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People are always asking for lesser known and underrated places to visit. Porto is 100% that. Everyone knows about Portugal’s capital Lisbon, and that’s a great city to visit too. But to me Porto was just as exciting. In this Porto travel guide, I’ll break down all the things that make Porto great to visit: delicious food, fascinating architecture, picturesque views, and of course wine.
I visited Porto as part of a longer trip through Portugal. So if you’re looking beyond this wonderful city, check out my other Portugal posts here.
Overview of Porto
Porto is a major city in the north of Portugal, the second largest city in the county. It’s famous for producing port wine and for its scenic location on the Duoro River close to the Atlantic.
For a crash course in history, we can say that Porto was a settled by the Romans and became part of the Moorish Empire during the Middle Ages. Then kingdoms from the north took over during the Reconquista, which is pretty much the story for all of Portugal. Porto did well during the 18th century, when a lucrative wine trade with England was established. Already a key port city, Porto also became the center of manufacturing in Portugal during the Industrial Revolution.
Nowadays, Porto is rapidly trying to keep up with expanding tourism. A few key neighborhoods to know for your visit:
- Baixa – This “downtown” neighborhood is home to a great food scene and famous landmarks like the Clérigos Tower and Bolhão Market.
- Ribeira – The touristy riverfront district of Porto has amazing views from many lively terraces. It’s also home to the famous Dom Luis I Bridge.
- Vila Nova de Gaia – Usually just called “Gaia,” it’s actual a separate city from Porto. Gaia sits across the river and is home to all of the port wine cellars.
Things to Do in Porto
It’s hard to rank the things to do in Porto. The best thing about the city is the overall vibe more than the individual sights. Choose what interests you, slow down, and enjoy a beautiful city.
Port Wine Cellars
The one thing Porto is most famous for is port wine. Sweet and strong, port is enjoyed as a dessert wine around the world. All of it comes from the Duoro River valley around Porto, and all of it is aged in cellars (also called lodges) across the river in Gaia.
Port wine originated in the late 18th century, when British wine drinkers discovered that Portuguese wine fortified with grape brandy had a longer shelf life (and was really tasty). The Portuguese government soon organized a monopoly to capitalize on the port wine trade and designate Porto as the only place where it could be made.
If you want the full story of port wine, your best bet is to visit one of the many port wine cellars in Gaia. There are too many to cover here, and most of them offer basically the same experience of seeing the aging wine barrels and bottles followed by a tasting. There are big names like Sandeman and Taylor’s, as well as smaller brands like Porto Augusto’s (that’s where I went).
Alternatively, you can stop in any good wine bar and try whatever port wines you like. If you do a food tour, there’s a good chance you’ll have some port wine as well.
Clérigos Tower and Church
The Clérigos Tower (Torre dos Clérigos) is a bell tower that rises high above Porto’s historic core. Built in 1763, the tower is a symbol of the city and well worth a visit for the views and the baroque church it’s attached to.
You’ll follow a path around the church sanctuary and through a not-very-exciting museum of religious art before making the final ascent up a modernized spiral staircase. At the top, you have a magnificent 360 degree view of Porto from 250 feet above street level. Can you spot your hotel?
The church sanctuary is worth a stop also. But if you really want to be impressed, come back in the evening for the Spiritus immersive light show. The sanctuary is comes to life with projection mapping and lasers! The tower and church are open 9 am to 7 pm. Tickets are $9 USD. You can get a combination ticket with the Spiritus show for $17.
Porto Cathedral
For a more traditional church visit, stop by Porto Cathedral (Sé do Porto). It’s Porto’s oldest church, with wonderful azulejo tile murals and more great views of the city from the bell tower.
Porto Cathedral has a mix of different architectural styles added over the centuries. The main building features an imposing Romanesque structure with a layer of gilded baroque decor on the inside. Head over to the attached cloister and the style shifts toward gothic. There you’ll find the blue tile murals that brighten up the darkened walkways around the courtyard. Make sure to climb up the bell tower too!
The cathedral is open daily 9 am to 6 pm. Tickets are $3 USD.
São Bento Station
São Bento Station (Estação de São Bento) is not just a key part of Porto’s transportation network, but also an impressively decorated historic building. In fact, São Bento Station has some of the best azulejo tile murals anywhere.
Stepping off the train platform, you enter a spacious hall with murals stretching two stories high! Azulejo tiles are a uniquely Portuguese art form that started in the days of Moorish kingdom. They’re painted ceramic tiles that are beautiful and long-lasting, retaining their beautiful colors over the centuries.
São Bento Station is free to visit, but it’s a working train station. If you’d like to admire the mural without the crowds, plan to go early or late. Also make sure to stop by the Timeout Market for a gourmet bite to eat.
Walking the Luis I Bridge + Waterfront
If there’s one “must see” sight in Porto, it has to be the Dom Luis I Bridge (Ponte de Dom Luís I). It’s a double deck bridge that spans the Duoro River, connecting Porto to Gaia with an Eiffel Tower-like metal arch. The bridge dates from 1886 and was actually designed by one of Gustave Eiffel’s protégés, Théophile Seyrig. It was the longest metal arch bridge ever built at the time.
The iconic bridge offers stunning views from both levels. The lower deck is shared with cars, and walking across this level gives you great views of boats navigating the river as well as the bridge structure. The lower deck conveniently connects the Ribeira district to the waterfront of Gaia. Ribeira is a perfect for a stroll too, with lots of lively cafes. Walk over to Gaia and you can easily visit one of the wine cellars.
Up on the upper deck, you’ll share the span with Porto’s metro trains and see the river from high above. You can’t help but stop and admire the view: people walking along the river, red tiled roofs climbing up the hills, and church spires punctuating the old town.
Across the river is the wonderful viewpoint at Jardim do Morro. It’s a popular place to sit and watch the sunset. Highly recommended.
Bolhão Market
Bolhão Market (Mercado do Bolhão) is Porto’s central market, with tons of food stalls, shops, and restaurants to explore. Grab a glass of wine and browse the market stalls for something tasty to try. (Yes, this is allowed!) Some of my favorite places were the seafood counters. You can get fresh oysters, sea urchins, and other tasty creatures for reasonable prices. There are also excellent fruit stands where you can grab fresh fruit or a smoothie.
If you want something more substantial to eat, there are several restaurants upstairs. In fact, the whole area around the market is a hub for great food. If you don’t see a place you like, just keep walking. You will soon.
Bolhão Market is open 8 am to 8 pm Monday through Friday and Saturday 8 am to 6 pm. Closed Sundays. Restaurants are open later.
Porto Food Tours
Much like Lisbon, Porto has an amazing food scene that’s perfect for a food tour. I went on a tour with Taste Porto that included a little bit of everything. We started by Bolhão Market and sampled some delicious meats and cheese. Oh, and wine. There was definitely wine.
We also got to try a local favorite: canned sardines. Wait, is canned fish is really worthy of a place on a food tour? Yes. In Portugal, the canned fish (conservas) is top-quality and seriously popular. With the remainder of the tour, we stopped by a cafe and even a local craft brewery! It was so many delicious stops in such a short time.
I love going on food tours because it’s a great way to learn about a city’s cuisine, and you can get reliable recommendations for more places to eat. In addition to the excellent tour I did with Taste Porto, I can also recommend the tours from Eating Europe. I did one of their Lisbon food tours!
Lello Bookstore
If you’ve read this far, you might be wondering “what about that famous library that inspired Harry Potter?” Let’s discuss. The Lello Bookstore (Livraria Lello) is in fact not a library, but a beautiful Neo-gothic bookstore built in 1906. Inside, you’ll see elaborate woodwork and columns that reach up to a stained glass ceiling.
It also has a crazy curved staircase that seems straight out of the wizarding world. Unfortunately, according to the author, the bookstore did not inspire Harry Potter. Sorry.
Nonetheless, it’s an extremely popular sight in Porto. If you’d like to visit, you’ll need to get a timed ticket in advance ($9 USD) and plan to stand in a long line. Good news though: if you purchase a book, they’ll give you the ticket price back as a credit.
Strolling Rua das Flores
Porto has many streets perfect for a stroll, but one of the best is Rua das Flores. This pedestrian street starts across from São Bento Station and tumbles downhill toward Ribeira. Along Rua das Flores you’ll see beautiful buildings with azulejo tiles and pass lots of restaurants and shops.
My favorite part of the Rua das Flores was watching all of the street musicians. I always enjoy seeing local music, and I have to say Porto’s street musicians were some of the best. And there’s a huge variety from pop/rock artists to traditional Portuguese music and other sounds from around the world.
Six Bridges River Cruise
If you want to soak up more of Porto’s amazing views, hop on a short river cruise. These boat trips are called “6 Bridges Tours” because they take you by all six of the bridges that span the Duoro River around Porto. Cruising through the steep river valley gives you a unique view of the spans, which range in construction date from 1877 to 2003.
Besides the impressive bridges, you’ll get to see great views of the city and enjoy a relaxing ride that lasts around an hour.
A few competing companies offer essentially the same cruise. Check out Tomaz do Duoro or Cruzeiros Duoro. You can book online in advance or simply head down to one of the stands near the docks in Ribeira. (Or if you really want you can use this affiliate link where I may receive a small commission.) Figure $15-20 USD.
Pro tip: The best seats fill up first, so be sure to line up early for boarding if you want a good one!
Foz do Douro and Atlantic Beaches
Need a break from the city? The seaside neighborhood of Foz do Duoro is a quick trip from Porto’s city center. It’s well worth a trip to see the dramatic Atlantic coastline, enjoy a stroll along the beach, and sip a glass of wine near the sea. It is possible to swim in some places, just be sure to check the signage and water conditions. Also, it’s the North Atlantic, so like, it’s cold.
Make sure to check out the iconic Felgueiras Lighthouse (Farolim de Felgueiras). Perched above the mighty Atlantic, this lighthouse stands guard over the mouth of the Duoro River. And sometimes it get hit with some truly massive waves.
I got to Foz via the hop-on hop-off bus from City Sightseeing. Another good way to reach the area is by historic tram, which you can pick up from the Ribeira waterfront. Tram Line 1 takes a charming route along the river to Foz, just beware that it can be quite crowded during peak times!
Getting Around Porto
Airport transportation
Porto’s international airport is easy to reach by metro or with a taxi/Uber. By car, it’s about a 20 minute drive. A taxi to the airport costs around $25 USD. By metro, it takes around 45 mins to get from São Bento Station to the airport (transfer at Trinidade station) and costs only $3 USD.
Trains
If you’re coming to Porto by fast train, you’ll arrive at Porto Campanhã Station. It’s about 2.5 km from the city center. From there you can take a local train to the central São Bento station, which leaves every 10-15 minutes. You can also hop on the metro.
Metro
Central Porto is very walkable, but the metro is useful for reaching some areas. In particular, the yellow line cuts straight through the city center. From São Bento station you can head south across the bridge to Vila Nova de Gaia or north to Trindade station where you can transfer to the other lines.
Funicular rail
Porto’s useful Funicular dos Guindais starts in the Ribeira district near the base of the Dom Luis I bridge and heads up the steep hill to Batalha. It costs $4 USD and saves a lot of walking if you need to get back up to Baixa!
Taxis and Uber (and Bolt)
Taxis and Ubers are easy to come by in Porto, and they aren’t too expensive. Which one is cheaper deal depends on Uber’s fluctuating demand pricing. You can also try the local favorite rideshare app called Bolt.
Trams
Porto has 2 historic tram lines that offer nostalgic rides in an old fashioned trolley car. Tram Line 1 runs along the river and connects the Ribeira district with Foz do Duoro. Tram Line 18 starts and ends at the Tram Museum (Museu do Carro Electrico). (There’s also a Tram Line 22 that runs a loop through Baixa, but it’s currently closed due to ongoing metro construction.) The trams can get really crowded during peak times.
Tuk-tuks
You’ll see the three-wheeled tuk-tuks hanging around the main tourist areas of Porto. They are a good option for sightseeing, though they can be pricey. If you just need a point-to-point ride, I’d go with an Uber instead.
Where to Stay in Porto
Accommodations in Porto are cheaper than much of western Europe, I would stay in the most central areas unless you really want a more local feel. If you like staying in hostels, there are some great ones in Porto.
You can broadly break down the historic core of Porto into two areas: Baixa and Ribiera.
Baixa
Staying in this downtown area is puts you close to many sights, as well as the main transportation hubs. There are tons of great restaurants and plenty of shopping throughout Baixa. But it does feel a bit work-a-day compared with the more scenic Ribeira district.
Ribeira
The riverfront district of Ribeira is more picturesque than Baixa but also more touristy. You may end up paying a little more, and you may need to look a little harder to find a good restaurant. That said, you can’t argue with the beautiful views. Also, it’s just across the river from Gaia, so getting to the port wine cellars is convenient.
Where to Eat in Porto
Porto is great food town with many excellent places to eat. I’m not the greatest foodie in the world, but here are a few areas I would go in search of good restaurants.
Time Out Market – Located in São Bento train station is a food hall created by the travel publication Time Out. The idea of Time Out Market is to bring in great local chefs under one roof and serve top-quality food in a casual environment. The food can be a little pricey, but it’s less than you’d pay for the same meal in a white tablecloth restaurant.
Rua do Comércio do Porto – A few blocks up from the river in Ribeira is a street with a few excellent restaurants. Check out Holy Sandwich Shop for a fantastic burger or Granno Risoteria for every kind of risotto you could want.
Bolhão Market – Bolhão Market is the epicenter of a lot of great food. I didn’t actually eat at the restaurants there, but they all looked legit. Or you can be like me and snack your way through the market.
Avenida dos Aliados – Just west of Bolhão Market is one of the main squares of Porto at Avenida dos Aliados. There’s a huge variety of food in the area. Have a coffee at the venerable Cafe Guarany, head over to Pedro dos Frangos for the piri piri chicken, or visit the Imperial McDonalds. Yes, there’s a McDonalds in the space that was once a 1930s-era cafe!
Ribeira Waterfront – To be honest, I don’t know where to eat along the waterfront. What I can tell you is there are a lot of tourist trap places serving mediocre food. Try and get a good recommendation or maybe just order a drink.
Tips for Visiting Porto
- Oporto or Porto? – You may hear the town called “Oporto” sometimes. The reason is that, in Portuguese grammar, the city is always preceded by the definite article “o.” In English, it translates literally to “the port.” This has caused some confusion in the past, but just call the city Porto.
- Metro Construction – Porto is in the midst of major construction for a new Pink Line metro that’s a bit disruptive of foot traffic. If you’re traveling around São Bento Station and Avenida dos Aliados, give yourself a minute to puzzle out which sidewalks are open.
- Walking the hills – Porto is hilly, so walking around can really wear you out! One alternative is the Funicular dos Guindais that connects Ribeira just past the Luis I Bridge with Baixa near the Batalha metro stop.
