Porto, Portugal

I spent three days in Porto and I have to say I was quite impressed and welcomed there. I did one of the walking tours that the Lonely Planet guide suggested and I have to say that some of the places were quite a surprise.

I arrived in Sao Bento train station which is the one in the downtown. The other station is Porto Campanha, 2 km from the center. Sao Bento station most impressive feature is the azulejos (hand made tiles) depicting different scenes. This tiles were designed by Jorge Colaco in 1930.

Torre dos Clerigos is something else. Built by Nicolau Nasoni, this tower offers very nice views of the city. It is 76 m (228 ft) high and it has 225 steps. It costs 3 euros per person to go up.

Palacio da Bolsa, or stock market, is worth visiting. It used to be Porto’s stock market until the instauration of the euro in the 1990s and 2000s. It is only possible to see inside with a guided tour. The best part of the building is the Salao Arabe (Arabian Hall). When you enter you think that you just walked into Scherezade’s palace. The purpose was to invite businessmen and give the impression of grandeur and prosperity… Mission accomplished! It costs 7 euros per person for the tour.

Igreja de Sao Francisco is another sight that you can’t miss. It is a small church but the altar is magnificent. It is made in a baroque style and adorned with 100 Kg (220 lbs) of gold leaf. A definite ohhh once you enter. It costs 3.50 euros per person.

The ribeira is the ‘by the water’ part of Porto by the Douro River. When the weather is good is great to sit outside to have a drink, eat something… the restaurants are more affordable than you may think.

It is possible to eat very cheap in Porto. There are many cafes and cafeterias (diners) that will serve a complete meal for 7 euros. The service is OK for European standards (no offense) but do not expect additional accomodations or the discount for an erroneous dish. 

Ibis Porto Centro, Porto Portugal

What I like about Ibis hotels is the price and the fact that I know what to expect. Ibis Porto Centro has an excellent location on Rua da Alegria. It is walking distance from Sao Bento train station, all the attractions in the center; it is even possible to walk to the Ribeira. This Ibis hotel was fully renovated and it looked very modern. Our room was adequate and clean; bathroom size was on the small side. The staff was friendly and helpful. When you go request a room that is not on the street side since it could be noisy. The only challenge we had was that the room did not have air conditioning and it could get warm especially during the day. Breakfast did not have as many options as in other Ibis hotels in other countries (e.g. France, Germany) but it was cheaper: 6 euros per person vs. 10 euros per person in Paris and Frankfurt.