Travel

Travel Note

Booking Your Flight

Two quick tips for booking flights: 1) Book your flights early to get the best prices! If you're deal hunting, set price alerts on search engines like Google Flights / Skyscanner to get daily updates by email. 2) Porto is a smaller airport than other major European hubs. If you don't mind the extra planning and want to save some money, consider flying into other major airports nearby (Lisbon/Madrid/Dublin/etc) and taking another flight from there to Porto. Europe has plenty of budget airline options for this hack! Common Budget Airlines in Europe include Ryanair, Easy Jet, Transavia and more.

Travel Note

Getting to Porto

Porto's airport (Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport - OPO) is located about 11 km (7 miles) from the city center. You can easily get to the city center via an Uber or the light rail station, both of which have clearly marked signs when exiting the airport. Lisbon's airport (Humberto Delgado Airport - LIS) is much larger than Porto's and has many more international flight options. There are many easy train and bus options to Porto from Lisbon, and the scenic trip takes about 3 hours.

Travel Note

Where To Stay

We suggest staying in or near the city center, as the function on the 25th will be in the city center and getting to the wedding venue is easy via Uber or Bolt. There are many beautiful & affordable places to stay in Porto on Airbnb & hotel search engines like Booking.com and Expedia. Here are some of the areas to consider for your search: Suggested Hotel Options: Option 1 - Hotel Vincci Ponte de Ferro 4 - $270/night - This is the same venue that the Welcome Party will be at. - Wedding guests can get 15% off the normal rate using the code: MIKAELAANDMILESWEDDING Option 2- Se Catedral Hotel Porto, Tapestry Collection By Hilton - $180/night Option 3 - Editory House Ribeira Porto Hotel - $150/night If you decide to go with Airbnb, here are some of the areas to consider for your search: - Ribeira: The heart of Porto's historic city center, Ribeira is perfect for those want walkable streets lined with cafes and shops. Ribeira also has easy access to the river, train station and more. Heads up - this area can be hilly! - Baixa (Downtown): Just above Ribeira, Baixa is the ideal neighborhood for first-time visitors looking for centrality and proximity to major landmarks, shops, and nightlife. The streets in Baixa and Ribeira can be hilly, so be aware of that when planning your trip! - Bonfim: If you’re on a budget and looking for an affordable area, stay in Bonfim, which is east of Baixa and has a better selection of affordable places to stay. - Cedofeita: Great for tourists who prefer a quieter, artistic vibe but still want to be close to the main attractions. - Vila Nova de Gaia: Excellent for wine lovers and those seeking beautiful views while staying slightly away from the city bustle.

Travel Note

Transportation

Porto boasts an extensive public transportation system which includes the metro, buses, and trams. The metro will get you to most major attractions, and apps like Google/Apple maps will give you step-by-step directions. Porto also has full service from Rideshare apps like Uber and Bolt, and fares are typically far cheaper than in the US and even other European countries. Those who don't mind the added expense will likely find themselves using Rideshare apps to get to most places while in Porto. Renting a car is possible, but not recommended for getting around the city. Porto's older neighborhoods and villages have narrow, winding, and poorly marked streets that can be challenging to navigate, especially for unfamiliar drivers. Parking can also be difficult and expensive to find. Destinations you may want to drive to outside Porto may prove difficult to navigate as well, so buses and trains are recommended.