Porto, Portugal: travel guide
Port cellars, tiled churches and a riverfront stacked up the Douro
Portugal's second city, famed for the Ribeira riverfront, port-wine cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia, azulejo-tiled churches and the Douro valley.
About Porto
Porto rises in tiers from the Douro, its Ribeira quarter of narrow houses and bright façades facing the port-wine lodges of Vila Nova de Gaia across the water. It is a granite city softened by blue-and-white azulejo panels, and it rewards simple wandering.
Spend a day on the Ribeira and the Dom Luís bridge, step inside the Igreja de São Francisco and the tiled hall of São Bento station, climb the Torre dos Clérigos for the rooftops, and finish with a tasting in a Gaia cellar. The Livraria Lello is a short walk from the centre for book lovers.
Porto works well as a long weekend and as a base for the Douro valley. Late spring and early autumn are the most comfortable times for things to do in Porto on foot.
- Country
- Portugal
- Currency
- EUR
- Time zone
- Europe/Lisbon
- Nearest airport
- OPO
Last updated
Top places to visit in Porto
Livraria Lello
Heritage · about 0.8 h · entry €8 (≈ ₹850)
Ornate neo-Gothic bookshop (1906) with a crimson forked staircase, said to have inspired Harry Potter imagery.
Torre dos Clérigos
Viewpoint · about 0.8 h · entry €8 (≈ ₹850)
Baroque bell tower (75m) by Nicolau Nasoni; 240 steps climb to panoramic city views.
São Bento Railway Station
Heritage · about 0.3 h · free entry
Working station whose atrium is lined with ~20,000 azulejo tiles depicting Portuguese history.
Cais da Ribeira
Heritage · about 1 h · free entry
Colourful riverside quarter of narrow lanes and cafés along the Douro, a UNESCO World Heritage zone.
Ponte Luís I
Viewpoint · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Double-deck iron arch bridge (1886) linking Porto and Gaia; the upper deck offers sweeping Douro views.
Porto Cathedral (Sé do Porto)
Church · about 0.7 h · entry €3 (≈ ₹320)
Romanesque-Gothic cathedral on the hilltop with a Gothic cloister and city panoramas.
Igreja de São Francisco
Church · about 0.7 h · entry €8 (≈ ₹850)
Gothic church with an interior smothered in gilded baroque woodcarving (talha dourada).
Palácio da Bolsa
Heritage · about 0.8 h · entry €12 (≈ ₹1,280)
19th-century former stock exchange famed for the Moorish-revival Arab Room; visits by guided tour.
Igreja do Carmo
Church · about 0.4 h · check the fee at the gate
Baroque twin churches whose side wall is covered in a vast blue-and-white azulejo panel.
Port Wine Cellars (Vila Nova de Gaia)
Cultural · about 1.5 h · entry €20 (≈ ₹2,130)
Riverfront lodges (Graham's, Sandeman, Taylor's and more) where port is aged; tours with tastings.
Jardins do Palácio de Cristal
Nature · about 1 h · free entry
Romantic hilltop gardens with peacocks and terraces overlooking a bend of the Douro.
Foz do Douro & Farol
Viewpoint · about 1 h · free entry
Where the Douro meets the Atlantic — seaside promenade, lighthouse and sunset views.
Things to do
- Douro Valley Wine Tour Day Trip · 9 h · from EUR 95 per person
- Port Wine Cellar Tour & Tasting Food Tour · 1.3 h · from EUR 25 per person
- Six Bridges Douro River Cruise Sightseeing · 0.8 h · from EUR 18 per person
- Porto Food & Wine Walking Tour Food Tour · 3.5 h · from EUR 75 per person
- Fado Show in Porto Cultural · 1.5 h · from EUR 30 per person
Day trips and tours
- Douro Valley Full-Day Wine Tour 10 h · from EUR 95
Where to stay in Porto
- Ribeira about EUR 150 per night
Atmospheric riverside old town, walkable to main sights but hilly and busy.
- Baixa / Aliados about EUR 110 per night
Central downtown around Avenida dos Aliados, great transport links.
- Vila Nova de Gaia about EUR 120 per night
Across the river by the port lodges, calmer with skyline views.
Hotels
- Torel Avantgarde 5-star · EUR 260 to EUR 600 per night
- The Passenger Hostel 3-star · EUR 28 to EUR 90 per night
- Pestana Vintage Porto 4-star · EUR 150 to EUR 320 per night
- Moov Hotel Porto Centro 3-star · EUR 65 to EUR 110 per night
Where to eat
- Cervejaria Brasão Aliados Portuguese · about EUR 22 per person
- Café Santiago Portuguese · about EUR 15 per person
- Majestic Café Café, Portuguese · about EUR 20 per person
- Taberna dos Mercadores Portuguese · about EUR 28 per person
- The Yeatman Restaurant Portuguese, Fine Dining · about EUR 180 per person
- Adega São Nicolau Portuguese, Seafood · about EUR 24 per person
Getting to Porto
Airport: Porto (OPO)
How visitors arrive in Porto
- Fly into Porto (OPO) By air from Francisco de Sa Carneiro Airport · common
Porto's airport is a major gateway and is also served by low-cost carriers. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Train from Lisbon By train from Lisbon · common
Long-distance Alfa Pendular and Intercidades trains from Lisbon, Coimbra and Faro arrive at Campanha station. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Coach from Spain By road from Madrid / Vigo / Santiago · possible
National and international coaches arrive at the Campanha bus station from Madrid, Vigo and Santiago de Compostela. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
From the airport to the centre
- Metro line E from the airport
Light-rail Line E connects Francisco Sa Carneiro airport with the city; ticket machines and signs are bilingual. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- STCP city buses from the airport
STCP buses 601, 602 and 604 run between the airport and the city, with a night service 3M also listed. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Uber or Bolt from the airport
Ride-hailing apps Uber and Bolt are listed as options from the airport. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Validate your ticket before boarding the metro or bus; inspectors check cards on board and fines apply. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
From the railway station to the centre
- Trains to Campanha and Sao Bento
Long-distance and high-speed trains stop at Campanha, east of the centre; a ticket to Campanha also covers urban trains on to Sao Bento in the centre. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Validate your ticket before boarding the metro or bus; inspectors check cards on board and fines apply. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
Getting around
- Metro useful for some trips
The Porto metro is a modern light rail and subway system, with Line E linking the airport to the city centre; it does not reach every area.
- Tram
STCP runs a few vintage trams aimed mainly at visitors, including route 500, which follows the river and the ocean front.
- Walking
Paying
- Andante is the reusable travel card for metro, bus and funicular; keep it and top it up. Contactless bank cards work on Metro line E. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
Safety and scams to avoid
Pickpockets on tram 1 and in Ribeira
Crowded trams, São Bento, Ribeira
Thieves work packed heritage trams and tourist crowds to lift phones and wallets.
How to avoid it: Keep valuables zipped and in front pockets; wear bags across the body.
Best time to visit Porto
- Jan 14°C
- Feb 15°C
- Mar 17°C
- Apr 18°C
- May 20°C
- Jun 24°C
- Jul 25°C
- Aug 26°C
- Sep 24°C
- Oct 21°C
- Nov 17°C
- Dec 14°C
More in Portugal
Frequently asked questions about Porto
- What are the main places to visit in Porto?
- Places covered in our Porto guide include Livraria Lello, Torre dos Clérigos, São Bento Railway Station, Cais da Ribeira, Ponte Luís I.
- Where should I stay in Porto?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Porto: Ribeira, Baixa / Aliados, Vila Nova de Gaia.
- How do I get around Porto?
- Ways to get around Porto covered in our guide: Metro, Tram, Walking.
- What scams should I watch out for in Porto?
- Scams reported to us for Porto include Pickpockets on tram 1 and in Ribeira. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.
- What is the weather like in Porto?
- Average daytime highs in Porto run from 14°C in Jan to 26°C in Aug.
- Which airport is nearest to Porto?
- The nearest airport to Porto has the code OPO.