Porto is Portugal's second city and one of the most beautiful in Europe, and in 2030 it will host World Cup matches at the Estádio do Dragão, the home of FC Porto. The city sits on the River Douro, famous for its port wine, its steep streets and its atmosphere, and it offers fans a more intimate World Cup experience than Lisbon: a compact city, a passionate football culture and a stadium that is easy to reach. This is your guide to Porto in 2030.

Estádio do Dragão: the Dragon's lair

The Estádio do Dragão is one of the finest stadiums in Europe, a modern arena built for Euro 2004 that has hosted Champions League finals and some of the great nights of Portuguese football. It sits in the east of the city, reached by metro lines A, B, E and F to Estádio do Dragão station, which drops fans right outside the ground. The stadium's atmosphere is intense, with FC Porto's supporters creating one of the loudest home crowds in Europe.

On matchdays, the area around the stadium fills with blue and white hours before kick-off, and the bars and food stalls outside the ground are the place to be. The stadium tour and museum are worth a visit on non-matchdays, telling the story of a club that has won the European Cup twice. If your team plays in Porto, you are in for a memorable night.

The city: the Douro, the bridges and the wine

Porto's historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site, a maze of steep streets, colourful houses and baroque churches climbing up from the river. The Dom Luís I Bridge connects the city to Vila Nova de Gaia, across the river, where the great port wine lodges offer tastings and tours. A river cruise on a traditional rabelo boat is the best way to see the city from the water.

The city is small enough to explore on foot, but the hills are steep, so wear good shoes and use the metro and buses for the longer climbs. The riverside district of Ribeira is the heart of the city's nightlife, full of restaurants and bars, and the sunset over the Douro is one of the great sights of the tournament. Give yourself two days in Porto beyond matchday if you can.

Food, drink and where to stay

Porto's food is hearty and superb: the francesinha sandwich, grilled sardines, bacalhau and the tripas that gave the city's people their nickname, the tripeiros. The port wine lodges across the river are unmissable, with tastings that explain the difference between ruby, tawny and vintage ports. Dinner is late, the wine is cheap and the portions are generous.

For accommodation, the Ribeira and the historic centre are the most atmospheric, while the areas around the metro stations are the most practical. Porto is smaller than Lisbon, so the whole city is accessible, but prices will rise during the tournament and the best places will sell out early. Book as soon as your team's fixtures are known, and consider staying in Gaia, across the river, where prices are often lower.

Matchday tips for Porto

Porto in June and July is warm and sunny, with river breezes that make the evenings pleasant. The metro is the best way to reach the stadium, and services run late on matchdays, but the station gets very crowded after the final whistle — walking part of the way back to the centre is often quicker and gives you a chance to enjoy the city.

One practical note: Porto's streets are steep and cobbled, so pack light and wear sensible shoes. And as with every host city, buy your tickets only through FIFA.com and ignore anyone offering World Cup tickets on the street. Porto in 2030 will be a World Cup city at its most charming — a stadium full of noise, a river full of light and a city that knows how to celebrate.

Porto in 2030 will be one of the great World Cup experiences: the Estádio do Dragão roaring, the Douro glittering below and a city that lives for football. It is the perfect place to watch the tournament — and to fall in love with Portugal.