If Porto is in your near future, read on for a self-guided walk you can take to discover Porto’s charms. We have included architectural gems, a mind-blowing bookstore, port lodges with tasting rooms and an iconic budget-friendly lunch recommendation to fuel your fun and views, views and more views!
We always encourage travelers to arrive a day or two before the start of any cruise to shake off jet lag and do a little independent sightseeing. If you only have a few hours, here’s our suggestion for a get-acquainted stroll in a very walkable city. It’s an ideal glimpse of picture-perfect Porto before your cruise sets sail up the Douro!
This stroll would take 90 minutes if you didn’t stop, but what fun would that be? Take your time and allow several hours to experience the sights, sounds, cuisine and charms on the way. Be a temporary local and use public transportation that provides a bit of a break for your feet AND bonus views of Porto.
Here’s a Google map route that assumes only walking between sights. Get Acquainted with Porto, Self-Guided Stroll If you see something that doesn’t interest you, omit it. In Google maps, just click on the X next to the site listing and the map will update without it. It’s your vacation, you always have options! To shorten your walk, consider substituting public transit options indicated in the itinerary described below.
Begin your walk in the Ribeira neighborhood, across the Douro River from the famed port wine warehouses where you should stop for a tour and tasting in a cozy atmosphere. More on that later… In fact, we think you should save that until the end of your walk so you can enjoy a flight of ports in one (or more!) of the tasting rooms. They’re conveniently located close to one another and remember, we’ve got a couple of public transit shortcuts to help you get back over the Douro!
Our route begins at the Igreja de São Francisco. They say if you visit only one church in Porto, make it this one! Don’t be deceived by its somber Gothic exterior. Inside you’ll find an astonishing display of ornate decoration. Nearly every square inch is adorned with carvings of vines, cherubs, statues, and gold leaf. The carved altarpiece, which traces the ancestry of Christ, is a magnificent sight to behold. In the catacombs, you can also view the ossuary, if you’re so inclined, where the bones of thousands of monks and church benefactors once buried in the tombs are displayed. Find more info on the church’s website: Igreja de São Francisco
Continue on to Palácio da Bolsa, the stock exchange. A tribute to Porto’s money merchants, the stock exchange is a fine example of neoclassical architecture and remains a symbol of Porto’s rich commercial heritage and architectural grandeur. Book a 30-minute tour (€12) online to visit the splendid interior rooms which can only be seen with a guide. TICKETS for Guided Tour of Palacio da Bolsa
Livraria Lello Bookstore is arguably the most beautiful bookstore in the world. When JK Rowling taught English in Porto in the early 90’s, she developed the outline for the Harry Potter seven-book series during her time there. The bookstore’s spectacular interior may well have inspired her eloquent description of the Hogwarts Library. The store is always busy and charges an entry fee of €8, but you can apply that toward a purchase. Buy an ENTRY TICKET here.
Sao Bento Railway Station – It’s not often the word “exquisite” can be used to describe a train station but if its interior features a collection of large murals composed of 20,000 azulejo blue tiles representing pivotal moments in the country’s history – it is indeed fitting. Built on the former site of a centuries-old Benedictine convent, it opened to the public in 1916 and has been dazzling travelers ever since. It has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as a National Monument of Portugal and is considered by many to be one of the world’s most beautiful rail stations. For more info click here: Sao Bento Train Station
LUNCH STOP – seek out a Francisinha sandwich – a Porto invention that must be eaten to be believed! Run, don’t walk to Cafe Santiago F for the mountain-of-meat sandwich named one of the Top 10 flavors of Europe. Francesinha, meaning little French woman, is made with layers of toasted bread piled high with hot meats such as steak, ham, linguiça, and chipolata over which sliced cheese is melted by the ladling of a boiling tomato and beer sauce. It’s typically served with french fries. This Porto favorite was created in 1953 by Chef Daniel David de Silva who was inspired by the croque-monsieurs he enjoyed on his travels through France and Belgium. He adapted it to Portuguese tastes and voila! – it quickly became a culinary legend. Many restaurants serve it throughout the city if our recommendation doesn’t fit into your schedule!
TAKE METRO from SAO BENTO Metro Station to JARDIM do MORRO Buy a ticket inside the Metro Station at one of the ticket machines. For a short but scenic ride over the Douro, travel on the Yellow (D) Line.
Ponte de Dom Luis I – The upper deck of this iconic double-decker arched bridge offers Metro passengers and pedestrians alike jaw-dropping panoramic views of Porto. Disembark at Jardim do Morro to continue your exploration.
Jardim do Morro – Visit the palm-shaded gardens, park yourself on a bench and enjoy another perspective of Porto. From the gardens, you can either walk down or take a gondola cable car down to where the port lodges and tasting rooms await!
Teleférico de Gaia (cable car ride) – This aerial gondola ride provides fine views of Porto and saves you a hike down to the waterfront. It runs between the southern end of the Ponte de Dom Luis I and the riverside and operates from 10 AM to 8 PM. A one-way ticket costs 7,00€. If you buy a round-trip ticket (€10), you have to leave the gondola car at the end station and validate your return ticket before reboarding. We say buy the round trip ticket online, and mosey over to the port tasting rooms and have a go at a few sips before you decide whether a walk or a gondola is your best option. For info and tickets click here.
“Half Rabbit” You will likely see plenty of unique street art throughout your visit to Porto, but this large, eye-catching sculpture, constructed on the corner of a building in Vila Nova de Gaia, is definitely worth checking out. This piece was created by Portuguese artist Artur Bordalo in 2017 as part of his series called “Big Trash Animals.” It should be noted that this sculpture is both visually striking and sustainable since it is composed of trash and discarded materials, including old car parts.
PORT TASTINGS! There are several options to visit the port warehouses on the Vila Nova de Gaia side of the Douro. It’s wise to make a reservation, especially during the high season. Here are a couple we like…
Ferreira is the only big house of port wine that has remained in Portuguese hands since its foundation. Founded in 1751, the brand’s history is intertwined with the history of the evolution of the Douro Region. We’re partial to lady entrepreneurs, so we’ll be dropping in to pay homage to twice-widowed, Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira who contributed significantly to the preservation of her family’s legacy. After taking over the business at 33, her entrepreneurial spirit and charisma strengthened and expanded the brand, setting it on a course to enduring success. < You go, Girl! > Arrange a visit here: Ferreira
Music fans take note – if you wish to experience Portugal’s traditional fado with its haunting melodies, Cálem offers a guided tour, an interactive museum, tastings, food pairings, a wine bar AND a fado performance. To make a reservation for all that you fancy, visit their website here: Calem
Here’s an interesting option to get you back to the Ribiera neighborhood where the walk began. Walk toward the Dom Luis I bridge and cross it via the pedestrian walkway on the lower level. If you are ready to call it a day, you can head back to your hotel from there but if you are still hungry for more views, look for the Funicular dos Guindais at the end of the bridge for a unique and entertaining ride up, up, up to the Batalha neighborhood. Tickets can be purchased on-site. Incidentally, the funicular terminates a short walk from the Porto Cathedral, if you still have some time on your hands and life in your legs!