This post was originally published on A Globe Well Travelled in 2019. The content has been revised and updated with fresh information.
A handful of people had told me that Porto was exactly the kind of city my husband and I would love.
Within a few hours of arriving, I could see why they were right. Colourful azulejo-covered buildings, a gorgeous setting on the Douro River, world-class port wine, and that slightly-grungy-but-also-charming energy that flows through so many of our favourite destinations… Porto had us hooked.
We spent our days wandering the hilly streets, crossing the Dom Luís I Bridge, tasting port wine in Vila Nova de Gaia, and seeking out viewpoints across the terracotta rooftops. Although Porto was a little more touristy than I expected, it still ended up being one of my favourite European city breaks.
If you’re visiting Porto for the first time, there are a handful of experiences that I think really capture what makes this Portuguese city so special. From port cellar tours and Douro River views to azulejo-covered landmarks, pastel de nata and a trip out to the Atlantic coast, here are 12 of the best things to do in Porto — plus my practical tips for making the most of your visit.
Quick summary:
Porto is a fantastic European city break, with colourful azulejos, spectacular river views, historic port wine cellars and seriously good food. This guide covers 12 of the best things to do in Porto for first-time visitors, along with practical tips for planning your trip.
Recommended tours:
🚢 Douro River Cruise with Port Wine – Sail the Douro River past Porto’s iconic landmarks with complimentary port wine.
🍷 Graham’s Port Lodge Tour with Wine Tastings – Tour a historic working cellar and enjoy premium port and food pairings.
🚶 Porto 3-Hour City Highlights Walking Tour – Explore Porto’s most beloved historic landmarks with a local guide.
🥐 Pastel de Nata Cooking Class – Learn to make Portugal’s iconic custard tarts in a hands-on cooking class.
Best things to do in Porto
1. Walk across the Dom Luís I Bridge
One of the first things I’d recommend doing in Porto is walking across the Dom Luís I Bridge, the enormous double-decker iron bridge that crosses the Douro River between Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia.
Built in 1886, the bridge was designed by Théophile Seyrig, a former business partner of Gustave Eiffel — which explains why its huge metal arch might remind you a little of the Eiffel Tower!
I walked across both the upper and lower levels during our visit, and absolutely loved the city views from each. The upper deck gives you a spectacular outlook over the Douro, Porto’s colourful riverside buildings and the port wine lodges of Gaia, while the lower deck brings you much closer to the river and connects directly with the waterfront areas on either side.
If you’re heading across to Gaia for port wine tasting, I’d definitely recommend walking at least one way. It’s an easy sightseeing experience to combine with the wine cellars and viewpoints on the opposite side of the river, and one of those classic Porto experiences that shouldn’t be missed on a first visit.
2. Go port wine tasting in Vila Nova de Gaia
It somehow hadn’t occurred to me before our trip that port wine comes from Porto. It seems ridiculously obvious now, but discovering this was one of those fun little travel revelations!
You’ll find many of Porto’s historic port wine lodges across the Douro River in Vila Nova de Gaia, where you can settle in for a tasting and sample a few different varieties. Port is generally sweeter and stronger than regular wine, and tastings might include styles such as white, rosé, ruby and tawny.
We tried a few different ports during our time in Gaia, served in those cute little port glasses, and my favourite was definitely the tawny. Even if you don’t consider yourself much of a wine person, I think tasting port is worth doing at least once while you’re here — it’s such an integral part of Porto’s identity.
You can easily combine a tasting with some time exploring the Gaia waterfront and viewpoints, or make more of the experience by booking a tour of one of the historic port wine cellars.
3. Take a tour of a port wine cellar
If you enjoy the port tastings in Gaia, it’s worth going one step further and taking a tour of one of the historic wine cellars. You’ll get to learn more about how port is produced and aged, while wandering through atmospheric warehouses filled with enormous barrels of wine.
We enquired at a few of the port lodges while we were in Gaia and ended up taking a tour of Cockburn’s, which finished with a tasting of three different ports. I really enjoyed getting a behind-the-scenes look at the process, and it gave me much more appreciation for what we were drinking afterwards!
Port cellar tours are one of the most popular experiences in Porto, so this is something I’d recommend booking ahead rather than just turning up and hoping for a spot.
🍷 The Graham’s Port Lodge Tour with Premium Wine Tastings is another great option. Graham’s dates back to 1890 and is still a working cellar, with more than 2,000 oak casks and 40 large vats of ageing port.
The guided tour takes you through the historic lodge to learn about the port-making process, before finishing with a premium tasting and food pairings including chocolate, cheese, and Pastel de Nata. You’ll also get some spectacular views across the Douro towards Porto and the Dom Luís I Bridge.
4. See the views from Jardim do Morro
While you’re over in Vila Nova de Gaia, make your way up to Jardim do Morro for one of the best views across Porto. This hilltop park sits near the upper level of the Dom Luís I Bridge, with a gorgeous outlook over the Douro River and the colourful buildings spilling down towards the Ribeira waterfront.
We walked up the hill to reach the park, and I can confirm that it’s a fairly steep climb — but the views from the top are absolutely worth the effort! It’s a great spot to stop for a while and take in Porto’s skyline before crossing the upper level of the bridge back into the city.
If you’d rather save your legs, you can take the Gaia Cable Car from the riverfront up towards Jardim do Morro instead. This works particularly well after a port tasting or cellar tour, as you can explore Gaia at river level first and then make your way uphill without tackling the steep streets on foot.
If you can time your visit for later in the day, Jardim do Morro is also a popular place to watch the sunset over Porto.
5. Explore Porto’s Ribeira waterfront
Down at the edge of the Douro River, Ribeira is Porto’s colourful historic waterfront and one of those places that you’ll almost certainly end up wandering through on your first visit.
I’ll admit that I found Ribeira a little more touristy than I expected, and many of the restaurants seemed to be heavily focused on seafood — not particularly useful for us vegetarians! Still, it’s a lovely area to explore on foot, with narrow streets leading down towards the river and colourful buildings lining the waterfront.
Ribeira Square is one of the main gathering points, but I particularly enjoyed walking along the river and taking in the views across to Vila Nova de Gaia and the Dom Luís I Bridge. It’s an easy area to combine with the bridge, Gaia and the port wine cellars, so you’ll probably pass through here at least once while sightseeing.
The Ribeira waterfront is also a convenient place to join a Douro River cruise, which is another great way to see Porto from a completely different perspective.
6. Take a Douro River cruise
After seeing the Douro River from Porto’s bridges and waterfront, another way to experience it is from the water. A river cruise will give you a completely different perspective on the city.
The river itself actually begins hundreds of kilometres away in Spain, winding through the landscapes and vineyards of the Douro Valley before eventually reaching the Atlantic Ocean here in Porto.
🚢 A Douro River Cruise with Port Wine is available as either a daytime or sunset cruise. The route provides views back towards Ribeira, the port wine lodges of Gaia and the bridges spanning the Douro, with a complimentary glass of port included along the way.
I think this would be a particularly nice experience towards the end of a day spent exploring Ribeira and Gaia — especially around sunset, when you can sit back with a glass of port and enjoy the city views from the water.
7. Go hunting for Porto’s famous azulejos
One of the things I loved most about wandering around Porto was spotting the colourful azulejos that decorate buildings all over the city. These traditional Portuguese tiles started appearing in Porto centuries ago, and while the classic blue-and-white designs are probably the most recognisable, you’ll find them in all sorts of colours and patterns.
You don’t really need to go out of your way to find them — we came across plenty simply while exploring the city on foot. Some cover entire building façades, while others decorate the interiors of churches, train stations and other historic landmarks.
For some particularly impressive examples, stop by São Bento Station to see the huge blue-and-white tiled panels inside its entrance hall, then head to the Chapel of Souls, where the exterior is almost completely covered in azulejos. Igreja do Carmo is another beautiful spot to look out for while exploring central Porto.
🎨 If seeing all those azulejos leaves you feeling inspired, you can also try painting your own at a Tile Painting and Cocktails Workshop in Downtown Porto. You’ll learn about traditional Portuguese tile-painting techniques before creating your own azulejo to take home — with a cocktail to sip while you work.
8. Climb Clérigos Tower for views over Porto
For one of the best views over central Porto, head to Clérigos Church and climb the bell tower that rises high above the surrounding rooftops.
The Baroque church dates back to the 18th century, but the real highlight for me was climbing the 200 or so steps to the top of its 76-metre-tall tower. It’s a bit of a workout, but once you reach the viewing area, you’re rewarded with sweeping views across Porto’s terracotta rooftops and historic city centre.
I thought the climb was absolutely worth the effort. You’ll also get to see the historic architecture inside Clérigos Church as part of your visit, so allow some extra time to look around rather than heading straight up and down the tower.
If you’re able to tackle the stairs, I’d definitely add Clérigos Tower to your Porto itinerary — especially if, like me, you can never resist a good city viewpoint.
9. See Porto’s beautiful historic buildings
Beyond the famous azulejos, Porto’s historic centre is packed with beautiful old buildings that make wandering around the city an attraction in itself. Ornate churches, colourful façades and grand civic buildings seem to pop up around every corner, so it’s worth leaving some time in your itinerary to simply explore on foot.
One of the most famous places to see is Livraria Lello, a historic bookshop with an elaborate interior, sweeping staircase and stained-glass ceiling. It’s become an incredibly popular Porto attraction, which means you can expect an entrance fee and potentially a queue to get inside.
We actually gave Livraria Lello a miss because I really hate wasting precious travel time waiting in queues! Instead, we took a peek through the doorway and continued exploring the city.
If seeing Porto’s architecture and learning more about its history is high on your list, this is also where a guided walking tour can be worthwhile. You’ll get much more context behind the buildings you’re passing rather than simply stopping for photos along the way.
🚶 The Porto 3-Hour Guided City Highlights Walking Tour covers some of the city’s best-known historic landmarks with a local guide, making it a good option if you want to dig a little deeper into Porto’s history on your first visit.
10. Visit the beaches at Foz do Douro
If you’ve got enough time in Porto, it’s worth heading out to Foz do Douro, where the Douro River meets the Atlantic Ocean. It feels quite different from the historic centre, with a waterfront promenade, beaches and plenty of places to stop and enjoy the ocean views.
My favourite spot was the Pergola of Foz, a distinctive yellow neoclassical structure overlooking the Atlantic. The weather was a tad too cool for swimming during our September visit, but my husband and I happily spent a few hours at a nearby beach bar, staring out at the ocean with a jug of sangria to share. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon!
Foz is fairly easy to reach from central Porto by public transport. When we visited, the bus journey took around 30–40 minutes, so it’s an easy addition if you have a spare afternoon and want to see a different side of the city.
I probably wouldn’t prioritise Foz if you only have one day in Porto, but for a longer first visit, it makes a lovely change of pace after exploring the busy city centre.
11. Eat a pastel de nata
You can’t visit Portugal without eating at least one pastel de nata — although if you’re anything like me, you’ll probably end up eating quite a few!
These little Portuguese custard tarts are made with flaky pastry filled with creamy egg custard, usually finished with a dusting of cinnamon. You’ll find them in bakeries and cafés all over Porto, so there’s really no need to go far out of your way to track one down.
I tried pastel de nata in various cafés and coffee shops throughout our trip, and even squeezed in one more at the airport before leaving Portugal. They’re especially good alongside a coffee when you need a break from walking Porto’s hilly streets.
🥐 If eating them isn’t enough, you can also learn how to make your own at a Pastel de Nata Pastry-Making Workshop in Porto. The hands-on class takes you through the process of making Portugal’s famous custard tarts from scratch, so you can attempt to recreate them once you get home.
12. Eat and drink your way around Porto
Porto has some amaaazing places to eat and drink, and we found it surprisingly easy to find good vegetarian options while we were there. Between sightseeing stops, make sure you leave plenty of time for coffee, drinks and leisurely meals — they were all part of the Porto experience for us.
For coffee or brunch, we really liked Fabrica Coffee Roasters, a hip little coffee shop in the city centre that makes an easy stop while you’re out exploring.
Later in the day, head to Base Porto for a cold Super Bock, Portugal’s popular local beer. This garden bar near Clérigos Church was one of our favourite spots to take a break after a few hours of sightseeing, with plenty of outdoor space to sit back and relax.
For dinner, we had an amazingly good vegetarian meal at daTerra, which serves a buffet of plant-based dishes. As vegetarians, it was particularly nice to find somewhere with so much choice rather than having to hunt through a menu for the one or two things we could eat.
Where to stay in Porto
We stayed in a private apartment on a quiet street near Trindade Station, and I loved this area as a base for exploring Porto. We were within walking distance of many of the sights in the historic centre, while Trindade made it easy to connect with other parts of the city by public transport.
Our apartment itself was a modern little space with a perfectly adorable Portuguese balcony overlooking a building covered in deep-green azulejos. Our mornings were spent drinking coffee as seabirds flew overhead, and our evenings with Portuguese wine and a cheese spread. It literally could not have been more perfect.
🏨 If you’re looking for a hotel in the same area, I’d point you towards Pur Oporto Boutique Hotel by Actahotels. I haven’t stayed here personally, but it’s a beautifully decorated 4-star boutique hotel in central Porto, and its location makes it a convenient base for exploring many of the attractions in this guide.
How many days do you need in Porto?
For a first visit to Porto, I’d suggest allowing at least two full days to explore the city. That gives you enough time to see the main sights around the historic centre, cross the Dom Luís I Bridge, spend some time tasting port in Vila Nova de Gaia, and enjoy the waterfront without rushing between everything.
If you have three days, even better. You can explore at a slower pace, fit in experiences like a Douro River cruise or port cellar tour, and use your extra time to head out to Foz do Douro for an afternoon by the Atlantic.
Porto works really well as a weekend city break, but I wouldn’t try to squeeze everything in if you’re short on time. For a two-day visit, I’d concentrate on central Porto, Ribeira and Gaia, then save places like Foz for a longer stay.
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