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City in Portugal
Photo: Rititaneves, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Porto is Portugal's second largest city and the capital of the Northern region, and a busy industrial and commercial centre. The city isn't very populous (about 238,000 inhabitants in 2024), but the Porto metropolitan area has some 1.8 million inhabitants in a 50-km radius, with cities like Vila Nova de Gaia, Vila do Conde, Póvoa de Varzim and Espinho.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Stock Exchange Palace
It was built in the 19th century on the grounds of the destroyed old cloisters of the adjacent São Francisco church. It also contains the most impressive Arab room in the country. There is also a Port wine tasting room.
Porto Cathedral
This Romanesque cathedral was built in the 13th century. Later on Baroque alterations were made in the 17th and 18th century. The cathedral is on top of a hill from where you also have great views over the city and the river.
A small exhibition about Port wine and its certification process. Samples of a small variety of Port wines can be bought. Guided tastings and tours to the laboratories can be arranged.
Church of Saint Francis
A Gothic church with later alterations of the interior decorations in Baroque style.
A traditional market of fruits, vegetables, fish and meat. As of 2022 the entire market is now open after major refurbishment.
It's an old bookshop with an amazing interior and spiral staircase. Voted as one of the most beautiful bookshops in Europe. Be warned that it can get incredibly crowded and claustrophobic.
Clerics' Tower
Panoramic views from this baroque tower. 226 steps to the top. It is best to get there early since there is not a lot of space on the viewing platform. You might even have to wait for some time before you are allowed to climb up the stairs.
Museum displaying Portuguese art. Founded in 1833.
Portuguese Photography Museum
Housed in a beautiful building in the centre of the city.
Riverfront
The part of the city near the river, which is also a good place to start visiting the World Heritage area; to the other side of the river you will see the Ribeira de Gaia, a similar area from the city of Vila Nova de Gaia (the two are only separated by the river) and where you could find the Port Wine Cellars.
Port Wine Museum
A multi purpose pavilion with nice gardens to rest, also known as "Palácio de Cristal".
A house where the King of Italy stayed while in exile.
House of Music
Designed by Rem Koolhaas and OMA. Guided tour available in English from 1 June - 30 September at 10:00, 11:00, 16:00 and 17:00 for €10/person (free for children under 12) which take about 1 hour. The rest of the year the guided tour is at 11:00 and 16:00.
Modern Art Museum
A contemporary museum designed by the famous architect Álvaro Siza, with a huge garden/park and an Art Deco Villa. When visiting this foundation you can visit the exhibitions, relax at the park, have lunch at the restaurant, bar or tea house and explore the shops or the library. There is also a farm at the southern end of the park.
Rotunda da Anémona
Monumental public sculpture
Take a cruise upriver (the cost starts at €15 (although they can be slightly cheaper if paired with a different activity) and takes about 50 minutes. Cruises run from 10:00 to 18:30, with sailings every 30 minutes for most operators. There are multiple river cruise operators and you can purchase a ticket from every tourist service and office in the Sao Bento area, or potentially from the wharf itself. Many of the cruises are themed around seeing the various bridges and river-adjacent facilities. You may also choose a day-long cruise starting at €70 to or from Régua, with one way of the journey completed by bus (included in the price). This tour states at 08:00 and returns at 17:00 or 18:00. Go at least as far as Pinhão — the landscape is absolutely stunning. If you choose to do this in the summer, don't forget your factor 30 sunscreen! Look for cruises based on the Vila Nova de Gaia wharf (the same side as the port wine caves), as some of them may offer discounts for cave tours or port wine purchases.
Fado is a music genre originating in Lisbon and considered an integral part of Portuguese music. It is traditionally sung by a woman in a black dress, accompanied by guitar players. A handful of Fado bars stand in Porto, primarily in the Sao Bento area, offering one or two shows per day. The cost is generally €15 (as of June 2022) and tickets for different shows are sold by tourist offices throughout the Sao Bento area. Some shows may include a glass of Port Wine within the cost of the ticket.
Porto's main theatre and opera production company and venue. There are also guided tours (€5/person) for access to the stage, rehearsal room, dressing rooms and the technical area (if they are not used during the time of the tour).
They play in Primeira Liga, Portugal's top tier. Their home ground Estádio do Dragão (capacity 50,000) is 1 km north of the centre with its own metro station.
They were relegated in 2025 and now play in Liga 2 the second tier. Their Estádio do Bessa (capacity 28,200) is 2 km northwest of the centre, metro Francos.
You're locked in a room with a mystery to solve and the clock ticking. Can you crack the puzzle and escape?
The Golden Anchor
The third oldest cafe in Porto, it is commonly known as "O Piolho" (the Louse). The cafe looks out on the street facing a faculty of the Universidade do Porto, and had been a meeting place for students since the 19th century. Plaques donated by graduating medical classes from the early 20th century onward decorate the walls. During the fascist period (1926-1974) it was a regular meeting place of "undesirables" (according to the regimes point of view), and was accordingly under regular surveillance by the secret police. On one occasion it was raided by the GNR (Guarda Nacional Republicana) who have a post nearby, and they charged their horses into the cafe itself. It is uncertain if the place's current disorder results from this or more recent activities. Service is surly, the place isn't at all fancy, but it is usually stuffed to the gills with students. It's also quite cheap.
A small cozy Portuguese restaurant with a nice ambiance. You can sip on amazing wine while eating delicious authentic food. The manager is very friendly and helpful.
Authentic fabulous Portuguese food. Small and cozy place with very friendly service. It's rather small, you have to be lucky to get a table in the evening.
Very good cuisine, simple, homemade and careful. Lovely little restaurant, great for sitting by the side of the road and watching the world go by.
A typical Portuguese tavern, with excellent quality gastronomy products, the atmosphere is fantastic, typical of a tavern, without table service, the hanging hams immediately whet your appetite. One of the best places to snack on Portuguese dishes. The best bifanas in Porto, the sarrabulho porridge, well garnished with meat. The space is super relaxed, and the staff very friendly.
Don’t let the outside appearance fool you. This place is a hidden gem. Great homemade food and attention. Very nice place to eat the dish of the day.
Great authentic Portuguese food homemade with bakery pastries. A very good place to eat typical food. Best Francesinha in Porto.
Fantastic francesinha and great sardines. Friendly and attentive staff.
Lovely eatery just off the main shopping street. Genuine food also suitable for vegetarians. The place is nice and chill. They have a really big menu with a lot of options.
Excellent, homemade food of very good quality and a family atmosphere. Good grilled salmon and delicious sardines.
A small and traditional restaurant typical of Porto, one of the few remaining true. Like eating a home cooked meal. Lots of locals are there.
Street pizzeria for a quick bite. Thin crust and very big pizzas. Nice staff.
Excellent Italian restaurant. Wide variety of dishes. Extremely small, so it's best to call ahead and reserve a table.
Great restaurant that serves traditional Portuguese, Italian and "International" food. Nice riverside view.
Vegetarian restaurant by day, youth culture clubhouse at night. Menu changes weekly and costs €9 (€7.50 excluding dessert).
Elegant atmosphere in the Palácio da Bolsa (Stock Exchange Palace). Large windows face the River Douro. They serve Portuguese cuisine tweaked with some new techniques and products.
Service is in a chef's table/degustation style, featuring "10 moments and some surprises".
This steakhouse's offerings include fish and vegan options.
Michelin-starred restaurant in an old stone house with a lovely rooftop terrace. The contemporary cuisine is delivered in the form of tasting menus.
Michelin-starred dining in the midst of a city-centre park with river views. Tasting menus or à la carte.
Rua de Entre-Quintas 220. A villa with port samples and a great view of the Douro. Open M-Sa 14:00-00:00. This is the perfect place to sit in soft chairs or outside in the garden and enjoy a few glasses of the finest ports. You can also have cheese with your port.
"Local heroes and international superstars" - going since 1987. It's open until around 06:00.
A popular disco in the Industrial Area. The nightclub opens Fridays and Saturdays and it's always crowded. The club plays the latest dance hits and the crowd is 20ish.
A dance club/bar frequented by the arty crowd, with a varied but tasteful selection of music and a warm decór.
Near Torre dos Clérigos is a popular art gallery and bar installed on Porto's historic centre.
In the Foz region, it is a popular nightclub with varying musical styles, from house to pop to R&B.
In the Ribeira, nice cozy atmosphere and friendly bar staff. Always a good place to start.
In the Ribeira region, this bar is one of the cheapest in the area. It's probably the only decent place in the whole of the Ribeira region (and probably, in the city) where you can get a large beer for only a few euros. They also serve spirits and cocktails, at very cheap prices as well. If you are planning a night out, have a few drinks at this bar before clubbing, since the price of drinks in the clubs can be outrageously high and you may find yourself with no taxi fare money to return to your home, hotel, hostel, etc. It's quite tricky to find, since it's tucked away in a rather isolated (but quite nice) place; it's near the D. Luis I bridge. Ask the locals, they'll know where it is.
Small and chill hostel with smooth colours, lounge areas and relaxed atmosphere in a house built in the 19th century where you can also appreciate the hand made works in the high ceilings, the typical Portuguese tiles, and the beautiful camellias in the garden.
A typical Porto house built in the early 20th century, completely renewed in order to combine the comfort of the present with the charm of the past, providing the atmosphere for a perfect stay.
Very centrally located. Clean rooms with ensuite showers. Very close to the train station, but may be difficult to find, so check a map before arriving.
Free breakfast, free walking tour, free nightlife tour. Thematic dinners, Porto wine tastings, Gallery exhibitions. Carefully decorated rooms, multilingual and professional team.
Comfortable, clean hostel with wi-fi, dvd and playstation room, reading room, a well equipped kitchen and a bar downstairs. Great light and showers. Could give Traveller's House in Lisboa a run for its money.
Very comfortable hostel with a very welcoming and helpful manager, Luzia. Shared and private rooms. Free computers and wi-fi. A few minutes from the city centre and just off Boavista, which leads to the coast. Hosts speaks perfect English and Spanish.
HI Porto
Located outside of the city centre, with several buses passing just by, open 24 hours and a terrific view over the river.
Direct at the IPO station above a shopping center. Free WiFi, nice breakfast (although it is the same every day).
Cheap, clean and friendly. Bathroom ensuite. Free WiFi. Hosts speak no English though French and Spanish work besides Portuguese.
Unique and interesting. 1960s decor all over, amazing views of Porto and the Douro valley, famous panoramic restaurant on the 13th floor where you can enjoy your breakfast while seeing miles and miles of the Porto region below you. Free parking. Bathroom ensuite. Receptionists are very friendly and professional and speak English. The area it lies in is a bit run down, but definitely not as bad as many other areas of the city.
Free Wifi, breakfast included, lockers, bar and common area.
Modern 4-star hotel with large rooms overlooking the railway station (those with limited mobility may prefer to arrive by taxi or metro). Rooms have kettles, and price includes reliable wireless Internet access. Good views.
In the centre of Portugal’s “Invincible City”; Rua de Santa Catarina is a few metres away from the hotel. Online booking.
Four-floor hotel with contemporary décor located at Porto’s historic and shopping area. Online booking.
232 guest-rooms with a highly decorated interior.
This is not the regular shopping mall. It's much smaller and with speciality stores related to art and fashion. Look for Portuguese design, organic cosmetics, or contemporary jewellery, and then head to the galleries down the street.
Looking for unique objects or original Portuguese design? This is the place for it. From a minimalist Barcelos cockerel to colorful ceramics, you won't find many of these pieces anywhere else.
A medium-sized shopping centre nestled in a building block between Via Santa Catarina and Rua de Fernandes Tomas, utilising the difference in elevation between them for spectacular results. Inside you will find a slightly mundane selection of chain stores and food court filled with local fast-food options.
An elegant shopping centre with upscale pretences and spacious atrium, but limited selection of stores compared to larger ones.
By train
The city is served by two major train stations - São Bento terminus station and Campanhã stop over station.
By car
The city is served by five major highways: A1, which connects Porto to Lisbon, A29 which connects Porto to Aveiro, A3 connects Porto to Braga, A28 connects Porto to Viana do Castelo and the northern…
By bus
There are many companies providing direct bus trips from major European countries and also for most of the northern cities of the country. Try Rodonorte for timetables.
By shared shuttle
There are a few companies providing door-to-door shared shuttle service to Porto. It is a budget option with more personal service than the bus.
By boat
There is a cargo and recreational harbor called Leixões or porto de Leixões (port of Leixões) in the neighboring city of Matosinhos.
By metro
Porto Metro is a modern light rail/subway system, which was only constructed at the turn of the millennium and is still being expanded.
By bus
STCP is the best way to move around if you don't want to waste money on taxis. It's the public bus operator in the region, and the only one operating inside city borders.
By taxi
A fast way of getting around the city, although traffic congestion near the city centre might be a problem.
By boat
There are ferry boats that connect Porto to the neighboring city of Vila Nova de Gaia, although you can easily walk or travel by car, metro or bus to the other side.
By helicopter
Not exactly a form of public transportation, but it's a wonderful way to see the city from above.
By Funicular dos Guindais
This is a cable railway system. Use this if you don't wish to walk up the steep streets of Porto.
By Ascensor da Ribeira
pt/transporte-publico/elevador-da-lada Ribeira do Porto Funicular], also commonly known as "Lada Elevator".
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Porto · International · OPO
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