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The Sun
27-06-2025
- The Sun
Popular European city introduces new late night alcohol ban
A POPULAR European city has introduced an alcohol ban for both locals and tourists. Porto has stopped the sale of alcohol from supermarkets, convenience stores, wine cellars, and souvenir shops for nearly 12 hours in the evening 5 5 The ban is in place between the hours of 9pm and 8am. The rules came into effect on June 25 as part of the new regulations for nightlife in the city. These restrictions are not city-wide, but they do apply to the entirety of Porto 's 'Containment Zone.' This zone includes the downtown area, including Rua da Galeria de Paris, a street that's very famous for its nightlife and bars. Terraces will have limited opening hours, although there are some flexible for some in popular nightlife areas. Filipa Correia Pinto, councillor for Economic Activities, explained to that the changes are aimed at combating 'botellons'. The rules have been put in place to stop people congregating in public areas where they socialise while drinking alcohol. Inspections will be stricter and the sanctions heavier, including the closure of establishments that don't comply with the new rules. You can still drink during the later hours hours, but alcohol needs to be bought in cafés, bars, restaurants and nightclubs. 5 5 Porto is a coastal city in northwest Portugal known for its beaches, bridges and of course, port wine. If you fancy a drink, most of the port wine cellars are over the Douro in Vila Nova de Gaia. The city has rambling old towns full of colourful buildings with cobbled streets and steep hills. The Ribeira district has lots of architecture to admire with colourful houses and the Dom Luís I Bridge. The Douro River is in the heart of the city and flows right around Porto. On the river you can hop on scenic cruises, wine tasting tours, and outdoor adventures. As for beaches, Praia de Matosinhos is a large sandy beach located in the town of Matosinhos, it has strong waves so is a popular spot for surfers. Praia do Senhor da Pedra in Miramar is popular with locals for its calm atmosphere and golden sands. The city's speciality is a francesinha, similar to a croque monsieur, it's filled with ham, sausage and steak, doused in melted cheese and hot tomato sauce. You can get to Porto in just over two hours from the UK. Here's more on Porto with the world's most beautiful bookshop and very famous 80p treats. And where to find the 'wine theme park' in one of Europe's cheapest cities. 5
Times
22-06-2025
- Times
The pretty Portuguese city perfect for an affordable family holiday
With the end of term in sight, summer holiday fear may have set in if you haven't yet booked a getaway. Look beyond the Med's best-known resorts and it's still not too late to book, especially if you prefer to break away from the beach for history, culture and shopping. Often overlooked in favour of crowded Lisbon, Portugal's second city Porto makes the ideal summer week away, with its brightly coloured old town, peaceful parks, vibrant street art and child-friendly museums. Temperatures in the mid-20s and a cooling Atlantic breeze mean you'll also be able to enjoy boat cruises on the Douro River or spend lazy days on beaches just outside the city. For a little more space and much lower prices, swerve the historic centre for Vila Nova de Gaia, just south of Porto on the opposite bank of the Douro. Seven nights' room-only at Gaia Residence, including flights from London Gatwick, costs £371pp with easyJet, based on a family of four, departing on August 2; you can add breakfast for £59pp for the week. An underseat cabin bag is included and a 15kg suitcase costs an extra £80pp return. A taxi from the airport takes less than half an hour and costs about £28 one way ( The modern apartment building is a 30-minute walk to the 19th-century iron Luis I Bridge, which crosses directly into Porto's Unesco-listed old town, Ribeira. Alternatively, Joao de Deus metro station is a ten-minute walk away, where you can jump on the yellow Line D to Trindade station, five minutes' stroll from Ribeira, for about £2. You'll stay in a roomy one-bedroom apartment with wooden floors, plenty of storage space and a kitchenette for whipping up picnics. A separate living area has a sofa bed for children. There are bikes for rent, a small spa and an indoor pool, but this does cost an extra £17pp per day. A stylish but informal restaurant serves brunch, classic Portuguese dishes like prego no prato (beef with fried egg) and child-approved favourites like burgers and pizza. You're already on the right side of the river for the Gaia Cable Car, which has the best view of higgledy-piggledy Ribeira (adults £6, under-12s £3; or see it from the water while cruising on a rabelos, a traditional wooden boat (£17; From the river, most sights are within walking distance including the Sao Bento train station with its decorative blue and white tiled interior, the 249ft bell tower of Clerigos Tower (£9 adults, under-10s free; and the magical Livraria Lello bookshop, said to have inspired the one-time Porto resident JK Rowling to write the Harry Potter books (£9 entry redeemable against book purchase; • Read our full guide to Porto Snoop round the cobbled back alleys looking for street art, then call by interactive museum World of Discoveries (adults £15, under-12s £10; or the 3D Fun Art Museum (adults £11, under-12s £8; If the sea is calling, the sandy Lavadores and Madalena beaches are about three miles from the hotel and are lined with seafood restaurants to watch the sun go down over the Atlantic with a glass of local port. This article contains affiliate links, which can earn us revenue • Return Gatwick-Porto flights, departing on August 2 • Underseat cabin bag allowance• Seven nights' room-only at Gaia Residence ( Feeling flush? If you're inspired but you've got more cash to splash, you could try: Over the river in Porto itself and 20 minutes' walk from the heart of Ribeira, the newly refurbished four-star Room Select Porto is in Praca da Republica, close to the city's cathedral. Forty-three rooms have a Scandi-chic feel with chestnut oak floors, wooden room dividers and minimalist furniture including a desk. Many have views over the rooftops towards the river. Downstairs, there's a small 24-hour fitness centre and a bar with a terrace, which serves a good buffet breakfast for an extra cost. City tours can be arranged at the front desk and a paid-for shuttle to the city centre is Seven nights' room-only from £781pp, including flights ( • 16 of the best hotels in Porto for 2025 One of Porto's most luxurious hotels, the five-star Pestana Palacio do Freixo is in a baroque 18th-century palace in the riverfront suburb of Freixo and is classified as a national monument. Rooms are in the adjacent former flour mill and contemporary shades of chestnut and gold, complete with mosaic-tiled bathrooms and abstract art. In summer, there's an outdoor infinity pool with a bar and river views, while the spa has an indoor heated pool and Turkish bath. The fine-dining frescoed restaurant Palatium serves upmarket Portuguese dishes made with local ingredients but also has a menu of children's favourites for peaceful Seven nights' B&B from £1,229pp, including flights (
