Portugal’s second largest city lies in the northwest of the country on the Atlantic coast. Among its many attractions, the city is famous for its Port wine.

Porto is also called the city of bridges (Cidade das Pontes), currently six bridges connect it to Vila Nova de Gaia, famous for its cellars on the southern bank of the river. The historic city center is part of the UNESCO World Heritage.

I have been two days in Porto, the travelogue is here!

Porto attractions

Vila Nova de Gaia

The section running along the southern bank of the Douro River offers a great view of the old town, and there are also many wineries here. In addition, there are many cafes and restaurants on the promenade.

White-washed inscriptions on red roof tiles, huge illuminated neon letters at night, and names decorating the sails of characteristic barco rabelos boats standing on the shore all advertise the major British wine trading companies (Taylor, Graham, Cockburn, Sandeman).

You can also book a cellar visit, with presentations combined with tastings available at various prices.

Make sure to visit the Espaço Porto Cruz shop! Everything here is about wine, and the rooftop terrace offers a great view of the city.

Dom Luís I Bridge (Ponte Luís I)

The iconic double-deck cast iron bridge spans the Douro River, connecting Porto’s historic center with Vila Nova de Gaia.

The upper level carries trams and pedestrians, while the lower level is for car and pedestrian traffic. Its total length is 385 meters, with the main arch spanning 172 meters. Its upper level is 45 meters above the river, providing a stunning view of both cities.

Gaia Cable Car (Téléphérique de Gaia)

The cable car connects the upper level of Dom Luís I Bridge with the riverside promenade of Vila Nova de Gaia. There are many cafes and bars around the lower station.

It covers the 600-meter distance in 5 minutes with a 59-meter elevation change. There’s a beautiful view of the opposite Ribeira quarter during the ride.

All information here!

Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar

The 17th-century monastery is located on a hill not far from the southern part of the bridge and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage.

The circular church was likely inspired by the Roman Pantheon in Italy. The interior of the church is also circular, which is rare in Portugal.

The view of the old town from here is the most beautiful, as it overlooks the opposite side from a higher point than the bridge.

Access: Take metro „D” to Jardim do Morro station.

Church of Saint Francis (Igreja Monumento de Sao Francisco)

The oldest church in the city. It doesn’t show much from the outside, but it’s very special.

Its construction began at the end of the 13th century and was completed in the 15th century. It’s basically Gothic in style, with the interior of the church richly decorated in Baroque style in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Stock Exchange Palace (Palácio da Bolsa)

The Stock Exchange Palace, standing next to the Church of Saint Francis, is the most visited building in the city.

Its construction began in 1842 and lasted for more than 60 years, initiated by the Porto Chamber of Commerce. Its architectural style is eclectic, incorporating neoclassical and neo-Romanesque elements.

Its most famous room is the Sala Árabe, the Arab Room, which is a gold-decorated room where guests were formerly received.

It can only be visited as part of a guided tour!

All information here!

Clerigos Tower (Torre dos Clérigos)

The 75-meter-high granite clock tower was built in the 18th century. It’s a symbol of Porto for many.

It stands next to the Igreja dos Clérigos, the Clerigos Church, and it’s called the „tower of the clerics” because its construction was financed by priests.

A spiral staircase leads up to the top through six floors, offering a good view. The viewing platform is paid, and the entrance ticket also allows access to the Clérigos Museum.

All information here!

São Bento Railway Station

The 19th-century train station is famous for its elaborately crafted azulejo tiles in the main hall.

The frescoes made of more than 20,000 tiles depict significant moments in Portuguese history.

Ribeira

The old town west of the Dom Luís I Bridge is part of the UNESCO World Heritage.

Viewed from the river, this ancient city core is a colorful and lively sight, most beautiful in the afternoon sun.

The houses, alleys, and churches clustered around the former riverside fish market provide a truly diverse cityscape. It’s worth wandering around the district for an hour or two, as there are many good restaurants and lots to see here!

Guindais Funicular (Funicular dos Guindais)

It connects Riberia and Batalha quarters in just 2 minutes. The journey offers a great view of the Douro River and Dom Luís I Bridge.

Porto Cathedral (Sé do Porto)

The Porto Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church and one of the oldest buildings in the city. Its construction began in the 12th century and continued for several hundred years, incorporating various styles.

The cathedral’s facade is dominated by two massive towers, one of which still retains features of the Romanesque style. In the 14th century, a Gothic-style chapel was added, famous for its special windows and vaults. There’s also a baptistery chapel rebuilt in Baroque style in the 17th century.

Casa da Musica

Various musical performances are held in this building, opened in 2005.

The building itself is worth seeing, symbolizing modern architecture with its irregular shape. It’s possible to participate in guided tours.

Access: Take metro A, B, C, E, F to Casa da Música station.

Livraria Lello Bookstore

This beautiful bookstore is considered one of the most beautiful of its kind in the world. However, the store is famous for something else too.

JK Rowling lived and taught English in the city for years. Several locations in the Harry Potter novels were inspired by this place. The stairs of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the novel were clearly inspired by the bookstore’s interior.

Because of this, the bookstore’s tourist traffic has greatly increased. You need to purchase a 5 euro redeemable entry ticket to enter the store. This can be bought at the Armazéns do Castelo shop two buildings away or online.

Chapel of Souls (Capela das Almas)

The azulejo-covered church is one of Portugal’s characteristics with its blue color.

Tile-covered churches can be found elsewhere, but in Portugal, white with blue painting became established. This church also shines in these colors, covered with 15,947 tiles.

Among the scenes depicted on the tiles are St. Francis preaching to the birds, the martyrdom of St. Catherine, as well as other biblical scenes and moments from the lives of saints.

Bolhao Market (Mercado do Bolhão)

Porto’s largest market where we can also taste products from local producers.

We can find all kinds of products, if we want to buy souvenirs, it’s worth looking around here.

Serralves Museum (Fundação Serralves)

We can see works by 20th-century contemporary artists here. Its building was designed by famous Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza Vieira in a modernist style.

It’s worth looking around not only inside the building, as there are many creations in its garden too. The park covers more than 18 hectares and includes various sections, sculptures, and ponds.

Access: Take bus 203 to Serralves stop.

All information here!

Tram Museum (Museu do Carro Elétrico)

It showcases Porto’s iconic means of transport and its history. It opened in 1992 in the building of the former Massarelos tram depot, which is itself of historical significance.

In addition to numerous beautifully restored trams, we can also admire the old network transformer and distribution station. There are more than 20 historical trams dating from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century.

The entrance fee is cheaper if you have an Andante Card, Port Card, or tram ticket!

All information here!

Access: Take tram 1 or 18, or bus 500 to Museu C. Eléctrico stop.

Botanical Garden (Jardim Botânico do Porto)

A beautifully landscaped garden. Excellent for a relaxing walk. We can also see exhibitions about wildlife in a gallery.

Entry is free!

Access: Take bus 200, 204, or 207 to Jardim Botânico stop.

Crystal Park (Jardins do Palácio de Cristal)

Porto’s most beautiful park, if you have free time, it’s definitely worth visiting for a peaceful walk.

From the southern part of the park, there’s a very beautiful view of the Douro River and the opposite bank.

Access: Take bus 200, 201, 207, 208, 507, or 601 to Palácio stop.

Felgueiras Lighthouse (Farol das Felgueiras)

Porto’s iconic lighthouse is located at the mouth of the Douro River and the Atlantic Ocean.

In calm weather, it’s very pleasant to walk and relax here, and it’s great to sunbathe on the nearby beach at such times. It’s worth coming out in slightly windy weather too, as the wind induces huge waves rising high with great force. This is also a beautiful sight!

Access: Take tram 1 to Passeio Alegre stop.

Fortaleza de São João da Foz

This 16th-century fortress, located near the lighthouse, was built against pirates and other attacks.

It has remained in good condition and although it’s a small area, it’s worth a short walk.

Port wine

Port wine is among Porto’s attractions. It’s a somewhat interesting phrasing, but the wine is an integral part of the city and world-famous.

It’s made from grapes grown about 100 kilometers from Porto, in the upper Douro River region, in a Mediterranean climate tending towards continental.

The wine produced in the Douro Valley was traditionally floated down the lower, navigable section of the river on galleys to the estuary to be aged in the cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia – nowadays, the harvested grapes are transported there, and the finished wine is also bottled there.

Interestingly, although it’s produced in Portugal, it’s considered a sort of „national drink” of the English.

A Porto attractions bejegyzés először Tips for journey-én jelent meg.

On March 18th, a Saturday late afternoon, my Wizz Air flight left from Budapest, landing at 7.30 PM.

To get to the city center, there’s a direct train, and tickets can be bought from a machine. It’s available in English and offers two types of tickets: single journey and a 24-hour Andante card. The card itself costs 0.60 euros, the 24-hour pass 7.55 euros. The city is divided into zones, and you should choose the z4.

The tickets need to be touched to the yellow sensor at the metro station; if it’s okay, the indicator lights up green. It’s important to validate again when transferring from one metro to another. There’s no need to touch in when getting off (both metro and bus). There were several ticket inspections, so it’s not worth fare-dodging.

On Sunday morning, I started from my accommodation in a bit of fog, which soon cleared up and it became sunny. The main attractions in the downtown are close, so it’s possible to walk around.

The main attraction, of course, is the Luis I Bridge (Ponte Luis I), and the Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar towering above it. The view from there is the most beautiful. Go there not only during the day but also at sunset, as the view is splendid both times!

From there, I walked down to the riverside, to the famous Vila Nova cellars. The view of the opposite Ribeira district and the bridge is also excellent from there.

Portuguese are very religious, so it’s no wonder that there are many churches. Quite a few are decorated with typically blue tiles, among which the Capela das Almas and the Igreja do Carmo are perhaps the most beautiful.

I also visited the Livraria Lello, known from Harry Potter, but I didn’t go in because there was a terribly long queue both days. I preferred to walk around rather than stand in line.

Next to the library is the Clerigos Tower, which also serves as a lookout. From here you can take tram 18 to the oceanfront.

On Sunday afternoon, I „popped into” the main hall of the Sao Bento railway station, where you can also see blue tiles.

Then I took a bus to the oceanfront and the lighthouse on the western edge of the city. Bus 500 starts from Sao Bento and is popular with tourists. It’s a double-decker bus, so it can be called a tourist bus. It travels along the Duero River, so I highly recommend it for the view!

Trams 1 and 18 also go to the oceanfront, but the day pass is not valid for this. You have to buy the ticket from the ticket inspector when boarding.

On the way back, I visited the Jardins do Palácio de Cristal gardens. Both the view and the garden are very beautiful.

On Monday morning, I took the metro to the Porto football team’s stadium, the Dragon Stadium (Estádio do Dragão). You can have a limited view into the stadium. Football fans should definitely visit! (It’s about a 10-minute metro ride from the downtown.)

I had an early lunch at the Bolhao market. It’s located at the entrance of the Bolhao metro station, where most tourists go. Nevertheless, the prices are fair.

The plane to Madeira left at 17:45, so I had plenty of time until about 15:00. I walked around, sat down on the Cais da Ribeira riverside promenade, and enjoyed the sunshine and the 20 degrees.

Overall, Porto is a pleasant place, similar to Lisbon. A perfect choice for a few days’ trip!

A Two-day trip to Porto bejegyzés először Tips for journey-én jelent meg.