Porto City – Portugal
Porto city is located on the Atlantic coast, about 300 km north of the capital Lisbon, on the north bank of the Douro estuary. It is the second largest city in Portugal after Lisbon. The whole country takes its name from the city and the surrounding province of Portus Cale.
Porto’s liquid gold is the wine of Porto, a liqueur wine produced in the Alto Douro wine region according to strict methodological standards. The cellars are located in Vila Nova de Gaia, accessible via the Dom Luís I bridge.
The historic town centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The skyline of Porto is dominated by the town hall and the soaring towers of the Torre dos Clérigos. Life revolves around Praca da Liberdade and the Douro promenade, a popular meeting point for locals.
This guide is for you if you want to:
✓ Discover Porto’s top 10 must-see attractions
✓ Explore historic streets, viewpoints & riverfront charm
✓ Visit iconic spots like São Bento, Clérigos Tower & Ribeira
✓ Find the best places for photos, eats & local vibes
✓ Plan your Porto sightseeing easily and confidently
Scroll down for the full Porto city sightseeing guide.
Please note, this post may contain affiliate links.
TOP 10 attractions
São Bento train station
Estação de Porto São Bento
São Bento station is one of the most beautiful stations in Portugal, opened to the public in 1916 on the site of a former Benedictine monastery. The main hall of the station is covered with more than 20,000 tiles depicting the history of Portugal.
Address: Praça de Almeida Garrett, 4000-069 Porto, Portugal
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Porto Cathedral
Sé do Porto
Built on the highest point of the city, the Sé Cathedral is Porto’s most important religious building. Construction of the cathedral began in the 12th century, but it has been rebuilt and renovated several times over the centuries. The church is predominantly Baroque, although the façade and nave are Romanesque, and the cloister and one of the chapels are Gothic.
Address: Terreiro da Sé, 4050-573 Porto, Portugal
Porto City transport
The city is easy to get around on foot, but you may need public transport to get to some of the more remote sights. You can hop on any tram for a charming tour of Porto.
There are three tram lines in the city: lines 1, 18 and 22 (line 22 is currently closed due to the construction of a new metro station).
STCP – Tram website
Porto Card public transport – 1, 2, 3 or 4 days – Buy online
(free entry and many discounts)
Clérigos Tower
Torre dos Clérigos
The 75-metre-high granite clock tower was built in the 18th century. It stands next to the Igreja dos Clérigos, the church of the clergy. A spiral staircase takes you up six floors to the top, from where you have a beautiful view of the surrounding area. There is an entrance fee to the clock tower, which is also valid for the Clérigos Museum.
Admission: 10 €, evening admission 5 € . Children up to 10 years old – Free of charge. Buy online
Address: R. de São Filipe de Nery, 4050-546 Porto
Serralves museum
Casa de Serralves
Temporary exhibitions of works by 20th century contemporary artists. Casa de Serralves is an impressive art deco house, now used for exhibitions. The museum consists of several parts: a park (tree top walk), the Serralves museum and the Serralves house.
General ticket: 24 € – All spaces included: Museum of Contemporary Art, Álvaro Siza Wing, Serralves Park, Treetop Walk, Serralves Villa, House of Cinema Manoel de Oliveira. Children, students and pensioners 50% discount (free for children under 12). Only Park: 15 € Buy tickets online.
Address: Rua Don Joao de Castro, 210.
Pro Tip – Free Tours In Porto
Join a free walking tour with Freetour.com and explore like a local!
Looking for a fun, affordable, and authentic way to discover a new city? Freetour offers a wide range of free walking tours led by passionate local guides — many of whom are independent, freelance professionals. Tours are usually held in English or the guide’s native language, and they’re a fantastic way to meet people and get a deeper understanding of the city’s history, culture, and daily life.
There’s no fixed price — you simply tip the guide at the end based on what you can afford and how much you enjoyed the experience. It’s flexible, fair, and fun!
Browse all free walking tours in Porto here: Freetour – Porto
Gaia
Vila Nova de Gaia
Most of Porto’s cellars and wine houses are located in Vila Nova de Gaia, opposite the Ribeira district, on the other side of the Douro River. This is the area where Port wine, the world’s most famous dessert wine, has been produced for centuries. It is worth visiting one of Porto’s renowned wineries.
The Porto Calem winery, founded in 1859, offers a variety of programmes, from traditional cellar visits to an authentic Fado show.
Calem winery – programs:
- Cellar Tour, Interactive Museum & Wine Tasting
- Fado Show & Wine Tasting
- Cellar with Chocolate, Cheese, and Wine Tasting
Are you looking for a 4- or 5-star hotel with an excellent rating?
Pestana, the Portuguese hotel chain!
With five decades of history, the Pestana Hotel Group is the largest Portuguese multinational group in the tourism industry. The hotel chain opened its first hotel in Madeira in 1972, the Pestana Carlton Madeira.
Currently it also offers accommodation in other the European countries, as well as in America and Africa, with more than 100 hotels and 12,000 rooms.
Pestana has 18 hotels on the archipelago, of which 15 are located in Madeira and 3 in Porto Santo.
bookshop Livraria Lello
Livraria Lello
One of the most beautiful bookshops in the world, it was J.K. Rowling’s favourite place to visit while she lived and taught in the city.
Ticket-Voucher: 12,00 € redeemable Ticket-Voucher Value for a Book Purchase
Porto: Guided Walking Tour and Lello Bookshop
Address: 144 R. das Carmelitas, 4050-161 Porto, Portugal
Porto City – CAR RENTAL
Planning a road trip or want to visit more remote places with a rental car?
Here are some useful links:
Finding free parking in downtown Porto is a real challenge, so if you’re renting a car, book in one of the outlying districts where parking is free. The best option is to have free parking with your accommodation. Pay for street parking on weekdays and Saturdays.
Bolhao market
Mercado do Bolhão
Opened to the public in 1914, the Bolhao Market is mainly made up of local producers’ goods, but there are also a number of traditional and authentic shops to explore in the area. Closed for a long time for renovation, it has recently reopened.
Address: R. Formosa, 4000-214 Porto, Portugal.
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Palacio da Bolsa
Palacio da Bolsa
The Palace is one of the most beautiful buildings in Porto city. The Palace was built between 1842 and 1910. It is currently the headquarters of the Trade Federation of Porto and is used to host visiting heads of state.
Admission: adults 14,00 € students, pensioners 9,50 € (children up to 12 years of age free admission ).
Address: R. de Ferreira Borges, 4050-253 Porto, Portugal
Café Majestic
Majestic Café
Porto’s oldest, most elegant café with romantic art-novo decor. It opened in 1921 as the Elite café.
Address: Rua Santa Catarina 112, 4000-442 Porto, Portugal.
Did you know?
Decorative azulejo tiles are uniquely Portuguese. Its name comes from the Portuguese word azul, meaning blue, or azulej, an Arabic word meaning decorative tile. They first became popular in the 16th century and blue, yellow and green were the most popular colours. Later, tastes changed and the Moorish flower pattern/abstract geometric patterns were replaced by figurative art. The two dominant colours became cobalt blue and white.
Azulejo buildings in Porto
- Capela das Almas
- Sé Cathedral
- Igreja de Santo Ildefonso
- Ribeira Negra
- Estação de São Bento
- Igreja de Santa Clara
Ribeira do Porto
Ribeira do Porto
The narrow, cobbled streets are lined with cosy little bars and eateries serving classic Portuguese dishes. The Praça da Ribeira square, next to the Duoro, is lined with colourful 18th-century houses, while the neoclassical Palácio da Bolsa is known for its richly decorated interiors.
+1 River Douro 6 Bridges Cruise
Follow in the footsteps of the wine merchants of Portugal on a classic “Six Bridges” cruise of Porto. Sail down the River Douro along the route of the “Rabello Boats” that served the area.
Popular programs
Why do I recommend Get Your Guide website or app? Because it offers free cancellation. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund!
Need help planning your trip?
Here are my favourite sites to use when planning my trips:
Find your flight: Kiwi or use the airline’s direct website
Book your Hotel: Booking.com and Airbnb
Search for a rental car: Discovercars
Stay Connected Anywhere: Airalo eSIM
Book an unforgettable experiences: GetYourGuide website.
Source: Wandering Linda
Photos: Wandering Linda
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