Location

Known as the ‘Cidade Invicta’ (Undefeated City), Oporto gave Portugal its name.

Located in the north of Portugal, on the right bank of the River Douro, Oporto is the country’s second largest city situated within an urban area of over 1.3 million inhabitants. In demographic terms, the resident population numbers about 240,000 in an area covering 42 km².

The city prides itself on being the birthplace of Infante D. Henrique, o Navegador (Henry the Navigator), whose name is part of UPT – Oporto Global University official designation (Universidade Portucalense Infante D. Henrique), and the house in which he was born has been conserved and converted into what is today the municipal archive (Casa do Infante – Arquivo Histórico Municipal). It is internationally known for its port wine, bridges and its old and contemporary architecture. Its historical centre has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. In 1998, it held the 8th Ibero-American Summit and in 2001 was joint European Capital of Culture with Rotterdam.
The city of Oporto is also a centre of educational and research excellence, standing out for its technological and scientific innovation which attracts students from all across the country and from overseas.

The city provides a great variety of services and resources to suit every taste and pocket, but as far as satisfying basic needs is concerned, the city can be enjoyed on a very reasonable budget.

From the perspective of developing an all-inclusive city, a continuous effort has been made to raise awareness of the human rights of those with disabilities, particularly those with accessibility and mobility issues, both in the public realm and in public and private facilities and buildings, making them accessible, particularly in the case of schools, local administration and transport, notably the Metro and buses.

With regard to telecommunications, national coverage by mobile voice network services (GSM) is nearly 100 per cent in cities and main roads and the three national operators have low-cost options.

Education, health, legal information and protection, and banking services are accessible by all foreign citizens and ensure at least a basic level of cover equivalent to that provided to Portuguese nationals, thereby ensuring effective assistance in any case for anyone who chooses to live in Oporto for a temporary period of up to one year. In these three areas, services intended for foreign citizens are also available and provide specific support.

It is also important to note, in terms of amenities, that the city has a diverse range of cultural and sports facilities, green spaces, public transport network (STCP-buses) and metro system, hospitals and local health units, clinics, pharmacies, etc.

On a final note, and of particular note, the city of Oporto was voted Best European Destination in 2012 and 2014 by the European Consumers Association.

Because Oporto is known for its human dimension – its capacity to welcome, integrate and make anyone feel at home – any foreign citizen can easily find the right route for their specific needs in the city.