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Tourist Attractions in Porto

The most interesting and beautiful tourist sites in Porto

Photos, reviews, descriptions, and links to maps

About Porto

The northern capital and true jewel of Portugal, Porto is an inexhaustible treasure trove for the tourist. This city is so atmospheric and authentic that you can fall in love with it at first sight. Old houses, dilapidated walls and crooked streets of Ribeira stir the imagination, excellent port wine fires the blood, and simple and hearty Portuguese cuisine will always remain in the heart of any visitor to Porto.

You can walk around the city endlessly – admiring the unusual azulejos, visiting baroque churches, wandering pensively along the Cais da Ribeira promenade. It seems you can never tire of Porto. River walks along the Douro River valley can diversify your leisure time if all the corners of the city have already been thoroughly explored and captured in your memories for years to come.

Top-20 Tourist Attractions in Porto

Ribeira

0/5
A colourful central quarter located by the Douro River. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many of the houses in Ribeira are 300 years old, but they are still inhabited. The quarter descends to the Cais da Ribeira waterfront by a system of steep stairs and narrow streets that are easy to get lost in. The seafront is lined with taverns, restaurants serving traditional Portuguese fishermen’s cuisine and viewing platforms with benches.

Praça da Liberdade

4.6/5
583 reviews
Porto’s central square, surrounded by charming Art Nouveau mansions and administrative buildings of the 19th and 20th centuries. The appearance of the square and the surrounding neighbourhoods differs strikingly from the chaotic development of the old part of the city, as all the buildings were erected according to a single architectural plan. In the middle of the square there is a monument to King Pedro IV, created in the middle of the 19th century.
Open time
Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

ViaCatarina Shopping

4.3/5
26105 reviews
The commercial heart of Porto, where the maximum number of shops, souvenir shops, cafés and pastry shops are concentrated. Because of this, the street is extremely popular with tourists. Here you can buy shoes, bags and other products made from local cork oak, original Portuguese port wine, savour a variety of pastries or have a glass of excellent wine made from the grapes of the Douro Valley.
Open time
Monday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Livraria Lello

4.1/5
62465 reviews
“Livraria Lello” is famous not so much for its assortment as for the interior decoration and the architecture of the building in which it is located. It is considered the most beautiful bookshop in the world. It consists of two floors, the second floor is accessed by a graceful red staircase, and the roof of the shop is made up of elegant stained glass windows. The shop opened at the end of the 19th century and is now a Portuguese National Monument.
Open time
Monday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Majestic Café

4.2/5
19415 reviews
A famous café with a magnificent Art Nouveau interior, where you can taste many varieties of flavoured coffee and order delicious pastries. The café is located on Santa Catarina Street, so it is always packed to the brim with tourists. It takes a lot of effort to find a free table there. The café was opened in a building dating back to the early 20th century and quickly became popular with the local aristocracy and was later noticed by visitors to Porto.
Open time
Monday: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Sunday: Closed

Porto Music Guest House

4.8/5
143 reviews
One of the main concert halls in Porto. The building was erected in 2005, designed by architect R. Culhaas. After its opening, for some reason it was immediately designated as a symbol of Porto. Some experts in the field of architecture call the House of Music an outstanding modern project and compare it with the building of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and the Berlin Philharmonic. The concert hall has a seating capacity of 1,200, and inside there is a restaurant, an outdoor terrace, and a music shop.
Open time
Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Serralves

4.4/5
5898 reviews
The museum was built in the middle of the 20th century by A. Vieiro. The building itself, where the exposition is located, is built in a minimalist style and is surrounded by a magnificent landscaped park. The museum specialises in contemporary art and often hosts exhibitions of famous masters. Visitors can relax in the park, which itself can be called a separate art object.
Open time
Monday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

National Museum Soares dos Reis

4.3/5
2536 reviews
One of the city’s most important museums, located in the Carrancas Palace. It exhibits a rich collection of Portuguese national art. The collection of sculptures by Antônio Soares Reis takes up an impressive part of the exhibition. The museum was opened in the early 19th century with the participation of King Pedro IV. The first exhibits were works of art confiscated from monasteries and works by court artists.
Open time
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Porto Cathedral

4.6/5
27677 reviews
The city’s main cathedral, which is located at the highest point in Porto. It is therefore visible from almost any part of the city. The uniqueness of this temple is that it was erected in the XII century and has survived in its original form. The cathedral was not rebuilt, expanded or demolished. Porto grew around the massive Romanesque building over several centuries. The cathedral is decorated with traditional azulejo pottery.
Open time
Monday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Clerigos Church and Tower

4.5/5
11291 reviews
The Clérigues Tower is a recognisable symbol of Porto, visible from anywhere in the city like a cathedral. For centuries it has served as a landmark for ships entering Porto harbour from the Atlantic Ocean. The tower itself is the bell tower of a church built in the mid-18th century.
Open time
Monday: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM

Igreja do Carmo

4.5/5
3340 reviews
Two churches so close to each other that at first glance they could be mistaken for a single structure. The Carmo church is built in the Baroque and Rococo style, while the facade of the Carmelite church is in a more relaxed classical style. The buildings are decorated with blue azuleju ligatures by the master Silvestre Silvestri. The interiors of the churches are richly painted and decorated, with some elements finished in gold.
Open time
Monday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM

Church of Saint Francis

4.4/5
7302 reviews
Members of the Order of St Francis of Assisi appeared in Porto as early as the thirteenth century. Almost immediately they started building their own temple. The work was completed in the XV century and since then the appearance of the temple has not changed much. The construction is a bright representative of Portuguese Gothic. The modern interior was created later – in XVII-XVIII centuries. It is characterised by opulence and splendour of decoration.
Open time
Monday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Chapel of Souls

4.6/5
7149 reviews
A small eighteenth-century church that at first did not stand out from the surrounding landscape. In 1929, it was covered with thousands of traditional azulejo tiles, after which it became one of the top attractions in Porto. There is no other building in the city that is more richly decorated with blue and white traditional tiles with various historical and mythical themes.
Open time
Monday: 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Tuesday: 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 7:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Saturday: 7:30 AM – 12:30 PM, 6:30 – 7:30 PM
Sunday: 7:30 AM – 12:30 PM, 6:30 – 7:30 PM

Paço Episcopal do Porto - Episcopal Palace

4.4/5
502 reviews
The history of the building dates back to the 12th century, when local churchman João Raphael de Mendons wanted to build his own palace. But he never waited for the work to be completed. The first structure was built in Romanesque style, but over the centuries it was repeatedly rebuilt. In XVIII the palace was rebuilt once again, and Baroque elements were added to the architectural style.
Open time
Monday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Sunday: Closed

Bolsa Palace

4.5/5
6923 reviews
A neoclassical palace located on the site of a former Franciscan monastery. The convent burned down at the beginning of the 19th century and the ruins were quickly taken over by local traders. They immediately started building the headquarters for their commercial association. The building was designed by architect Joaquim Júnior. Many local craftsmen worked on the interior decoration and design.
Open time
Monday: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM

Porto São Bento

4.7/5
3921 reviews
Porto’s main railway station, where trains from all over the country arrive. Many suburban trains leave from the station, which is a definite plus for tourists. The building was built on the site of a Benedictine monastery that burned down (and gradually fell into disrepair). The foundation stone of the future station was laid by Carlos I in 1900. São Bento became world famous thanks to its magnificent interior decoration – all the walls are decorated with picturesque azulejo tiles.

Luís I Bridge

4.8/5
77300 reviews
A railway bridge over the Douro River, connecting the harbour and the town of Villa Nova di Gaia. The structure was designed by Theophile Seyrig, a pupil of Gustave Eiffel. The bridge turned out to be very picturesque – the “openwork” pontoons seem to fly over the river, the graceful construction harmoniously complements the surrounding landscape. The bridge offers a magnificent view of Porto, Vila Nova di Gaia and the Douro riverbed.

Ponte Dona Maria Pia

4.7/5
360 reviews
Another iron bridge spanning the Douro River, which adorns the cityscape. It was built at the end of the 19th century using advanced technology that allowed the supports to be placed on the shaky gravel bottom of the river. The bridge was created by the architect of the Eiffel Tower – Gustave Eiffel. The construction is considered a true engineering masterpiece, as are all of Eiffel’s creations.
Open time
Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Estádio do Dragão

4.7/5
38490 reviews
Home football arena of the local team Porto, a functional and modern European stadium. It hosted the 2004 World Cup matches. The stadium has also hosted performances by several famous musical groups. The structure is designed in such a way that the spectator stands are as close to the arena as possible. The stadium seats about 52 thousand people.

Graham's Port Lodge

4.6/5
1422 reviews
Porto is the birthplace of Port wine and the seat of the companies that produce it. The offices, production and cellars of the main wine companies (Calem, Sandeman, Cockburn, W. & J. Graham and others) are located in Vila Nova di Gaia. It is located on the left bank of the Douro River, opposite Porto. In the Douro valley there are vineyards where special grapes for Port wine are grown. Some companies keep vintage boats with barrels of port wine on the Cais da Ribeira promenade as an advertisement.
Open time
Monday: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM