15 things to see and do in Porto

Hi, everyone!

Today I am here to talk to you about a beautiful city that is just next-door. In my case, I live in Cangas del Morrazo, and from here it is only an hour and a half journey, but it is really close to other parts of Galicia too. In addition, Porto airport has direct flights to lots of different cities in Spain and the rest of Europe.

Porto is the second biggest city in Portugal, after Lisbon. It is the type of city that I usually like due to the personality of its architecture, it's food, the people and its narrow and cobbled streets. You need around two or three days as a minimum to visit it properly.

It is also a city that it is more and more touristy, therefore, as I always say, it is better to not go there in high season to avoid queues, crowds and stress.

Something quite interesting about this city is that being a fisherman's city, lots of them have to go away for long seasons and be away from their families. It is said that the famous Portuguese fados come from here, for it is precisely the sad songs that were sung for the pain of seeing relatives leave without knowing if they would return or not. It is also said that the front of the houses at the riverbank are painted in bright colours to bring joy to the city after the fisherman left.

Here I will tell you the 15 things to do and see in this marvellous city.

Go up the Clérigos Church

The Clérigos Church is one of the most well-known monuments in the city, especially the tower, which is one of the highest ones in Portugal, with a height of 76 metres.

To go to the top of the tower, you have to pay 4 euros, however, it is free to go inside the church.

It is worth going up the steps, which there are more than 200 of, to go up the tower and admire the beautiful view of the city. From going up you can also see the 49 fields, controlled by an automated system.

Go to the Librería Lello e Irmão

The first time that I visited Porto was in March three years ago. I remember the visit to this library well, but to be honest, it was quite full so it was difficult to go around it. I went again last year at the end of last summer, and it was even more crowded. You had to queue to buy the entry ticket (which was around 5 euros which you could use as a discount on buying any book) and then queue again to go inside the library.

Apart from the queues and the mass of people, the inside is beautiful, but the truth is that at least in my case, all the above detracts from its charm.

There is always a rumour that they filmed some of the Harry Potter scenes in here, but it isn't true, just that a few scenes were inspired from here.

Very close to this library, in Rúa do Carmo, you can find the Igreja do Carmo. Its side is covered with a mural of pretty tiles.

Cross the Don Luis I bridge

This place is one of my favourites in Porto. It is undoubtedly one of the symbols of the city.

It is the most famous bridge in Porto and it joins the city with Vila Nova de Gaia. It has two floors: one below where the coaches go on and one above for the metro. Pedestrians are allowed to walk on both levels. I recommend crossing it on the top past to be able to see La Ribera, also it is a lot more tranquil then going through the bit below which is full of cars and with barely any space for all the pedestrians who usually cross the bridge.

Visit Porto Cathdral

It is located in the upper part of the city, joined with the Se neighbourhood, one of the main neighbourhoods in the city.

It has been declared a National Monument and it is worth visiting it for its outside as much as its inside. In addition, the entrance is free, you only have to pay to access the cloister.

Personally, I loved the atmosphere at the cathedral entrance, as there is always usually someone playing music or singing and people going around the area admiring the cathedral or the views of the city.

Go down the Barrio Do Barredo.

From the cathedral, you can go down to this very unique neighbourhood. It is characterised by its ochre and worn out colours, the clothes lying in the sun... All this is precisely what makes this place special. The perfect way to get to know the real Porto.

Try the wine from Porto in the winery of Vila Nova de Gaia

The Duero river borders populations of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia, currently joined up by several bridges; and between those the most well known one, the bridge of Luis 1 which I spoke to you about earlier.

It is in Vila Nova de Gaia where they make the wine which comes from Porto. The fundamental difference between Port wine and the rest of the wines is that they add brandy to interrupt its fermentation. So, it conserves the original sweetness of the grapes and the greatest level of alcohol content.

You can visit numerous wineries in Vila Nova de Gaia, and as well as that, in the majority of them the entry is no more than 5 to 10 euros. During the visits to these wineries, you are usually accompanied by a guide that explains the whole making process of the wine through the facilities, and at the end of the visit, a wine tasting takes place.

Some of the most famous wineries are the Ramos Pinto one or the Ferreira winery.

Visit Liberty Square

It is probably the most famous square in the city. In the centre, the statue of King Pedro IV stands out, which is 10 metres high and was made in Bronze by Antoine Calmels.

Here is where the Portuguese usually meet up to celebrate the new year, the concerts for the San Juan celebrations and lots of other events.

From Liberty Square, there is the Avenida dos Aliados, one of the most famous and visited avenues in Porto.

I also recommend visiting Trindade Square and Trindade church, which are just behind the town hall

Lose yourself in the Mercado do Bolhão

This market is really close to Liberty Square and there are four entrances to access it.

Once you are there you will come across every kind of stall, especially for fruit and veg, and some for meat, cold-cuts and fish. There are bunches of flowers which add a certain charm to the market. In the market, there are also several bars and restaurants to eat at.

Honestly, the market itself isn't very well cared for, but it is well-known as the place to find good-quality products.

Go shopping on Santa Catarina road

It is a pedestrianised street, in fact the most walked on one in the city. It is the perfect street to go shopping on, as most of the shops are located there, but you can also go for a drink in one of the many bars in the area.

In fact, this is the street where you can find the famous Cafe Majestic. This cafe was where Portuguese artists met up. It is usually quite full and to be honest, the prices are quite high but I recommend that you go inside, even if you just have a coffee, as its inside is incredible.

Really near to this square you can find the Chapel of Souls. We again came across a pretty front with blue and white tiles, which represented religious scenes from the life of Saint Catherine and Saint Francis of Assisi. It was built during the 18th century and it is in neoclassic style.

Admire Sao Bento Station

This railway station is definitely a must-see place in the city. If something characterises Porto it is its tiles, and this is precisely why this station stands out, with its foyer decorated with more than 200, 000 tiles. But they aren't just any tiles, as these ones tell Portugal's history through scenes of the countryside, battles, coronations...

It received its name because it was built on the ruins of a building called the Convento deSão Bento as it was destroyed by a fire. It was inaugurated in 1916 but began to operate a few years beforehand. During these years, at the start of the 20th century, Portugal started its railway expansion and thus the Sao Bento station played a fundamental role in this drive forward in transport.

Visit the San Ildefonso church

The work of Jorge Colacao, its front is decorated again with the typical blue and white tiles

It is located in the Batalla square and it is quite easy to find it as it is in a high area of the city and so is visible from several places. To access it you go up a big stairway.

To be honest, I didn't see the inside of it, but if I'm not mistaken it was free to go inside.

Go through Ribeira

As its name implies, this is the area situated on the riverbank.

It is worth visiting it as much in the day as it is in the night; whether to appreciate the colour of the pretty fronts of houses or to eat in one of its many restaurants. Saying that, I think that it is better to eat in the area belonging to Vila Nova de Gaia as in general, in the other area, the restaurants give the impression that they more offer pre-cooked food and on the menu there are hardly any typical dishes from Portugal or that seem home-cooked. In the case of the Francesinhas (or Little Frenchies, a Portuguese sandwich) if you compare these in some restaurants and others, there's no contest! Therefore it is important to pay attention and choose well. At least I have eaten on both sides of the Ribera and this has been my impression.

From here you can also go on a boat trip along the Duero, I never did one but I want to do it next time I visit the city.

The Palácio da Bolsa

It can be found right in the historical centre and it is the home to the Commercial Association of Porto. Also, it was labelled as a National Monument

During my visit I only saw it from outside, however, it is possible to go inside by paying an entrance fee of 8 euros. There are guided visits which are available in four different languages. From what I have seen in the photos, it is worth going as the rooms are incredible. It is especially famous for the Arabic room (which is similar to the Alhambra in Granada), the Park of the Nations, the Galeria dos Antigos Presidentes, and the General Assembly room.

Try the famous Little Frenchies

The Francesinha is an excellent Portuguese dish. It is a kind of sandwich but it is filled with meat and cold-cuts. On top, there is melted cheese and also sometimes a fried egg, and most importantly, a sauce made out of tomato and beer which they usually add a spicy touch too. Basically, a mass of calories. Normally it is also served with chips.

The price is usually between 8 and 12 euros but make no mistake, although it seems like a simple sandwich it is really big; in fact, not everyone is able to eat a whole one the first time.

As I said before, it is important to know what restaurant to choose to try the francesinha as depending on one place or the other, you could love it or it could leave you completely indifferent.

Relax in the Crystal Palace Gardens

It is the perfect place to relax, breath, have a picnic... It is not only worthwhile going there for its pretty Crystal Palace, for there is also a lake, several fountains, a modern public library and of course its gardens.

The gardens are divided into themed areas, like for example the garden of aromatic plants, one of medicinal plants and one for roses. In fact, it is also a botanical garden as all the species have their name and country of origin. It is also full of different birds which roam the ground. We were surprised to suddenly see several real ducks and other birds going really near to the tourists.

To sum up, it is a really nice place, from which you have amazing views of the Duero river.

Where to sleep

As well as saying what to see and do in Porto, I am going to tell you my experience of staying in the city.

As I said before, I have visited Porto twice. The first time we found an offer on the website buscounchollo.com and we stayed for two nights in the hotel Belver Beta Porto 4*. We had a triple room as I travelled with two other friends, and we paid 51 euros each for 2 nights. Also, breakfast was included on both days and we had access to the spa and tickets for an audio bus tour around the city. Damn, you couldn't beat it. Anyway, I imagine that if you reserve directly with the hotel the price would be a lot higher as it is a four-star hotel, therefore it is important to pay attention to the offers on pages like the one I just mentioned.

The second time that I visited the city I reserved quite a central apartment through Booking. It was called Apartment Center Porto and we paid 78 euros altogether for two nights. The apartment was really good: modern, clean and really well decorated. Saying that, there are a multitude of options for finding an apartment in the city which are very cheap.

And this has been everything. I hope that you liked this post and that it is helpful. Thanks for reading!

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