Porto, a destination for business, leisure and incentive travel!
Having traveled to Lisbon and the Algarve many times before, Porto was a city that I, Anne-Marie Koopmans - Manager of Operations at Uniglobe Alliance Travel in Arnhem - had never visited. In the summer of 2019, even before all the Covid-19 perils; I traveled to the north of Portugal to get to know this city better.
Porto is Portugal's second largest city after Lisbon. It is traditionally a port city, located at the mouth of the Douro River. In 2001, Porto was cultural capital of Europe, along with Rotterdam. Porto had been a settlement since Roman times; then called "Cale," the contraction "Portus" (= port) + "Cale" being the origin of Portugal. The famous port wine is named after Porto because the area around Porto, especially the cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia, were responsible for packaging, transporting and exporting this wine.
Speed and convenience at Valet parking P6 Schiphol
At Schiphol Airport, I can definitely recommend P6's Valet Parking. You drive to Schiphol's P6 garage, park your car and hand in your keys at the desk. You can walk straight to the departure hall; P6 is located under the Sheraton Hotel. Your car will be parked by one of the employees and will be ready for you at the parking lot upon your return. This service is between Terminal Valet Parking and Long Parking in terms of cost. As far as I am concerned, a cheaper alternative to Terminal Valet Parking, but without the disadvantages of Long Parking. Where you have a bus transfer and have to look for a parking spot in a huge parking lot. I then flew to Porto by KLM CityHopper, but TAP Air Portugal, Transavia and RyanAir also fly to Porto from the Netherlands.
Unique stay and enjoyment in Porto
After arriving at the Porto airport (Fransisco de Sa Carneiro), you can be in the city center by cab in about 20 minutes. During my stay in Porto, I stayed at The Yeatman Hotel. A beautiful 5-star hotel located in Villa Nova de Gaia: the district south of the Douro River where, among other things, the port houses can be found. Because the hotel is located on a hill and built in terraced form, all rooms have a (large) private terrace, with great views of the old town and the famous bridge 'Ponte Luis I'. The hotel has a restaurant with two Michelin stars and is affiliated with hotel group Relais & Chateaux. Not for nothing has this hotel won many awards, including this year's Best Hotel by Condé Nast Traveller. A fine place to recover in the pool or SPA after a busy day, but also very suitable to receive business contacts for lunch, dinner or drinks. There are also several meeting rooms available for small and large groups with a capacity of up to 250 people.
Entertaining and tasting around Porto
All famous port houses such as Taylor's, Sandeman, Ferreira, Graham's, among others, are located in the Vila Nova de Gaia district. Should you have time to spare besides your business appointments, a visit to one of these porthouses is definitely worthwhile. It is possible to take an audio tour that explains the production of port wine and the history of the specific housefrom A to Z. Afterwards, most of the porthouses also allow you to taste some port. I took a look at "Taylor's", and they have a beautiful courtyard where it is good to relax and taste after the tour!
Other essential sights in Porto
- Centro Histórico do Porto. Also called "the historic center" of Porto, is a must visit. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, the old center, with its charming colorful houses, is an atmospheric part of Porto. In addition, enjoy the great views and terraces along the Douro River.
- São Bento Station station hall. Besides being Porto's main train station, the station is one of the most beautiful in the world! In fact, in the station hall, all the walls are covered with the famous Portuguese tiles, azulejos. This depicts the history of northern Portugal and features well-known northern Portuguese scenes and wars.
- Cada da Músicais. Porto's concert hall. The building was built in response to the title "European Capital of Culture" that the city shared with Rotterdam in 2001. The building was not ready for use until 2005 and was designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas.
- Jardins do Palacio de Cristal. These verdant gardens offer beautiful vistas to the Douro River and shade on hot summer days. The gardens were originally laid out near the Crystal Palace. However, this palace has been replaced by Pavilhão Rosa Mota, which hosts concerts and events.
Tips for doing business in Portugal
In Portugal, business is comparatively slower than elsewhere in Europe. People are conservative and this is reflected in the business culture. Lunch is an important moment in Portugal; your business partner will gladly accept an invitation for lunch. During lunch you can discuss everything, and your Portuguese business partner will take ample time for you during lunch, but will not immediately decide what will happen. Patience is a virtue...
In addition, it is extremely important for Portuguese people to build rapport before actually working together. Business relationships are essential. Is there no click? Then the deal is off. Portuguese do business based on trust. Get to know each other and take the time to do so.
Restaurant tips
Finally, I would like to give you 2 tips to enjoy lunch or dinner in Porto - possibly together with your business associate(s).
Number 1: Restaurant DOP
Without a doubt one of the best restaurants in Porto! Located in a historic building in Porto's old town, the menu features Portuguese dishes adapted to modern tastes and also presented in a special way. The in-house wine cellar contains a wide selection of fine wines. Chef Rui Paula (born in Porto) offers his guests a real culinary experience! Open for lunch and dinner: price for a 3-course menu, including wine, from about EUR 75 p.p.
Number 2: Restaurant The George
This restaurant is located on the quayside of the Douro River within walking distance of Hotel The Yeatman. There are traditional Portuguese dishes with a modern twist on the menu. Especially during sunset, the view of the river, with the boats and the old city in the background from this restraurant is stunning! Open for lunch and dinner: price for a 3-course menu, including wine, from about EUR 40 p.p.
Want to plan a business trip to Porto soon but don't know what measures are currently in place for a trip to Portugal? In our measures blog we have listed for your convenience the most important websites with information about the measures within various countries and airlines. Also curious about the many possibilities at this destination for your future incentive trip? Then feel free to contact with me or one of my colleagues at!
Travel Well!
Anne-Marie Koopmans
Manager of Operations Uniglobe Alliance Travel Arnhem
