On the slopes above the Douro estuary, Porto is a historic market town with business and commerce written in its own name. The center is a World Heritage Site, and you will be amazed at how rich and varied this heritage can be: there are medieval walls, gleaming baroque churches, the compact streets of Ribeira, the Romanesque cathedral and this is just the beginning.

Fortified port wine is still stored in warehouses on the south bank of the Douro and, if you follow the river to the ocean, you will reach the elegant Foz do Douro neighborhood, where you will find modern beaches and restaurants.

Lets explore the  best things to do in Porto  :

1. Cais da Ribeira

A bit chaotic and fun to explore, Portos waterfront is a very picturesque square where tourists and locals mingle.

There are bars and restaurants around every corner, and these also line the riverside sidewalk.

Youll get a perfect shot of the iconic Louis I Bridge from here, and as you pass the arcades, theres a confusing maze of steep streets and stairs between pastel-painted houses in different states of conservation.

Cais da Ribeira has been slightly improved in recent years and information panels have been installed to talk about the characters and businesses of this district when it was a commercial hive in Porto.

 

2. Serralves Museum and Village

In the west of Porto there are several elements to Serralves that make a great day out.

First there is the villa, Casa de Serralves, a graceful Art Deco property built between 1925 and 1944 and with designers like Charles Siclis and René Lalique recruited to create the interiors.

The villa overlooks sumptuous gardens with wooded balconies, topiaries, barren lawns and pergolas.

Then across the park is the Museum of Contemporary Art, opened in 1999 for high-level temporary exhibitions.

There are usually four or five at the same time for current and former artists of modern and contemporary art, from Joan Miró to Liam Gillick.

3. Louis I Bridge

An industrial symbol for Porto, this two-level metal arched bridge was inaugurated in 1886. It was conceived by the German engineer Théophile Seyrig who co-founded the Eiffel Company.

The bridge crosses the steep and rocky banks of the Douro and rises to almost 45 meters.

There is a panoramic view of Cais da Ribeira from the upper level, which is also used by the Porto railway line.

After that, you could board the Funicular dos Guindais to descend to the waters edge.

And if you havent seen enough, cross the lower deck for pedestrians and local road traffic.

 

4. St. Francis Church

The last Gothic monument in Porto is this church completed in 1425. Stroll the apse to ponder the long lancet windows and then return to the main façade, where an ornate portal is covered by a beautiful pink window.

The interiors have been redecorated from 1500 to 1700 and have some of the most luxurious golden woods you could expect to see.

The ancient Gothic vaults, walls and pillars are covered by carved panels representing birds, cherubs and foliage.

5. Stock Exchange Palace

The old Porto stock exchange was built next to the Church of San Francisco after its cloisters were burned during the Siege of Porto in 1832. The exterior was completed in 1850 and has a neoclassical design, while the eclectic interiors have been decorated until to the early 20th century.

You have to go to understand the richness of sculpture, decorative sculptures, plaster, frescoes, chandeliers and tiles.

The Arab Revival Moorish Hall The Arab Hall is almost overwhelming, while the monumental courtyard of the Patio of Nations is illuminated by an octagonal glass and metal roof.

 

6. Clergy Church

The 75.6 meter high tower of this baroque church can be seen from most of Porto and was the tallest building in the country when it was completed.

It is a beautiful monument, with delicate sculptures all the way down and a clock so high you need to take a few steps to read it correctly.

This was the last section of the church to be completed and dates from 1763, with a design inspired by the towers of Tuscany.

If you dont mind the queue and the 240 steps, youll be rewarded with a full view of the city from the top.

 

7. Liberty Square

The large open spaces of this square and boulevard in Santo Ildefonso look like a world away from the narrow streets of Cais da Ribeira.

Liberty Square was traced as a new urban layout in the 18th century and bounded to the south by the Palacio das Cardosas, an 18th century palace transformed into a hotel.

There is an equestrian statue of Pedro I of Brazil, remembered as a democratic reformer.

The surrounding streets are some of the most chic in the city, with imposing civic buildings, designer boutiques and the Belle Époque Majestic Café on Santa Catarina Street.

 

8. House of Music

A modern treasure in Portos cityscape, Casa da Música is a concert hall that opened in 2005. Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas oversaw the design along with high-tech set design and acoustics companies.

This is one of the rare music venues that is also worth seeing when no one is playing.

You can go on a 1,300-seat venue tour, which tore open the auditorium design rule book and has two walls made entirely of glass.

In a few days you can hear the orchestra rehearsing, and if that stimulates your appetite for high culture, you can dress at night to hear famous soloists and the Porto Symphony Orchestra.

 

9. Foz do Douro

To explode, cobwebs make Foz do Douro a fashionable neighborhood where the Douro enters the ocean.

There is a long promenade with palm and pine trees and a pergola that you can recognize if youve been to Nice.

The Pergola da Foz was installed in the 1930s, when the mayors wife fell in love with the Promenade des Anglais.

The Lighthouse Molhe do Douro Lighthouse, in turn, has guided vessels in and out of the Douro for 120 years before being deactivated in 2009. New modern restaurants have appeared this quarter a week, and when the sun is setting could not ask for one more. Romantic setting for a walk.

 

10. Porto Cathedral

This severe-looking building draws shots from the oldest part of Porto.

You will arrive at Terreiro da Sé, a terrace that allows you to survey the citys roofs and monuments, such as the Clérigos Church Tower.

Despite undergoing many changes over time, the cathedral has retained great pieces of its original 12th century architecture.

When it was built, it would play a defensive role, as you can tell from buttresses, arrow handles, and battlements.

Inside is a narrow Romanesque nave and choir, leading him toward the apse, which received an opulent baroque redesign in the seventeenth century.

 

11. Beaches

With all your attention drawn to the Douro and Ribeira, you can overlook the beaches of Porto.

On a hot day, you can dip your fingers in the living Atlantic and clear your senses in the breeze.

If you want to include some of the farthest beaches within minutes of the city, you have at least 10 to choose from, many of which fly the Blue Flag every year.

The most convenient is Matosinhos, just after Parque da Cidade and with a huge bay that seems limitless when the tide is low.

If you like to travel a little, dont miss the city of Miramar, which has a beautiful 17th century chapel in the rocks among its huge golden sandy beaches.

12. Fernandina Wall

There is a long 14th-century wall of Porto, just above the Louis I Bridge, and runs almost parallel to the funicular.

And although it belongs to the World Heritage, it is an attraction little valued by tourists.

You can get into the battlements at Largo 1. December, and at the entrance of the wall is surrounded by a beautiful little garden with orange trees.

When walking, UNESCO signs will give you a little insight into the medieval harbor.

But best of all, the view of the Douro here is unbeatable.

 

13. Crystal Palace Gardens

This was the site of the Porto Crystal Palace, which lasted from 1865 to 1961 and was inspired by the London monument.

These gardens were designed to complement this palace and were landscaped by the German Emile David.

Its design is still in place, and there are allegorical fountains and sculptures for the seasons.

The gardens are planted with gingko, pines, camellias, rhododendrons and beeches, and your path can be crossed by a peacock or two.

In the center of the park, the former palace has been replaced by the semi-spherical Rosa Mota Pavilion, which has hosted exhibitions in the past but is awaiting renovation.

 

14. St. Clare Church

Built next to the most prominent section of Portos medieval walls, this church was completed in 1457 to replace a medieval convent.

It has a similar history to other religious buildings in the city, undergoing an extravagant update in the first half of the eighteenth century.

Gleaming against the red marble are gilded moldings on the vaults and gilded wood carvings on the walls with such meticulous detail that it is difficult to absorb everything.

In Portugal, this style is known as “Joanino Baroque”, coming from the reign of John V, when the Portuguese Empire was at the height of its prosperity.

 

15. City Park

Parque da Cidade is the largest urban park in Portugal, spreading over 83 hectares and going as far west as the 17th-century São Francisco Xavier Fort by the Atlantic.

After hours zigzagging through the crowd, if you need a place to walk or cycle, come to these pine woods and abundant lawns.

One motif throughout the park is piles of rectangular granite stones that look like ancient foundations.

It also uses Parque da Cidade as a green detour on its way to Praia do Matosinhos.

16. Soares dos Reis National Museum

This museum was founded in 1833 as an exhibition of confiscated religious art from Portuguese convents.

Many of these pieces are still on display, while much of the prior art was taken from followers of deposed King Michael I. It is named by António Soares dos Reis, a 19th century sculptor from Vila Nova de Gaia, on the south bank of Rio de Janeiro. the Douro.

There are some pieces by Soares dos Reis, as well as other distinguished Portuguese painters and sculptors such as Silva Porto, Vieira Portuense, Domingos Sequeira and Miguel Ângelo Lupi.

 

17. Quinta da Macieirinha Romantic Museum

With a wonderful location in Massarelos, next to the Crystal Palace gardens and overlooking the Douro, this 18th century mansion was home to a succession of noble families.

Its most revered resident was Charles Albert of Sardinia, who spent the last months of his life in exile here in 1849. The house was kept as a museum to open a window on 19th century noble life.

This attraction opened in 1972, and Charles Alberts great-grandson was called upon to help the city choose furniture and décor to make it as authentic as possible.

 

18. Douro River Trip

The Douro traveled almost 900 kilometers from its source in Castile and León to reach the Atlantic in Porto.

And most people who spend some time beside the Douro agree that there is something special about the river.

Around Ribeira, one-hour cruises are offered for around € 15, and your guide will give you some tips on the south banks port warehouses, the northern landmarks of Porto and the various bridges.

Upstream, on the eastern edge of the city, is the Maria Pia Bridge, ten years older than Louis I and built by Gustave Eiffel.

 

19. Port Wine

It would be very easy, but probably not a good idea, to do nothing but drink port beers and sightseeing in Porto.

These are located on the south bank of the Douro in Vila Nova de Gaia.

A few, like the Royal Old Company, Caves Sandeman, and Taylors Port, have histories dating back hundreds of years and have museums that document their history.

As for wine, it becomes fortified by the addition of brandy, which stops fermentation and helps maintain its sweet taste.

From them it is stored in oak barrels for anything between two years and four decades, depending on the style.

20. FC Porto Museum

FC Porto is the second most successful in Portuguese football, having won the league 25 times and the cup 16 times.

Add to that two Champions League / European Cups and two UEFA Cup / Europa League titles and you have a museum-worthy legacy.

If you dont know much about FC Porto, youll soon realize what the team means to the city, and if youre already a fan, you can take a trip through memory, remembering big names like Deco, Mário Jardel and Teófilo Cubillas. .

The museum is located at the east stand of Dragon Stadium and celebrates iconic players, matches and titles using interactive technology and multimedia.

Available Tour  :  FC Porto: Museum & Stadium Tour

21. Junqueiro House Museum

Guerra Junqueiro was an influential author and poet whose writing helped set the tone of the Portuguese Revolution in 1910, which abolished the monarchy.

In 1940, his property in the medieval quarter was donated to the city and became a museum in his honor.

You dont have to be an expert in Portuguese literature to enjoy this baroque home and garden.

Guerra Junqueiro also liked good things and accumulated exquisite Nuremberg ceramic dishes, Viana do Castelo earthenware, luxurious furnishings and a variety of sacred art, including some wonderful silver work.

 

22. Lello Bookstore

You have to call this delicious bookstore on Rua das Carmelitas.

The building dates back to 1906, although the actual business is much older, and the store is often considered one of the best in the world.

Much of this is due to the architecture: Lello Bookstore has an Art Nouveau design, with many nods to the Gothic in its outlines, murals and spiers on the facade.

The winding wooden staircase, the ceiling tubing and the stained glass skylight inside are impressive.

And for celebrity endorsement, JK Rowling was a fan when she lived in Porto as an English teacher.

 

23. Carmo Church

A little younger than Portos elaborate baroque churches, the Carmo Church has rococo architecture from the 1750-60 years.

What overshadows the crowd is the side facade of Carlos Alberto Square.

Except for the stonework that trims the windows and the floor, this wall is covered entirely by blue and white tiles.

These tiles form a large image that conveys the origins of the Carmelite Order and Mount Carmel in Israel.

And if you dont get tired of Portos impressive golden carving, there is more inside this church in the side chapels and above the main altar.

24. Climbing the Porto Bridge

The last Douro bridge before the Atlantic is Arrábida Bridge, inaugurated in 1963. When it was completed, it had the largest length of a concrete arch bridge in the world and today 136,000 cars cross the structure 24 hours a day.

Now, although this information may be interesting, what really put Arrábida on the map is the new bridge climbing activity.

It will be equipped with safety equipment will be attached to a safety line before climbing the arch under the road intersection.

Once you reach the summit, the Douro and the oldest part of Porto will be at your feet.

Suggested Tour  :  Small Arrabida Bridge Climbing Tour

25. Feast of St. John

Short but sweet, the São João do Porto Festival only lasts one night on 23 June (the eve of São João). To commemorate their patron saint, young and old people take to the streets beating each other with sledgehammers.

If that sounds ominous, these are lightweight plastic toys that make a gentle creak.

So the air is full of noise when strangers attack each other, all in the name of good fun.

For adults, the party starts on the afternoon of the 23rd and may not end until sunrise the next morning, after fireworks, baked sardines, live music, drinks and lots of dancing.

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