Bom dia, Porto, you beautiful city on the banks of the Douro! For the longest time, we thought Lisbon was our number one among Portugal’s cities. Now, having experienced the vibrant energy and stunning sights of Porto, we’re not so sure anymore!
Porto is lively, colourful, buzzing, and loud. Some corners and attractions are beautifully done up, where the blue and white azulejo tiles seem to compete for attention, one postcard-worthy view after another. At the same time, some streets could desperately use a makeover. But it’s clear: Porto is gradually transforming.
Planning a city trip to Porto? Then keep reading. In this travel guide on our travel blog, we’ll share everything you need for the perfect stay in Porto: from the most beautiful attractions to the best viewpoints, and the coolest cafes and restaurants. It’s time to pull back the curtains on our travel gude with our personal tips for Porto.
Inhalt
1. Porto: First Travel Tips & FAQs at a Glance
Exciting Facts & Things Worth Knowing About Porto
- Porto, Portugal’s second-largest city after Lisbon, is often considered the country’s unofficial capital.
- With about 230,000 residents, Porto is the perfect size for a city trip. It’s big enough to offer impressive sights but small enough to reach most places (or rather almost everywhere) by foot.
- The historic centre of Porto has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. You’ll be greeted by a beautiful mosaic of narrow alleys, gigantic buildings, and, of course, the artistic azulejos – those blue and white tiles Portugal is so famous for.
- Porto is quite hilly. Our tip: Make sure to pack comfortable shoes for your city trip. You’ll be climbing quite a few hills.
- In Porto, finding your way around can be (at least in our experience) a bit of a challenge. Even after several days in the city, we still struggled to get our bearings and lay of the land. The sights-to-see are all rather scattered throughout the city. But don’t worry: With our tips and Google Maps, you’ll definitely find your way around.
How many days should I plan for Porto?
The top sights and attractions are all in the centre of Porto, which is relatively compact, so you can see a lot of the city in just three nights. That’s how long we stayed, and we highly recommend this duration for first-timers to Porto.
If you’re short on time, a two-night stay can still give you a good first impression. And if you want to take your time, staying for four to five nights is ideal. This way, you can even squeeze in a day trip or two.
Is Porto suitable for a trip with a baby or child?
We travelled with a baby ourselves and can confidently say: yes, you can explore Porto with your family too.
It’s important to note that because Porto is quite hilly, using a pram can be challenging (though not impossible). The cobblestone streets don’t make pushing a pram any easier. That’s why we opted for a baby carrier instead.
Want to know more about travelling in Portugal with a baby or child? Head over here for our detailed blog post: Travelling in Portugal with a Baby and Child.
Bucket List for Porto: What can I experience in Porto?
For those who want the highlights, here’s a quick “Best of Porto” list for you. (You’ll find detailed tips on these highlights and attractions throughout the blog post.)
- Stroll across the gigantic Ponte Dom Luís I and admire the view of Porto from the other side. Wow!
- Try the best Pastéis de Nata in town at “Manteigaria”. So delicious!
- Marvel at Porto’s artistic **azulejos (**tiles), especially those in the famous railway station or the Igreja do Carmo.
- Climb the Torre dos Clérigos and enjoy the view over Porto.
- Wander along the Douro riverfront at sunset in the lively Ribeira district.
- Soak up the Harry Potter vibes at the world-famous Livraria Lello.
2. Porto Travel Guide: Top Attractions
Ponte Dom Luís I
Let’s start our Porto travel guide with the architectural highlight and one of the city’s most important attractions, the gigantic Ponte Dom Luís I. The dimensions of the bridge are breathtaking: it’s about 385 meters long and 60 meters high. It’s only when you’re actually on the bridge that you realize just how high it is. Such a thrill!
Taking a stroll across the Ponte Dom Luís I is an absolute must-do during your stay in Porto. You can reach the bridge in two ways: above (next to the metro) and below (alongside the cars). Our tip: You definitely get the best view of Porto from the upper level.
Fun Fact: on the other side of the bridge, you technically enter another city called Vila Nova de Gaia. From there, you can enjoy a beautiful view of Porto and the bridge.
Our tip for the very best panorama: If you have enough time, we recommend the short walk and climb to the Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar. This is THE postcard scene at its finest! Especially at sunset, the view from up here is breathtakingly beautiful.
Porto Cathedral (Sé do Porto)
The impressive Porto Cathedral is the city’s most significant, sacred monument and is definitely worth a visit. It’s perched on a hill, slightly elevated. You’d ideally combine your visit with a stroll across the Ponte Dom Luís I, as it’s just a short walk from the cathedral.
It’s not so much the interior of the cathedral that’s so impressive, but rather its monestary, which is adorned with beautiful azulejos.
Climbing the tower is a must-do. When you reach the top, you’ll get an amazing view of Porto all around. On your way up, you’ll see some really beautiful azulejos too.
Top tip: The square by the cathedral or right in front of it is another spot for a great view. We went there in the late afternoon and it was just perfect.
Admission: 3 Euros for the Monestary.
São Bento Railway Station
Inside São Bento Railway Station one of Porto’s most famous attractions is hidden. Its entrance hall is adorned with about 20,000 azulejos by Portuguese painter Jorge Colaço, creating a truly special atmosphere.
The station hall isn’t exactly a hidden gem, so it’s usually packed with tourists rather than travelers. Just a heads up, so you know what to expect—it can get really crowded here.
Nonetheless, in our opinion, the station is definitely one of the top attractions in Porto that you shouldn’t miss.
Ribeira with its Riverside Promenade
The “Ribeira” is the area of Porto located north of the Douro River’s banks. Sometimes you might read that Ribeira is Porto’s old town, although the old town actually extends over other districts as well.
The fact is, you’re in a very original neighbourhood here, with some extremely narrow and some very steep alleys, and countless houses in need of renovation. At many corners, Ribeira gives off a surprisingly shabby impression. And honestly, there’s not much to see.
Right by the riverside promenade (Cais da Ribeira), everything comes to life. You’ll find one restaurant after another, folks gathering for a drink after work, and street musicians adding a vibrant soundtrack to the scene.
In our opinion, the riverside promenade is a must-visit spot in Porto. Our Tip: If you enjoy a buzzing atmosphere, make sure to get there before sunset.
Livraria Lello
Moving on to the next highlight and also one of the most important attractions in Porto: the legendary bookshop known as Livraria Lello. It’s considered one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world. And what’s more: It’s said that Joanne K. Rowling found inspiration here for Harry Potter.
You might have already guessed it: Yep, it’s (understandably) super busy here. Surprisingly, even in January, the bookstore was completely overrun.
If you’re planning to visit Livraria Lello, make sure to book your ticket in advance online. They assign timeslots every half hour.
Here’s the very best tip we can give you: Aim for the first or the last timeslot of the day. We went for the last one. Right before they close, you’ll get the best shot of that iconic staircase without too many people in your way.
Information and Tips for Visiting Livraria Lello at a Glance
Admission: 8 Euros (But you can use this amount as credit to buy books on-site – which is what we did.)
Book tickets: Livraria Lello (official website)
Tip: Book the very last timeslot!
Igreja do Carmo
Right next to Livraria Lello, you’ll find another must-see attraction in Porto: Igreja do Carmo. Its tiled facade is definitely one of the most beautiful photo opportunities in all of Porto.
You can also visit the inside of the church, but a small entrance fee is required. However, in our opinion, the highlight of the church is undoubtedly its exterior view.
Capela das Almas
Another must-see church in Porto with an azulejo facade is Capela das Almas (“Chapel of Souls”), which is just a short walk from the market hall (more details on that coming up).
Capela das Almas may look smaller and more modest at first compared to Igreja do Carmo. Yet, you can snap even better photos here since the tiles reach closer to the ground than at Igreja do Carmo. It’s definitely worth a visit before or after your trip to the market.
Mercado do Bolhão
The Bolhão Market Hall, now one of Porto’s newer highlights, has a rich past. Although the historic market hall was established over a century ago, it only reopened in September 2022 following extensive renovations.
On the ground floor, you’ll find an array of vendors selling everything from vegetables, fruits, and cheeses, to fish, meat, and even souvenirs. There are also spots to grab a quick snack or coffee, complete with a few standing tables.
It’s definitely worth heading upstairs—not just for the restaurants, but to admire the beautifully restored historic staircase. The market is open daily except Sunday.
Our tip: Just beside the market hall is a branch of the famous Pastéis de Nata bakery “Manteigaria”. They truly offer the best Pastéis de Nata—and we’ve tried plenty!
3. Viewpoints in Porto
We love viewpoints – and luckily, Porto has plenty of them. In this section, we introduce you to the most beautiful viewpoints and share our tips.
Torre dos Clérigos
The 75-meter-high Torre dos Clérigos is one of Porto’s landmarks and, strictly speaking, one of the city’s most important attractions. However, we’ve included it in this chapter because the main highlight here is the fantastic panoramic view you enjoy from its top.
Before you can enjoy this view, you’ll face a climb. Inside the church tower, there are over 200 steps to conquer. The higher you go, the steeper it gets. But don’t worry: We managed the climb ourselves with a baby in a carrier.
Once you reach the top, two viewing platforms are waiting for you (you’ll need to climb a few extra steps to get to the second one). You can enjoy views in every direction—the panorama is definitely worth it. Both platforms are quite narrow, which means the number of people allowed on the tower at any one time is limited.
Our tip: Entry tickets for the tower are issued in half-hour slots. For the best light, try to book one of the slots before sunset. You can do this online. (In the high season, it’s best to book a few days in advance.)
Admission: 8 Euros Book tickets: Torre dos Clérigos (official website)
Jardim do Morro
Jardim do Morro is a kind of green space that you reach by walking across the gigantic Ponte Dom Luís I and landing on the other side in the district of Vila Nova de Gaia. From here, you essentially enjoy the “signature” view of Porto’s skyline along with the bridge.
We caught the sunset here on a weekend, and as you can imagine, it was packed. This spot is extremely popular among locals for watching the sunset, so it tends to get really busy.
With the loud music, the smell of cannabis, and the many people, we personally found the experience (with a baby) a bit overwhelming. However, if you like a lively atmosphere, you might enjoy the mood.
Miradouro da Serra do Pilar
Last but not least: Our personal favorite viewpoint in Porto is the terrace at Serra do Pilar Monastery. It’s just a short walk from the previously mentioned Jardim do Morro, though it does involve a bit of a climb.
But, you’ll be rewarded with what we consider the very best view of Porto. Our tip: We were here for the sunset too and highly recommend visiting at this time of day.
4. Culinary Travel Guide: Tips for Cafés and Restaurants in Porto
Porto can be quite overwhelming when it comes to food. It seems like there’s an eatery at every corner. Here are our favourites.
Manteigaria: First things first. You shouldn’t leave Porto without trying the world-famous custard tarts “Pastéis de Nata”. In our opinion, the very best ones are at Manteigaria. They have two locations.
Nola Kitchen: A really nice café for breakfast, brunch, or just a coffee in between. Here, you’ll find “hipster classics” like avocado toast and açaí bowl, but also healthy lunch dishes. The place is quite small (spread over 2 levels) and seating is cozy, but we were among the first guests in the morning, so it was fine.
Cult of Pita: Our absolute insider tip for delicious takeaway or delivery (Ubereats). Here, you’ll find fantastic vegetarian dishes from the Middle East at very fair prices. If you like hummus, falafel, and the like, you’ll love it here.
Gruta: Mentioned by Michelin, it’s no surprise that you dine at a very high level here. The menu primarily features modern-inspired Portuguese cuisine, including a lot of fish and some vegetarian options. It’s on the pricey side.
Jardineiro: A vegan restaurant – perfect for a high-quality lunch or dinner! The seating is very cozy. The ambiance is somewhat reminiscent of a greenhouse. The service is very attentive without being intrusive. It’s on the pricey side.
Café Majestic: Probably Porto’s most legendary café in Belle Époque style. The coffee house is very touristy and the prices are quite steep for Portugal. But the ambiance is truly something special.
5. Porto Travel Guide: Our Hotel Tips
Still looking for the perfect hotel for your city trip to Porto? We have two recommendations that we can highly recommend.
Option 1: Casa Camélia
Our first recommendation is the charming Casa Camélia. This historic 18th-century building has been meticulously renovated and now offers nine cozy rooms.
The entire property, including the rooms, is exceptionally stylish, unique, and aesthetically pleasing. High-quality materials and comfortable beds make for a delightful stay. A special feature is the glass pavilion in the garden where a delicious breakfast is served.
Casa Camélia is located just outside the busy center in the west of Porto’s old town. For example, you can walk to the Torre dos Clérigos in just 10 minutes. The only small drawback? There’s no air conditioning. But it’s still highly recommended!
You can book the accommodation here: Casa Camélia
Option 2: Village by BOA
Looking for something more urban and a bit more hip? Check out the Village by BOA apartments. This is another stylishly renovated historic 19th-century building. The Boho style is a consistent theme throughout the property.
Every room features a well-equipped kitchen, which is perfect if you’re traveling with a baby like we did. However, we’d suggest the chic maisonette rooms for those without kids.
The apart-hotel is situated in the north of Porto’s old town, just a five-minute walk from Mercado do Bolhão. Personally, we wouldn’t go for the breakfast again. You can find better value breakfasts around Porto. Other than that, we highly recommend staying here.
You can book the hotel here: Village by BOA
6. Map of our Travel Guide: All Attractions and Tips at a Glance
This map provides a quick overview of all the must-see attractions and highlights in Porto. Our tip: Simply click on the rectangle at the top right to open the map in the Google Maps app on your smartphone. This makes it super easy to navigate from one place to another while exploring Porto.
Disclaimer: Affiliate Links
This travel guide contains our personal recommendations in the form of so-called affiliate links. If you book or buy something through these links, we receive a small commission. The price remains the same for you. A massive thank you from us both!
Have you ever been to Porto? How did you like the city? What attractions would you recommend? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below this travel guide!
