Location: Porto
Top Things to do in Porto
Countries
10 Things to Do in Porto That You Shouldn't Miss
The town that gave the country (and port wine) its very name, Porto is Portugal’s second-largest metropolis after Lisbon. Sometimes called Oporto, it's an age-old city that has one foot firmly in the industrial present. The old town, centered at Ribeira, was built on the hills overlooking the Douro River, and today is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 14th-century São Francisco church is a main attraction, as are the local port wine cellars, mostly located across the river at Vila Nova de Gaia.
Restaurants in Porto
1. Ponte de Dom Luis I
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 17 reviews
Built in 1886, this bridge links Porto and Gaia.
Reviewed By Gary S - Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
Well we picked the wettest Easter on record to visit Porto.
We did the lower part of the bridge on the pouring rain and the return from the Dark Side by the upper bridge in what can only be described as crazy windswept outward bound type adventure. People were blown sideways. Umbrellas broken beyond repair.
What a day.
It's just a bridge...looks the bees knees. It was built back in 1792...so with those winds it has stood the test of time.
We were shot blasted but survived.
2. Porto Augusto's
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 695 reviews
3. Serra do Pilar Viewpoint
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 978 reviews
4. Quinta dos Corvos
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 336 reviews
Reviewed By marcin839
For a person who never stomped grapes to turn them into wine, this was great tour into the wine making. Our hostess, Maria Tomé explained in great, understandable details how you get port out of grapes. After the port making lesson, she introduced us to her favourite ports. Although we were biased towards white port, she let us try an ambrosia of a red port - we left with 4 bolts of port; including the red one :)
Highly recommended way of spending few Euros on worthy cause. We will never look at port the same way. Thank you Maria!
5. Graham's Port Lodge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
RESERVATION REQUIRED. Originally built in 1890, Graham's Lodge was renovated in 2012 and now offers tours (in several languages) and Port tastings.
Reviewed By Erick H - Guildford, United Kingdom
We thoroughly enjoyed our tour of Graham's for several reasons. First off, their tour is very personally oriented. Compared to the other full tour we went on had only a very repetitive audio tour. Whereas Graham's has tour guides for multiple languages. They are also...MoreDear Erick, Many thanks for your input and feedback on Trip Advisor. It’s a pleasure to know that you enjoyed your experience at Graham's. Hope to receive you again and your family and friends in the near future. Best regards, The Graham's team
6. FC Porto Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 636 reviews
The FC Porto Museum by BMG welcomes its visitors with the unique view of the Dragon Valkyrie, work of art of Joana Vasconcelos. It offers a narrative of 120 years of history, spread through seven thousand square meters that hosts 27 thematic areas, while exhibiting 200 trophies and 280 videos, 80 per cent of which in an interactive environment.
Reviewed By Tanya D
The FC Porto museum is a spectacular history of the futeball (soccer) club. A sea of blue and white for the Porto club colors. The museum has a fabulous collection detailing the club's beginnings and it is where you can see for yourself all the club's big achievements, including champions league cups or the national and international trophies. The museum is very well done and full of history. Must see if you come to Porto and love futeball (soccer).
7. Porto Bridge Climb
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 593 reviews
The only place in Europe where one can visit the arch of a bridge, experiencing an both iconic and impressive building for its size and elegance; it is the only national monument of the twentieth century in Porto. All tours are guided and include a number of safety equipments - harness, lifeline and handrail; even those who have vertigo can climb! Once we reach the top, there is a unique view of Porto, in a quiet and relaxing place that is now open to the public for the first time in 53 years. At the foot of the arch, an exhibition on the construction of Arrabida and the other 5 Bridges that connect Porto and Gaia invites for a stroll on the riverside.
Reviewed By bylica_katarzyna1
Porto Bridge Climb is one of those things that you definitely have to do visiting Porto!! Watching sunset from the top of Arrabida Bridge is undoubtedly an unforgettable experience! I climbed the bridge during Erasmus with my friends and it is one of my best memories! Highly recommended!
8. Livraria Lello
Overall Ratings
4 based on 10 reviews
Livraria Lello is a bookshop with an extraordinary historical and architectural value, located at the number 144 of Rua das Carmelitas, in downtown Porto, in Portugal. Its origins date back to 1881, when the brothers José and António Lello opened an establishment at the nearby Rua do Almada, Porto, dedicated to publish and selling books. In 1894 they purchased the Chardron Bookstore, founded in 1869 by the French publisher Ernest Chardron, responsible for publishing much of the work of the famous Portuguese writer Camilo Castelo Branco. The expansion of business encouraged the Lello brothers to build a new house for their shop. They choose the neighbourhood of Carmelitas, a prestigious shopping area that was being developed in the city of Porto. The project of the building was entrusted to the engineer Francisco Xavier Esteves – considered the introducer of reinforced concrete in civil constructions in Portugal – which ended up presenting a true work of art. Opened in 1906, the bookshop boasts a façade in Gothic style, distinct from the surrounding urban landscape. Inside, shelves and ceilings are copiously. The staircase is particularly remarkable, as well as the large stained glass window bearing the bookshop monogram with the motto "Decus in labore" (dignity at work, in Latin). In 2016, a careful restoration gave back the original look and brightness to the façade and the stained glass. Travel + Leisure magazine considered Livraria Lello as the coolest bookshop in the world; the Television station CNN consider it to be the most beautiful on the planet; Time magazine, The Guardian, Lonely Planet, all recognized that Livraria Lello is one of the most beautiful in the world for its unique historical and artistic value.
Reviewed By diannakiru - Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
The building is really beautiful ... the books well, interesting (a bit overpriced, but they have really nice illustrated versions of children’s tales and old English novels). You have to get a ticket (a separate entrance) which grants you access and is also a 4€ voucher in case you want to buy something. At the same place where you buy the ticket there is also a locker room where you have to leave your bag, and a cool shop. The library is full with people and they all want to take a picture, or have a picture taken of them on the stairs, while embracing the railing, or while flaunting their hair back in the most impressive way .. just tired of these instagram travelers ... :))
9. Parque da Cidade do Porto
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By tpilomia - Chaves, Portugal
The Porto City Park, designed by a Portuguese landscape architect , is the largest urban park in Portugal. It oocupies a total of 83 hectares and offers about 10 km of walking and cycling paths.
Even though the park offers lots of green areas and shady trees, with lakes and a varied flora and fauna, it is not a "must see" for the tourist who comes to Porto for the first time. It does not have a lot of attractions that might have made it into a more interesting place to visit.
Other things that can be seen at this park are: The Water Pavilion (from Expo 98)--north entrance; a small private aquarium called Sea Life Center; and the Queimódromo--a venue used for events once in a while.
This is mostly a park for families to go on a stroll on a Sunday morning to get out of apartment life. I would not include it in the top 10 things to see in the city.
10. Cais da Ribeira
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8 reviews
Reviewed By simmondsi - Darmstadt, Germany
Ribeira is the centre of tourists in Porto, so expect everything that comes with that. Actually I had hoped for more shops, mostly it is restaurants. According to our local guide they are actually pretty good (check reviews on TA of course!) but prices here will be higher.
Ironically the view from Gaia on the other side of the river looking over to Porto is prettier.
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