On my road trip in Portugal I visited Lisbon and I also have a Travel Guide about the southern cost of Algarve. In it post I will guide you through Porto, which effortlessly combines history and culture, and you will find amazing sights at every corner.
Located on the riverbank of the Douro, Ribeira is the historic center of Porto and became a UNESCO World Heritage site. The promenade is packed with Portuguese taverns and while you are enjoying the local cuisine you can admire the other side of the river, called Gaia which houses the famous cellars of Porto.
Sights in the Old City
Dom Luís I Bridge
The two level Dom Luís I Bridge is a signature landmark in Porto. And it has a really cool story. Oringally Gustave Eiffel presented a project to construct a new bridge over the Douro. Yes, that Eiffel who created the Eiffel Tower in Paris, but there are several other buildings around the world marked with his name like the Statue of Liberty in New York.
Bolsa Palace
The Palácio da Bolsa, also known as the Stock Exchange Palace was constructed in a neoclassical style on the ruins of St Francis Convent after it was burnt down during the Liberal Wars.
Porto Cathedral
Built in the highest point in the city, the Porto Cathedral (Sé do Porto in Portuguese) is a landmark in Porto. The square in front of the church offers impressive view over the city and to the other side of the Douro River.
São Bento Station
This train station is a must-visit attraction in the city and famous for its main hall which is covered with over 20,000 tiles that reflect the history of Portugal.
Igreja do Carmo and Igreja dos Carmelitas
Wandering in the city center you will find these churches. Between the two is a so-called Hidden House, which is Portugal’s narrowest one, only 1 meter wide.
According to legend, it was built so that the two churches would not share a common wall. It separated the male monastery and the women’s convent.
Igraeja do Carmo is overshadowing the other one, with its stunning tiled exterior.
Church Santo Ildefonso
Another example of amazing tilework is this church, which was built in the first half of the 18th century, on the site of a former place of worship.
Avenida dos Aliados
Avenida dos Aliados is generally regarded as Porto’s city center, where you will find the Porto Town Hall (Camara Municipal).
Livraria Lello
Rumor says this bookstore inspired J.K. Rowling creating Hogwarts in the Harry Potter books. Now it so crowded that you have to buy a ticket before visiting. I could not see the inside but here are some images I found about the so called most beautiful bookshops in the world.
Download my free Travel Guide
Everything in one PDF you need to plan your trip to Porto: maps, useful tips, hotels and cool things to do while you are in the city.
Vila Nova de Gaia – The home of the Port Wine
Even though the port wine itself is produced in the Douro Valley, the major brands age its Ports in their cellars in Gaia. Portugal has 14 main wine producing regions, and because Portugal’s wine culture developed in relative isolation, many grape varieties do not grow anywhere else in the world. The largest region, the Alentejo wine region covers more than 30% of Portugal, but Douro valley is one of the oldest wine regions in the world.
You can learn more about the Portuguese wines in the cellars of Porto and if you are a wine lover the highlight of your trip will be a tasting session with food pairing.
Arouca Geopark
If you want to hike, head to the Arouca Geopark which is around 1 hour drive from Porto. It is perfect place for adventure sports like rafting, kayaking, mountain biking or climbing. But! It is not a National park, it is a large area with several towns and villages.
Its newest attraction is the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the world, the Ponte 516 Arouca. If you want to cross the bridge you have to by tickets in advance online, because you can not buy tickets there. And don’t worry if you can’t find it. It is hidden in the hills and there are no designated parking places.
An orther thing to do here is to hike on the nearby wooden-board Paiva’s walkways and ejnoy the neture.
What else to do?
If you are up to for some adventure, here are some ideas how to make your trip to Porto way more excinting.
