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InterContinental Porto Palacio das Cardosas, Porto

Things to do guide

The best things to do in Porto

Updated 1 October 2026 · 17 things to do

Pictured: InterContinental Porto Palacio das Cardosas

Porto is a city of steep granite hills, blue-and-white tiles and laundry flapping from tall, skinny houses that tumble down to the Douro. It is grittier and more down-to-earth than Lisbon, with a wry, hard-working pride, and it rewards anyone prepared to climb its stairways with views that stop you in your tracks.

Then there is the port. Across the river in Vila Nova de Gaia, the old wine lodges still age it in vast cellars, and upriver the Douro Valley's terraced vineyards are one of the great day trips in Europe. Add cheap, hearty food, a lively bar scene and Atlantic beaches a tram ride away, and it is easy to see why a weekend often turns into a week.

Don't miss

  1. 1The Ribeira
  2. 2Ponte Dom Luís I
  3. 3Port lodges of Vila Nova de Gaia
  4. 4São Bento station
  5. 5The Douro Valley

The big sights

Porto's historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and most of it is a steep walk from the river.

  1. The Ribeira

    Neighbourhood

    The colourful houses of the Ribeira above the Douro, seen from Gaia
    Photo: Jakub Hałun, CC BY 4.0

    Porto's riverside quarter is the postcard: a jumble of colourful, tile-fronted houses stacked above a quay lined with cafés, with old rabelo boats bobbing on the water. Behind the waterfront, a warren of alleys and stairways climbs towards the cathedral, full of washing lines, tiny tascas and corner shrines.

    Tip: The quayside restaurants trade on the view. Walk a street or two back for better value.

  2. Ponte Dom Luís I

    Landmark

    The Dom Luís I bridge and the city of Porto at blue hour
    Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Porto's signature double-decker iron bridge, opened in the 1880s and designed by an engineer who had worked with Gustave Eiffel, leaps across the Douro between Porto and Gaia. Walk across the top deck, which you share with the metro, for a dizzying view down over the Ribeira, then come back along the lower level at river height.

    Tip: At sunset, join the crowd at the Jardim do Morro on the Gaia side for the classic view of the bridge and the city.

  3. São Bento station

    Landmark

    Blue-and-white azulejo tiles covering the hall of São Bento station
    Photo: jad99 from Graz, Austria, CC BY-SA 2.0

    Even if you're not catching a train, step into São Bento's entrance hall. Its walls are covered with around 20,000 blue-and-white azulejo tiles showing great moments of Portuguese history, battles, royal processions and scenes of country life. It is one of the most beautiful station halls anywhere.

  4. Torre dos Clérigos

    Landmark

    The slender baroque bell tower of the Clérigos church has been Porto's landmark for centuries. Climb the narrow spiral stairs to the top for a 360-degree view over the terracotta rooftops, the river and the bridges.

  5. Livraria Lello

    Landmark

    The carved wooden interior and red staircase of Livraria Lello
    Photo: John Samuel, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A neo-Gothic bookshop with carved wooden shelves, a stained-glass skylight and a swirling crimson staircase that seems to float in the middle of the room. It is so popular that you need a ticket to get in, and the queue is part of the experience.

    Tip: Book a timed ticket online and go at opening time, before the queue snakes round the block.

Port, river and sea

  1. Port lodges of Vila Nova de Gaia

    Food

    A port wine lodge on the waterfront at Vila Nova de Gaia
    Photo: Belarmino Ribeiro, CC BY 3.0

    Port wine is made upriver in the Douro Valley, but for centuries it has been brought down to Gaia to age in the cool, damp lodges along the south bank. Famous names line the waterfront and climb the hill behind, and most offer cellar tours ending with a tasting of tawnies, rubies and whites.

    Tip: Book tours ahead in summer. A white port and tonic on a terrace overlooking the river is the local aperitif.

  2. Douro river cruise

    Activity

    Traditional rabelo boats moored on the Douro in Porto
    Photo: Michael Gaylard from Horsham, UK, CC BY 4.0

    The short 'six bridges' cruises that leave from both banks are the easiest way to see Porto from the water, passing under every bridge from the elegant Ponte Dom Luís I to the modern concrete spans upstream. Many go out in boats styled on the old rabelos that once carried port barrels downriver.

  3. Foz do Douro

    Neighbourhood

    Where the Douro finally meets the Atlantic, Porto turns into a seaside town. Ride the historic tram along the river, then stroll the long promenade past rocky beaches, lighthouses and old forts, stopping for a drink as the sun sinks into the ocean.

Churches, art and architecture

  1. Igreja de São Francisco

    Landmark

    Plain and Gothic on the outside, the church of St Francis is an astonishing blaze of gilded baroque woodcarving within, every surface dripping with gold. Below it, the catacombs hold the tombs of friars and wealthy merchants.

  2. Serralves

    Museum

    Porto's contemporary art museum is a cool, white building by the Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza, set in beautiful landscaped grounds with a pink art deco villa, formal gardens, woodland and a treetop walk. Come for the exhibitions, stay for the park.

  3. Casa da Música

    Landmark

    Rem Koolhaas's concert hall looks like a giant white crystal dropped on to the Boavista roundabout. Guided tours show off its striking interiors, but the best way in is with a ticket for one of its concerts, which range from classical to jazz and fado.

Eat and drink

Porto food is generous, unfussy and very good value.

  1. Francesinha

    Food

    A francesinha sandwich covered in melted cheese and sauce
    Photo: Ih8connecticut, CC0

    Porto's gloriously excessive signature sandwich: layers of bread, steak, ham and sausage, smothered in melted cheese and drowned in a rich, beery tomato sauce, often with a fried egg on top and chips on the side. Every café claims to make the best one. You'll need a walk afterwards.

  2. Mercado do Bolhão

    Market

    Inside Porto's restored Mercado do Bolhão market hall
    Photo: Afsalgado, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Porto's grand old market hall reopened in 2022 after a long restoration, and it is once again full of fishmongers, flower sellers, butchers and fruit stalls, with little counters for petiscos and a glass of wine.

  3. Seafood in Matosinhos

    Food

    Just north of the city, the fishing port of Matosinhos is where Porto goes for grilled fish. Restaurants along its streets set up charcoal grills on the pavement and cook sardines, sea bass and octopus over the coals. Order whatever was landed that morning.

    Tip: The metro runs straight there. Combine it with a walk on the big sandy beach.

Day trips

  1. The Douro Valley

    Day trip

    Terraced vineyards on the steep slopes of the Douro Valley
    Photo: mat's eye, CC BY 2.0

    Upriver from Porto, the Douro winds through steep hills sculpted into terraced vineyards, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape and the home of port. Visit a quinta for a tasting, take a boat trip from Pinhão or Peso da Régua, and ride the train that runs along the riverbank, one of the most scenic lines in Europe.

    Tip: Trains leave from São Bento. Go for at least a day; staying overnight at a quinta is even better.

  2. Guimarães

    Day trip

    The medieval castle of Guimarães
    Photo: John Samuel, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Proudly known as the birthplace of Portugal, since the country's first king, Afonso Henriques, is traditionally said to have been born here, Guimarães has a hilltop castle, a grand ducal palace and a beautifully kept medieval centre that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

  3. Braga

    Day trip

    Portugal's religious capital is a lively university town of churches and squares. Just outside it, the sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte sits atop a spectacular zigzagging baroque staircase. Climb it, or ride the old water-powered funicular alongside.

Where to stay in Porto

Not sure which area suits you? Read our guide: Where to stay in Porto →

Getting around

The centre is walkable but very hilly, so wear good shoes. The metro links the airport, the centre, Gaia and Matosinhos, and historic trams run along the river to Foz. Trains for the Douro Valley, Guimarães and Braga leave from São Bento and Campanhã.

When to go

Late spring to early autumn brings the warmest, sunniest weather. The festival of São João in June is Porto's biggest party. Winters are mild but often wet. The Douro Valley is especially beautiful during the September grape harvest.

Questions about visiting Porto

What is Porto best known for?
Port wine, its riverside Ribeira district and the Dom Luís I bridge, blue-and-white azulejo tiles, the francesinha sandwich, and being the gateway to the Douro Valley.
How many days do you need in Porto?
Two or three days covers the city, the port lodges and a trip to Foz. Add a day for the Douro Valley.
Is the Douro Valley worth a day trip from Porto?
Yes. The terraced vineyards are spectacular, and you can go by train, boat or tour. Staying a night lets you see it at a slower pace.
Is Porto good for a weekend break?
Very. It is compact, the food and wine are excellent value, and the main sights are close together.

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