WHAT TO DO IN PORTO

If you are going to visit the city of Lusa and you still don't know what to do, traveling without unforeseen events brings you 30 plans for an unforgettable trip to Porto.

1. Have a coffee at Bar Pensil

When you get tired of walking the crowded streets of Porto, you can take a break contemplating the wonderful Luis I Bridge while drinking a tasty coffee. On the banks of the Luis I Bridge, and built on the old base of the Pensil Bridge (which was the one that previously allowed you to cross from one bank to the other), you will find the Pensil Bar. With a good menu of drinks and snacks, you can regain your strength.

2. Walk through the Ribeira

A walk along the riverbank is something you have to do. Walk calmly, feeling the smells and colors that are typical of Porto, and that you will not find in any other city.

3. Cross the Luis I Bridge

It is the best-known bridge in the city, and the pride of the country. You will see that it is always crowded with pedestrians and cars, but it doesn't matter, because crossing it is part of the magic of Porto.

From the center you can observe the immensity of the Duero River as it passes through the Portuguese city.

4. Take a photo with the Porto sign

It is not difficult to locate it, we can find it a few meters from the wonderful Cathedral of Porto; What will be more difficult will be finding a spot to take a photo.

5. Have an Ovos moles ice cream (in Sabores de Portugal)

Ovos moles are one of the most famous desserts in the neighboring country. If you don't know them yet, wait until you try them to understand their fame.

And if you have already tried them, and have fallen under their spell, you are in luck, because now you can have them in the form of ice cream.

For some time now, there has been a chain of ice cream parlors (flavors of Portugal), which serves ice cream with typical flavors of the country. They are absolutely irresistible!

6. Cast a spell at the Lillo Bookstore

It is one of the best-known attractions in the city. A beautiful film library, since you can find it in several Harry Potter films.

Although there are long lines to enter, it is worth it, and they will also discount the entrance price if you buy something.

7. Climb the Torre dos Clerigos

If you like cities from above, you cannot miss the Torre dos Clerigos. The entrance costs 6.5 euros (5 euros for night visits), and although the climb is tough, it offers one of the best panoramic views you will find in Porto.

8. Capture the reflection of City Hall

What to say about the Porto City Hall! An architectural marvel that you will find on Avenida Aliados, and that will leave you speechless.

But it also contains a secret, and that is that the reflection of the building in the small pond that you will find just a few meters away, is one of the most desired by photographers.

9. Enter the McDonalds on Aliados Avenue

And since you are on Avenida Aliados, you can't pass by the McDonalds Imperial.

From the moment you enter you will see that this fast food restaurant is quite different from the usual ones, since a huge Eagle crowns the entrance to the establishment.

And once inside, you can find the wonderful decoration of a traditional cafe that closed its doors, and was later restored by McDonalds.

10. Go by train to Aveiro from the most beautiful station in the world

If you spend a few days in Porto, you may want to visit the surrounding area, and without a doubt, one of the most striking cities is Aveiro, but how to get to Portuguese Venice from Porto? Our suggestion: by train. You will go comfortably, and you will also be able to enjoy on the way there and back the infinite grandeur of San Bento, a station that is much more than a place of passage, it is a place to stay.

11. Visit the cathedral

The Sé cathedral and its square are a wonder that rises above the proud city, and that will captivate you irremediably.

Its tiles, its cloister, its plaza,... it is a gift for the traveler's eyes.

12. Walk through an olive park

So far, nothing special, but what if we told you that these olive trees are in the middle of the city and on a shopping center? Well yes, in the heart of Lisbon square, and on a fairly exclusive shopping center, we find one of the most beautiful parks in Porto.

An oasis in the middle of the city, where you can also relax with a drink at sunset on the Base terrace.

13. Buy a cork bag

What to take from Porto? Apart from many souvenirs, and a couple of kilos (Portugal's portions are abundant, but everything is so exquisite that you won't be able to stop eating), you can buy an original cork bag.

This material is typical of Portugal, and is also light and resistant.

14. Eat a francesinha

The typical dish of Porto. A calorie bomb. An unmatched sandwich. Surely as soon as you mentioned that you were going to Porto, they told you all this. Well yes, it is true, and for that reason you cannot leave without eating a francesinha.

15. Get lost among the alleys that lead to the Ribeira

The steep stairs that lead to the Ribeira form a beautiful melting pot of colors and sounds that will captivate you. Its houses, its nooks, the smell of roasted fish, and above all, the uncertainty of not knowing what will happen when the street turns, lead us to get lost in this sea of stone that leads to the Ribeira.

16. Capela do Senhor da Pedra

It is located in Vila Nova de Gaia, very close to Porto, and its distinctive feature is that this small chapel is located in the middle of the beach.

Its privileged location gives it a unique charm, and why not say it, a bit of mystery.

17. Do a Port wine tasting

It is the perfect plan for a morning in Porto: take a guided tour of one of its numerous wineries, learn curiosities about the city's wine tradition, better understand the wine-making process, and finally, finish by tasting the wines of the city. store.

18. Visit a traditional market.

Porto is a decadent city full of corners with their own name, one of them is the Bolhao Market. A traditional food market, with a lot of charm and where you can find succulent delicacies.

19. Enter a bar with hundreds of years of history.

The Majestic café, located on Rua Santa Catarina, is one of those corners that make Porto a unique city.

A cafe that has seen the transformation of the city since 1921 when it was opened, and that continues to maintain its essence intact; an essence that has made it one of the most beautiful in the world.

20. Sail along the Douro River and discover the city's bridges

After a busy day in the crowded streets of the city, you may want to disconnect a little, in that case, we recommend that you take the cruise that will guide you across seven bridges, and will show you the city from another point of view. view.

21. Photograph with a Ravelo

The ravelos are the boats in which wine traditionally arrived to Vila Nova de Gaia (where all the city's wineries are located). Today, most of them are moored on the banks of the river as a tourist attraction.

They may have lost part of their original usefulness, but that does not mean their magic, and once you have seen them crossing the waters of the Douro River, you will not be able to imagine the city of Porto without ravelos.

22. Watch the sunset from Vila Nova di Gaia

The sunset in Porto is spectacular, a tangle of pink invades the Portuguese afternoon, until it finally becomes night, and so that you don't miss a minute, we recommend you cross the Luis I bridge and sit quietly on one of the benches that you will find along the river walk.

 23. Visit a local designer market

In the Ferreira Borges market, next to the Stock Exchange Palace, you can see the proposals of some local designers. From clothing to designer jewelry to tasty cupcakes.

24. Ride the cable car

The cable car is in Vila Nova de Gaia, and offers a perspective of the city that is difficult to match.

However, it is not cheap, the adult price is €9 round trip, or €6 one way; and in the case of children, €4.50 and €3 respectively. If you are traveling as a family there is a round trip ticket for two adults and two children for €22.50.

25. Visit the Stock Exchange Palace

It is one of the visits in which we recommend investing time. The visit is guided, and the interior of the Palace is absolutely wonderful. The visit will show you an interior of the palace that has nothing to do with the serious lines that dominate its exterior.

The guided tour costs €8 per person.

26. See the mouth of the Duero

During your visit to Porto, you will have the opportunity to see a natural phenomenon that will leave you speechless with amazement: the mouth of the Douro River.

You can get there by taking the coastal tram to Foz de Douro, and once there, after a pleasant walk, you will reach the mouth.

27. Go to a restaurant in Matosinhos

Although Matosinhos is far from the city, you will realize that it is worth it once you enter one of the restaurants on Herois de França Street. They serve the freshest fish in the city, and in some cases, you can see how they cook it right on the street sidewalks.

28. Listen to fado while having dinner

An evening to the melancholic rhythm of fados, while you have dinner or a good glass of Port, and you will fall in love with the city forever.

29. Look at the shop windows on Rua das Flores

This central street is full of corners to discover. Everywhere you look, you find a treasure. Classic shop windows, stylish souvenirs, second-hand bookstores, ... all of them tell us a little about the history of this city.

30. Ride a historic tram

It is such a unique experience in Portugal that you cannot stop doing it. And also the tram is so cute, that you won't know whether to enjoy the trip, or follow it on foot to capture every moment.