Porto follows the twists and turns of the mighty Douro River, a pretty city of with steep cobbled roads, brilliant museums and impressive monuments dating way back to the Middle Ages. It’s known and loved for the food, the wine and the warm welcome, a place where you’ll love getting lost amid the maze-like streets.
You’ll fall in love with awe inspiring vistas from the many dizzying viewpoints, with walking the span of the famous cast-iron bridge far above the river as the sun sets, with paddling in the ocean, and with Porto’s marvellous street art. Here are some of the best things to do in Porto.
Lounge on the beach at Foz do Douro
Foz do Douro is the locals’ best-loved beach, with its chilled-out terrace cafes overlooking the water. Unlike the Med the Atlantic is pretty cold, making it a refreshing experience in hot weather. People run, bike and hike along the promenade, which is a full 1.6 miles long and leads to Porto city’s biggest beach, Matosinhos. Don’t miss out on a fresh seafood lunch at Rua Heróis de França, where the whole street is dedicated to grilling great food outdoors.
Shop ‘til you drop at Mercado do Porto Belo
Translated as Portobello Market, and a lot like the London version but smaller, Saturdays see Porto’s most popular market taking place at the Praça Carlos Alberto. It’s a shopper’s haven, a treasure trove of old and new, everything from vintage vinyl to retro clothing, crafts, antiques, jewellery, toys, art, soaps, you name it. This is the perfect place for unusual souvenirs and thoughtful gifts.
Soak up the views from Ribeira
The neighbourhood of Ribeira buzzes with activity 24/7, popular with visitors and locals alike thanks to its amazing views of the river, countless restaurants and bars, craft markets and street performers. It’s also home to some history, including Casa do Infante, where Prince Henry the Navigator was born in 1394, supporter of many of Portugal’s most famous adventures and expeditions. See the man for yourself if you like, there’s a statue of him outside the Palácio da Bolsa.
Climb to the top of Clérigos Tower
The views from 76 metres up are outstanding. The Torre dos Clérigos was designed in the 1700s by Italian architect Nicolau Nasoni, soaring way above the rooftops with 225 steps to climb. Not for the faint hearted, you can calm down afterwards at the beautiful adjoining baroque church dating back to 1750, or chill out on the lovely green lawns at Jardim das Oliveiras next door.
Watch romantic sunsets together
Epic sunsets happen here where the west coast, North Atlantic Ocean and Douro River intersect. Passeio das Virtudes Park is a hot spot for local sunset-seekers, as is the beach at Foz do Douro and the Jardim do Morro.
Sample the hidden delights of Igreja de São Francisco
Plain on the outside, the interior of Igreja de São Francisco is an extraordinary feat of baroque splendour inside with its intricate gold leafed interior, amazing carved woodwork, Tree of Jesse altarpiece and museum full of lovely sacred art. Don’t miss the spooky catacombs.
Bring things bang up to date at Serralves
Head for Serralves to experience startlingly modern avant-garde architecture, contemporary art, outdoor sculpture and more, along with Porto’s version of the Guggenheim, where there’s a world-class permanent collection featuring art from the late ‘60s to today. Then take a stroll around the lovely floral gardens, forested paths and open meadows surrounding it, complete with cows and other farm animals and a thrilling treetop walk.
Mind…blown! Meet Sé cathedral
High on a hill overlooking Porto, Se looks more like a fortress than a cathedral. This is where Prince Henry the Navigator was baptized in 1394, and King John I married in 1387. Dating back to the 1100s, the cathedral enjoyed a baroque facelift in the 1700s to make it the extraordinary sight it is today. You can sense layer upon layer of history here, a compelling place to discover the city’s chequered past.
Photograph the tiles – and share them on Insta!
If you’re in search of something iconic, this is it. Porto’s magnificent tiles are quite something, entire walls of highly decorative blue and white ceramic tiles called azulejos. The best known are at beautiful São Bento train station, where they stretch from floor to ceiling. You’ll find more tiling at Capela das Almas, Rua de Santa Catarina, and Igreja do Carmo. But you’ll spot the tiles all over the place as you wander the city.
Discover the fantastic street art trail
The backstreets and alleyways of Porto are home to some of the country’s most fabulous street art, vividly colourful murals. There’s work by the world-famous Daniel Eime, whose enormous photorealistic mural called Mira on the Largo de Artur Arcos is a popular attraction, and the artist Vhils, whose moving tribute to healthcare workers decorates the Hospital São João.
You’ll find more street art at Travessa de Cedofeita, Rua da Madeira, Rua das Flores, Rua São Pedro de Miragaia, Rua Miguel Bombarda, and the car lot at Trindade where you’ll find epic works by the infamous MrDheo and Hazul Luzah.
Party hard and late at Baixa
This is the beating heart of Porto’s nightlife, the cobbled streets west of Avenida dos Aliados where the best bars are found. Try the ex-bookshop bar Casa do Livro, a truly gorgeous place for a few bevvies, or stylish Bonaparte Downtown. At weekends the partying goes on late with crowds of revellers packing the narrow streets.
Go picnic
When the weather’s this good, you don’t always want to eat indoors. So why not picnic? The city is packed with pretty green spaces to lounge and eat in, including Parque da Cidade, Portugal’s biggest urban park, and the lovely grounds of the Jardins do Palácio de Cristal.
Don’t miss the Port
Portugal is famous for its port, and Porto’s port lodges over the river at Vila Nova de Gaia are a big attraction. You can tour the vintage port cellars and taste their wares at places like Ramos Pinto, Graham’s and Taylor’s, or visit the World of Wine, a huge complex offering museums, a wine school, numerous restaurants and bars, and an enormous terrace with views over the Ponte Dom Luís I bridge, the river, and the tumbling city opposite.
Talking about the Ponte de Dom Luís I…
Built by a student of the man who designed the Eiffel tower and finished in 1886, this bridge isn’t just a way of getting over the river – it’s an icon. The curved arch is quite something to see, the views are awesome, and you might even spot some crazy daredevil locals jumping from the bridge’s lower level into the river.
Do wine in the spectacular Douro Valley
You can’t visit Porto without trying the wines grown and made in the region. You might enjoy a day trip to the amazing Duoro valley whose vast vineyard-clad terraced slopes and microclimate are perfect for grapes. These hand-harvested grapes are at the heart of the area’s famous unique red and white wines as well as port itself, and the fortified moscatel wine from Favaios. If you’ve got money to burn you can arrange a private tour of exclusive vineyards customised to your desires.
Delighted yet exhausted? This is only the beginning! Come back for more in part 2 of our guide to the best things to do in Porto.
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