Things to do in Porto Portugal

After spending a lot of time in central Portugal, I figured it was time to try a different region of the country. Also…England is ice cold in February so I needed some winter sun for my birthday. I was surprised to find it was sunny and warm enough to wear a t-shirt if you wanted to. Porto is a walkable city and all of the attractions are within walking distance of each other, some of which I will share in this post. Keep reading for some inspiration on things to do in Porto Portugal.

1. Porto Cathedral

There are so many churches in Porto but I felt this one was the best. It’s so beautiful with the Azulejo tiles. You can wander around and climb to the roof for €3. Another attraction you might want to visit nearby is Miradouro da Vitória, which is good for a sunset view and a 10-minute walk away. You can then take a 5-minute walk to Largo da Pena Ventosa which is a nice photo spot.

2. Teleférico de Gaia

This cable car connects Porto to Vila Nova de Gaia. The return journey is €10 and has to be used by 6pm. I took my first one to Gaia at 11am and was really lucky to get a cable car to myself. When you reach Gaia there are some market stalls set up by the river. You may also want to visit the Mercado Beira-Rio which is a food market opposite the cable car station.

3. Port Wine Tasting

Port wine tasting is one of the most essential things to do in Porto Portugal. The best place to do this is in Gaia which I previously mentioned above. There are many wine cellars dotted around this city. I went to Espaço Porto Cruz as it was recommended to me by the guy who rented an apartment to me during my stay. For some reason, I prefer white types of wine in Portugal (white port and white sangria)

4. Igreja de Santo Ildefonso

Igreja de Santo Ildefonso is a beautiful church! I have to warn you that it is very busy because the entrance is free. The church is next to Praça da Batalha, and they were holding a market when I visited. They were selling honey, sheep cheese, canned fish, and jewellery.

5. Livraria Lello

Livraria Lello has been named the most beautiful book shop in the world. It’s famous because JK Rowling used this book shop as her inspiration whilst she wrote Harry Potter. I think it’s the most popular attraction in Porto as it took me 3 days to get in. The queues are sooooooo long and I discovered that you need to buy a time-slotted ticket beforehand. Tickets are €6 but this price will be deducted from any book purchases.

6. Cais da Ribeira

Visiting the Cais da Ribeira is one of the nicest things to do in Porto Portugal. This is a waterfront full of restaurants. There are plenty of places for you to sit by the river and enjoy the view on a sunny day. You can also do a boat cruise along the Duoro River.

7. Pastel de nata

Eat a Pastel de nata…or 3. Fábrica da Nata is one of the best places to get these. Another popular place is Majestic cafe which is quite luxurious. I’ve heard that the food in Majestic cafe is quite overpriced so it’s the decor/experience that you pay for. Porto also has the most beautiful Mcdonald’s in the world (although I never visited it)

8. Capela das Almas

This is a Blue church on the side of a road. It’s a famous spot for snapping pictures so it’s better to go early before all the cars come out. It’s very close to Rua Caterina which is Porto’s main shopping street, so you can combine it with a bit of retail therapy. Another place you can visit in this area is the Mercado do Bolhão. It’s one of the nicest food markets I have ever seen. Very spacious and there is a stall selling glasses of wine for €2.50…and shots of gingjinha in the chocolate cup for €1.

9. Igreja de São Francisco Catacombs

The Igreja de São Francisco is a church containing catacombs underneath. The crypt contains members of the Franciscan order, and there is actually a small window on the ground where you can see piles of bones and skulls buried underneath the church. This is close to Cais da Ribeira (mentioned above) and Bolsa Palace.

10. Torre dos Clérigos

Clérigos Church has a 75-meter bell tower which I reluctantly climbed. This church has been set up in a clever way that allows you to gradually reach the top. You may go up two flights of stairs and then find a level full of information/artefacts. Then go up 2 more flights of stairs and find something else to view while you recover your breath. This is a 2-minute walk away from the Livraria Lello bookstore that I previously mentioned above.

There are so many things to do in Porto Portugal, and I think this city is perfect for a weekend trip. If you want to hear more about Portugal, then click here to read about my first ever trip to the country which was in August 2017.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin