Discover the 18 best things to do in Porto. This beautiful Portuguese city has many incredible attractions for you to explore and be enchanted by.
1. Go to the Palácio da Bolsa in Porto
This very luxurious 19th century building is the symbol of the city and has several rooms. To give you an idea, there’s the gallery of former presidents, the courtroom, the assembly room, the portrait room and the Arab Hall – the most important room in the palace and the most beautiful.
You have to pay to enter the palace, but it’s really worth it. The architecture there is very impressive and there are guided tours that explain more about each room, which are included in the entrance fee.
2. Walking around the historic city center
This is a delightful activity for any tourist. Getting to know Porto’s charming historic center, with its old houses, one on top of the other, decorated with antique tiles, is a unique experience. We even recommend taking this Free Tour of the city, while you listen to explanations of each site and tourist attraction.
There are also the little boats on the River Douro and the various bridges that cross the river banks. Another great thing about the historic city center is that it is constantly being revitalized. So you’ll also find lots of little bars there where you can have a snack while enjoying the city’s atmosphere.
Important tip: To make the most of your trip is to stay in the best region. If you want, see our article here that explains the best area, hotels and how to save a lot on accommodation.
3. Visit the Crystal Palace in Porto
Inaugurated in 1865, the Crystal Palace was inspired by the Crystal Palace in London, but nowadays it serves as a sports hall. The large romantic gardens, which house fountains and sculptures representing each season, are well worth a visit.
4. Go to the River Douro in Porto
This symbol of the city is of great importance to Porto. After all, the Douro originates in Spain and runs through the north of Portugal until it flows into the sea. In addition, the Douro River is the third longest in the entire Iberian Peninsula, which has earned it the title of World Heritage Site as a cultural landscape, according to Unesco.
At Ribeira (the river’s edge), you’ll have the opportunity to take a boat trip along the River Douro, a super cool experience that guarantees beautiful scenery.
5. Visit the Lello bookshop in Porto
The Lello bookshop is the most famous in the country and one of the best known in the world. It is housed in one of the most famous Portuguese neo-Gothic buildings and has a beautiful arched façade and two side windows.
The interior of the Lello bookshop, although small, also carries in its history the characteristic of having emblematic staircases that even served as inspiration in the writing of the Harry Potter books, since the author, J.K. Rowling, lived in the city of Porto.
6. Visit the museums in Porto
Porto’s museums are unmissable places for those who want to learn more about the city’s culture and history! Here are the main museums you can visit in Porto:
Soares dos Reis National Museum: located in the Palácio das Carrancas and next to the Jardim da Cordoaria. The Soares dos Reis National Museum is the largest and most visited art museum in Porto. It houses one of the city’s greatest art collections, with works dating back to the 19th century.
Wine Museum: this is where various interactive exhibitions take place, presenting the impact of wine on the region. The building dates back to the 17th century and there you’ll find old machines that were once used to produce wine.
Electric Car Museum: located in Massarelos, this museum is a former thermo-electric power station. It presents the public with several old electric cars and various related exhibitions showing uniforms, documents and historical photographs of the car drivers.
Casa de Serralves Museum: this cultural institution aims to promote contemporary art. Its house is a work of contemporary architecture, designed by Álvaro Siza Vieira.
Casa do Infante Museum: located in the Ribeira area, with its back to the Douro. Its building, which dates back to 1394, has three floors of exhibitions on various themes – including customs activities, mosaics and cements from Roman times that were discovered during excavations.
7. Visit the Bom Sucesso and Bolhão markets in Porto
These two markets are a great way to get to know the lifestyle and daily life of the city. You can find out more about the local food, crafts and even gourmet products.
In Porto, the two main markets to visit are Mercado do Bolhão and Mercado do Bom Sucesso. The former dates back to 1914 and offers meat, bread, fish, vegetables, fruit, seeds and many other products, not to mention snack stalls.
The second dates from 1951 and is just as charming. It has three modern floors with large windows and dozens of restaurants, as well as stalls with fresh produce.
8. Go to Capela das Almas and Igreja do Carmo in Porto
These two other tourist attractions in the city are very interesting! They preserve the city’s architecture, with traditional tiles on the outside and beautiful sacred altars.
9. See the Fort of São Francisco Xavier in Porto
This fort, popularly known as the Castelo do Queijo (Cheese Castle), served Porto as a maritime protection and fortification. It is now fully preserved and is under the guardianship of the Northern Delegation Commandos Association. The fort houses a historical military museum and promotes first-rate cultural events.
10. Walking through the Jardim das Virtudes in Porto
This place brings together nature, art, gastronomy and architecture and is ideal for a delightful family stroll! The garden is located just a few meters from the historic center, making it a kind of hidden treasure in Porto.
The green space has more than 750 camellias and is ideal for those who want to relax and enjoy a privileged view of the River Douro and the imposing Alfândega do Porto. Our tip for enjoying this activity is to visit the garden at sunset – this will guarantee an incredible view.
11. Enjoying Porto’s beaches
Do you like the sea? Then don’t miss out on the incredible beaches in the Porto region. You can spend the day there or go for walks and picnics with the family.
Praia do Aterro: located in the Leça da Palmeira region, this beach is ideal for bodyboarding, thanks to the favorable weather conditions for the sport. There you’ll also find local bars, which are a delicious option for lunch or a late afternoon drink.
Piscinas das Marés de Leça da Palmeira: this option isn’t so much the beach itself, but the set of pools that are located on this beach. They were built in 1966 right next to the sea, which makes the water salty.
Praia Azul: located in Angeiras, it has a large stretch of sand, is surrounded by rocks and has a rough blue sea – which can be a worrying factor for many bathers. But you can also enjoy Praia Azul in other ways, sunbathing, walking along it and playing sports on the sand.
Praia da Aguda: is located in Porto’s neighboring city, Gaia, on the other side of the River Douro. The beautiful beach stands out for its vast expanse of sea and sand, which is great for those who enjoy walking.
Praia da Granja: has a unique beauty, full of dunes all around it. There you’ll find a 15 km long wooden walkway from where you can walk along all the beaches of Vila Nova de Gaia. The beach is also perfect for visiting with family and friends. There are plenty of restaurants and bars around. The downside is that most of these places are only open in high season.
Praia Castelo do Queijo: located near the São Francisco Xavier Fort. Although it is a somewhat wild and unsupervised beach, its scenery makes the trip worthwhile and even makes it one of the most beautiful in the region. However, it is worth noting that it has a lot of rocks and this makes access to the sea difficult.
12. Admiring the Clérigos Tower and Church in Porto
This monument is the tallest in the city of Porto and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Clérigos Tower and Church are part of the Clérigos Church in the city, which is one of the symbols of Porto. So much so that when you arrive in the city, you’ll notice that the souvenirs sold always show the Clérigos Tower.
13. Crossing the Dom Luís Bridge in Porto
This old metal bridge connects the two banks of the River Douro (Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia). The bridge’s real name is Luís I, but legend has it that, due to the absence of King Luís I at its inauguration, the city’s population chose to remove the “dom” from its name.
Today, the bridge has two routes suspended in the air: an upper one, which serves as a subway line, for cars and pedestrians, and a lower one, which serves cars and pedestrians.
14. Enjoying a concert at Casa da Música in Porto
Casa da Música is always full of performances for all audiences and all budgets. It has five halls, as well as a restaurant and a “Cibermúsica space”. You can book a guided tour to get to know this place if you don’t want to attend a concert.
15. Strolling along Avenida Aliados in Porto
Avenida Aliados is one of the most visited places by tourists, as it is in the center of the city and is home to several monuments. At one end of the avenue is the imposing Porto City Hall. At the other end is Praça da Liberdade, which has a statue of King Pedro IV.
This place is very popular in the city and has become a stage for cultural presentations, performances and concerts. It is also where local events and celebrations take place, such as the St. John’s Festival, New Year’s Eve and the Pope’s Mass.
16. Admiring Porto’s Fernandina Walls
The city’s Fernandina Walls served to protect Porto from invasions at the time. This activity is perfect for learning more about the city’s history. During the tour you’ll be able to see many of the city’s beauties, such as the River Douro, the Luís I Bridge, the Gaia waterfront, the Infante Bridge, the Serra do Pilar and much more.
17. Visit the Porto Botanical Garden
The Porto Botanical Garden is one of the places with the greatest natural diversity. It covers 4 hectares and belongs to the Portuguese State and is managed by the Faculty of Science of the University of Porto. It has lakes, the Fish Garden, the Jotas Garden, the Andresen House, as well as a greenhouse of tropical plants and cacti.
18. Shopping in Porto
Another great activity to do in Porto is shopping in the city. Porto is full of stores and malls, and there you’ll also find Rua Santa Catarina, the city’s most traditional shopping street. Located right in the center of Porto, the street has some of the best national and international brand stores, as well as many souvenir stores.
Save on tickets for paid attractions in Porto
Porto is an incredible city with countless attractions to visit. We’ve traveled all over the world and found a great company that does all the guided tours there at very good prices.
So, you should know that on our last trips we used this very Porto Tickets website. As well as being one of the biggest ticket sellers in the world, it’s also very secure. Plus, on this site, you can buy all your tickets in one place.
It’s also worth mentioning that it’s always cheaper to buy all your tickets in advance and online. That way, you’ll avoid the queues and won’t waste any of your travel time.
Most popular tickets in Porto:
Save money on your trip to Porto:
Saving money: do you want to plan your trip while making the most of your budget? Be sure to read our article on how to travel to Porto cheap, with all the tips to save the most, while still enjoying it!
Tickets: find out where to buy your Porto tickets in the cheapest and safest way – for parks, museums and ticket combos. You can save up to 40%!
Car: if you are thinking about renting one this is the best website. It compares the price at all rental companies and finds unbeatable prices. You can save up to 30%!
Mobile chip: we always use this chip. It’s electronic (eSIM), you install it instantly and you can use your cell phone’s Internet anywhere in the world.
Hotels: our article on where to stay in Porto. You will find out the best area, the hotels that we have stayed there and how to save a lot on the hotel.
Travel insurance: medical care in another country is very expensive and it is extremely important to take out travel insurance for any trip abroad. This is the website we always take out our insurance on. Reliable and at a good price.
Transfer: do you need one from the airport to the hotel? Find out here how to book and for the lowest price!
