Porto is perhaps most well-known for Port wine, which is produced and shipped from this region. You can find about sixty wine establishments in the city area, and you can very easily discover tours and tastings. With a population of over two hundred and twenty thousand, Porto is located in the north west part of Portugal and is its second largest city. Porto is known as the financial, economic and cultural heart of the entire northern Portugal region.

The center of town has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as you can find numerous old architectural wonders. The region is best explored by foot, starting with the Cathedral of Porto which was constructed between 1110 and completed in the following century. It is regarded to be one of one of the most important Romanesque monuments in Portugal. An additional Romanesque structure of note is the small Church of Cedofeita, built between the 12th and 13th centuries. The neoclassical 19th-century Stock Exchange Palace is also a marvelous structure where you can get a guided tour. Right next door sits the Church of St. Francis, which was built originally in 1383 and added to until its completion in 1425. It’s considered the finest Gothic structure in Porto.

Porto features a tangle of charming winding lanes that work steeply down to the waterfront. Along the way, many from the oldest buildings in the city are crumbling and are actually at risk of collapsing. Down by the waterfront there is a markedly medieval look and feel, and also the riverside has an old globe enchantment with archways, alleyways and lively atmosphere.

There are several culinary specialties in Porto, most notably Tripes Porto Style, otherwise known as tripe soup, and the Francesinha, the most well-known popular snack food which is really a special sandwich with several various meats and cheese and a beer sauce.  You simply must try it if you are a meat lover! And by all means have some Port wine.

The downside is that the next direct returning Ryanair flight from Porto to Dublin is not until Saturday 18th. An option to consider then for Irish fans may be to grab a return flight from Liverpool (that is if you don’t have time to spend a few extra relaxing days in Porto)

Ryanair announced on March 26th that they will be operating special one off flights from Liverpool to Porto on the day of the game. The flight will depart Liverpool at 7am and return the following day at 1.45pm. Flights to Porto Airport from Liverpool Airport normally depart on Thursdays and Sundays.

Seats cost £199. There are one hundred and eighty nine seats available. Daniel de Carvalho of Ryanair spoke of his delight in securing the flights and wished Manchester Utd all the best in the competition.

If you plan on staying in Portugal for a few days then you may wish to consider a Porto Airport car hire. Hiring a car in Porto gives you an opportunity to explore some of the surrounding regions of the city.

Ryanair also offer flights from Porto to Birmingham, Bristol, Stansted, Brussels, Milan, Frankfurt. Marseille, Pisa. Girona and Madrid.  It may be worthwhile to try a few combinations as you may be able to save some money.

Porto Airport is officially called Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport. It was named as an honour to the Portuguese prime minister who died tragically in a plane accident in 1980. Due to the circumstance of his death there was some concern over naming an airport after him however it was eventually decided on.

The airport is an eleven kilometre drive in your Porto rental car from the city of Porto. It caters for the third largest number of passengers in Portugal behind Faro and Lisbon. The airport has been extended in recent years due to increasing numbers.

The picturesque town of Guimarães is certainly worth a look and though it’s quite a distance away, Coimbra offers a fascinating glimpse Portugal’s medieval era. Braganca makes for an excellent family trip with its wonderful castle and grounds.

Porto is the 2nd largest city in Portugal and is located in the north of the country. It’s popularity has grown steadily over the years with an influx of visitors from many countries including Ireland. Getting to Porto from Ireland is relatively cheap. Ryanair offer flights from Dublin Airport to Porto.

Porto is of course world famous for being the home place of Port wine. There are plenty of places to go and sample port wine. Guided tours are available where once you finish you will have an opportunity to purchase port of your choice.

Porto is a small city which is a lot of fun to discover bit by bit. The Torre dos Clérigos tower offers a bird’s eye view of the city and is well worth each of the 240 steps you need to climb to get there.  The Sé Cathedral and Palácio da Bolsa are also worth a stop off.  The Parque da Cidade makes for a nice place to sit and relax for a bit. (you may need it after climbing some of the steep streets of Porto)

There are plenty of local specialties to sample in the restaurants of Porto. Meat lovers will certainly want to try the Francesinha which is made with bread, wet-cured ham, linguiça, sausage, steak and smothered with cheese and a piping rich tomato and beer sauce. Believe me you certainly wont be hungry after this. Tripas á moda do Porto or tripe is also worth trying at least once. You will of course be able to find all your usual favorites in Porto restaurants if you are not the adventurous type when it comes to food. Good value for money is available in most restaurants.

There is no shortage of festivals in Porto throughout the year. The São João Festival is certainly the main event with barbeques, live outdoor music and fireworks. Porto football stadium tours are offered at a reasonable price and will be of great interest to Irish football fans.