Porto Vs Lissabon

It is now in the point where people are questioning the long-term benefit of opening up so many hotels and hostels. In this particular area, I think Porto is going through what Lisbon went through… years ago.

The capital has the advantage on this one, just because the offer is bigger. Amazing value for money! All of these are located in the heart of the city, with WiFi and a rating of 8 or higher!

Charmingly music-themed hotel, super close to the center. Oh it comes with this stunning rooftop swimming pool. Most of them can even address you in good English which drops the communication barrier even more!

Still, it is pretty much accepted throughout the country that people from the North are more friendly the same happens in Game of Thrones , this must be a thing.

Whether was during the months I lived there or in all my trips afterward, Porto always made me feel at home. That is definitely something in the crazy world of today.

To give you a better idea of the prices we are talking about, take a look at the table below. It contains the average prices of some items, as per Porto is very close to some other worthy-to-see cities in Northern Portugal.

But the most spectacular attraction near Porto is the Douro Valley , where wine has been produced for centuries. At the front, you can first stop to admire the views of the old town.

It is great because you have a lot of space to move back and take it all in. The Cathedral was built in the 12th and 13th century in Romanesque style.

And its adjacent Gothic cloister in the 14th century. Of course, alterations were made later but it remained an imposing structure overlooking the city.

It is not the most impressive cathedral in Europe, but I really enjoyed visiting the cloister. See my article.

The Lisbon cathedral is along the tram line to climb to the castle. You can also visit the cloister, but it is quite a different experience!

It is still being searched. You are visiting ruins with different layers of history. It is interesting but not grandiose like the Porto Cloister.

In terms of architecture and monuments to visit, Lisbon is the clear winner. There is a wide range of monuments to visit in Lisbon: Castle, palaces, monastery, churches While Porto has a more limited selection of monuments to visit.

If visiting Porto, you should not miss the double Carmo church with the 1m wide house in between, the Clerigos tower overlooking the city you can even climb to the top!

More ideas on my article about Porto here. If you love architecture from different periods and fascinating buildings, Lisbon is for you. There is no shortage of monuments to visit:.

All the best views and monuments in both cities, along with many other beautiful places, are included in my eBook.

Be overwhelmed by the beauty, not the planning! Both Porto and Lisbon have been built near the mouth of a river on the Atlantic Coast.

However the Douro river narrows right away while the Tagus has created a large estuary where Lisbon stands. So it is easier and more scenic to appreciate the Douro River in Porto.

Porto has been built around the Douro River. Rio Douro means river of gold. It is a mile long snake that goes all the way to the Eastern border of Portugal with Spain.

It is really appreciated by those enjoying a cruise to discover all the historical and magnificent vineyards. The wide body of water is great to make port on a cruise, but makes the city less scenic as Porto.

Both cities are famous for their vibrant old center. I know many people rave about the Alfama district in Lisbon, but I just did not enjoy it much.

I had a clear preference for the old charm of the Ribeira area in Porto. Loved the old narrow buildings and colors.

In Porto, the old center is called Ribeira, on the North shore of the Douro river. Some see this is an issue, but we see it as an opportunity to burn some calories of all the cheese we ate there.

Anyways, our best Lisbon travel tip is to pack comfortable walking shoes. Because Lisbon is bigger and more touristy than Porto, finding good accommodation is much easier there.

Granted, Lisbon is generally more expensive than Porto, but it also means it has a better infrastructure to receive tourists.

Chiado is an excellent neighborhood in Lisbon close to many attractions and most restaurants we visited. Besides the excellent restaurants and bars in the area, of course.

However, this is not the quietest neighborhood. Click here to check the latest prices and book your stay at Solar dos Poetas Hotel in Lisbon.

On the other hand, for those looking for a quieter area and a cheaper hotel, the easyHotel is a great option. Rooms were recently renovated and the hotel is pretty close to a metro station connecting to the city center.

Click here to book your stay at easyHotel in Lisbon. Both Lisbon and Porto can be very kid-friendly destinations. However, Lisbon is nestled in seven hills, and if you have a small child, it might be challenging to go up and downhill all the time.

Just like for couples, which city you, solo traveler, should choose on your Porto vs Lisbon debate will depend on your travel style.

In Lisbon, the capital has a rather more refined delicacy — the delicious flaky pastel de nata custard tart. Both cities have their fair share of upmarket eating places, where you can sample innovative, exciting food for less than you would pay for the same calibre of cooking elsewhere in Europe.

In Porto, the two-Michelin-starred Yeatman restaurant boasts amazing vistas to rival its food. This nineteenth-century iron latticework creation was designed by a pupil of Gustav Eiffel and today it still whisks passengers up from street level in the Baixa district to the Largo do Carmo above.

From Lisbon, you can catch a commuter train out to the smart seaside resort of Cascais, with its chi-chi marina and designer shops.

Another Lisbon option is to take a ferry and bus to the slightly more tacky Costa da Caparica , where a toy train runs along 10km of long sandy beaches battered by Atlantic breakers.

Lisbon, on the other hand, is larger and needs longer to get to grips with its attractions.