Framed by the sea and the mighty Duoro River, Portugals second city is home to one of Europes most beautiful ancient cities, a series of historic churches, gardens and (of course) port wine. We chose 15 of the best things to do in Porto.

 

1. Climb the Clerics Tower

The Clérigos Tower is the most iconic feature of Portos skyline and offers fantastic views of the city. The tower is part of the Clérigos Church, an 18th-century Baroque building located on one of the citys highest points. After walking 75 meters up to 240 narrow steps, you are rewarded with a variety of tall orange roofs struggling through space to the river. Schedule your visit for mid-afternoon afternoon: the sunlight on the rooftops is a must.

Opening hours:  daily from 9am to 7pm; Evening visits 19: 00-23: 00 during the summer (check  website for times  ).

Location:  Rua dos Clérigos.

Price:  Entrance to the tower and museum € 4; Guided tour € 6; Night ticket 5 € *

 

 

2. Visit the Stock Exchange Palace

Translated as the Palácio da Bolsa, this monumental neoclassical building dates back to the 19th century, when Porto was the commercial capital of the country, but has much more to offer than the symbols of commerce. Visit Arabian Hall for a Moorish interior masters class inspired by Grenadas Alhambra Palace, admire the huge courtyard dome and stop to see the staircase and see Antonio Ramalhos famous frescoes. Guided tours are part of the ticket price.

Hours:  (from November to March) from 9am to 12:30 pm / 2pm to 5:30 pm. (April to October) from 9am to 6pm.

Location:  Ferreira Borges Street.

Price:  Adult € 8.50; Concessions € 5 (book in advance  through the website  ).

 



 

3. Look inside the St. Francis Church

Next to Bolsa Palace is one of Portos most spiritual and significantly older attractions - the São Francisco Church. Built in the Gothic style in the 12th and 1300s, Baroque-style interior details were added later, giving the interior a sumptuous golden glow that must be seen to be believed.

Hours:  (from November to February) from 9h to 17h30. (March to October) 9am - 7pm. (Jul & Aug) 9am - 8pm.

Location:  Rua do Infante Dom Henrique.

Price:  Adult 4 €; Child 2 €.

 

4. Visit the Serralves Museum and Gardens

Located between Porto city center and the seafront, Serralves offers a combination of culture and natural beauty. Serralves vast green gardens, which cover an impressive 18 hectares, house exquisite flora and fauna and are free on the first Sunday of each month (from 10am to 1pm). The park surrounds a bright pink Art Deco villa and the  Museum of Contemporary Art  , which houses a collection of Portuguese art from 1960.  Dont forget to end your visit with coffee and cake on  the museums charming  café terrace . Serralves hosts dance, performance and music, as well as temporary exhibitions throughout the year, including the annual Jazz in the Park open-air concerts in July.

Hours:  (from October to March) from Tuesday to Friday, from 10h to 18h; Sat, Sun and holidays from 10am to 7pm. (From April to September) from Tuesday to Friday, from 10am to 7pm; Saturday, Sun and holidays from 10am to 8pm.

Location:  210 Dom João de Castro Street.

Price:  Museum & Park € 10, Park only € 5.  Children under 12 come for free. (Some exhibits not included in the ticket price).

 



 

5. Explore Ribeira

After a day strolling the narrow streets in the shadow of the tall buildings of downtown Porto, head down to the true heart of the old city. It is always a good time to visit, but the night brings the best of Ribeira. Choose a  terrace  and enjoy a cold sangria while facing the Douro river. On the other hand, Gaia hill (the neighboring city on the other side of the river) is covered with lights marking the presence of the famous Porto wine cellars, D. Luiz bridge and the Serra do Pilar church - an unforgettable sight. .

 



 

6. Experience the nightlife of Porto

You dont have to go far from the city center to find the hottest places for a night on the town. The streets near Clerigos Church are practically empty during the day, but they fill with people, good food and music from late afternoon until (sometimes not so) dawn. There are cafes, restaurants, bars and clubs galore, with locals and visitors coming in and out of the house. Try Rue de Miguel Bombarda for the best after-hours get-togethers, including  Casa de Ló  , a former Portuguese bakery that is now a garden bar for long summer evenings…

 

7. Ride on the old trams

Portos steep streets can be very steep at times, so a good way to get to know the city quickly on a weekend is to take a ride on one of its restored electric cars. Also known as American cars, these yellow classic vehicles were first introduced in the early 1900s, but trams gradually disappeared in the second half of the twentieth century, when buses took control. However, in recent years, old cars have been reintroduced and now operate on three "heritage routes", connecting various points of the center and the waterfront, so that once again the trams are part of the public transport system. A good place to start is with Line 1, which leaves outside Casa do Infante, in the Old Town, and goes out to sea along the Douro River. Single tickets cost 3 €.

 

8. Take a walk around Passeio Alegre and Foz

Foz is one of Portos oldest neighborhoods. Literally means "mouth of the river" and covers the area between the end of the Douro river and the city coast. Begin your seaward stroll along Passeio Alegre Street, a low, clear path that runs straight down the river and is lined with palm trees, leading to the renowned Passeio Alegre Garden, a peaceful oceanfront landscaped garden. The Atlantic and its many small beaches await you with a beautiful sunset, ready for a romantic stroll or a drink at the end of the day.

 

9. Visit Lello Bookstore

Book fans, mark this at the top of your list of things to do in Porto. A beautiful bookstore worth seeing just for its architecture, the Lello Bookstore was designed by Francisco Xavier Esteves in neo-Gothic splendor and was opened in 1906 by the brothers José and António Lello. Climb up the magnificent circular red stairs to peruse the volumes and look down to admire one of the most attractive store floors in the world. JK Rowling worked as an English teacher in Porto in the 1990s, and local legend says this bookstore inspired the library  from Harry Potter books   .

Hours:  Monday to Saturday from 10h to 19h30, Sun from 11h to 19h.

Location:  144 Carmelite Street.

Price:  € 3 (free if you buy a book).

 



 

10. Fort of São Francisco do Queijo

This unusually named fortress, or "Castle of Cheese," is so-called because it perches on a wedge-shaped cliff, but was actually built for the serious purpose of defending Porto in the turbulent medieval period. The location is the best reason to visit, as the coastal views are second to none, especially at sunset.

Opening hours:  Tue to Sol, from 13 to 18 hours.

Location:  Gonçalves Zarco Square.

Price:  0,50 €

 

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