What to do and see in Porto, Northern Portugal: The Best Sightseeing Tours

December 6, 2021 Kiesha Cripe

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. Fátima and Tomar private tour from Porto

Meridian4People
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

On this full-day tour, experience the history and beauty of two important destinations in Portugal, Tomar - land of the Templars, and Fátima, one of the most cherished religious sites in the world.

Inclusions: Bottled water, Air-conditioned vehicle, Hotel pickup and drop-off, WiFi on board, Private transportation

Exclusions: Entrance fees in any local/monuments, Lunch, Personal expenses, Gratuities

Reviewed By HHT17389

Hello, My wife & I were a part of this small group tour with another Brazilian family.Our guide was Micael Neto.He was very friendly & very approachable from the start of the tour.He drives well & is able to communicate his point in English.We personally preferred the Aveiro part to Coimbra.The Costa Nova beach & the light house were fantastic.The Moliserro cruise is an experience one should have.We had lunch & Avos Moles at the Market Square at Cafe Pixinho.The Coimbra tour was mainly a university,cathedral & the market square. Speaking personally about Micael a few incidents which stood out for me, a)He found a restaurant in Aveiro which serves vegeterian food for us. b)In Coimbra when the others were busy in the university he took us to the Botanical Garden & Cathedral. c)He helped us plan the rest of our trip in Porto & Lisbon with his suggestions. d)He even recommended places to have vegeterian food near our hotel. e)He ensured that each members personal interests were taken care off during the tour.He made it a point to understand our likes & dislikes.Eg.He made it a point to show me the storks nests & the Dragao stadium. The tour was well organised as any other but Micael was very good & would highly reccomend travelling with Micael to anybody in the future. Cheers, Dr.Vidhi & Harshit

2. Private Food/Wine Tour Porto

Porto São Bento, Praça de Almeida Garrett, 4000-069 Porto, Portugal Oporto & Douro Moments
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5.0 based on 8 reviews

We were born, raised and always lived in Porto, so we know the city as a local and, since it is a private tour, we will customize it according to your interests. In this private food/wine tour we will focus on Portuguese gastronomy, but you will learn a lot about our culture, pronunciation and behavior, which makes us unique. You will visit the temporary Bolhão market and several food spots and tascas (traditional stores), while get in contact with the locals. You will get to know the stories behind these dishes: the legend of the "tripeiros", name given to the porto inhabitants; you will learn how "francesinha" is made, that "caloric bomb" that you should not miss and the tasty codfish recipes, so important in our culture. You will discover the Portuguese wines with its diverse grapes and wine regions and will taste some delicacies. And what about our sweets, like pastel de nata, doces de ovos,...? Enjoy more! Experience more!

Inclusions: All snacks and drinks of the tour

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Reviewed By markgK7184CS

We had an unusual custom tour that had to be done over the internet because of travel restrictions. Oporto Moments were wonderful. They were quick to respond to our questions, they were pro-active in making arrangements. Very happy we found them.

3. Douro Valley Private Premium Tour with Wine Tasting (1 to 4 people)

MaiaTours
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5.0 based on 8 reviews

- Enjoy a customized private tour (just you and our driver/guide) in the Douro Valley with tasty local food, wine and products from the region such as Olive Oil, Honey, Almond, Olive and Cheese (upon prior notice at the time of booking)... Have a typical lunch in a famous family-owned wineries carefully chosen place and suited to your tastes... Take a "Rabelo" boat cruise in the heart of the Douro Valley on a traditional boat used for centuries to transport Port wine… Visit a charming winery, stroll in the vineyards and taste Port Wines… The transportation is in a comfortable and premium Mercedes E class.

Inclusions: Visit and Port wine tasting at a local winerie, Transportation in a comfortable premium Mercedes E class, Sightseeing private tour (just you and our driver/guide), The tour can be changed and adapted to each client (customizable), Air-conditioned vehicle, All Fees and Taxes, Hotel pickup and drop-off, WiFi on board

Exclusions: Lunch (you will choose à la carte according to your interests), River cruise (10€ per person), Taste of: Olive Oil, Honey, Almond, Olive, Cheese and Bread (10€ per person)

Reviewed By weaselz99

Was able to have a custom experience seeing the Duoro Valley, in a nice Mercedes ride through the valley and to the vineyards. I put some thoughts together and Ricardo was able to make it happen at a reasonable rate. Would do this again in a heartbeat, very fun trip.

4. Porto at Night - Private Panoramic Tour

Praça da Liberdade 19, 4000-322 Porto, Portugal Endless Weekend Tours
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

See how the city of Porto comes alive after dark on this private city panoramic tour. We will show you the very best of our iconic Porto buildings and bridges, dramatically illuminated at night and help you to discover Porto’s key landmarks lit up after dark. With us you can appreciate the city of Porto, built along the hillsides overlooking the mouth of the Douro River, forming a millennial urban landscape where the diversity of civil and religious architecture bears testimony to a Historic Centre inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1996. Its monumental and landscape riches captures the diversity of urban layout solutions to be also found in other Western European and Atlantic-Mediterranean cities dating back to Roman, Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical times. A Porto by Night Panoramic Tour will be one of the most memorable things you do when you visit Porto.

Inclusions: Live tour commentary provided in English, Spanish and Portuguese, Personal accident and liability insurance., Our chauffeurs have knowledge and ethics required for confidential business matters, Our chauffeurs provide a concierge service for any requirements., Our executive vehicles provide Wi-Fi, bottled water, refreshments and a relaxing atmosphere.

Exclusions: Admission to venues & attractions along the tour route., Gratuities are not included and is left to individual discretion.

Reviewed By Dt345123

Carlos died us around Porto. Very knowledgeable. Have us insights, history, places to eat and excellent places to set after the tour. Highly recommend.

5. Private Wine Tour in Douro Valley - Private wine tastings and lunch included

Tourvent - Travel and Events
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5.0 based on 82 reviews

Our day starts with a pick up at your accommodation in Porto (or other locations) at 8:30 am. During the day, you will have the wonderful opportunity to savor several Douro DOC and Port wines with commented tastings, a 50-minute boat ride at the small village of Pinhão, and a three-course meal with wines. It's now time to stop at the famous Pinhão railway station and enjoy some breathtaking landscapes. Relax: the time is all yours! Have an innovative perspective of this region’s history, culture, and gastronomy, while strolling through the vineyards where the finest wines from the “Quintas” (Wine Estates) are produced. A memorable experience! Have some time to admire the viewpoints and take group pictures – the Douro Region is truly overwhelming! At the end of this adventurous day, rest on a gentle drive to Porto, where we will drop you off comfortably at your accommodation at around 7:30 pm.

Inclusions: 3-course meal and beverages. Wine included., Port & Douro DOC Wine tastings, Douro river cruise (50 minutes), Pick up & drop off at your accomodation, Visit to the Pinhão railway station, Specialized tour guide

Exclusions: Gratuities, Personal expenses.

Reviewed By Fejervary

It was an incredible and perfectly organized experience. Alfredo (our guide) picked us up at our place at 8:30 am sharp and drove us very safely to Douro valley. There we visited our first two vineyards (or Quintas) in the morning, then had a good lunch with an amazing river view, took a boat ride where we could see the majestic scenery of the valley. After the boat ride, we visited our third and last vineyard before driving back to Porto. He is very knowledgeable on the local wine history and techniques. It is easy to see how much he loves and respects the subect. On COVID related (New Normal) measures, we all wore face masks during our trip, every winery complied the key health measures (social distance, masks, sanitizer, etc) - I thought this might help some other travelers take the decision. We will always remember this day!

6. Porto Half-Day Tuk Tuk Private Tour with Lunch

Private Tours Porto
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4.9 based on 18 reviews

Private Tours Porto invites you to enter this ancient city that gave its name to Portugal and has a wine know around the world – The Port Wine. World Heritage since 1996. We will spend 90 minutes very lively and fun in our Tuk Tuks, our guides will tell you all the stories of the city, will show you the historical center and the most beautiful monuments of the city, the S. Bento Station (includes a guided tour), S. Francisco Church and the Cathedral, the oldest monument in the city, 12th century. We will cross the D. Luís Bridge to Gaia, breathe the atmosphere of Port Wine and see the city from the best hotspot: Serra do Pilar Monastery; we returned to Porto to the Torre dos Clérigos and one of the main icons of the city: The Lello Bookstore, founded in 1904 where you can see and admire the plaster stairs imitating wood who inspired a passage from the movie Harry Potter. We will continue to Matosinhos, where a fantastic typical lunch awaits us at a local restaurant by the Sea.

Inclusions: All taxes, fees and handling charges, Lunch, Hotel pickup and drop-off

Exclusions: Drinks

Reviewed By sccmgt59

Francisco was very knowledgeable and friendly. He spoke good very good English I would recommend this tour to anyone.

7. Premium Service-Douro Valley with Lunch,Boat and Tastings

Oporto Sensations Tour
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4.9 based on 167 reviews

Visit the Douro Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Region with a rich history and culture that’s stood the test of time. Your guide ( specialized in douro wines) will take you to typical villages, high quality wine producers and you will see the sights from the water during a 1-hour river cruise. Enjoy a delicious, local lunch at a traditional restaurant. You will also have the opportunity to try locally made olive oil on this full-day tour with premium service.

Inclusions: Round-trip transportation to the Douro region by air-conditioned NEW vehicle (9 seats), Hotel / Apartment pickup and drop-off, Specialized guide in the DOURO region throughout the day, Guided tour of 2 wine producers, with wine tasting in the 2 visits (high quality wineries), Regional lunch including drinks (water/juice/Douro table wine, DOC), Tasting of 2 table wines, white and red, Total of 6 wine tastings (4 Port wines + 2 table wines), Douro gourmet olive oil tasting, Tasting of the region´s traditional fruit jellies, Panoramic cruise in Pinhão (1hour), Small group tour (max. 8 persons), Bottled mineral water, Refreshing tissues, Umbrella (if necessary), Satisfaction guarantee

Exclusions: Personal expenses

Reviewed By JameshG1982

This was a really memorable experience booked after having been on the Douro Valley tour offered by João and Pedro (I would highly recommend that also). Having tried wine from the region before visiting Porto we were keen to find out more about the Vinho Verde region. The tour did not disappoint, the views were spectacular from the viewpoints in Ponte de Lima and Viana do Castelo and made you really appreciate the most amazing Portuguese landscape, it;s really such a special area of the county. João was a fantastic guide, he personalised the experience and took time to get to know us and share his knowledge of the region. The town of Ponte de Lima was beautiful and I left feeling like I had seen part of the country not as famous as Porto. I'd recommend this experience if you are in Porto and also doing it with João and Pedro, they are both such great hosts and when I come back to Porto I will be getting in touch to arrange further tours. Highly recommend both the company and doing this tour if you're in Porto. Thanks for such an amazing time!

8. Braga and Guimarães Tour with Lunch from Porto

Porto, Portugal EFun Tours
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4.9 based on 10 reviews

Discover the culture and picturesque beauty of northern Portugal on this full-day Braga and Guimarães tour with lunch, from Porto. Accompany your guide to Braga’s grand medieval Sé Cathedral, and enjoy hilltop birds-eye views. Savor a traditional Portuguese lunch, then explore Guimarães’s charming town center and and Medieval Castle before returning to Porto.

Inclusions: Lunch, Transport by air-conditioned minivan, Local guide, Entrance in Bom Jesus Funicular, Entrance in Braga's Cathedral, Entrance in Guimarães Castle

Exclusions: Gratuities

Reviewed By 523koenp

Guide was very cool, lot of interesting information. Helps you get familiar with different types of port, tastings are really good.

9. Private tour in the Douro (1 to 4 people) in a boat just for you

Restaurante Marina do Freixo, Marina do Freixo Porto, N108, 4300-316 Porto, Portugal DouroBoatman, Lda.
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4.9 based on 39 reviews

- Have a unique and exclusive experience, enjoy the Douro River ... calmly ... in a boat of six meters, inspired by the local fishing boats, specially built for this purpose in 2018, with the purpose of providing you unforgettable moments; - Private experience, day or night, designed for couples, families or groups of up to four people, made close, relaxed and mainly, away from any kind of confusions and clusters. - Navigation, made by an experienced skipper, passionate and great connoisseur of this river, always made in a quiet way, with short breaks, so that our guests can enjoy this beautiful view of the cities and of course take the pictures that are imposed. - Route with more than 20km of navigation between the Freixo Marina and the Atlantic Ocean.

Inclusions: Raw Sparkling Wine / Port Wine / other previously requested, Mineral water, Almonds with aromatic herbs

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10. Private Douro Valley visit to three vineyards with Lunch from Porto

EFun Tours
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4.9 based on 8 reviews

Book this tour and have the chance to visit three vineyards and sampling several Port and DOC wines! If you enjoy wine, this tour is definitively for you! Culminate your experience trying the local gastronomy in the lovely and quaint boutique vineyard,  Get to know how internationally renowned Port and DOC wines are one of the most important heritages in northern Portugal! Learn more about it's production and the different types of Port and Wines.

Inclusions: Lunch at a fantastic Vineyard, Visit to three vineyards, Several tastings of Port and DOC wines, Visits to mid-size, large and small brands, Driver/guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Transport by air-conditioned minivan, Lunch

Exclusions: Gratuities

Reviewed By 523koenp

Guide was very cool, lot of interesting information. Helps you get familiar with different types of port, tastings are really good.

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