About Porto
Porto is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the most beautiful in Europe. It dates back to the IV century and the historic center of Porto is listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site 755 since 1996, in recognition for being “an outstanding urban landscape with a 2,000- year history (…) linked to the sea (the Romans gave it the name Portus, or port)” in Europe. The city gives its name to the worldwide renowned Port Wine. The city has been voted European Best Destination several times (2012, 2014, and 2017) and frequently appears in lists of best places to visit in Europe (in 2021, Best City Break). National Geographic Traveller UK nominated Porto Best of the world cultural experience 2021.
The city of Porto, built along the hillsides overlooking the mouth of the Douro River, forms a millennial urban landscape where the diversity of civil and religious architecture bears testimony to a Historic Centre dating back to Roman, Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical times.
Emblematic Porto's eye-catching are the beautiful ceramic tiles, known as azulejos, that cover many buildings all over the city.
Useful tourist information about Porto and public services available at
Travel to Porto
Porto International Airport, Francisco Sá Carneiro (OPO), is located at 15km of Porto city center. It is a modern award winning airport that offers convenient flight connections with most European capitals and cities. There are also direct flights to other major cities, such as New York, Toronto, and Rio de Janeiro. Several low-cost companies fly to Porto, such as Ryanair, Easy-Jet, Air Transat, and Sunswing. In 2016, it was considered best European airport in its category (5-15million/year) by ASQ (Airport Service Quality).
Additional connections via Lisbon are facilitated by an air bridge between the cities or even train connection between Lisbon and Porto (2h35 trip).
The airport is connected to the city center by taxi, metro or bus.
By metro you should pick line E (violet). To reach the conference venue area leave at "Casa da Música" (23 minutes). The station is around 20 minutes walking from the conference venue. To go to the city center get out at Trindade Station ("Estação da Trindade"). The metro runs from 6:00 am to 01:00 am and you must buy a Z4 ticket for the run from the airport to the centre. For moving within the city, Z2 tickets are required. Buying a ticket the first time you also get a ANDANTE AZUL card; keep it for the way back or other trips that you wish to do in Porto.
The 601, 602 and 604 STCP bus lines connect the Airport to Porto city centre (ANDANTE cards can also be used).
There are comfortable trains services ("Alpha" and "Intercidades") from Lisbon. There are also some connections with Spain cities such as Vigo, Madrid and San Sebastian.The train station is "Estação de Campanhã", where you can take the metro to the city centre. For information about timetables and prices visit the Train site.
Besides national roads (EN, IC, IP), the city has access to various highways, subject to toll:
- from Lisbon (and south): A1;
- from Galicia (or north): A3 Valença (Minho); A4 Amarante, linking A24 (Chaves-Spain) or linking to Bragança-Spain.
Founded in 1911, the University of Porto (U.Porto) is a benchmark institution for Higher Education and Scientific Research in Portugal and one of the top 200 European Universities according to the most relevant international ranking systems.
How to get to FCUP
History
Rua do Campo Alegre, 1021
Building FC6 - Computer Science (DCC/FCUP) -FC6 029
