Porto from My View

Porto is the best place in 45 Europe cities I've visited, for people who can't live without green and blue; it is the place that you can visit anytime you want because of the transportation, price, fresh air and temperature that never drops below average 20 degrees in every season (2017 European Best Destination Porto). Porto doesn't have much economically income compare to many European countries so prices can be surprising sometimes in contrast to what's supposed to be. I will tell you about Porto, the city of my childhood dreams, which lasts for 2 semesters, 10 and half months in total and what happened during this time.

The Transportation to Porto

It's possible to reach Porto from Turkey with Turkish Airlines in 4 or 5 non-stop flight, but Turkish Airlines is a first class airline in Europe so you may have to spend a big amount of money from your budget to airplane tickets. Let me explain with a short example; The ticket I bought Istanbul-Porto airplane was 1200 Turkish Liras.

How Can I Go to the City from Porto?

The biggest advantage of Porto is the efficiency of the transportation network. It doesn't have a big transportation opportunity but I can say that it is used very effectively. The best example about this would be the transportation from the airport to the city center can be done by metro and bus. Especially with metro, you can go anywhere you want just by using the "Estadio do Dragao" and "Fanzares" routes. You can get your tickets for metro from the machines in the entrance of the metro station. The amount that you going to pay will be around 2 or 3 Euros. The card that the machine will give you isn't just for one use, you can fill money in it and can use it afterward. (The card fee is 0, 50 Cent. )

The stops that you will leave the metro can be changeable according to your accommodation place. However, the main station in Porto is "Trindade" station. From there, you can transfer to other routes and continue your trip. If you say "I don't like metros, I want to take a Porto tour with a bus. ", you can buy your ticket from your bus for 1, 95 Euros. This ticket is just for one use. Average travel time is approximately 30 minutes. The last stop on the bus is "Aliados". And that place is the center of Porto.

For a Student, How Much Does Erasmus Scholarship Cover Expenses in Porto?

As the conversations I took with my friends, the designated scholarship amount for Porto was 2000 Euros and the 80% of that money is transferred to the bank account as 1600 Euros. I can tell you about a system I've made. I've kept recording the all of my expenses during my Erasmus semester. In this way, the total amount was 3600 Euros. So that means your scholarship will only cover 40% of your expenses. That's why you should prepare yourself economically before go.

Where Should Stay in Porto?

First of all, if you going to stay for a short-term, my suggestion would be the hostels which in the city center. You can stay a night in Ribeira and Aliados for 12 to 20 Euros if you reserve early. My favorite from them is "Rivoli Cinema Hostel" in Aliados. The specialty of this hostel is every room in the hostel has a different concept. If you are curious you can check it out on the internet.

Except for short-term stay, if you going to stay for a long-term (at least 5 months for a normal Erasmus term), you can find a single room around 200-300 Euros. For that, you can get help from ESN Office or for a commission you can rent a room from the websites like "Uniplace". Also, I really recommend that you should become a member of the closed ESN group on Facebook. While there are many people looking for a home and roommate, you can find yourself a room with high comfort, near to the nightlife in the city center. Note: You can be a member of this group through help from ESN Office.

Where to Go?

Firstly, I suggest you good and comfy shoes before travelling the Porto, also prepare yourself for hiking to high places. Unfortunately, Porto has bumpy structure. Also, you don't need public transportation for a trip around in the city center. I highly suggest you split your time for a day and a night to travel in Porto. During daytime, Porto has an open sky and sunny weather and during night time after the sunset with the darkness and lights around city gives a mystical time in Porto.

Av. Dos Aliados

I suggest you start travelling from Ac. Dos Aliados during the daytime. Because there is a historical "Sao Bento Train Station" 300 meters from this avenue. You can go inside, observe it, and become fascinated by the Porto history with its unique blue and dark blue colors. There is a "Cleigros Tower" exactly opposite direction and you can see that from everywhere in the city.

Cleigros Tower

You can pay 4 Euros to go up the tower and you can be charmed by the city view. If you are a Harry Potter fan, there is a "Lello Library" 100 meters above from the tower and for entrance you will give 4 Euros and while you taking a photo of the unique red stairs, you can see the environment from your own eyes, when J. K Rowling has written this phenomenal book series. Note: If you want to buy a book from this library, your entrance payment will be considered as a discount.

The View of the Lello Library

After the library, there is a green area called "Crystal Palacio" from 10 minutes from the library where you can sit. Don't expect a crystal structure because of its name, you may be disappointed. This place has a big garden where you can trip around and watch the Douro River while resting under the tree with a slight breeze. Porto both has the cultural and historical texture so you can see the new and the old things at the same time.

Duoro River View from Crystal Palacio

I have a major and a minor suggestion after your visit from Crystal Palacio. Generally, the Erasmus students want to see the sunset in a green area called "Virtudes" where they can drink their beer and sit with their friends. But my favorite is Ponte de Luiz sight from Douro River. This place both has different taste in daytime and nighttime but my suggestion is you should end the day and start the night exactly in here.

Duoro River and Porto View from Gaia

I have to specify that Ponto De Luis is a bridge that connects the Porto and Gaia. The one side of the bridge is Porto and the other side is a different city, Gaia. This picture also was taken from Gaia. You can visit the Botanic Garden, Serralves, Jardim de Morro, Matosinhos Beach, Casa de Musica, Foz and the churches and the museums in during daytime.

What to Eat?

Porto has a reach sea-based cuisine because of its oceanfront location. You can try seafood that you would never find anywhere else and you can say "hello! " to different tastes from a different culture. The best place for this would be any fisher restaurants on the Matosinhos and you can get any fish, appetizer, and wine you want. After a delightful fish dish, you'll probably pay around 15-25 Euros. Also, the unique and special dish of Porto is Bacalhau which is a fish dish. You can try if you are a unique fish dish lover. But if you say "I don't love fish, I want something different and special in here. " I can introduce you to the famous dish of Porto, francesinha.

Francesinha is a delightful meal peculiar to Porto which has bread, pork, salami, sausage, other meat products and a dressing. If you say "I don't like meat, I'm a vegetarian. " there is also vegetarian francesinha. I suggest you eat a meal in Ribeira which has a coast to Duoro River. In here while you watching the river view and Ponte de Luiz, you can have a great meal for 7-10 Euros. If you also don't like that and want a Turkish kebab place in here, you can have a stuffed döner in Aliados for 6 Euros. By the way, it is a döner, not a kebab. Also, there is a McDonald's just next to the kebab place, you can eat from there too.

The Night Life in Porto

A city which has a special wine, of course, has a great nightlife such as the other European cities. There is a place called "Adega Leonor" generally a favorite stop for the Erasmus students which is next to the university rector and there is another place 500 meters away called "77" which has a concept that you can get your beer inside and drink it outside. The good thing about Porto's nightlife, there is cheap drink ritual in Ribeira on every Mondays.

A Normal Day in Adega Leonor

In here, you can find a liter of any alcohol or drink for 5-8 Euros. If you are a nightclub lover, the famous place in here is "Galerias de Paris" avenue. You can walk in here and find yourself dancing while listening all the music which comes from clubs to the streets.

More club, Plano B, and Villa Porto are the best clubs I would recommend you. If you love Sniff Shot you can prefer Pinguin Bar. Usually, if you have an ESN Card, you can get free entrance from nightclubs, if you don't have one, the entrance will be around 5 Euros.

Don't Come Back from Porto Without Doing Them!

If you are an Erasmus student;

1. Do a boat tour in Douro River and after that try special production Porto wine from wine sellers in Gaia.
2. Visit the Lello Library Walk along the river from Ribeira to Foz
3. Portugal is a coastal country which has extremely beautiful and high waves for surfing. Do not come back without trying surfing. In fact, in Nazare (a town that 250 kilometres away from Porto), there are Surfing Leauge competitions in every year in November and December months. The length of waves in here is 30 meters.
4. Music lovers, don't miss the pleasure of concert in Casa Da Musica.
5. Immerse the sunset in Virtues with a beautiful beer.
6. Have fun until morning with specially made hammers in Sao Jao Festival.
7. Don't forget the listening Fado.
8. Don't miss the Queima Das Fitas entertainments. (Many of my friends from other countries come here just because of that. )
9. Don't forget to come back in Porto.