10 Things You Have To Do In Porto

We’ll take you on our short trip and tell you how you can experience Porto to the full in a short space of time.

As we all know, many roads lead to Porto. As we travelled directly from Switzerland, we opted for an EasyJet flight. This took about 2.5 hours and brought us directly to the centrally located Porto (OPO) airport.

Porto Airport (Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport): The easiest and quickest way for international travellers is to fly directly to Porto Airport (OPO). It is located around 15 kilometres from the city centre. Porto is served by major airlines and low-cost airlines such as Ryanair, EasyJet and TAP Air Portugal.

TIP: From our own experience, however, we strongly advise you not to travel with TAP Protugal.

Metro: Line E (purple) connects the airport with the city centre of Porto. The journey takes around 30 minutes.

Uber/Bolt: For quick and inexpensive transport, we recommend that you use either UBER or BOLT. Both providers are very well represented in Porto. However, we recommend that you install both apps if you have the opportunity and compare the prices, as we have noticed that there can sometimes be big differences. In our case, BOLT was almost always cheaper. A journey to or from the airport to the harbour city of Porto cost us around 15 euros.

The heart of Porto, which stands out as a beautiful photo motif on the banks of the Duoro River, was the first place that caught our eye. In this district you will find the well-known, beautiful alleyways with the colourfully painted houses and the washing lines hanging like vines between the windows. In this neighbourhood, you immediately feel the authentic life in Porto and we were completely enchanted by it.

Here you will discover numerous delicious restaurants, cute cafés and boutiques. Take your time and enjoy your walk here and let the rhythm of life in Porto work its magic on you.

TIP: There is also the hop-on hop-off bus – but we personally think you’ll experience the real Porto on foot and discover mysterious corners along the way – ideal for a great photo!

In the Ribeira neighbourhood, you will discover the picturesque promenade. Here, too, you will find numerous great restaurants, cafés and various street artists to sweeten your walk. Along the way, you can discover the former imposing 19th-century commercial court, the Palácio da Bolsa – a beautiful landmark of Porto.

This station is a real gem among railway stations, not only from the outside, but also inside you will find magnificent hand-painted works of art. These works of art tell you the story of Portugal as well as everyday images from rural life.
It is not without reason that the railway station has been considered one of the most beautiful in the world since it opened in 1916.

TIP: The Time Market is a must when visiting São Bento railway station in Porto, as it offers the perfect blend of traditional Portuguese cuisine and modern flair. Just a few steps from the station, this market offers fresh local delicacies, Portuguese wines and a lively atmosphere – an ideal place to experience the flavours and rhythm of the city.

We think this bookshop is one of the best known, if only because of all the social media videos. The Lello bookshop is unique in its interior design and attracts numerous visitors every day.

TIP: If possible, we recommend visiting the bookshop during the week and early in the morning. We were there just before midday and the queue was so long that we saved a visit for our next trip to Porto.

We were definitely impressed by the Igreja do Carmo. This baroque church has been a national monument since 2013 and impresses with its appearance and the beautiful typical Portuguese decoration. The church is located in the immediate vicinity of the famous Praça dos Leões square, where you have plenty of time to marvel at the exterior architecture. A visit is definitely recommended.

Known as Sè do Porto, is a monumental landmark of Porto. It literally towers over the city, as the cathedral is located at the highest point of the city. From the terrace of the cathedral, you can enjoy a fantastic panoramic view over the historic centre, the Duoro river and, of course, the impressive Ponte Dom Luís I bridge. Most of the time, you will find talented street musicians here who will enchant you with their sounds while you admire a great piece of history from the 12th century.

TIP: Discover the beautiful alleyways Largo da Pena Ventosa and Rua da Bainharia

This majestic steel bridge is impressive and one of Porto’s most recognisable landmarks. If you walk from the cathedral towards the Ponte Dom Luís I bridge, you have the opportunity to walk across the bridge next to the train tracks. This route to the Gaia neighbourhood also offers you a unique view over the city.
Since the 19th century, it is impossible to imagine the city without this unique bridge, not only because of its appearance, but above all because it connects the two neighbourhoods of Ribeira and Gaia.

TIP: As the bridge is a double-decker bridge, you can use the lower level on your way back to catch another view.

PRO TIP: You’ll find a great photo spot nearby: Escadas Dos Guindai

Don’t miss the viewpoint at the Serra do Pilar monastery (or Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar). This place offers you peace and quiet, a wonderful view and a guarantee for a great photo.
Not only the Ribeira neighbourhood is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but also the Serra do Pilar Monastery. The monastery has been part of Porto’s inventory since the 16th century and is particularly famous for its impressive dome. This unique design is rare in both Portugal and Europe and was inspired by Roman architecture.

TIP: Come here at sunset, as Porto is known for its beautiful sunsets and this is the perfect place to enjoy them.

This beautiful park is located in the immediate vicinity of the Serra do Pilar monastery. This park offers you a peaceful oasis in the centre of the city with well-tended green areas, shady trees and charming walking paths. Concerts, open-air cinemas and other events often take place here in the evening to round off your sightseeing day perfectly.

TIP: For an even better panoramic view of the city, you can take the Teleférico de Gaia cable car. The cable car station is located right next to the Jardim do Morro park.

If you walk from the Jardim do Morro towards the historic centre of Gaia, you will inevitably come to the Avenue de Diogo Leite. On this stretch of road, along the river, you will find delicious restaurants, markets and Porto’s famous wine cellars.

TIP: The Tempèro d’Maria restaurant is authentic and serves the delicious, famous Francseinha sandwiches.