Your Travel Guide to Visiting 15 Enjoyable Places in Porto

Porto is the second-largest city in Portugal after Lisbon, the capital, and is one of the most famous urban cities in southern Europe. It is also known as Portugal’s second capital, and its area is 41.66 km2. Porto is located in the country’s north, overlooks the Atlantic Ocean, and extends along the Douro River in northern Portugal.

The city is one of the world’s most famous and, at the GAWC level, is the most critical international study group. UNESCO registered it as a World Heritage Site in 1996 due to its fantastic port, excellent geographical location, and architectural vision.

Settlements began in Porto at the end of the Bronze Age in the 8th century BC, and the Romans occupied it in the second and first centuries BC. In 580 AD, the Visigoths took control of Porto, and evidence of this is the finding of coins in the city dating back to the 6th and 7th centuries, from when the Visigoths ruled the city.

Porto is one of the most beautiful tourist cities in Europe. It enjoys a bustling life, has a great history, and includes several tourist places. You can visit the Riberia Porto neighbourhood, one of the oldest places in the city, and enjoy watching the old houses there. You can also ride the Douro River and enjoy everything around you.

We will learn more about many attractions in the coming part of the article, so let’s start our tour in the beautiful city of Porto and explore its attractions.

The Best Time to Visit Porto

Porto is located in the north and is famous for its cold and humid weather. The best time to visit is in June and August when the weather is hot and dry, and you can enjoy the beaches there. The tourist season for Porto is from May to October, and the weather is charming now.

Transportation in Porto

In the city of Porto, there are many means of transportation that you can use after you arrive at the city of Porto from the Francisco Sa Carneiro International Airport, that is located 14 km to the north of the city, and these transportation include:

• Metro: The metro serves the suburbs of Porto. Its stations within the city are few and connect the two main train stations. The metro station opens from 6 AM until 1 AM.
• Bus: Buses serve all of Porto, day or night, and you can buy tickets when you arrive at the ticket office.
• Taxis: Taxis are available 24 hours a day. Some taxis accommodate four people only, while others can take eight people. Also, make sure to turn on the meter to know the cost of the trip.

Things to do in Porto

Porto is famous for having many of Portugal’s most essential and beautiful tourist attractions. Its attractive nature and moderate climate characterize it, and visitors always visit archaeological sites, such as churches, palaces, and museums.

The city also includes recreational tourist attractions, parks, and gardens that impress tourists. They are the perfect places for lovers of calm and relaxation and people of all ages. 

Clerigos Tower

The Clerigos Tower is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Porto. It is characterized by its beautiful design and is the tallest tower in Portugal. The tower was built in the 18th century by the Italian architect Niccolo Nasoni in the Baroque style. It also includes a small exhibition that tells its history.

 The tower stands at 249 feet, where tourists climb 200 steps to reach the top of the tower. You will encounter 49 bells when you climb the building, and you will find that the effort to climb all these steps will disappear when you reach the top and see the charming view of the Doro River and the old city, where you can take the most beautiful souvenir photos of the best tourist attractions in Porto.

Francis Church

St. Francis Church is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Porto. Its 18th-century Baroque interior is covered with a gilded crust, which many people agree is one of the best examples of gold working anywhere in the country.

When you enter the church, look for the San Francisco tree, a family tree of canopy wood painted in the form of Christ’s bloodline. The tree boasts many details in the expressions of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and other figures. You can also see the catacombs under the church and more valuable things in the museum.

Dom Luis I Bridge

The beautiful Dom Luis I Bridge is one of the most innovative structures in Portugal. It spans the Douro River and connects Porto to other places on the south bank. The charcoal-grey ironwork has Gustave Eiffel written all over it. He assisted the French engineer who built the bridge in 1886.

The lower part of the bridge is used for passengers daily, while the upper part is used for a metro railway line. You can also walk across the bridge using the narrow pavements on each side. If you stay at the Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar Hotel, you can see a beautiful view of the bridge from the terrace.

Soares dos Reis National Museum

Soares des Reis National Museum is the perfect place for art lovers. It is where you can find many Portuguese art collections from the 16th to the 20th centuries and also includes sculptures by Antonio Soares dos Reis. 

The museum’s collections include works by Portuguese and foreign artists and works by Dutch and Flemish. While touring the museum, you will see glassware from the 18th century, ceramic pieces, including porcelain from China, and much more. In addition, there is furniture from India and Japan.

Stock Exchange Palace (Palacio da Bolsa)

The Stock Exchange Palace, built in the 19th century on the site of a Franciscan monastery, contains a wealth of history. The interior is divided into several rooms and salons. While inside, look up to see the gilded stucco ceiling in the Golden Room.

Remember to see the furnished Chairman’s Room and the well-decorated Court Hearing Room. One of the famous rooms there is the Arabian Room, which was inspired by Granada’s Alhambra and is now the headquarters of the Porto Chamber of Commerce.

Avenida dos Aliados

It is one of the best places to have an excellent walk. The avenue is considered the city’s boisterous commercial hub, and while walking, you will find shops, cafes, restaurants, and boutiques on both sides. While walking in the streets, you will see Liberty Square, and you can start exploring the avenue from the nearby Porto’s central railway station.

To the north of the avenue is Porto’s city hall, and near it, on Formosa Street, you will find the historic market of Bolhao. The market hall was refurbished until 2020. A temporary market was created beyond the principal place near the Bolhao Metro station, and you can buy fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, and much more in the market.

Music House

One of the best places in Portugal that offers lovely international concerts, it was built by the Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas to move the city into the 21st century. You can attend one of the many gigs staged within its bleachers, where you can hear many musical tastes from jazz, hip hop, classical and more.

You can also have a great meal in the top-floor restaurant, which offers Mediterranean cuisine, and enjoy the spectacular view of the Boavista neighbourhood from the top.

  Se Cathedral

Se Cathedral is one of Porto’s most important historical and architectural tourist places. It will be an excellent opportunity to explore this tower dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries.

The cathedral is considered the most prominent place of worship in Porto and one of the oldest historical monuments. It is trendy in Porto city and is characterized by its buildings, which are designed according to a high-level architectural style. The walls are decorated with the most beautiful decorations, and it is considered a suitable place to take the most beautiful souvenir photos and is the best witness to the nobility of the Portuguese civilization.

World of Discoveries

It is one of the best places in Porto for all ages. The museum and the park show the period of exploration and conquest through Portugal. Exhibits show the trips of the 15th-century Portuguese navigators who sailed to chart unknown water and map new lands.

You can also take a boat and discover the countries discovered by Vasco da Gama, who mapped a sea route from Portugal to India, and Pedro Alvares Cabral, who reached Brazil in 1500. When you are on the boat, wear the audio headsets and hear everything about the history and culture of Portugal and the places that the Portuguese colonized. 

Contemporary Art Museum

The Contemporary Art Museum is one of the famous museums in Portugal. It was designed by Alvaro Siza Vieira. This white building is an example of great architecture in a twisted park located 4 km away from the city centre.

The museum includes many collections that offer a different point of view on contemporary art in many media. All you see there will give you the experience to decide about the pieces and the artist’s intentions. You can walk through the footpaths on 18 hectares, including ornamented lakes, aromatic herb gardens, and much more.

Porto Tram

While touring Porto’s historic centre, you can use the tram to discover and see the most important attractions. There are three different tram lines in the city. The first line starts near Ponte Dom Luis I, leaving from the Riverside Line to move west until the town of Foz do Douro. It is situated near the River Douro and beaches. 

Line 18 also passes through Carmo Church and ends at the Tram Museum. The last line is 22, which passes through the Majestic Café, Carmo Church, and other places.

Vila Nova de Gaia

Vila Nova de Gaia is a town located in Porto. It can be reached easily by crossing the Ponte de Dom Luis I. When you are there, you will see many restaurants and cafes lined up on the River Douro. It is also a starting point for many boat trips.

There, you will also see the fleet of traditional barcos rabelos moored alongside the esplanade and used to ferry casks from the Douro port estate. Also, you can ride on the Gaia Car Cable, which gives you a fascinating view from up and running along the Gaia riverside. It is near the Monastery of Serra do Pilar. 

Carmo Church

The Carmo Church’s design is beautiful. Its exterior is mixed with blue and white, and its façade is one of the most beautiful in the city. The interior is decorated with gilt carvings, and you will see the lovely Portuguese Rococo in the golden-brushed woodwork, which is fantastic.

Caiz da Ribeira

The Ribeira is one of the famous neighbourhoods in Porto. It is full of history, where you can discover medieval relics built over Roman foundations. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also popular with its restaurants and cafes, making it the perfect relaxing place.

When you visit the neighbourhood, you will find it is a busy commercial district with grocers, butchers, and fishmongers.

Café Majestic

Café Majestic is one of the most popular cafes in Porto; it is the place where the author J.K. Rowling worked on her first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. The façade of the café is decorated with stonework and undulating motifs.

When you enter inside, you will find the ambience of the 1920s, with the initially carved wood chairs and marble tables that lend a bohemian flavour. The café’s menu has Portuguese and Mediterranean flavours and is famous for its cakes and pastries. 

Places to stay in when you arrive at Porto

With all the attractions in Porto, you won’t be able to see them in just one or two days, so here are some hotels you can stay in while you visit the beautiful city of Porto.

• InterContinental Porto is one of the city’s famous hotels. It was an abandoned palace that was converted into a vast five-star hotel. It is near many attractions like Clerigos Tower and the Carmelite Church.
• Le Munmental Palace: This five-star hotel is located in the city centre. It has 53 rooms and 13 suites.
• Palacio do Freixo: It is a Baroque palace that belongs to a chain of huge hotels worldwide. It is located on the bank of the river, and through the room, you will enjoy the most beautiful views. The hotel has entertainment facilities, including swimming pools, a spa, and a large garden.
• M Maison Particuliere: This small hotel dates back to the 17th century and has ten elegant suites filled with antiques. The suites are designed to resemble a natural home, with antiques and fabrics similar to those found in homes.