Discovering Porto

“The beauty of Porto is obvious. It is a city that, in a way, is eccentric.
Porto has a unique character: an established town, with established
architects, with an established culture. Thus, it will not be a single
building that will put the city on the map, it is already on the map.”
Rem Koolhaas, Casa da Música’s Architect

Accordingly to ABTA Travel Trends Report (2014), “new British holidaymakers have always loved Portugal and in 2013 with visitor numbers were up by over 8%. With new direct flights in 2014 to the main cities Lisbon and Oporto, savvy holidaymakers will be heading off to these two beautiful and historic towns for a city break with a difference.”

“How cool is Porto?” It’s a question answered in this site: oportocool.wordpress.com. “For years, Porto’s motto was, in essence, ‘You’ve tried the wine; now try the city!‘ But these days Portugal’s second-largest metropolis — an attractively faded hillside city of venerable town houses and Baroque churches — no longer needs to coast on the reputation of its famous digestif. A jam-packed new night-life district is taking shape, and a blossoming creative scene features everything from an upstart design center to the avant-garde Rem Koolhaas-designed Casa de Música, a stunning concert space. And there’s great news for oenophiles as well. With the Douro region’s emergence as a hotbed of prize-winning red wines — not just port — Porto can now intoxicate you with myriad vintages, new ambitious restaurants and even wine-themed hotels.” (Seth Sherwood, NY Times, 2011)

It’s hard to find anything to dislike about Porto, Portugal. From its stunning Beaux-Arts station to its cool bars serving Porto’s signature drink, this charming city combines the best of old and new. (Nell McShane Wulfhart, NY Times)

Despite being a relatively small city – 41.42 km ², with a population of 237.591 inhabitants (2011) – Porto has a rich and diverse range of entertainment and cultural offer that is worth knowing. To awake your curiosity, the Organizing Committee of KISMIF Conference offers you some suggestions to start the exploration.

See also ‘Falling in love with the small but beautifully
formed city‘, by Stephen Bailey (Independent)

Eating and snacking

Go out, dance, drink and have fun!

Shopping and loitering

Accommodation