Porto is a vibrant city, rich in history, boasting a wealth of tourist attractions, and a scintillating nightlife. It is rapidly becoming one of Western Europe’s most visited tourist destinations. Porto is the second-largest Portuguese city and a prime infrastructural hub, easily reached by different means of transport from the rest of the nation as well as from Europe. However, despite remaining relevant to today’s world, Porto retains an integral link with its ancient past.
The Ribeira
With its narrow cobbled streets and fascinating buildings, da Ribeira was not declared a World Heritage Site without good reason. It is the oldest district of the city, drawing the visitor into an era long past. Clusters of colourful buildings line the Duoro River and the Ribeira square draws locals and tourists alike to its cafes and restaurants on the quayside. Built on the river mouth and with the salty smell of the sea in the air, the Ribeira is also a busy commercial area where fishmongers, grocers, bakeries and butcheries are interspersed with cobblers, bookshops and art studios.
Douro River
A boat tour is the best way to explore the scenic Douro River and there is a radically different way of viewing one of the river’s magnificent bridges – a real break-away from traditional sightseeing. Porto allows you the opportunity to climb the arches of the Arrábida Bridge. Participants are fitted with a harness and secure lifeline and attached by cable to the handrail. A guide leads you, via a narrow pedestrian stairway, up the ascent of the graceful arch of the bridge. At the peak, sixty-five meters above the Douro River you will be rewarded by panoramic views of the city and the river mouth.
Wine Tours and Wine Tasting
Further inland, the banks are lined with the cellars that produce and store Porto’s famous port wine. Wine tasting tours are immensely popular and a great draw to the tourist industry. Take a boat cruise up the Douro River where you will be offered wine-tasting opportunities and a typical Portuguese lunch. There are also half-day or full-day, scenic Douro Valley tours through the vineyards where you can visit the farms and cellars of the region. A visit to a traditional wine cellar will tell you more about the history, the harvesting and production of local wines and, no less important, you will discover how to identify the difference between Port families and learn to taste them like a professional!
Climate
Northern Portugal tends to be cooler and wetter than the southern region but Porto’s tourist season begins in May and continues until the end of October. To enjoy Porto’s unspoilt beaches, the peak season from June to the end of August, is generally hot and dry and most suitable for spending time on the beaches.
Porto for a Visit
You need at least a week to take in all the sites, smells, and sounds of this amazing city. On offer for the holiday-maker is a cross section of places to visit ranging from the colourful and the quaint, to the gold-plated splendour of the Baroque Church of São Francisco and the splendid pre-Romanesque Porto Cathedral. There are food and wine experiences to be had, great beaches and even a number of surfing spots. All in all, Porto is a city that may hook you in for a longer stay.
Real Estate Investment in Portugal
In 2012, Portugal streamlined the Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) Tax Regime with the intent of attracting non-resident citizens. To anyone wishing to set up residence in Portugal, this offers significant tax benefits.
All that is required to apply for the Non-Habitual Residence Tax Regime is that the applicant file a request stating that he or she had not resided in Portugal during the past 5 years. During the related year they must remain in Portugal for more than 183 consecutive or interpolated days or have housing that they intend to use as their habitual residence by December 31st of that year.
To Quote:
- Exemption from taxation in Portugal, of foreign income, originated from dependent labour or pension income;
- Taxation at 20% flat rate of proceeds from Portuguese origin, that result from added value activities.
Benefits under the Non-Habitual Tax Resident Regime are granted for a period of 10 years.