Porto is a wonderful city in northern Portugal that is easily accessible by private jet thanks to an airport hub that serves the city and operates several routes connecting it to the most important cities on the European scene.
Basically, Porto is a feast for the eyes capable of captivating the tourist from the very first moment thanks to its ups and downs, its historic center permeated with amagical and traditional atmosphere, as well as the Ribeira district, a famous area of the city from which to admire a breathtaking view of the entire city center and the Dom Luis I Bridge, one of the city's iconic constructions built by a collaborator of Gustave Eiffel.
Getting lost in Porto's alleys going up and down its steep ascents and descents is certainly an experience to be had at least once in a lifetime to admire the city's everyday life and central neighborhoods in which time really seems to stand still.
Undoubtedly, choosing to charter a private jet to Porto is a travel solution that allows you to organize your trip in detail by determining when to leave or how to get to the city center once you land, while enjoying exclusive services designed to ensure that the passenger on the private flight has zero waiting time during security checks or check-in operations.
Let's explore in depth all the benefits of going through this travel option as well as Porto's main attractions in the next paragraphs!
Historical and geographical background on Porto
Porto's exact location is northwest Portugal, in the heart of the district of the same name of which it is the capital and on the banks of the Duero River, a waterway that flows into the Atlantic Ocean not far from the urban center. The Portuguese city agglomeration is surrounded by hills and plains literally dotted with vineyards from which the famous Vinho do Porto, one of the world's most renowned Portuguese wines, is made. In ancient times, Porto was a tiny Celtic village located at the mouth of the Douro River before the Romans took possession of it and turned it into a fairly important junction on the route that joined the cities of Lisbon and Braga. Years later, Porto was occupied first by the Visigoths and then by the Arabs, who ruled it until Alfonso I of Asturias recaptured it. In later centuries it was Alfonso Enriquez who drove out the Muslims who had settled in the city and actually started the battles that would eventually lead to the independence of Porto and Portugal from the Kingdom of Castile. In the midst of the Middle Ages, Henry the Navigator, a historic Portuguese explorer who, thanks to his territorial discoveries, brought great prestige to the city by making it a thriving center of commerce at the European level, was born in Porto; in fact, it was during these years that Porto greatly developed its maritime and commercial activity by placing itself as the de facto head of the Portuguese shipbuilding industry. A very long tradition of civil rights struggle gave Porto the name of a progressive city to which 19th-century poets and sculptors went to try to express their ideals freely. European Capital of Culture in 2001, Porto continues to this day to be a major urban center for Portugal's economy, as well as a sought-after destination for VIP tourists.
What to do and see in Porto
La Ribeira
Porto's beating heart is definitely the Ribeira district, an area that stretches along the Douro River that flows through the city. It is a small town within a town consisting of an intricate network of uphill streets overlooked by low, colorful houses, small squares, bars, restaurants and craft stores. In the river channels that run through the district, you can still see barcos rabelos, characteristic boats that transport the famous wine from the cellars to the warehouses. Among the luxury boutiques present is worth mentioning The Feeting Room Porto, a historic high-class store arranged over no less than 2 floors also equipped with an exclusive café where wealthy tourists can find a selection of clothing, accessories and jewelry belonging to the world's best-known brands, all in an extremely refined setting.
Porto Cathedral
Porto Cathedral, the city's historic religious building, stands in the beating heart of the historic center and is one of the open-air testimonies to the Romanesque architectural style in all of Portugal. Dominating the facade is the large central rose window and twin towers arranged on each side of the entrance, while inside, the 3 naves decorated with Baroque chapels stand out, as well as the Gothic-style cloister and the Terreiro da Sè, a space in front of the Cathedral from which to enjoy a fantastic view of the Ribeira district and the Douro River. Most of the VIP tourists who come near the Cathedral to admire it up close come from one of Portugal's most glamorous events, namely the World Rally Championship, an occasion that attracts a large number of VIPs to the 3-day event. There are many services that elite people can access, ranging from Rally Pass End to access VIP areas to van transfers and overnight stays in the city's most luxurious hotels.
The Douro River
An excellent alternative for visiting Porto's major attractions is by taking advantage of the Douro River, which runs through it in its entirety. Therefore, tourists traveling by private jet have the option of river cruises and exclusive boat tours by renting private boats where they can have lunch or dinner on board with traditional Portuguese cuisine dishes, accompanying them of course with port wine that makes the flavors of local delicacies even more unique.
Porto's luxury hotels
There is no shortage of luxurious stay options in the Portuguese city, one of them being the Hotel Carris Porto Ribeira, a five-star hotel that offers modern suites despite being located within a renovated historic building. Facilities include a spa, a gymnasium, a very large and spacious Lounge, as well as an indoor swimming pool and a rooftop terrace overlooking the historic city center. Also worth mentioning is the Pestana Vintage Porto Hotel & World Heritage Site, a luxury hotel ideal for those who like more vintage and rustic environments however equipped with all possible comforts; among its peculiarities is the spectacular view of the city that it offers from the rooms, accessible thanks to the pretty little balconies present.
Climate and best time to visit Porto
Porto's prevailing climate is Mediterranean, with fairly hot summers and very wet but still mild winters. Average seasonal temperatures at springtime settle around 22°C, with mostly sunny days but high humidity. In summer, however, the weather becomes almost scorching because of the frequency of extremely humid and hot days, with temperatures that can often exceed 35°C. The city's beaches get crowded and the livelier areas of the old town get packed with tourists, making summer the busiest season of the year. In autumn, temperatures cool down but still remain affected by humidity: it begins to be complemented by wind determined by proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. In any case, the weather remains quite pleasant with cooler days and increased rainfall. Humidity rises again during the winter season, especially in December and January, during which the cold weather can be particularly uncomfortable because it can penetrate even despite rather heavy clothing. Winds become more intense, with temperatures that can drop as low as 5°C on the coldest days. The best time to charter a private jet to Porto is definitely late spring or early fall, segments of the year characterized by mild temperatures, pleasant weather, and a rather mellow tourist influx that facilitates visiting the city's most important attractions.
How and why to fly a private jet in Porto
Porto Francisco Sà Carneiro Airport (ICAO code LPPR) is the city's main airport; modernized only during the 1980s, it quickly became one of the most important hubs in all of Portugal due to the number of international passengers that pass through it each year. Undoubtedly, chartering a private jet is a great way to cut your arrival time in half and gain access to a range of personalized and exclusive services.In fact, it is no coincidence that Porto Airport uses a dedicated general aviation terminal to accommodate private tourists in the most appropriate way possible. Among the extra services they can enjoy are Fast Tracks, reserved lanes at security checkpoints and check-in operations that allow them to skip the queues, a very large VIP Lounge within which rise several bar areas, workstations with computers available and connected to the WiFi network, charging stations and refreshment points of all kinds, as well as private luggage lockers where they can deposit their suitcases of any size. The airport is about 11 km from the city center: VIP tourists can travel that distance by choosing from a variety of options, including rental car services with or without a driver, cabs, and private NCC transfers that will welcome travelers as soon as they land to take them anywhere in the city.
How much does it cost to fly on a private jet to Porto
Porto is well connected to multiple European destinations that are very important in terms of tourism: one of them is Palma de Mallorca, a destination about 980 km away that can be traveled in about 2 hours by flight. In this regard, it is possible to rent a Light Jet at a cost of about 10,000 as well as a Medium Jet incurring an expense of about 18,000 or a Large Jet priced at about 26,000. About 2 hours and 25 minutes' flight from Porto is London Biggin Hall Airport, from which to hire a Light Jet to reach the Portuguese city at a cost of about €12,000, a figure that rises to about €22,000 for a Medium Jet and about €30,000 if you opt for a Large Jet. Among the ordinary routes that make it possible to get to Porto fairly quickly is the one that connects it with Madrid, the Spanish capital just 1 hour and 15 minutes away by flight. The rental cost of a Light Jet is around €7,000, while the price of a Medium Jet and Large Jet rises to around €14,000 and €18,000, respectively.
The most suitable jet for flying privately in Porto
One of the most high-performance light jets is the Cessna Citation Jet, an aircraft that consists of 5 seats capable of reaching a top speed of about 700 km/h with a range of distance of about 2000 km that can be covered on a single fuel tank. The cabin is designed to make each and every passenger comfortable, just like that of the Cessna Citation VI, Medium Jet that sees the increase to 8 seats; its top speed reaches 750 km/h, while the range is extended reaching about 3500 km so that it can be used to cover longer routes. An honorable mention goes to the Bombardier Challenger 605, an ultra-long range Large Jet since it can cover more than 6,000 km on a single tank of fuel; its top speed breaks through the 800 km/h wall, allowing its 10 passengers to arrive at their chosen destination very quickly and, above all, with the maximum possible comfort thanks to the spacious cabin equipped with sofas, reclining seats, small tables, ample legroom and an incredibly roomy luggage compartment.
The most frequent flights to and from Porto
Below of the most frequent links to Porto:
