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When it comes to green spaces in Porto, the site which tops the list is the Crystal Palace Gardens which derives its name from a former structure made of glass and iron, the Crystal Palace, which was brought down in 1956 and replaced with a domed pavilion, the so-called Pavilhao Rosa Mota (often referred to as Pavilhao dos Desportos, meaning the Sports Pavilion). The pavilion now serves the purpose of entertainment, cultural and sports-related activities. This vast stadium has an imposing domed structure towering roughly 30 metres / 98 feet in height and capable of accommodating more than 4,500 spectators. Apart from an array of sporting attractions each year, the pavilion also hosts concerts, theatrical events, conventions and various exhibitions. The visitors can access this site daily for free.

The park is a treat to the eyes with its breath taking views of the Duoro river. It abounds in exotic and diverse plant and animal species. It also features elegant fountains and allegorical statues. By following the meandering alleys of the park, the tourists can come across themed gardens, such as Jardim dos Sentimentos (Garden of Feelings), Jardim das Plantas Aromaticas (Garden of Aromatic Plants) and Jardim do Roseiral (Garden of Roses). All these splendid sights are the work of Emilio David, the landscape gardener who designed the park.

Although the city of Porto is a busy industrial and commercial center, it has rich cultural heritage too. In fact, its historical center was awarded World Heritage status by UNESCO in 1996. One of the places worth visit in Porto is the museum of Serralves. Serralves Art Foundation was found to raise the general public’s awareness concerning contemporary art and the environment. The building of Serralves is considered to be one of the finest works of the Portuguese architect José Marques da Silva. It is an elegant Art Déco building with magnificent gardens surrounding it, one of which was designed by French architect Jacques Gréber.

The Museu Serralves is the first large-scale contemporary art museum in Portugal. The public access to the museum’s ground is made at the highest level of the terrain through an opening in the existing wall that surrounds the property.

The building is 13,000 square meters in area and includes 4,500 square meters of exhibition space in 14 galleries. The interiors include hardwood floors and painted walls in gesso with marble skirting in the exhibition halls, and marble floors in the foyers and wet spaces. Exterior walls are covered with stone or stucco.

The collection of the museum comprises of direct acquisitions by the museum, works deposited by the State and private collectors and also donations. From the beginning, the collection and the various exhibitions have focused on the period following 1968. There are no permanent exhibitions, but the museum hosts five exhibits from invited artists every year. In recent years, the museum has organized exhibitions by Franz West, Roni Horn, Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, Richard Hamilton, Christopher Wool, and Luc Tuymans.

The citing of the Serralves museum would be incomplete without a mention of the landscaped gardens designed by João Gomes da Silva, on the approximately 18 hectars of land. The Serralves park also exhibits sculptures by Claes Oldenburg, Dan Graham, Fernanda Gomes, Richard Serra, and Veit Stratmann.

In Porto, tourists find that the most prominent tourist attractions, noteworthy landmarks and important monuments are generally just a stone’s throw from each other. Perhaps the best area of Porto is the vibrant riverfront Ribeira where many of Porto’s leading attractions reside, offering a particularly good insight into the city’s history and past. The riverside promenade is well worth looking out for and is actually where the city’s traditional boats (barcos rabelos) once ferried port wine along the River Douro.

Particular attractions in the Ribeira area of Porto include the renovated Caso do Infante, the Gothic church of Igreja de Sao Francisco, and the magnificent Palácio da Bolsa (Stock Exchange). The area is criss crossed with medieval narrow streets and narrower alleyways, with ancient buildings in some stage of decay. Old homes of multiple hues stand guard over the waterfront and the harbor is filled with typical boats, from small to large. In 1996 the Cais de Ribeira area was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The Cais da Ribeira is a romantic spot that springs to life as the sun sets, and numerous bars, pubs and discos in the area start buzzing with activity. Some of these places are pretty small, so it may get crowded. Bear in mind that for the Portuguese, a ‘night out’ only begins around 11 p.m. and often ends when the sun comes up. If you are lucky enough to be there for Saint John’s Day in June, you will be entertained by a must see fireworks display and a huge street party.

The Ribeira square is full of tables, that surround a bronze cube – part of a 20th century fountain by Jose Rodrigues that has pigeons on top. Around the corner on Rua da Alfandega is Casa de Infante or House of the Prince, birthplace of Prince Henry the Navigator which was born in 1934.

Cais da Ribeira Porto area also has a number of cheap and quality hotels to stay as well as various restaurants to quench your appetite.

When it comes to green spots offering respite from the hustle and bustle of city life and offering relaxation with a stroll or recreation through the fun filled amusement activities, the city of Porto has no dearth of parks and gardens. Some of the choicest green attractions of Porto are:

Crystal Palace Gardens
This favourite tourist attraction gets its name from a former structure made of glass and iron, the Crystal Palace, which was brought down in 1956 and replaced with a domed pavilion, the so-called Pavilhao Rosa Mota. Standing next to this landmark, is the Crystal Palace Gardens which provides exotic views of the Duoro River. The park abounds in various plants and animal species and also features elegant fountains and allegorical statues which add to the beauty of the spot. Amongst the many alleys is the so-called Avenida das Tilias, the alley from which the river can be admired. There are themed gardens like Jardim dos Sentimentos (Garden of Feelings), Jardim das Plantas Aromaticas (Garden of Aromatic Plants) and Jardim do Roseiral (Garden of Roses). The park was designed by ace gardener Emilio David.

Porto Botanical Garden
The Porto Botanical Garden, created in 1951, under the patronage of the Portuguese state, features rare and exotic flora and plant species along with highlights like the cacti garden, a greenhouse and a historical garden (the latter comprising a rose garden). There’s also a lake situated within the perimeter of the Botanical Garden, the habitat of a fairly numerous population of water lilies. The Porto Botanical Garden is managed by the Faculty of Sciences which pertains to the University of Porto.

Sao Roque Park
The Sao Roque Park opened to the pubic in 1979 and was laid out on the site of the former Quinta da Lameira (Lameira Manor), once owned by the Calem family. The highlight of the park is its terraced landscape, a soothing lake, a wrought iron fountain and a cave, giving it a feel of a romantic garden. The park also takes pride in its eucalyptus forest, located on an upper terrace of the garden, and the maze of hedges contemplated from above. The park features a varied species of plants including the oak, the eucalyptus and the camellias.

East City Park
East City Park of Porto is one of the largest urban parks in Porto and also the Portugal as it covers a huge area of 10 hectares. Future projects are intended to enlarge. The East City Park is, as some might consider, a counterpart of the West City Park, being just as splendidly landscaped and sheltering a wealth of plant and animal species. The park stands at one end of the Tinto River and is rightly deemed as a green gem of north Portugal.

Porto, the second largest city in Portugal, is located along the Douro river estuary and being one of the oldest European centres, it has been registered as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. Porto is famous for its port wine. This internationally famous export has been named after Porto itself. When planning a trip to Porto and before making your hotel arrangements, it would be wise to get an idea of the climate of Porto so as to decide which would be the best season for your visit.

Porto features the warm-summer Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. Summers are typically sunny with average temperatures between 15 °C (59 °F) and 25 °C (77 °F). If there is an occasional heat wave, the temperatures can rise to as high as 35 °C (95 °F) with low humidity. However, during such an heat wave, there can be forest fires and the haze and ash so caused can make breathing somewhat uncomfortable, especially at night. Rains in summers feature occasional showers and cool temperatures of around 20 °C (68 °F) in the afternoon.

Winter temperatures typically range between 5 °C (41 °F) during morning and 15 °C (59 °F) in the afternoon but rarely drop below 0 °C (32 °F) at night. The weather is often rainy for long stretches although prolonged sunny periods do occur.

Looking at the climate of Porto, it can be said that the place has inviting climatic conditions all the year round, though winters witness more tourists in the city.