Porto is Portugal's second city and is the capital of the Norte NUTS II region. It is the largest city in the region and is also the capital and economic and cultural center. A 2008 estimate reports that the city has an estimated population of 240,000 people. There are 15 parishes in the city of Porto. The historic center of the city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

The city is considered to be one of the most important and heavily urbanized cities in northwestern Portugal. Many of the largest cities in Portugal have made Porto their home. Some of these companies include Altri, Bial, CIN, BPI, Frulact, and Millenium bcp. The city also becomes an effective center for Publishing because one of the biggest publishers in Portugal, Porto Editora, has its headquarters in Porto.

Football is one of the most important sports in Porto. The city is home to teams that have reached high honors in professional football leagues. These teams include FC Porto and Boavista FC. The home for the FC Porto team is the massive Estadio do Dragao (Dragon's Stadium). Other sports teams that are Prominent in Porto include the North Portugal's cricket club the Oporto Cricket and Lawn Tennis Club. Porto's streets also played host to the 1958 and the 1960 Formula One Portuguese Grand Prix.

Port wine, one of Portugal's most famous products is named after the city because it is produced and exported from there, more precisely the Vila Nova de Gaia.