If you like vinho do Porto (Port),the beautiful Douro valley and the classy,friendly locals I'd say it's a much better place to visit than Lisboa!
I did a 16 week uni placement there. It's a great place. Very old but beautiful at same time, especially along the river and at Foz (the seaside)
Figuera da Foz is the Silver Coast isn't it?Much more beautiful and frequented by locals than the Algarve and some of the best property bargains around there and Coimbra now anywhere in Europe,thanks to Der Fuhrer Mutti Merkel's austerity measures!
Absolutely it is. It's a great place. Completely different and much smaller, but as good as Lisbon IMO.
The riverside in the city itself is really pretty and great fun on weekends, with little markets, BBQs, bars and restaurants all lively. Fantastic for a quick bite to eat, a few drinks and superb people watching.
There are wonderful views of the valley in both directions from the Ponte de Dom Luis, and the old town is a just a pleasure to wander around.
I've not done it myself, but I've heard the port-makers' cellar tours/tastings can be an excellent afternoon as well Alternatively, get on a tour out to one of the vineyards deeper in the Douro valley.
The seafood is brilliant, especially if you head up to the little villages towards and around Matosinhos, where there's some lovely coastline. For the nicest, cleanest beaches you have to go a little further though - the ones in Porto and Matosinhos aren't the cleanest.
If you can visit on a matchday weekend, try to get to a game. Their fans are batsheet crazy and the best in Portugal for me.
comment by blueinbarca (U3426)
posted 3 minutes ago
Figuera da Foz is the Silver Coast isn't it?Much more beautiful and frequented by locals than the Algarve and some of the best property bargains around there and Coimbra now anywhere in Europe,thanks to Der Fuhrer Mutti Merkel's austerity measures!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Coimbra is a nice place to visit too, but two days (with a couple of nights out ) would be enough I think.
Some great wines from the Alentejo in Portugal also,real good,full-bodied reds easily on a par with some of the best Spanish wines if not better!
Cataplana is the Algarvian seafood,pressure cooker stew that they make I don't know if they have it in Porto though?
Agree with all the above, and Coimbra is definitely worth a visit, especially the library, look it up, batsheet for sure!
Go Albufeira and party like its 1999
When I went in 1973😨 they had bats to eat the insects that would eat the books. They probably have an app for it now.
Vinho Verde is delightful. That's all I know about my trips to Portugal.
comment by manusince52 (U9692)
posted 31 seconds ago
When I went in 1973😨 they had bats to eat the insects that would eat the books. They probably have an app for it now.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think they still have the bats!
I was scared to breathe in there when I visited. Not because of the bats just because I didn't want to damage anything!
It's like stepping into another world.
comment by blueinbarca (U3426)
posted 11 minutes ago
Some great wines from the Alentejo in Portugal also,real good,full-bodied reds easily on a par with some of the best Spanish wines if not better!
Cataplana is the Algarvian seafood,pressure cooker stew that they make I don't know if they have it in Porto though?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah, you could get a good cataplana up there.
Don't go asking for a bottle of Alentejo with it though
comment by rossobianchi - Got_Nameback (U17054)
posted 3 minutes ago
Absolutely it is. It's a great place. Completely different and much smaller, but as good as Lisbon IMO.
The riverside in the city itself is really pretty and great fun on weekends, with little markets, BBQs, bars and restaurants all lively. Fantastic for a quick bite to eat, a few drinks and superb people watching.
There are wonderful views of the valley in both directions from the Ponte de Dom Luis, and the old town is a just a pleasure to wander around.
I've not done it myself, but I've heard the port-makers' cellar tours/tastings can be an excellent afternoon as wellAlternatively, get on a tour out to one of the vineyards deeper in the Douro valley.
The seafood is brilliant, especially if you head up to the little villages towards and around Matosinhos, where there's some lovely coastline. For the nicest, cleanest beaches you have to go a little further though - the ones in Porto and Matosinhos aren't the cleanest.
If you can visit on a matchday weekend, try to get to a game. Their fans are batsheet crazy and the best in Portugal for me.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We rented a place in the Douro Valley a few years ago. The terraced vineyards in the river valley are absolutely stunning.
Would love to go back with enough time to properly discover and explore the region - not just inland, but coastal areas too.
I think if you like wine, but Portugal is the best destination in Europe - great red in a restaurant for 15 euros or so. This thread has me convinced about Porto. I want to go to now!
The coastline I love, all the way north to the Spanish border and beyond. It's rugged and windswept and beautiful.
There's a lot of (relative) poverty up there, but incredible food, great tradition, and some really special towns and villages.
"Yeah, you could get a good cataplana up there.
Don't go asking for a bottle of Alentejo with it though"
Last time I was back in the UK I was buying Portuguese red called 'Douro' in Morrisons for 8 quid a bottle,excellent stuff and obviously from the Porto region!
"Vnho Verde is delightful. That's all I know about my trips to Portugal."
Vinho Verde (Green Wine) is excellent to drink,really refreshing for those long,hot Mediterranean summers it's the only non-red wine I'll drink!
(Although I could be persuaded into a chilled bottle of Lancers or even Mateus Rose were I in Portugal mind!)
comment by Kamikaze Blue (U7450)
posted 12 minutes ago
I think if you like wine, but Portugal is the best destination in Europe - great red in a restaurant for 15 euros or so. This thread has me convinced about Porto. I want to go to now!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Out of the city you can do a lot better than EUR15 a bottle for a very decent wine.
The little fish grill behind our house does half litre jars of the house red from Alentejo for EUR2! It isn't top shelf stuff, make no mistake, but it's still better than most of the Californian and Australian pess that lines the shelves of British supermarkets.
comment by blueinbarca (U3426)
posted 3 minutes ago
"Vnho Verde is delightful. That's all I know about my trips to Portugal."
Vinho Verde (Green Wine) is excellent to drink,really refreshing for those long,hot Mediterranean summers it's the only non-red wine I'll drink!
(Although I could be persuaded into a chilled bottle of Lancers or even Mateus Rose were I in Portugal mind!)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Common mistake, but the 'green' in vinho verde doesn't refer to the colour of the wine. It originally meant 'young' (green in the sense of 'not yet ripe/mature', and could apply to red wines too.
Nowadays it's the DOC for wine from the Minho region. There used to be a Portuguese restaurant in my village that had some awesome V.V. reds.
comment by blueinbarca (U3426)
posted 20 minutes ago
"Vnho Verde is delightful. That's all I know about my trips to Portugal."
Vinho Verde (Green Wine) is excellent to drink,really refreshing for those long,hot Mediterranean summers it's the only non-red wine I'll drink!
(Although I could be persuaded into a chilled bottle of Lancers or even Mateus Rose were I in Portugal mind!)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah, we discovered a bottle whilst eating out in a restaurant, it was about 18 Euro.
Found it in Lidl near our villa for about 4 Euro Wine is so cheap over there, so much tastier too.
We since found the same bottle in Waitrose for almost £12 a bottle.
Porto's great... Beautiful city and the right size for a long weekend break. Some great bars up in the student area, can't remember the name... but i'm sure it is easy to google... Great nights on wednesday and thursday.
Word to the wise though.... The sea is polluted as hell in all the beaches within about 10 mile radius.. It's a disgrace really. Maybe it has improved since I last surfed around there about 10 years ago.
comment by Ji Sung Park's Cousin - 2017 joy squids (U2958)
posted 1 minute ago
Porto's great... Beautiful city and the right size for a long weekend break. Some great bars up in the student area, can't remember the name... but i'm sure it is easy to google... Great nights on wednesday and thursday.
Word to the wise though.... The sea is polluted as hell in all the beaches within about 10 mile radius.. It's a disgrace really. Maybe it has improved since I last surfed around there about 10 years ago.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I can confirm it has not Ji
Bizarrely Porto beat us last night in the International reserves cup at Leigh Sports Village 2-0 (just outside Manchester for you non Mancs)
I was going to go as I have ties to Porto but it clashed with our game with St Ettienne which was a real shame.
Lost 2-0 and eliminated in 1/4 finals anyway.
comment by Eric_the_king (SE85) (U21241)
posted 25 minutes ago
Bizarrely Porto beat us last night in the International reserves cup at Leigh Sports Village 2-0 (just outside Manchester for you non Mancs)
I was going to go as I have ties to Porto but it clashed with our game with St Ettienne which was a real shame.
Lost 2-0 and eliminated in 1/4 finals anyway.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No great surprise really; the U23s have looked really poor the last few months.
I've only seen the highlights from last night, but it looks like Warren had a shocker playing out of position at right back. And to make a related point, I'm not convinced Butt has a clue what he's doing in pre- and in-game management.
I don't want to knock him, because he appears to be doing a great job looking after the Academy transformation, but I'm not at all convinced he's any sort of tactician. The sooner we have a permanent reserve team manager/coach appointed, the better.
Back to the U23s, I think Gribbin, Buffonge, Bohui and others stepping up from the U18s will help next season. Some of them are just starting to bed in now, but a boost in the size of the squad (assuming they aren't all sent out on loan ) and some fresh blood coming through will give a little impetus.
Next season can't be as bad as this one, anyway.
In the meantime, following the U18s is still providing plenty of entertainment
comment by rossobianchi - Got_Nameback (U17054)
posted 1 hour, 29 minutes ago
comment by Ji Sung Park's Cousin - 2017 joy squids (U2958)
posted 1 minute ago
Porto's great... Beautiful city and the right size for a long weekend break. Some great bars up in the student area, can't remember the name... but i'm sure it is easy to google... Great nights on wednesday and thursday.
Word to the wise though.... The sea is polluted as hell in all the beaches within about 10 mile radius.. It's a disgrace really. Maybe it has improved since I last surfed around there about 10 years ago.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I can confirm it has not Ji
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Damn shame, they need to sort that shiite out, some world class breaks around there
Sign in if you want to comment
Is Porto worth visting?
Page 1 of 2
posted on 23/2/17
If you like vinho do Porto (Port),the beautiful Douro valley and the classy,friendly locals I'd say it's a much better place to visit than Lisboa!
posted on 23/2/17
I did a 16 week uni placement there. It's a great place. Very old but beautiful at same time, especially along the river and at Foz (the seaside)
posted on 23/2/17
Figuera da Foz is the Silver Coast isn't it?Much more beautiful and frequented by locals than the Algarve and some of the best property bargains around there and Coimbra now anywhere in Europe,thanks to Der Fuhrer Mutti Merkel's austerity measures!
posted on 23/2/17
Absolutely it is. It's a great place. Completely different and much smaller, but as good as Lisbon IMO.
The riverside in the city itself is really pretty and great fun on weekends, with little markets, BBQs, bars and restaurants all lively. Fantastic for a quick bite to eat, a few drinks and superb people watching.
There are wonderful views of the valley in both directions from the Ponte de Dom Luis, and the old town is a just a pleasure to wander around.
I've not done it myself, but I've heard the port-makers' cellar tours/tastings can be an excellent afternoon as well Alternatively, get on a tour out to one of the vineyards deeper in the Douro valley.
The seafood is brilliant, especially if you head up to the little villages towards and around Matosinhos, where there's some lovely coastline. For the nicest, cleanest beaches you have to go a little further though - the ones in Porto and Matosinhos aren't the cleanest.
If you can visit on a matchday weekend, try to get to a game. Their fans are batsheet crazy and the best in Portugal for me.
posted on 23/2/17
comment by blueinbarca (U3426)
posted 3 minutes ago
Figuera da Foz is the Silver Coast isn't it?Much more beautiful and frequented by locals than the Algarve and some of the best property bargains around there and Coimbra now anywhere in Europe,thanks to Der Fuhrer Mutti Merkel's austerity measures!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Coimbra is a nice place to visit too, but two days (with a couple of nights out ) would be enough I think.
posted on 23/2/17
Some great wines from the Alentejo in Portugal also,real good,full-bodied reds easily on a par with some of the best Spanish wines if not better!
Cataplana is the Algarvian seafood,pressure cooker stew that they make I don't know if they have it in Porto though?
posted on 23/2/17
Agree with all the above, and Coimbra is definitely worth a visit, especially the library, look it up, batsheet for sure!
posted on 23/2/17
Go Albufeira and party like its 1999
posted on 23/2/17
When I went in 1973😨 they had bats to eat the insects that would eat the books. They probably have an app for it now.
posted on 23/2/17
Vinho Verde is delightful. That's all I know about my trips to Portugal.
posted on 23/2/17
comment by manusince52 (U9692)
posted 31 seconds ago
When I went in 1973😨 they had bats to eat the insects that would eat the books. They probably have an app for it now.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think they still have the bats!
I was scared to breathe in there when I visited. Not because of the bats just because I didn't want to damage anything!
It's like stepping into another world.
posted on 23/2/17
comment by blueinbarca (U3426)
posted 11 minutes ago
Some great wines from the Alentejo in Portugal also,real good,full-bodied reds easily on a par with some of the best Spanish wines if not better!
Cataplana is the Algarvian seafood,pressure cooker stew that they make I don't know if they have it in Porto though?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah, you could get a good cataplana up there.
Don't go asking for a bottle of Alentejo with it though
posted on 23/2/17
comment by rossobianchi - Got_Nameback (U17054)
posted 3 minutes ago
Absolutely it is. It's a great place. Completely different and much smaller, but as good as Lisbon IMO.
The riverside in the city itself is really pretty and great fun on weekends, with little markets, BBQs, bars and restaurants all lively. Fantastic for a quick bite to eat, a few drinks and superb people watching.
There are wonderful views of the valley in both directions from the Ponte de Dom Luis, and the old town is a just a pleasure to wander around.
I've not done it myself, but I've heard the port-makers' cellar tours/tastings can be an excellent afternoon as wellAlternatively, get on a tour out to one of the vineyards deeper in the Douro valley.
The seafood is brilliant, especially if you head up to the little villages towards and around Matosinhos, where there's some lovely coastline. For the nicest, cleanest beaches you have to go a little further though - the ones in Porto and Matosinhos aren't the cleanest.
If you can visit on a matchday weekend, try to get to a game. Their fans are batsheet crazy and the best in Portugal for me.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We rented a place in the Douro Valley a few years ago. The terraced vineyards in the river valley are absolutely stunning.
Would love to go back with enough time to properly discover and explore the region - not just inland, but coastal areas too.
posted on 23/2/17
I think if you like wine, but Portugal is the best destination in Europe - great red in a restaurant for 15 euros or so. This thread has me convinced about Porto. I want to go to now!
posted on 23/2/17
The coastline I love, all the way north to the Spanish border and beyond. It's rugged and windswept and beautiful.
There's a lot of (relative) poverty up there, but incredible food, great tradition, and some really special towns and villages.
posted on 23/2/17
"Yeah, you could get a good cataplana up there.
Don't go asking for a bottle of Alentejo with it though"
Last time I was back in the UK I was buying Portuguese red called 'Douro' in Morrisons for 8 quid a bottle,excellent stuff and obviously from the Porto region!
posted on 23/2/17
"Vnho Verde is delightful. That's all I know about my trips to Portugal."
Vinho Verde (Green Wine) is excellent to drink,really refreshing for those long,hot Mediterranean summers it's the only non-red wine I'll drink!
(Although I could be persuaded into a chilled bottle of Lancers or even Mateus Rose were I in Portugal mind!)
posted on 23/2/17
comment by Kamikaze Blue (U7450)
posted 12 minutes ago
I think if you like wine, but Portugal is the best destination in Europe - great red in a restaurant for 15 euros or so. This thread has me convinced about Porto. I want to go to now!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Out of the city you can do a lot better than EUR15 a bottle for a very decent wine.
The little fish grill behind our house does half litre jars of the house red from Alentejo for EUR2! It isn't top shelf stuff, make no mistake, but it's still better than most of the Californian and Australian pess that lines the shelves of British supermarkets.
posted on 23/2/17
comment by blueinbarca (U3426)
posted 3 minutes ago
"Vnho Verde is delightful. That's all I know about my trips to Portugal."
Vinho Verde (Green Wine) is excellent to drink,really refreshing for those long,hot Mediterranean summers it's the only non-red wine I'll drink!
(Although I could be persuaded into a chilled bottle of Lancers or even Mateus Rose were I in Portugal mind!)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Common mistake, but the 'green' in vinho verde doesn't refer to the colour of the wine. It originally meant 'young' (green in the sense of 'not yet ripe/mature', and could apply to red wines too.
Nowadays it's the DOC for wine from the Minho region. There used to be a Portuguese restaurant in my village that had some awesome V.V. reds.
posted on 23/2/17
comment by blueinbarca (U3426)
posted 20 minutes ago
"Vnho Verde is delightful. That's all I know about my trips to Portugal."
Vinho Verde (Green Wine) is excellent to drink,really refreshing for those long,hot Mediterranean summers it's the only non-red wine I'll drink!
(Although I could be persuaded into a chilled bottle of Lancers or even Mateus Rose were I in Portugal mind!)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah, we discovered a bottle whilst eating out in a restaurant, it was about 18 Euro.
Found it in Lidl near our villa for about 4 Euro Wine is so cheap over there, so much tastier too.
We since found the same bottle in Waitrose for almost £12 a bottle.
posted on 23/2/17
Porto's great... Beautiful city and the right size for a long weekend break. Some great bars up in the student area, can't remember the name... but i'm sure it is easy to google... Great nights on wednesday and thursday.
Word to the wise though.... The sea is polluted as hell in all the beaches within about 10 mile radius.. It's a disgrace really. Maybe it has improved since I last surfed around there about 10 years ago.
posted on 23/2/17
comment by Ji Sung Park's Cousin - 2017 joy squids (U2958)
posted 1 minute ago
Porto's great... Beautiful city and the right size for a long weekend break. Some great bars up in the student area, can't remember the name... but i'm sure it is easy to google... Great nights on wednesday and thursday.
Word to the wise though.... The sea is polluted as hell in all the beaches within about 10 mile radius.. It's a disgrace really. Maybe it has improved since I last surfed around there about 10 years ago.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I can confirm it has not Ji
posted on 23/2/17
Bizarrely Porto beat us last night in the International reserves cup at Leigh Sports Village 2-0 (just outside Manchester for you non Mancs)
I was going to go as I have ties to Porto but it clashed with our game with St Ettienne which was a real shame.
Lost 2-0 and eliminated in 1/4 finals anyway.
posted on 23/2/17
comment by Eric_the_king (SE85) (U21241)
posted 25 minutes ago
Bizarrely Porto beat us last night in the International reserves cup at Leigh Sports Village 2-0 (just outside Manchester for you non Mancs)
I was going to go as I have ties to Porto but it clashed with our game with St Ettienne which was a real shame.
Lost 2-0 and eliminated in 1/4 finals anyway.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No great surprise really; the U23s have looked really poor the last few months.
I've only seen the highlights from last night, but it looks like Warren had a shocker playing out of position at right back. And to make a related point, I'm not convinced Butt has a clue what he's doing in pre- and in-game management.
I don't want to knock him, because he appears to be doing a great job looking after the Academy transformation, but I'm not at all convinced he's any sort of tactician. The sooner we have a permanent reserve team manager/coach appointed, the better.
Back to the U23s, I think Gribbin, Buffonge, Bohui and others stepping up from the U18s will help next season. Some of them are just starting to bed in now, but a boost in the size of the squad (assuming they aren't all sent out on loan ) and some fresh blood coming through will give a little impetus.
Next season can't be as bad as this one, anyway.
In the meantime, following the U18s is still providing plenty of entertainment
posted on 23/2/17
comment by rossobianchi - Got_Nameback (U17054)
posted 1 hour, 29 minutes ago
comment by Ji Sung Park's Cousin - 2017 joy squids (U2958)
posted 1 minute ago
Porto's great... Beautiful city and the right size for a long weekend break. Some great bars up in the student area, can't remember the name... but i'm sure it is easy to google... Great nights on wednesday and thursday.
Word to the wise though.... The sea is polluted as hell in all the beaches within about 10 mile radius.. It's a disgrace really. Maybe it has improved since I last surfed around there about 10 years ago.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I can confirm it has not Ji
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Damn shame, they need to sort that shiite out, some world class breaks around there
Page 1 of 2