{"id":31703,"date":"2019-01-29T16:37:00","date_gmt":"2019-01-29T16:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expedia.blog.uk.sandwave.dev\/stories\/top-things-to-do-in-porto-for-football-fans-2\/"},"modified":"2021-09-01T21:49:05","modified_gmt":"2021-09-01T21:49:05","slug":"top-things-to-do-in-porto-for-football-fans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.uk\/stories\/top-things-to-do-in-porto-for-football-fans\/","title":{"rendered":"The Top Things to do in Porto for Football Fans"},"content":{"rendered":"

“__<\/strong>As the official travel partner of the UEFA Champions League, we’ve journeyed to the homes of the clubs through to the last 16 to give you the lowdown on the hotspots for your next away trip. For this article we head to Porto, home of FC Porto.__<\/strong><\/p>\n

*<\/em>Go and see your favourite team in action at the UEFA Champions League matches across Europe and travel like a champion with Expedia.<\/em> Check out our travel deals<\/a>!*<\/em><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"logo_UEFA1.png?1549480247\"<\/p>\n

Porto’s old town could hardly be prettier. Houses, painted in buttercup yellow, burnt orange and lilac, ramble uphill from the banks of the Douro. Bridges loop across the river, flowers spill from balconies and stone steps lead to tucked-away corners and plazas.<\/p>\n

There’s just something about this Portuguese city, whether you’re sipping port in a bodega or navigating the maze of narrow medieval streets. Porto is like a living, breathing museum, albeit one with plentiful modern charms, from the dynamic food scene to modern-art museums and sculpture gardens.<\/p>\n

A holiday to Porto<\/a> is perfect at any time of year. Time a visit with one of FC Porto’s home games, however, and you’ll feel the place truly come alive.<\/p>\n

Meet the team: FC Porto<\/strong><\/p>\n

Any club that can claim it launched the career of Jos\u00e9 Mourinho demands to be taken seriously. The manager led FC Porto to the treble after taking over in 2002, topping the Portuguese first division, the Primeira Liga, and winning the Ta\u00e7a de Portugal (Portuguese Cup) and UEFA Cup. What’s more, the club already has two UEFA Champions League wins to its name, in 1987 (as the European Cup) and 2004.<\/p>\n

Aside from Mourinho, FC Porto’s biggest legends include former players Jo\u00e3o Pinto (who played a whopping 587 matches for the club), Vitor Ba\u00eda (who stood in goal for 25 trophy wins), Radamel Falcao and Jackson Martinez.<\/p>\n

The Dragons, as the team is nicknamed, were founded in 1893, though the team only played a few matches before the president lost interest. Since reforming in 1907, though, FC Porto has pretty consistently remained in the big leagues. It’s the only Portuguese club to win five consecutive league titles, dominating the pitch between 1995 to 1999.<\/p>\n

\"_MG_2038.jpg?1548995194\"<\/p>\n

Image Credit: Tourism Media<\/em><\/p>\n

FUN FACT<\/p>\n

FC Porto was founded, appropriately, by a port wine merchant, Ant\u00f3nio Nicolau d’Almeida, who was inspired to launch a football club in the city after becoming hooked on the beautiful game during several trips to England.<\/p>\n

Visiting Porto’s football stadium: Est\u00e1dio do Drag\u00e3o<\/strong><\/p>\n

Est\u00e1dio do Drag\u00e3o – Campanh\u00e3 district<\/u><\/p>\n

FC Porto’s ultra-modern stadium has a capacity of just over 50,000, with match tickets usually available online or at the gate (though big fixtures tend to sell out fast). Its sleek white curves have made it an architectural icon in this newer part of the city, while it has also received accolades for its sustainability efforts.<\/p>\n

Catch a match if you can. When local supporters come out in force (and they’ve been known to fill all the seats on more than once occasion), the atmosphere is so exhilarating that goosebumps are guaranteed.<\/p>\n

It’s worth taking the guided stadium tour even if FC Porto aren’t playing, if only to discover more about this forward-thinking club and its high-tech experiments. Recent trials include allowing fans to order food and drink directly to their seats via an app – a far cry from many other stadiums, where you have to stand in line for a pie.<\/p>\n

Any football fan will get a thrill from striding through the tunnel, exploring the dugouts and peeking into the presidential box. The onsite FC Porto Museum is worth a visit too, stuffed with memorabilia and trophies. Purchase a combined ticket for a discount.<\/p>\n

Getting there:<\/strong> Picking up a hire car at the Porto airport?<\/a> It should take around 20 minutes to drive to the stadium, or 15 minutes if you’re coming from the city centre. By public transport, it’s an easy metro journey from the city centre. Most lines go direct to Estadio do Dragao, right next to the stadium, or you can change at Trindade.<\/p>\n

\"_MG_1574.jpg?1548995250\"<\/p>\n

Image Credit: Tourism Media<\/em><\/p>\n

Where to eat and what to do in Campanh\u00e3<\/u><\/p>\n

The stadium is surrounded by greenery and forms part of a huge sports complex with shopping malls, restaurants and pools. While largely a residential and business district, it’s nice to just stroll around the grounds.<\/p>\n

And there are a few gems, such as the grand Quinta de Bonj\u00f3ia, an 18th century, pale yellow palace overlooking manicured lawns. It’s a 20-minute walk from the stadium.<\/p>\n

The area is also home to some nice Porto hotels<\/a> if you want to stay close to the action, and the nearby Dolce Vita shopping centre is a good choice for a quick bite. There’s a food court with sandwiches, burgers and pizzas for pre-game grazing, plus a handful of nice caf\u00e9s.<\/p>\n

But, really, there’s only one pre-match snack in Porto, and that’s the ‘Francesinha’. Don’t be fooled by the fancy name. This is a serious sandwich, stuffed with ham, sausage and steak before being smothered with molten cheese and drowned in tomato sauce. Find it at pretty much any caf\u00e9, or at one of the kiosks in the stadium.<\/p>\n

For a post-match meal, taste Portuguese specialities like bacalhau a bras (salted cod) and grilled sardines at Barcarola Costa Cabral<\/strong>, a 15-minute walk away, or nearby L\u00edder<\/strong>.<\/sup><\/p>\n

Barcarola Costa Cabral, Rua de Costa Cabral 806, 4200-212 Porto; L\u00edder, Alameda E\u00e7a de Queir\u00f3s 120, 4200-272 Porto<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Imagebox_-_Ribeira_Square_-__MG_1411.jpg?1548995311\"<\/p>\n

Image Credit: Tourism Media<\/em><\/p>\n

Partying in Porto after the match<\/strong><\/p>\n

Celebrating after the match: parties in the plaza<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

It isn’t hard to find the party in pocket-sized Porto, especially following a victory on the pitch. The streets, squares and bars fill up with fans wearing huge grins and, usually, blue-and-white stripes. To be right at the centre of the celebrations, though, follow the crowds to Liberdade Square<\/strong> in the old town. This is where supporters gather en masse to celebrate league title wins, trophies and any time they beat their closest rivals.<\/p>\n

Going out in Porto<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Couldn’t get a stadium ticket, or just fancy jostling with the jovial local crowds? The university area has a buzzing atmosphere on match days, with spacious bars and caf\u00e9s packed out with fans. Piolho<\/strong> is a fun option. Stay in the university area after the match, when the party really gets going.<\/p>\n

Ribeira<\/strong>, the portion of the old town that hugs the riverside, is always atmospheric. Crawl between cocktail bars, low-lit jazz and blues clubs and, of course, places to try the region’s ubiquitous port.<\/p>\n

Piolho, Pra\u00e7a de Parada Leit\u00e3o 45, 4050-064 Porto<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"_MG_1428.jpg?1548995394\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

Image Credit: Tourism Media<\/em><\/p>\n

Practical information<\/strong><\/p>\n

You can fly direct to Porto<\/a> from several UK airports. It takes two hours and 20 minutes from London, two hours 40 from Manchester and two hours 45 from Edinburgh.<\/p>\n

Ready to explore Porto’s old town and soak up the atmosphere at the Est\u00e1dio do Drag\u00e3o? The city has the elegant hotels in Porto<\/a>, vibrant nightlife and cosy restaurants for an ideal city break, wherever you watch the match.<\/p>\n

Want to find out more about Porto? Check out how to spend 24 hours in Porto<\/a>!”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Looking to book a football vacation? Follow in the footsteps of FC Porto and discover the best things to do in Porto for football fans!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":288,"featured_media":22106,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[71,11,107,14],"tags":[69,106,13,105,15],"authors":[],"class_list":["post-31703","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-city-break","category-sport","category-travel-like-a-champion","category-travel-tips","tag-city-break","tag-iconicpoi","tag-sport","tag-travel-like-a-champion","tag-travel-tips","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nVisiting Porto on a Football Trip | Explore by Expedia<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Looking to book a football vacation? 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