Philipp Pointl

Porto more than Portwine?

Doing a semester abroad can be many things. It depends on several factors like the location, the people you meet, and your mindset going into the trip. After carefully choosing my destination, I found myself in Porto, Portugal, and yes, it was an absolute blast.

What made the experience so great? The weather?

No, it wasn’t the weather. To be honest, we had quite a few rainy weeks at the start.

Nevertheless, Porto has its own charm. With its small cafes, pubs, and restaurants, and the bridge over the Douro River, built by Gustave Eiffel himself, the city is truly captivating. From the bridge, you have an amazing view over the city! Porto is also impressively clean and the people are some of the nicest I’ve ever met. Most speak English well, and even if they don’t, they always try to help you find what you’re looking for.

How did you meet new people?

Porto has a very strong ESN (Erasmus Student Network) community, which organizes great events to meet new people and enhance your experience. I joined their trip to Lisbon, and it was amazing! We saw a lot of sights, and during the evenings, we went out for beers. It was a great way to bond with the other students.

Did you like the university?

As for the University of Porto, I found the professors to be very approachable and eager for students to engage in lectures, making it easier to process information immediately and learn on the spot. The professors also linked lectures with practical group work, which we presented at the end of the semester. Overall, it was a great mix of theoretical learning and practical application.

Where did you stay during your time there?

Finding housing in Porto can be tough, as many investors are buying properties for Airbnb, which drives rents up. As a foreigner, you’re usually charged the full price. Luckily, I went with two friends from university, so we split the cost of a nice Airbnb. It wasn’t cheap, but it had everything we needed for our five-month stay.

How was the food?

The food in Porto is great! Prices are lower than in Austria, and they have some fantastic specialties, like “pastel de nata”, which I enjoyed regularly with one or two amazing espressos for just 80 cents. Their more traditional dishes, like “francesinha” (a meat-heavy sandwich), might not be for everyone, but I quite liked it. I’m not a fan of “bacalhau” (their favorite codfish), though. While in Porto, you must visit the wineries in the Douro Valley and the wine cellars for some wine tasting. Port wine is quite sweet and strong, so be careful how much you taste! As an Austrian, I’m more of a beer lover, but learning about the different flavors and the intricate process of making wine made these tours some of the best sightseeing experiences I’ve ever had.

Did you go to the beach?

Of course, we did! But not before early May, as the sea is quite cold and it is very windy before that. Once the sun comes out, though, it gets really warm. We went surfing, played volleyball and football, and even went for long beach runs. If you’re not into sports, you can relax near the large rocks, where it’s less windy, and sunbathe until you’re golden.

To sum it up:

Porto has it all! And if that’s not enough, there are cheap flights to the Azores, Madeira, Marrakech, or Spain. If you have the chance to do a semester abroad, I highly recommend doing it in Porto!