This incredible and unique ‘theme park’ is dedicated to all things wine related – plus so much more – and is located in one of the most beautiful and inexpensive cities in Europe.
One of the cheapest cities in Europe to drink wine has its own ‘theme park’ for the popular tipple.
The World of Wine is located in Porto, a historical city in Portugal which is home to two of the greatest wine regions in the world, Douro (the birthplace of Port wine) and Vinho Verde. Dedicated to offering guests a unique, wine-centred experience, World of Wine allows visitors to learn all about the drink while, of course, tasting samples of it as they go. It’s a huge complex in the wine quarter of the city and is home to seven museums, 12 restaurants, bars and cafes, shops, a grand exhibition hall, event spaces and even a wine school.
Aptly named the Wine Experience, this one of the seven themed museums on the huge 55,000 sqm complex claims it’ll “take you on an extraordinary journey from grape to bottle.” It does just that by walking visitors through the entire process of making wine, including what conditions are needed to grow the perfect grape, the harvesting and ageing process, cooperage and bottling. With interactive exhibitions, including a giant grape, an art gallery and sensory experiences where you can smell and – of course – taste the wine.
One of the more recent additions to the World of Wine is the Pink Palace museum which is dedicated to rosé wine, which claims to be an “eccentric experience” that promises to bust the myths surrounding this particular type of wine. It boasts more immersive experiences including a big pink, adult-size ball pit, a Cadillac and many more Instragramable exhibits and rooms. Of course, wine tasting – of five different types to be exact – is all part of the experience. Plus, juice is available for kids and non-drinkers.
The Art of Drinking exhibit at the Bridge Collection offers visitors the chance to explore the history of a time many of us enjoy to this day. With a display of over 2,000 artefacts, some dating back more than 9,000 years to pre-historic times, including terracotta vases and more recent glass wear, this unique place claims: “Each object in the collection tells a unique story about our ancestors’ rituals, traditions and ways of life,” in a history of man through alcohol.
But here are also attractions for those less keen on the grape such as The Chocolate Story all about the history of the delectable treat with a working chocolate factory on site, Planet Cork which delves into everything about the wine stopper material, the Atkinson Museum, a 300-year-old manor house hosting a world-class array of art and the Porto Region Museum , which looks back over the rich history of the area. Tickets start at around €25 per adult. Family packages, deals and concessions are available.
The World of Wine has gained many accolades since it opened in 2020, with Decanter wine magazine saying: “More than a museum, Portugal’s World of Wine takes wine tourism to the next level,” and The Week declaring: “World of Wine is a must visit for those with even a passing interest in plonk.” Time Out described it as “basically a big theme park for those who like a tipple (or three)”, saying its likely to become “a major draw for vinho experts and novices alike”.
On top of this huge selection of exciting attractions, there are countless bars and restaurants to visit. Plus, Porto is known for being one of the cheapest cities in Europe. According to Introducing Porto: “Generally, prices in Porto are quite inexpensive, especially eating out and entry fees to museums and attractions. Keep in mind that in Porto, churches are free to visit and most sights are quite accessible.”