By Durant Imboden
ABOVE: The Regatta (left) is joined by
the Costa Romantica in the port of Leixoes. Cunard's Caronia was
also in port during our visit.
Port of Oporto (Leixões)
Continued
from: Bordeaux
shore excursions
Contrary to popular assumption, cruise ships that visit Oporto
don't sail up the River Douro. They moor several miles north of the river mouth
in the commercial port of Leixões,
which is pronounced something like "Leh-shoys" (try for a nasal intonation).
Porto is easy to reach from the port: Simply walk across a short
drawbridge into the business district of Matosinhos, where you'll immediately see
the Sr. de Matosinhos Metro station. Buy a roundtrip ticket, hold it up to the
circular sensor on the ticket reader, and board the next train for the 30-minute
trip into Oporto.
Another transportation option, if
your cruise line doesn't provide a shuttle, is public bus 76. Catch the bus at
the shelter just outside the port entrance; the fare was €
1 during my visit.
Finally, a taxi between the port
and central Porto shouldn't cost much more than €
10. If you can't find a taxi on
the pier, walk across the bridge to Matosinhos and look for a cab or--better
yet--ride the Metro.
For more
information on the port and transportation, see:
Manorhouses.com: Leixões
Metro do Porto
Next page:
Oporto shore excursions
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