← Europe Marathon Aveiro·1 night

Porto: One Night on the Douro

Portugal's second city as a single overnight, with a flat riverside evening and a slow second morning before the airport.

Duration1 night
TransitCP train, roughly an hour from Aveiro
DepartsAveiro

After the Europe Marathon Aveiro: Porto

The Route: Aveiro → Porto → Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO) Logistics: CP train from Aveiro to Porto, roughly an hour on the faster services and a little longer on the slower ones. Porto's airport is on the metro network, so the whole trip needs no car. Marathon Month: April Duration: 1 night

Aveiro ──(~1 hr CP train)──> Porto Campanhã / São Bento
                                        │
Porto Airport (OPO) ◄──(~30 mins Metro Line E)──┘

Porto is the obvious extension after the Europe Marathon Aveiro, because it sits on the direct rail line north and doubles as the airport for most runners. One night is enough to see the river, and it is the right length for legs that are still stiff. Porto is built on steep ground, so a single overnight is kinder than a full sightseeing schedule.

April in Porto is changeable. Sunny days are common, but showers and a cool breeze off the river are normal, and the city is busy. Portugal's 25 April public holiday can coincide with race weekend, which fills trains and rooms in Porto, so book seats and your room early.

The train is the easy part. CP runs frequent services between Aveiro and Porto, and the faster Intercidades and Alfa Pendular trains take roughly an hour to Porto Campanhã, and some continue to São Bento in the centre. Slower Urbano trains take longer and need no reservation. Book at cp.pt, and check the timetable for the day, since journey times vary by service.

Night One: Porto

Start on the flat ground. The Ribeira waterfront along the north bank of the Douro is a level, paved quay, with the double-deck iron Dom Luís I bridge overhead. A slow walk along it takes as long as your legs allow, with café terraces and benches every few hundred metres. The old town above it is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the streets between the river and the upper town are steep and cobbled. If you want to go up, use the Funicular dos Guindais, which links the Ribeira to the upper town, instead of the stairs.

São Bento station is worth a look even if you are not catching a train from there. The main hall is lined with blue-and-white azulejo tile panels, and entry to the hall is free. The Palácio da Bolsa, the old stock exchange, offers guided tours of its interior; check current hours and tickets at the website, since they change. Livraria Lello draws long queues, and a ticket is required, so book ahead or skip it if your legs will not stand the wait.

Where to stay: The Infante Sagres, on Praça D. Filipa de Lencastre in the Cedofeita district, is within reach of the centre. For a lower price, choose a hotel in the Baixa, the central district around Avenida dos Aliados and São Bento station, so that most sights sit within a short walk. The streets slope, so ask for a room with a lift.

Where to eat: Porto's signature dish is the francesinha, a sandwich of cured meats and steak under melted cheese and a spiced tomato-and-beer sauce. It is heavy, but it suits the calorie count of a marathon weekend. For something lighter, most restaurants serve grilled fish and the regional dish of tripe with beans.

Getting to Porto Airport

Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO) is on Line E of the Porto Metro, roughly 30 minutes from the centre, and the line runs frequently through the day. Buy an Andante card at a station machine and validate it before boarding. A taxi or ride-hail is a fixed-price alternative if you have heavy luggage. Allow time for the airport queues on the Monday after the marathon, when many runners fly home together.