing of the Serralves museum would be incomplete without a mention of the landscaped gardens designed by João Gomes da Silva, on the approximately 18 hectars of land. The Serralves park also exhibits sculptures by Claes Oldenburg, Dan Graham, Fernanda Gomes, Richard Serra, and Veit Stratmann.

When it comes to green spaces in Porto, the site which tops the list is the Crystal Palace Gardens which derives its name from a former structure made of glass and iron, the Crystal Palace, which was brought down in 1956 and replaced with a domed pavilion, the so-called Pavilhao Rosa Mota (often referred to as Pavilhao dos Desportos, meaning the Sports Pavilion). The pavilion now serves the purpose of entertainment, cultural and sports-related activities. This vast stadium has an imposing domed structure towering roughly 30 metres / 98 feet in height and capable of accommodating more than 4,500 spectators. Apart from an array of sporting attractions each year, the pavilion also hosts concerts, theatrical events, conventions and various exhibitions. The visitors can access this site daily for free.

The park is a treat to the eyes with its breath taking views of the Duoro river. It abounds in exotic and diverse plant and animal species. It also features elegant fountains and allegorical statues. By following the meandering alleys of the park, the tourists can come across themed gardens, such as Jardim dos Sentimentos (Garden of Feelings), Jardim das Plantas Aromaticas (Garden of Aromatic Plants) and Jardim do Roseiral (Garden of Roses). All these splendid sights are the work of Emilio David, the landscape gardener who designed the park.