1 Visit the Ribeira district

The heart of Porto’s old town and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ribeira is a labyrinth of narrow cobbled streets, ancient houses, and quaint plazas. The district’s riverside promenade is lined with cafes and restaurants, making it a perfect spot for enjoying a meal with views of the Douro River and the Dom Luís I Bridge. The vibrant, colorful architecture and lively atmosphere capture the essence of Porto’s traditional charm.

A favorite spot of mine is Largo da Pena Ventosa, a beautiful and cozy little square close to the cathedral without cars but with cobblestones, surrounded by colorful houses. You can stop here for a coffee or a drink and enjoy the sun:)

2 Walk across Dom Luís I Bridge (preferably at sunset)

Designed by a disciple of Gustave Eiffel, this bridge is an engineering marvel. Walking across it gives you a unique perspective of the city, the river, and the wine cellars of Gaia. You can walk across on the upper or lower part, but the upper deck offers stunning vistas, especially at sunset with neon colors that seem surreal. Porto is one of the places in the world that consistently delivers sunsets that nobody believes aren’t photoshopped, and this is a great spot to watch them.

When you walk across the bridge through the upper part, you will see Serra do Pilar with the Monastery (actually it’s visible pretty much from anywhere). There is the fantastic Miradouro da Serra do Pilar viewpoint here, from which you can see the iconic Dom Luís I Bridge, the old town of Porto, and the bustling river below. Once here, you can of course also visit the 16th century monastery, a notable example of Renaissance architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.

3 Taste Port Wine in Vila Nova de Gaia

Once you make it across the bridge, there’s plenty to do on the other side. You are now in Vila Nova de Gaia, which is actually a separate city from Porto, and is famous for its Port wine cellars. Port wine is a sweet, fortified wine unique to this region. Visiting these cellars, you can learn about the history and production of Port wine and enjoy tastings of various types. All the bigger brands organize tastings, and these are the best:

Graham’s

Cálem

Cockburn’s

Taylor’s

4 Visit the Porto Cathedral

This fortress-like cathedral is one of the city’s oldest monuments. Its Romanesque and Gothic architecture, cloisters adorned with azulejos (traditional Portuguese tiles), and the view from its terrace make it a significant historical and cultural site.

Good to know | Entrance free, but you will have to pay €3 per person to access the cloister and the Casa do Cabildo (chapter room + treasure room). Porto Cathedral is not just a tourist attraction but a functioning religious institution, so be mindful of silence and areas restricted during services.

5 Admire the Azulejos

One of the best examples for azulejos, the traditional Portuguese blue-and-white ceramic tiles, is São Bento Station, one of the most beautiful railway stations in the world. The station was designed by José Marques da Silva, one of the most important architects of Porto’s modern era. The interior walls are adorned with approximately 20,000 azulejo tiles, painted in various shades of blue and white that depict scenes from Portuguese history and the evolution of transportation, as well as rural life in Portugal. One of the most significant panels shows the Battle of Valdevez (1140) and the Conquest of Ceuta (1415).

6 Visit the Palácio da Bolsa

Explore the Palacio da Bolsa: This historic building, once home to Porto’s stock exchange, is now open to visitors for tours. Admire the stunning neoclassical architecture, including the Arabian Room, a lavish, Moorish Revival-style hall with intricate mosaics and stunning chandeliers.

Good to know | Entry is €12 for adults (€7.50 concessions), with discounts for senior citizens and students (children under 12 are free). There are 30-minute guided tours available in several languages, but there is no guarantee that the next tour will be in your language. If you purchase the Porto Card, you will be able to get 25% off the cost of entry to the Palacio Bolsa. It is open from 9.30 am – 1 pm, then 2 pm – 5.30 pm (until 6.30 pm April – October).

Tip | Try out the Restaurante O Comercial inside the palace, the place is beautiful, not crowded and they have a 3-course set menu that’s a great deal. Book in advance.

7 Climb Clérigos Tower

Right in the heart of Porto, the Clerigos Tower (Torre dos Clérigos) stands as an iconic symbol of the city’s skyline. This Baroque tower, constructed in the 18th century and designed by Nicolau Nasoni, offers visitors views over the city and showcases exquisite Baroque architecture. Try to visit during golden hour or sunset, when the view is the best.

Good to know | The tower is open everyday from 9 am to 7 pm, and entry costs €8 (free for children under 8 and includes access to the museum). Purchases can be made at the entrance or you can buy skip the line tickets in advance here. 25% off the ticket is available for holders of the excellent value Porto Card, which is essential for a city break. You can also pay for a night-time access to the tower ticket costing €5 which is ideal if you’d like to capture sunset up there during the summer months.

8 (Don’t) visit Livraria Lello

Being a reader of travel blogs myself, I was very disappointed by Livraria Lello. Every single blog I read about Porto recommends visiting this place, so I still refused to have doubts while queuing 30min to get in. Don’t get me wrong, the bookstore itself is stunning and considered one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world. It has a neo-Gothic façade and art nouveau interior, featuring a beautiful curvaceous staircase and stained glass ceiling.

But the experience is terribly disappointing, from the fact that you have to pay 8 € to get into a store to the insane crowd inside. Even the books you can purchase are overpriced and mini and a limited selection (also all the English Saramago books were sold out when I visited…), but I guess at this point I’m just biased by my general disappointment. The books actually are beautiful and you can use the ticket price against buying one of them.

Urban legend is that the bookstore inspired J.K. Rowling for her Harry Potter series. This has never been confirmed but definitely made the bookstore even more crowded. If you are still interested in going, check out the tickets and book selection before.

9 Take a Douro River Cruise

A cruise along the Douro not provides beautiful views of Porto’s riverside architecture and is a relaxing way to see the beautiful sights from a new angle. There are two boat trip types available, a short one in the city and a longer one that goes all the way to the Douro Valley. If you have the time, the latter is a unique chance to see the terraced vineyards of one of the most beautiful landscapes in Portugal. If you’d like to see Douro but you aren’t a fan of boats, visiting by train is also a great option (bonus point, trains leave from Sao Bento station, which is a sight in itself!). If you want to see even more of the Douro valley, consider visiting a quinta and staying overnight.

10 Surf in Matosinhos

The beach at Matosinhos is renowned for its consistent surf conditions, making it a popular spot for surfers of all levels. The beach is lined with surf schools offering lessons and equipment rentals, so you don’t need to chug your board along. Even if surfing isn’t on your agenda, Matosinhos Beach is worth a visit. It’s a good spot for a leisurely walk, sunbathing, or just watching the waves roll in. The seaside promenade is lined with cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy fresh seafood while taking in the ocean views. Getting to Matosinhos from Porto is easy, just hop on bus 500 that leaves from the historic center and goes along the river.

+1 Try the local cuisine

Porto’s culinary scene is rich and varied. The most famous dishes of Porto are:

Francesinha: Perhaps the most iconic Porto dish, the Francesinha is a hearty sandwich made with bread, wet-cured ham, linguiça (smoke-cured pork sausage), fresh sausage like chipolata, steak or roast meat, and covered with melted cheese and a hot thick tomato and beer sauce. It’s typically served with French fries and often paired with a beer. Try it out in one of the Brasao restaurants (there are several around Porto), they have the best sauce.

Bacalhau: No Portuguese menu is complete without Bacalhau (salted codfish), and Porto offers it in various preparations. ‘Bacalhau à Gomes de Sá’ is a local specialty, combining cod with onions, potatoes, eggs, olives, and lots of olive oil. Try Bacalhau in one of the restaurants next to the river – better on Gaia side, where the restaurants are touristy, but better value and have more seating space.

Bolinhos de Bacalhau: Also known as ‘Pasteis de Bacalhau,’ these are codfish fritters, combining bacalhau with potatoes, onions, parsley, and eggs. They are deep-fried until crispy and golden and are a popular snack or appetizer.

Pastéis de Nata: While not originally from Porto, these custard tarts have become a beloved pastry nationwide. Characterized by a crisp pastry shell filled with a smooth, creamy custard, they are best enjoyed warm with a dusting of cinnamon and powdered sugar. One of the best places to try them is Confiteria do Bolhao. You can even learn how to make them yourself, so you’ll know what to do when the craving hits! 😀