Porto, city known for its bridges over the Douro River and also for its famous wine. It is a small and charming city that is easily crossed on a weekend and also has nothing to envy to its neighboring Lisbon. A walk along the Ribeira at sunset, watch the sunset from the Luis I bridge, get lost in the Bolhao Market, climb the Clérigos Tower, take some of its historic trams, eat a francesinha or have a few glasses of wine In one of the wineries of Vila Nova de Gaia, they are just some of the many things to see and do in Porto.
We have made a list of what we think are the10 essential places to visit in Porto, based on our 4-day trip to Porto and Guimarães. We start!
1. Librería Lello e Irmão
La Lello e Irmão is one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world and one of the most essential places to visit in Porto. Source of inspiration of writers like J. K. Rowling, in which he set some scenes of the successful saga of novels “Harry Potter”, This two-story, 100-year-old bookshop is located on Rua das Carmelitas 144 and stands out for its impressive staircase and for its modernist and neo-Gothic details.
In our visit to Porto a few years ago you could still take pictures inside after buying a book of some of its full shelves, now it is prohibited by the large number of tourists who visit it every day. (Update: Thanks to Sonia who has written to us and has been only a few days ago, we know that they have returned to take pictures inside)
Visiting hours: all two days from 10:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Price: 5 euros per person that are discounted if you buy an item.
Libreria Lello and Irmão
2. Church and Clérigos Tower
The Clérigos Tower is the best viewpoint of Porto, from where you will have panoramic views of the historic city center. Although to enjoy them you will have to climb more than 240 steps.
The church of the Clerics is baroque and was built in the "Hangman's Hill", that was where the executions were carried out and as a curiosity we will tell you that its 74 meters high is always a good reference not to get lost in the city. You can book here the entrance to the tower in advance.
It is advisable before entering the Clérigos Tower if it is profitable to book the Porto Card that includes public transport and discounts of up to 50% in numerous attractions of the city such as this tower.
Visiting hours: every day from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Views from the Clérigos Tower
3. La Ribeira, one of the best places to visit in Porto
The walk at sunset or dusk on the banks of the Duero between the Don Luis I Bridge and the Arrábida Bridge is one of the essentials of Porto. It is one of the most famous and crowded places in the city, with beautiful colorful facades and terraces full of people to eat a good cod or have a good wine overlooking the Duero and Vila Nova de Gaia.
From the Ribeira you can book the cruise of the 6 bridges on the Douro River, one of the best tours and excursions in Porto, which will allow you to enjoy incredible views of La Ribeira and Vila Nova de Gaia.
La Ribeira, one of the best places to visit in Porto
Recommended travel cardsRemember that in order not to pay commissions and always have the current change we recommend you use the N26 card to pay and the Bnext and Revolut cards to get money at the ATMs. They are the ones we use, They are free and will save you a lot.
You can find more information in this article about the best cards to travel without commissions.
4. Porto Cathedral (la Sé)
The Sé or Cathedral of Porto of the 12th century is one of the oldest and most important buildings in religious themes. In a city full of churches, the sober cathedral stands out for its beautiful cloister decorated with 14th century tiles. From here you can access the Casa do Cabildo, where religious objects considered as "the treasure of the cathedral".
The cathedral declared a National Monument is located in the upper part of the city, in the Batalha neighborhood, where you can also see a beautiful decorative column, which in other places were used to carry out all types of criminals. From the square you have magnificent views of the city, the river and Vila Nova de Gaia.
It is highly recommended, if it is your first time in the city, to book this tour with a guide in Spanish for more representative places of the city such as the cathedral or this tour that includes all the tickets.
Another good option is to book this free tour of Porto for free!
Visiting hours: every day from 09:00 to 12:30 and from 14:30 to 19:00.
Porto Cathedral
5. Bolhao Market
Located in the center of Porto, the Bolhao Market is one of the places to visit in Porto that you cannot miss. The decadent beauty of this market of the early nineteenth century gives it a special charm that we are sure, you will not forget.
In the market you will find all kinds of stands to eat and sell quality products, from fruit, meat, vegetables, fish (especially cod), to flowers. The two-storey market with a large inner courtyard fills as the day progresses, so it is best to go first thing.
Visiting hours: Monday to Friday from 07:00 to 17:00. Saturdays from 07:00 to 13:00.
Book the best rated tours and excursions in Spanish from Porto by travelers:
- Cruise of the six bridges
- Guided tour of Porto
- Full Porto tour with tickets
- Excursion to Guimarães and Braga
- Night tour with dinner and fado show
- More excursions and tours here
6. Vila Nova de Gaia
The wine cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia, are another of the essential places to visit in Porto. Vila Nova de Gaia is really another different city, although to visit it you just have to cross a bridge.
You can start the route through the city with a walk along its riverbank with fantastic views of Porto where you can see closely the "rabelos", some wooden boats that were used to transport the wine. Then you can wander the lower part a bit until you find a wine cellar to know the whole process of winemaking with the designation of origin of Porto. We choose the Croft wineries although there are others Famous like Graham's, Sandeman or Ferreira in which the visit ends tasting some of its wines.
A great option to learn about the history of the neighborhood and that includes a visit to one of the most famous wineries is to book this tour with a guide in Spanish. If you are a wine lover, it may be more advisable to book this visit to the Sandeman winery with a guide in Spanish specialized in Porto wines.
Croft wineries in Vila Nova de Gaia
7. Rua Santa Catarina
The pedestrian street of Santa Catarina, is the commercial street par excellence of the center of Porto. Walking it up and down from Praça do Marquês de Pombal to the Majestic cafe of modernist style and the most famous in the city, is wonderful. During the tour in addition to restaurants, shops and a shopping center, you will pass in front of some churches with tiles and near the Mercado do Bolhao. One of the interesting churches to visit is the Chapel of Souls, full of tiles.
Chapels of Souls
8. San Bento Station
One of the best ways to get to Porto is by train, especially for its spectacular San Bento station. This station of the early twentieth century stands out for its fantastic tile murals that in our case we visited when doing the day trip to Guimaraes.
Although you do not plan to take the train, this place is worth a visit, especially at sunset when the sun shines its more than 20,000 tiles.
San Bento Station
Our recommended hotel in Porto
Residencial Universal, an excellent hotel located in the center of Porto, just 5 minutes walk from the Clérigos tower. It has spacious, clean and very comfortable rooms. Breakfast is included in the price of the rooms, quality and very complete.
For more information you can read this complete post about the best neighborhoods and hotels where to stay in Porto.
9. Barrio Do Barredo
To find the true essence of Porto, you have to visit the Barrio Do Barredo. This deteriorated neighborhood, located between the Cathedral and the bank of the Duero, is full of narrow streets and stairs, buildings that seem to fall and balconies with clothes hanging. Its melancholic air, its smells and colors will make you go back in time and discover special corners that do not appear in the guides. The Torre do Barredo and the "Escadas do Barredo"are some of its essentials.
Barredo neighborhood
10. Don Luis I Bridge
The Don Luis I Bridge opened in 1886 is one of the symbols of the city. This metal bridge with a large iron arch was designed by Théophile Seyrig, a partner of the famous Gustave Eiffel and is made up of two floors, in which the subway passes through the subway and cars below. The bridge can be crossed on foot on both floors. We recommend crossing the bridge on the upper floor at sunset and watching the sunset over Porto and the Duero from the central part of the bridge. We are sure that it will be one of the moments that you will remember from your visit to one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Don Luis I Bridge
If you feel like helping us complete the list of the 10 places to visit in Porto, add yours in the comments.
