Lisbon or Porto for your Destination Wedding?

Here at Porto Weddings, it is a bit difficult for us to give an unbiased opinion, because Porto and Northern Portugal has no greater advocates than us as a destination wedding venue, but here we are going to look at some of the pros and cons of Porto vs Lisbon for those of you trying to work out where will work best for you.

1. Vibe & Atmosphere

Lisbon: The capital city is vibrant, cosmopolitan, and bustling with energy. Lisbon is more metropolitan and diverse, offering a blend of old-world charm and modern sophistication. Lisbon is probably more of a cool destination, but perhaps more frenetic.
Porto: Porto is smaller, quieter and more intimate. It has a charming, historic feel with cobbled streets, a relaxed paceof life, and fabulous views of the river Douro. Porto gives you a more laid-back vibe with a more typically Portuguese feel than the more developed Lisbon.

2. Wedding Venues

Lisbon: There are plenty of fancy venues in Lisbon, including historic palaces, luxurious hotels, chic rooftop terraces, and quintas (country estates). You have to travel further to get out of the metropolis if you are looking for something quieter and there are quite a number of purpose built wedding venues.
Porto: Many of the wedding venues in and around Porto are historic buildings, very often connected to the wine/Port wine trade – there are also a number of options with fantastic riverside locations. Within an hour or so of the city itself you have access to all the Port wine quintas which provide some of the most breathtaking wedding venues in Portugal. Generally you will find a more rustic and classic Portuguese feel.

Lisbon is cool and sophisticated and has a big city feel to it.

3. Scenery & Photography

Lisbon: There are many iconic locations in Lisbon and if you venture out to Sintra you will find some of the most beautiful architecture in Portugal. There are certainly no shortage of fabulous spots for a backdrop to a wedding!
Porto: Porto offers incredible views of the Douro River as well as its historical center, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city feels a bit less polished than Lisbon, but the dramatic countryside that surrounds Porto is perhaps more stunning than that found around Lisbon.

4. Accessibility & Transport

Lisbon: Lisbon is the main transportation hub of Portugal and has excellent international and domestic flight connections. It also has great infrastructure for moving around the city, from taxis to trams to metros. The traffic can be absolutely chaotic at times though!
Porto: Porto is surprisingly well connected for flights, with around 90 destinations flying in direct. As well as an abundance of low-cost flights, there are also direct flights to North America, Brazil and other non-European locations. Because the city itself is smaller, it is easier to navigate by public transport and you also have great access to the Douro Valley by boat or train.

5. Weather

Lisbon: Lisbon is 300 kms (200 miles) south of Porto, so you tend to get a lot more heat in the Summer and much milder Winters. This can make it a great option for out of season weddings, but can be overwhelming in July and August.
Porto: Porto enjoys a Goldilocks climate – not too hot in the Summer and not too cold in the Winter! It means that for at least 6 months of the year, it can provide great options for outdoor elements to weddings, but you can get a fair amount if rain in the Winter.

Porto is full of history and a more manageable size.

6. Food & Drink

Lisbon: You can find more contemporary and international cuisine in Lisbon, although if you are looking for it, more traditional Portuguese options are of course available.
Porto: Porto’s cuisine is perhaps a little less sophisticated than that of Lisbon, but no less delicious! There is a great tradition of fabulous Portuguese food being served at reasonable prices and the city takes enormous pride in being a unique gastronomic hub.

8. Costs

Lisbon: As the capital, Lisbon is more expensive than Porto and you will typically pay at least 20% more for comparable destination wedding. Accommodation in particular is more expensive.
Porto: Porto has been getting more expensive in recent years, although it did start from a very low base – there are a growing number of more expensive 5 star hotels that are now available. Once you leave the city centre you can really save a lot of money on venues and accommodation.

With a bit of luck this will help distill some of the decisions you will have to make in choosing between a Lisbon or Porto destination wedding. To put it in one sentence though: choose Lisbon for a more sophisticated, cosmopolitan destination wedding, but if traditional Portuguese culture and if you want your budget to stretch further, then perhaps Porto will make more sense!