Air Canada Begins Direct Flights to Beautiful Porto on June 8

Portugal is popping up on many a list of the hottest spots to visit in Europe. Luckily for Canadians and Canada-based travel agents, Air Canada is making it even easier to get there.

Beginning June 8, Air Canada Rouge will fly non-stop to the beautiful Portuguese city of Porto, with seasonal service going through Oct. 27, 2018.

I’m a huge fan of Portugal, which uses the Euro for its currency but is one of the least expensive countries to visit in Western Europe. There’s also immense variety, with cities such as Porto and Lisbon, lovely vineyards up and down the country and kilometre after kilometre of beautiful seacoast, including the popular Algarve district in the south end of the country.

I had a great trip two years ago to the town of Burgau in the western Algarve, a village of narrow, winding streets plunked on a hill that runs down to the sea. There’s excellent food to be had for very reasonable prices and a great beach, as well as wonderful hiking along towering sea cliffs.

Porto is a striking city on the Douro River, just a few kilometres from the Atlantic Ocean and just over 300 km’s north of Lisbon.

The Romans built a fort here centuries ago, and visitors have been arriving in big numbers ever since.

The Ribiera, or riverside quarter, is one of those quintessentially European neighbourhoods that Canadians love to explore, with winding, narrow streets, laundry hanging out of windows and markets selling all sorts of interesting products.

Higher on the hill, the Cathedral District includes the church of Santa Clara, which has a modest exterior but a stunning interior laced with gilded woodwork, a turn-of-the-century railway station and other charming buildings. The Terreiro da Se terrace offers magnificent views of the city and the Douro River below.

Porto, of course, is famous for its port wine. The centre of production remains the Vila Nova de Gaia, located on the south side of the Douro across from the city.

Porto also makes a great launching point for visits to charming villages, wild national parks and other attractions. Nossa Senhora dos Remedios features a wonderful hilltop church built in 1761, with a series of remarkable double stairs leading to the top. It’s a great Instagram spot.

Porto also is a jumping off point for great boat rides and cruises along the Douro River.

Port Country winery tours also can be arranged so visitors can get a first-hand look at how locals make this famous product.

If you’re a fan of Baroque architecture, something you might not associate with Portugal, you’d be wise to check out the magnificent, privately-owned Casa de Mateus, almost exactly 100 km’s east of Porto. Visitors can tour the gardens and part of the home. But, no, it’s not connected to the Mateus wine you probably know about.

Another spot worth visiting is Braganca, a hilltop citadel with walls that date back to 1187 AD and tons of atmosphere.

It’s best to avoid renting a car in Porto, which is easy to navigate on foot or by taxi. There’s good train service to major towns but visitors might want a car to explore the hilly inland portion of northern Portugal.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Air Canada Rouge begins non-stop flights from Toronto to Porto on June 8, with seasonal service running through Oct. 27, 2018.