Whether you are walking the Camino as part of our Camino Portugues guided tour or embarking on a Douro River cruise, you will fall in love with the charms of Porto, Portugal’s second city. Here are some our favourite things to do and see in Porto:
EXPLORE CHARMING RIBEIRA
Porto’s Ribeira, the river front, is the city’s most iconic neighbourhood, with its colourful tiled buildings, quaint streets and lively cafes and restaurants. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, brimming with history, colour and character and the best place to enjoy the city’s welcoming atmosphere. It is the city’s most beautiful district and it is charming by day and by night!
ENJOY THE VIEWS FROM DOM LUIS I BRIDGE
Joining historic Porto with Vila Nova de Gaia across the river, the iconic Dom Luís I Bridge offers visitors some of the best views of the city and the Douro estuary. If you are not scared of heights we highly recommend you walk across the top level and enjoy the panoramic views.
TAKE A TOUR OF A PORT CELLAR
Port wine is possibly the world’s most famous fortified wine and has been produced in the city for several centuries. The wine was originally fortified in the 17th century to prevent it from going bad when transported from Portugal to Britain by British merchants.
Across the river from Porto, in Vila Nova de Gaia, you can visit various wine cellars, see how Port wine is produced, learn about the process and enjoy wine tasting.
PORTO CATHEDRAL
Porto Cathedral or Se do Porto, built in the highest part of town and overlooking the city, it dates back to the 12th century originally. Part church, part fortress, it features a mix of architectural styles, including Baroque, Romanesque and Gothic, as it was renovated in various occasions over the centuries.
For Camino pilgrims, a visit to the Se is a must so you can get your Camino pilgrim passport stamped before starting your journey towards Santiago, following in the footsteps of medieval pilgrims!
There are plenty of beautiful churches scattered across Porto, including Igreja de São Francisco, Igreja do Carmo, Capela das Almas, Clerigos Church and many more, most of them featuring the traditional white and blue tiles, ‘azulejos’.
From the Clerigos Tower you can also enjoy stunning panoramic views of the city.
HISTORY LESSONS AT THE TRAIN STATION
If you are fascinated by the stunning azulejos, then you will São Bento railway station. The city’s most historic station was opened in 1916 on what used to be a Benedictine Monastery and the station’s hall both amazes and educates visitors, as it is decorated with over 20,000 azulejo tiles, depicting the history of Portugal.
SAMPLE LOCAL DELICACIES
The Portuguese take their food very seriously and so should you! Did you know they have one recipe for salted cod, bacalhau, for each day of the year?
In addition to salted cod, pasteis de nata custard tarts and other traditional Portuguese dishes, when in Porto, you can’t leave without trying regional delicacies such as the famous ‘franceshinha’ sandwich, bifana pork steak, caldo verde or the sweet Bolo de Sao Joao.
A BEAUTIFUL BOOKSHOP
Livraria Lello & Irmão in Porto, dating back to 1906, is considered one of the most beautiful bookshops in Europe and the World!
If you are a book lover and are visiting Porto, make sure you pay them a visit and purchase a few page turners since you are there. There is an entrance fee that is refunded with purchases due to the popularity of the bookshop, particularly since it’s believed this stunning bookshop inspired JK Rowling for her Harry Potter mega best selling saga.
Enjoy your time in Porto! We hope you find our top things to do and see in Porto useful for your upcoming trip. Contact our travel team for more information about our Camino guided tours and Douro River Cruises.
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