Explore Porto, Portugal: Top Attractions and Things to Do
Porto is the second-largest city in Portugal, the capital of the Porto District, and one of the Iberian Peninsula's major urban areas. In Portuguese, the name of the city includes a definite article: o Porto ("the port" or "the harbor"), which is where its English name "Oporto" comes from.
I visited Porto the first time in 2021, where I was lucky to have friends come visit and explore the city with for about 10 days.
Returning in January 2024 for 2 weeks, I visited Porto on my own, revisiting some favorite spots and exploring some new ones.
I came back to Porto in September 2025 for 3 weeks and was really able to sink into the city, discover some budget friendly things to do in Porto, and spend a few days checking off some “must do in Porto” activities when a friend came to visit.
How to Get to Porto
For your Complete Guide for Getting to Porto from Lisbon, click here!
Porto Neighborhoods
Porto is a very walkable city and is well connected by public transportation, so you really can’t go wrong with whichever neighborhood you choose for your visit. These are some of the most popular neighborhoods in Porto:
Ribeira
The narrow, cobbled streets of Ribeira are dotted with small bars and eateries serving classic Portuguese fare like grilled sardines. Beside the Douro River, Praça da Ribeira square is lined with colorful 18th-century townhouses, while the neoclassical landmark, Palácio da Bolsa, is known for its ornate interiors. Hard Club hosts rock gigs and club nights in a restored market building.
Ribeira is one of the most popular area for tourists visiting Porto and has been described as “feeling like you are in a post card”. With its stunning views, easy access, and numerous bars and restaurants and is an ideal location for many visitors.
The “grand center of Porto”, Baixa is where many of Porto’s classic hotels will be found and is a great base for a visit to Porto with its central and accessible location.
Cedofeita
Cedofeita is one of the neighborhoods that shapes Porto’s downtown. The favorite neighborhood of many in the city (including us at Guiajando). It mixes traditional architecture with a younger atmosphere and new cafes and restaurants that have expanded the local offer.
Described as a “local, yet touristy neighborhood”, Cedofeita is one of the neighborhoods shaping Potos’s downtown and offers an eclectic vibe with fun bars, restaurants, shops and things to do.
For your complete guide to the Best Hotels in Porto, click here!
Boavista
Upscale Boavista is a largely residential district, home to cultural venues like the striking, contemporary Casa da Música, with eclectic performances, and the Fundação Serralves, a cutting-edge art museum and villa in lush wooded gardens. The area also has high-end shops, trendy cafes and unpretentious eateries serving Porto’s classic francesinha, a meat sandwich with melted cheese and tomato sauce
Boavista has been described as the “New Downtown of Porto” and is becoming an increasingly popular area for tourists. This areas also boasts the best museums, relaxing gardens, taverns, restaurants, brunch and beautiful spas.
Miragaia
Picturesque Miragaia is known for cobbled streets lined with townhouses and small eateries serving classic Portuguese fare, plus views of the Douro River from its hillier parts. The Museu do Carro Eléctrico has 19th- and 20th-century trams, while jewelry, sculpture and paintings are on display at Museu Nacional Soares dos Reis. Alfândega convention center hosts large-scale historical exhibits and conferences
This medieval maze of a neighborhood is a charming and authentic area of the city with classic Portuguese eateries, small local shops and many room rentals for travelers looking for a less touristy stay.
Want to take a beach day from Porto? Check out my Complete Guide to Matosinhos!
Public Transportion in Porto
For my complete Guide to Porto Public Transportation: How to Get Around the City, click here!
Porto Restaurants and Markets
For the Best Markets in Porto and my complete Foodie’s Guide to Porto, At Every Budget, click here!
Porto Highlights & Things to Do
Packed with historical landmarks, stunning churches and cathedrals, beautiful architecture, and endless things to do, Porto truly has something for everyone.
Take a Porto Free Walking Tour
I try to take free walking tour in every city I visit, but didn’t take one in Porto until my 3rd visit. Even after spending quite a bit of time in Porto, I learned to much about the city on this three hour tour.
I booked through Guruwalk and lucked out with a really great Porto free walking tour guide, Agata.
You can book directly with Agata on her Instagram here, or the Take Free Tours (free tours offered throughout Portugal).
⭐Remember to tip your guide!
São Bento Station
Per Wikipedia; São Bento Railway Station is a 20th-century railway terminal in the civil parish of Cedofeita, Santo Ildefonso, Sé, Miragaia, São Nicolau e Vitória, in the municipality of Porto, district of Porto.
🗺️Praça de Almeida Garrett, 4000-069 Porto
Every time I have come to Porto over the pas 4 years, Sao Bento train station has been under some type of renovation, but finally (as of September 2025) the indoor restoration is complete!
The tile work in this 20th Century Portuguese train station is absolutely a site to behold and hold so much history and stories in those traditional blue tiles.
This will be your first view of Porto if you take the train from Lisbon into Sao Bento. If you don’t take the train in or out, be sure to visit the station for the stunning architecture and tile work.
The Livraria Lello & Irmão
The Livraria Lello & Irmão, commonly known in English as the Lello Bookshop, is a bookshop located in the civil parish of Cedofeita, Santo Ildefonso, Sé, Miragaia, São Nicolau e Vitória, in the northern Portuguese municipality of Porto.
🗺️R. das Carmelitas 144, 4050-161 Porto
💶€10 (this is applied to any book purchase)
🕰️Daily 9a-7:30p
Built in 1906, the stunning Lello Bookstore has been acclaimed as one of the World’s Most Beautiful bookstores, due in large part to the it’s iconic staircase.
More recently this Porto bookstore has been made even more famous for (allegedly) inspiring Harry Potter author, J.K. Rowling.
⭐While it IS possible to join the line to enter, it can be very long, so advanced timed tickets are strongly encouraged. You can purchase tickets to Lello Bookstore here
Torres dos Clerigos
Clerigos Tower
The church was built for the Brotherhood of the Clérigos by Nicolau Nasoni, an Italian architect and painter who left an extensive body of work in the north of Portugal during the 18th century.
🗺️R. de São Filipe de Nery, 4050-546 Porto, Portugal
🕰️Hours: 9a-7p daily (Sunday service 9:30p10:30p)
💶Adults 10€, Students 7€, Children under 10 are free
The Torres do Clerigos, is the 75-meter-tall bell tower of the Clérigos Church and can be seen from nearly all of Porto. The church and tower are open to the public with entry to the church being free and the opportunity to climb 200 steps to the sweeping views of Porto.
On my first visit to Porto, my friends were not up for the climb and on the one day I tried to go solo, the weather was prohibitive to a view. I finally made the climb when I returned to Porto in 2024 and the views were worth every step.
Portuguese Centre of Photography
🗺️Largo Amor de Perdição, 4050-008 Porto, Portugal
🕰️Tues-Fri 10a-6p, Sat-Sun 3p-7p, Mon-Closed
💶Free
Located just next to Torres dos Clerigos, I passed this beautiful building numerous times without paying it much attention until my Porto free walking tour guide shared that it is a great free thing to do in Porto.
Since it comes at my favorite price tag, and encompasses many of my interests: photography, architecture, and views, I decided to visit while in Porto and curating a list of free things to do in Porto.
Housed in an old jail, and still featuring much of the original design, the Portuguese Centre of Photography is absolutely worth a visit. I thought I would be in and out of this hidden gem in Porto in about 30 minutes, but ended up spending well over an hour. The building itself is really cool, but the exhibits are also interesting and offer a wide variety of historic and modern pieces and information.
The top floor offers some of the most beautiful views in Porto!
Porto City Hall
🗺️Praça Gen. Humberto Delgado, 4000-407 Porto, Portugal
This striking building, harking back to the architecture of the great communal palaces of the north of Europe, is set at the top of the Avenida dos Aliados (Avenue of the Allies).
Construction began on this robust, imposing building in 1920, according to the design of architect António Correia da Silva, it was only fully completed in 1955.
At the centre, there is a 70m clock tower whose bells ring out as a symbol of the importance given by city citizens to civic life.
The statue in front, by sculptor Barata Feio, is a 1954 study of poet Almeida Garrett (1799-1854).
Dom Luís I Bridge
Luís I Bridge, is a double-deck metal arch bridge that spans the River Douro between the cities of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia in Portugal. Take a walk over the bridge for incredible views of the Douro river and both Gaia and Porto.
You can enter the upper level near the Porto Cathedral and cross over to Gaia from there. The upper level will take you directly to Jardim do Morro (see below).
The lower level of the bridge will take you to the wine cellars and riverfront of Gaia.
Jardins do Palácio de Cristal
The Crystal Palace of Porto, inspired by the London original, was built in 1865 for the International Exhibition and was a grand structure for its time. It was demolished in 1951 and replaced by the Rosa Mota Pavilion (now the Super Bock Arena) to host events like the 1952 Roller-Hockey World Cup. The original palace was dismantled due to disrepair, while the surrounding gardens, designed by Émile David, remain today as the Jardins do Palácio de Cristal
🗺️R. de D. Manuel, 4050-346 Porto, Portugal
🕰️Daily 8a-7p
💶Free
I love gardens and green spaces, so I can’t believe it took my 4 visits to Porto before I made it to Jardins do Palácio de Cristal.
These beautifully landscaped gardens, dating back to 19th century are the perfect escape from the city and main touristic area of Porto. Offering some of the best views of Porto and the Douro River below, this Porto garden is filled with pathways, fountains and gorgeous floral displays. You will also find peacocks and many other types of birds wandering throughout the gardens at Palácio de Cristal.
⭐Atop the Super Bock Arena inside Jardins do Palácio de Cristal, you can experience “Porto360”, which is said to offer the best 360 views of Porto. Adult tickets are 12,50 € and include a guide. For more information, visit here
Douro River Boat Cruise
This is one of those experiences that I really thought I didn’t “need” to do in Porto.
But then my friend came to visit and we decided to combine a Douro River 6 Bridges Boat Cruise and port wine tasting… and we loved it!
This quickly became something I think everyone should do in Porto. The views from the Douro River truly are unmatched and give a unique vantage point.
There are many different options for Douro River boat cruises, so there is something for every budget, time frame, and preference.
We opted for this 2 hours, small group, Douro River Boat Cruise with Port Wine Tasting and absolutely loved it!
Porto Churches and Cathedrals
Porto is packed with stunning churches and cathedrals, and most are open to visitors. Many have been transitioned to museums or historic sites and come with a small fee but are well worth the visit.
Port is also home of Agramonte Cemetery, which is on the European Cemetery Route.
Igreja de Santo Ildefonso
🗺️R. de Santo Ildefonso 11, 4000-542 Porto, Portugal
🕰️Open daily 10:00a-10:40pm (except Mon)
💶Donation
The Igreja de Santo Ildefonso is an eighteenth-century church in Porto, Portugal. The church is located near Batalha Square. Completed in 1739, the church was built in a proto-Baroque style and features a retable by the Italian artist Nicolau Nasoni and a façade of 1932 azulejo tilework.
The Igreja de Santo Ildefonso is an eighteenth-century church featuring ornate decor and beautiful tile work. Even for those that are not religious, it is worth a visit for the beautiful architecture and history.
Igreja do Carmo
The Carmo Church or Church of the Venerable Third Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, is located at the intersection between Praça de Carlos Alberto and Rua do Carmo, near the Church and Tower of Clérigos, in the Portuguese parish of Vitória, city of Porto.
Of Baroque/Rococo style, it was built in the second half of the eighteenth century, between 1756 and 1768, by the Third Order of Carmel, being the project of the architect José Figueiredo Seixas. Construction of the hospital began later, and it was completed in 1801.
🕰️Daily 9:30a-5p
💶7€
One of the most famed sites in Porto. Connected to its twin church by a house, this baroque church has a well-known tiled side façade. The church is open to visitors and is beautiful both inside and out.
Capela das Almas
The Chapel of Santa Catarina, also known as the Chapel of Souls, is a chapel located on the shopping street of Rua de Santa Catarina, in the former parish of Santo Ildefonso, in the city of Porto, in Portugal. It is particularly noted for the blue azulejo tiles on its exterior walls.
🗺️R. de Santa Catarina 428, 4000-124 Porto
🕰️Mon-Fri 7:30a-5:30p, Sat 7:30a-12:30p reopens 4:30p-5:30p, Sun 7:30a-12:30p
💶Free
This beautiful iconic chapel boasts 16,000 blue and white tiles depicting scenes from the lives of Saint Catherine and Saint Francis of Assisi.
Cloisters at Porto Cathedral
The Porto Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church located in the historical centre of the city of Porto, Portugal. It is one of the city's oldest monuments and one of the most important local Romanesque monuments
🗺️Terreiro da Sé, 4050-573 Porto
🕰️Hours: 9a-6:30p daily
💶3€ to visit museum & cloisters
The entrance to the cloister is located inside the Cathedral, through a door to the right of the temple. The cloister dates back to the fourteenth century and is decorated with tiles painted with some of the scenes from the Bible.
This is also a beautiful viewpoint and great place to catch a sunset. There are live performers here in the evening and an overall chill vibe in the evening.
Cemitério de Agramonte
This famed Portuguese cemetery contains a large memorial to the 120 victims of a fire that destroyed the Teatro Baquet in 1888. It is constructed largely from pieces of the theatre building that survived the fire. Several well-known people are buried in the cemetery, such as the archaeologist António Augusto da Rocha Peixoto, the cellist Guilhermina Suggia, the filmmaker Manoel de Oliveira and the actress Emília Eduarda. The tombs, with works by António Soares dos Reis and António Teixeira Lopes, provide a representative collection of Portuguese sculptural work - Wikipedia
🗺️R. de Agramonte, Porto, Portugal
🕰️Daily 8:30a-5p
💶Free
Some people may think that visiting cemeteries as a tourist activity is… odd, but I love them! Portuguese cemeteries offer so much history and beautiful architecture and design, and Agramonte Cemetery is one of the most beautiful.
Opened in 1855, this public cemetery opened hastily in response to a cholera outbreak, and is now part of the European Cemetery Route.
Vila Nova de Gaia
A hub of the port wine industry, Vila Nova de Gaia is peppered with cellars offering tours and tastings. It’s also known for sandy beaches like Praia da Madalena, and the scenic riverside road Cais de Gaia, with its cafe terraces and expansive views across the Douro. Small restaurants serve grilled fish and seafood in the old fishing village of Afurada, where picturesque tiled houses line narrow streets
Take a walk over the Luís I Bridge (those views!) or take a quick bus, taxi, or metro ride from Porto to Gaia and enjoy the wine cellars, great food, and numerous attractions.
Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar
🗺️Largo Aviz, 4430-329 Vila Nova de Gaia
🚫The Monastery is Temporarily closed for renovations - but, the terrace remains open and is worth visiting for the view - especially at sunset.
The Monastery of Serra do Pilar is a former monastery located in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal, on the opposite side of the Douro River from Porto. The monastery is situated on an outcrop overlooking the Dom Luís I Bridge and the historic centre of Porto (wikipedia)
The views alone are worth climbing the hill to the Monastery, but I highly recommend going in to the cloisters for the full experience.
This is also an incredible viewpoint to catch a sunset over the Douro River.
Jardim do Morro
🗺️Jardim do Morro, 4430-210 Vila Nova de Gaia
If you are looking for the best sunset view in Porto, leave Porto and go to Gaia.
The view from Jardim do Morro will take your breath away, especially at sunrise or sunset when the sky truly puts on a show.
This green space transforms in to a vibrant and cool sunset party every night with hundreds of people coming to watch the famed Porto sunset.
Grab a blanket, a bottle of wine and a snack and join the party! Or just swing by this viewpoint after a wine tasting or dinner in Gaia.
Teleférico de Gaia
🗺️Rua Rocha Leão, 236 Vila Nova de Gaia 4430-210
💶Round Trip Adult 10,00€ or Child (5-12) 5,00€
One Way Adult 7,00€ or Child (5-12) 3,50€
There is a lot of debate it the Teleférico de Gaia is worth the cost, but most who take it say the views are unparalleled.
If you are looking for unmatched views of Porto and Gaia with those iconic terracotta rooftops, the short ride is worth it
Port Wine Cellars (Gaia)
There are so many options in Porto, it is not fair to claim any as the “best”, as they all have their unique history, charm, and flavor.
I made it to a couple of cellars and a few tastings, and can speak on those, but there is a huge variety to choose from on your visit.
It is not appropriate for me to review the actual port wine, since I don’t like any of it, I know, <gasp!>
Caves Cálem
🗺️Av. de Diogo Leite 344, 4400-111 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
🕰️Open daily 10a-7p
We opted for the tour and tasting at Calem, however; there are several pairing options including food pairings and a tasting with Fado music.
Tours are offered in numerous languages and the guides are engaging and informative.
Burmester
🗺️ Largo Dom Luís I, 4400-111 Vila Nova de Gaia
🕰️Open Daily 10a-7p
We lucked out and got a tour and tasting at Burmester included in our Hop on, Hop off bus tour. The cellar is beautiful, the guide was friendly and informative, and the tasting room was lovely.
Very reasonably priced “souvenirs” as well. Would definitely recommend taking a tour of this cellar on your visit.
Sandeman
🗺️R. de São Filipe de Nery 60, 4050-162 Porto
🕰️Open daily 11a-4p
With its iconic sign and history, Sandeman is one of the most famous cellars in Porto. This cellar offers a more “high end” experience as far as tour and tasting than many of the other surrounding cellars.
It also has a beautiful store and great outdoor space with drinks and bites (big thumbs up for the sangria!)
Kopke Wine House
🗺️4430 999, Av. de Diogo Leite 312, Vila Nova de Gaia
🕰️Open daily: 10a-7p
The Oldest Port Wine House
This three story tasting house offers beautiful views of the Douro river and Porto’s Ribeira on the opposite bank.
A really great tasting experience (that included red and white wine, in addition to port) with a chocolate pairing, in a lovely environment.
⭐Pro tip: eat something before coming in for a tasting, the pour at Kopke is no joke!
Visit the Douro Valley
The Douro Valley is famous for producing world-renowned Port wine, a rich fortified wine, and is also recognized for its fine, unfortified red and white table wines. Beyond its wine production, the Douro Valley is renowned for its stunning terraced vineyards, the scenic Douro River, its status as the world's oldest demarcated wine region, and its recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This majestic region is a very popular day trip from Porto and gives insight to the history, production, and taste of the many wines this region is famous for.
While visiting a wine cellar in Porto gives a glimpse of this region, there is nothing like actually immersing in it.
You can get to the Douro Valley via the Miradour Train or CP - Comboios de Portugal train, by driving yourself, or by bus, but I highly recommend taking a tour to assure not only comfort and convenience, but getting a full overview and experience of the region.
I took the below Douro Valley Wine Region tour from Porto in December 2025 (see photos above) and cannot recommend it highly enough.
Friends took the below tour in late 2025 and also highly recommended this top rated Douro Valley tour from Porto.
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