What to visit in Porto?
What to visit in Porto?
We have already mentioned some of the points of interest in Porto, but we are going to delve into them a bit so that you have all the information and do not miss the best places in what is one of the most charming and surprising cities in Europe. So in this article, I will discuss What to visit in Porto?
Porto, known for its bridges over the Douro River and for its excellent wine, is a small city that is easily covered in a weekend. Let’s see what you cannot miss in Porto!
The colored facades of the Ribeira of Porto.
Lello bookstore
The Lello Bookstore is one of the most beautiful and impressive bookstores in Europe and an essential visit in Porto. It is located in the heart of the city and the building where it is located is in the neo-Gothic style and dates from 1906.
Inside the bookstore, you will see its impressive wooden staircase and its spectacular second-floor stained glass window where natural light enters. It is not surprising that the charm that this library exudes inspired JK Rowling to write her famous Harry Potter saga .
Keep in mind that, due to the overcrowding of tourists, they put an entrance fee of 5 euros , but the good thing is that, if you buy a book, it will be discounted from the price. It could be a nice memory of your time in Porto!
Church and Tower of the Clérigos
Baroque in style and built in the 18th century, the Church of the Clérigos is another emblem of Porto, whose tower you will see from anywhere in the city, so it serves as a reference point not to get lost .
Located on the “hanging hill”, where the executions were carried out, from the 76-meter tower you will have the best views of Porto and its historic center. Of course, you will have to climb more than 200 steps where you will see its 49 bells , but the views are worth it!
Porto Cathedral : What to visit in Porto?
Although the 12th-century Porto Cathedral has a somewhat sober exterior, you are sure to love its beautiful Gothic-style cloister decorated with 14th-century blue tiles depicting religious scenes.
Don’t miss the column found in the Cathedral Square, which was formerly used to execute criminals. There is also a terrace from which you will have spectacular views of the city, the Douro River and Vila Nova de Gaia.
Bolhão Market
In the Mercado do Bolhão, inaugurated in 1914, you will find a wide variety of stalls to eat and where you can buy all kinds of quality products : fruits and vegetables, meat, fish (especially cod), and even flowers.
You may not have the intention of buying anything, but we recommend that you come to mingle with the locals, learn a little more about their customs and see an authentic Porto atmosphere .
San Bento Station: What to visit in Porto?
Built at the beginning of the 20th century , the Porto Train Station is another one of the things you should not miss.
You will love the paintings and mosaics made with more than 20,000 tiles that represent some of the most important events in the history of Portugal and everyday scenes from different times of the year, for example, how it was lived before the arrival of the train to the town.
We recommend that you visit it at sunset , when the sun makes its tiles shine and creates a magical atmosphere.
Other essential places in Porto
Finally, we recommend that you also do not miss:
- La Ribeira : walking at sunset or at night along the banks of the Douro, between the Don Luis I Bridge, an icon of the city, and the Arrábida Bridge, will be one of the best experiences you will live in Porto.
- Stock Exchange Palace : another of the most beautiful places to see in Porto, Declared a National Monument of the country.
- The wine cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia: we recommend that you take a walk along its riverside with fantastic views of the colorful facades of the Ribeira and that you take a guided tour of one of the many wineries in this neighborhood to learn about the whole process of wine making with designation of origin of Porto.
Transport in Porto: What to visit in Porto?
Another of the most important things when visiting a city is knowing how to get around it. Here are the means of transport you can use to visit Porto:
- Buses : Porto buses will be useful not to move around the center, but to go to other areas of the city (to the wineries or the airport, for example) or at night. Price: € 1.90.
- Metro : it has 6 lines (A, B, C, D, E and F, differentiated by colors). The most central stations, which cover the entire historic center of Porto, are: Bolhão, São Bento (central station), Aliados and Trinidade. Price: € 1.20.
- Trams : there are three old tram lines, the most touristy being 1E, which follows the banks of the Duero to the Foz neighborhood. Price: € 3.50 / Round trip: € 6.
- Funicular : to go up from the Ribeira to the Batalha area. There are good views of the river and the bridge. Price: € 2.50.
- Teleferico de Gaia : rather touristy, it is used to avoid the unevenness that exists from the area of the walk on the banks of the Duero de Gaia to the top of the Dom Luis I bridge.
If you like trams, you’re in luck!
To save on transportation , we recommend that you buy the Andante Card. There are two kinds:
- Andante 24 card : allows unlimited use of the metro, buses, trams and some commuter trains in Porto for 24 hours. The price depends on the areas you want to cover (within Porto it would be zone 2 and up to the airport zone 4). Price: € 4.15 (zone 2) / € 6.40 (zone 4).
- Andante Tour Card : allows you to move around the entire Porto metropolitan area without taking the zones into account. The price of the 24-hour card is € 7 and that of the 72-hour card is € 15.
How to get from the airport to Porto?
Finally, you are probably wondering how to get to and from Porto airport if you go by plane.
By metro , it takes a little over half an hour and there is no need to change. You must take line E (towards Estádio do Dragão), which runs every day between 06:00 and 01:00, with a frequency of 20 minutes from Monday to Friday and 30 minutes on Saturdays and Sundays. The price of this journey is € 1.85. Do not forget to purchase a valid ticket for Zone 4 (Z4), which is the one that covers the journey to and from the airport.
By bus , the price is the same as by metro ( € 1.85, zone 4), but it is much slower . However, it can be useful if you arrive in the city at night and do not want to take a taxi, which is much more expensive. You must take Bus No. 601, Bus No. 602 or Bus 3M, which operates at night.
To go by shuttle , you can hire the services of the Transdev company, which drops you off at the Gare Rodoviaria bus station. The journey takes about 30 minutes and costs € 2.50.
Finally, by taxi , the price of the journey can range between € 25 and € 30. Of course, it is the most comfortable option!
