Porto is known for its world-famous port wine, but that’s not everything this city has. Ranging from industrial and commercial centers to being the second biggest city in Portugal, Porto is a must-visit city for people who want to see how modernity and history blend in perfectly.
It used to be a Roman and Celtic township back in the day, but it has now become a huge city with over 3.7 million visitors every year. Porto has maintained its historic core and the riverfront boulevard and nothing matches the folksy aesthetic of this city.
Porto offers an unforgettable experience to every tourist with its historic monuments and scenic scenes of the Douro River. If you want to enjoy this city to the fullest, let’s see the 10 best things to do in Porto!
10 Things to Do In Porto
Porto is a city that needs to be felt and absorbed. If you want to enjoy your trip to Porto, it’s better to enjoy its offerings like a local.
- Visit Mercado do Bolhão
- Port Wine Houses for Wine Tasting
- Visit Fundação de Serralves
- Museu Nacional Soares dos Reis to See Art
- Go to Douro Valley
- Explore Matosinhos for a Relaxing Day
- Visit Palácio de Cristal for Nature
- Go to Claus Porto for Samples
- Livraria Lello for Book Shopping
- Discover the Riverbanks with Six Bridges Cruise
1. Visit Mercado do Bolhão
It’s a century-old monument and it has captured the public interest with its charming and humble aesthetic. It was built back in 1914 in the middle of Baixa, Porto, and has a spatial side that people forget to mention. The monument is the epitome of Portuguese architecture as it connects with Alexandre Braga Street on the right side.
The Alexandre Braga Street was made into a pedestrian-only street in 2023, and the buildings are currently under renovation. It is more than a marketplace because it works as a cultural hub that shows the traditional and spiritual side of the city. There are two-story building houses that sell fresh fruits and vegetables (call it a fresh produce heaven).
There are fishmongers selling fish catches from Matosinhos Beach. In fact, meat lovers can find a variety of unique meat cuts in butcher shops, while bakeries sell scrumptious and mouth-melting pastries and breads. While you are there, taste codfish and tripe stew from the food stalls to enjoy the traditional Portuguese food.
There are endless stalls offering cheeses, Pastel de Nata, and wines, so your culinary experience will be exceptional. Lastly, the vendors here are ready to share historical stories about the city and the rich details about their products, so you are in for a great time.
2. Port Wine Houses for Wine Tasting
Wine tasting is a must-do activity when you visit Porto because this city is known for port wine. There are an endless number of port wine caves where you can enjoy sweet fortified wine. Port wine is made in Douro Valley (it’s native), and it has a tawny/ruby color. You can find it in white, dry, and semi-white forms, and the locals enjoy it after dinner because it can help with digestion.
There are a lot of port wine cellars around the Douro River, so they are all a short walk from the Dom Luis I Bridge when you go towards Gaia. Since there are multiple port wine houses, below is the list of the best ones.
Bom Dia
It’s a boutique porthouse that’s managed and owned by two sisters. They produce only 25,000 bottles every year, so it’s a small-scale estate. The wine is produced by the grapes grown over their property in Douro Valley.
Calém
Calémis a part of the Sogevinus group and they have tours spanning over half an hour. You also get to see their interactive museum, and the tastings are done in a huge main tasting room. They aren’t very informal, so it’s perfect for having a friendly and light-hearted experience.
Cockburn
You have to make reservations to book a wine tasting tour at this estate, and their website has a form available for making reservations. It is an all-time working lodge, so you can see how wine is produced and stored in the oak barrels. Also, there are vats where wine is aged. Their Fine Tawny port wine is the most popular because it has a caramel and nutty flavor. There are mild fruity aromas with light notes of toffee and nuts and a subtle finish.
3. Visit Fundação de Serralves
Fundação de Serralves is a cultural institution, which is why it’s best for people who want to connect with the traditions and culture of Porto. It has multiple parts, ranging from a villa to a park and a contemporary art museum. All of them are designed with contemporary architecture in mind, but you will also see hints of Art Deco and modernism.
The museum was completely designed by Álvaro Siza Vieira, and thanks to its amazing architecture, it has become the second most visited museum in the entire Portugal. There is also a Serralves Foundation here, which is an art foundation. The art foundation works to raise awareness about contemporary art among the general public.
The museum has been around since 1999 because the city needed a dedicated place for contemporary art. There are in-house production exhibitions, and international institutes also co-produce some work. As a result, you will see the artwork of foreign as well as Portuguese artists, adding a breath of fresh air. The exhibitions are planned on a quarterly basis, and there are three parallel exhibitions.
While you are there, Parque da Fundação de Serralves is another place you can visit. It spans over 18 hectares and has a lake, gardens, copses, and a special rose garden. It’s a perfect place to get away from the shenanigans of city life.
4. Museu Nacional Soares dos Reis to See Art
Museu Nacional Soares dos Reis is known as Soares dos Reis National Museum, and it is located in the Carrancas Palace. The museum was founded in 1833 by King Peter IV, and it was the first national museum to show the collections of António Soares dos Reis. He was a Portuguese sculptor, and that’s where this museum got its name from.
In addition to the art of António Soares dos Reis, you could find religious art collected from the Portuguese convents and from the followers of Miguel I. The museum is housed in a huge building, so there’s enough space to store multiple art collections at once. With time, the art spaces have been expanded by Fernando Távora.
The museum has native Portuguese art from the 19th and 20th centuries. The artwork includes paintings, ceramics, furniture, sculptures, engravings, textiles, glasswork, and metalwork. The museum has a history of 200 years and you can find the ten things known as the Assets of National Asset.
In 2023, there was a long exhibition with two different narratives. The first narrative was to show how the art collections were collected, and the second narrative was to value the contributions of different artists. So, stepping into this museum will give you insights into the cultural heritage of the country.
5. Go to Douro Valley
Did you know that the Douro River is the largest one in the Iberian Peninsula? It hails from the Sierra de Urbion mountains of Spain and flows into Portugal. All along this river, there is the Douro Valley and this entire place has become popular for the stunning scenery and wine-making spots. There are curved hillsides in this valley, and the weather and soil are perfect for growing grapes, hence the wine.
You can explore the Douro Valley by river, rail, or road, and you can easily plan a day trip here. These tours also include an hour-long boat trip, so you can check out the viewpoints, and don’t forget the amazing lunch. Some of these trips also include vineyard visits, so it depends on the tour you book.
What you will love about this place is you don’t get the typical rural experience. Instead, there are riverside hotels and luxury spas here, so you can wind down and still stay connected to nature. You can also go to the countryside for hikes, and there are many places to buy Cozido à Portuguesa and duck rice (you might even find fresh fish, so keep the BBQ mix handy!).
You can visit the Douro Valley through the Linha do Douro Railway. The route starts from São Bento stations and there 21 stops along the way. You will pass through Aregos, Regua, Caldas de Moledo, and other destinations.
6. Explore Matosinhos for a Relaxing Day
Matosinhos is one of the most buzzing destinations in Porto, and the credits go to the golden sand beaches. The beaches are on the side of the port, and there are two huge stretches of sand, known as Leça da Palmeira and the Praia de Matosinhos. The Praia de Matosinhos is pretty easy to access as you can reach it by bus or metro. This beach is perfect for surfing. On the contrary, Leça da Palmeira is available on the northern side and it’s better in terms of view and cleanliness.
There are a lot of seafood restaurants here and you get to enjoy the fresh catch from the fishing fleet of the town. If you are there during lunch time, try out the grilled fish. It’s important to add that this town isn’t very picturesque because of the working port and apartment blocks from the 1980s.
However, the coastline is stunning because the beachfront is amazing, and there are long coastal footpaths. For instance, you can head over to the Avenida da Liberdade path that’s suitable for cycling as well as foot-walking.
7. Visit Palácio de Cristal for Nature
Palácio de Cristal is also known as the Crystal Palace and it’s the perfect place if you like looking at nature in its full glory. These gardens are a part of the park that also has the Port Wine Museum and Porto Romantic Museum. It also offers stunning views of the city, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Douro River. These gardens were a project of Émile David.
When you enter the garden, you will come across a central foundation and four statues on the side: these statues represent the Summer, Spring, Winter, and Autumn seasons. There is an avenue of lime trees, and on its right side is Biblioteca Almeida Garrett. There is also a coffee shop with seating by the lake, and you can hear the ducks quacking in the lake.
The Romantic Museum is also a must-visit place that’s been around since the mid-18th century. It is a Victorian-style museum with stunning ballrooms and hundreds of portraits of Portuguese royalty. It is easily an open time capsule, and you are welcome to explore it from 10 AM to 12:30 PM. Once you are done enjoying the gardens and the museum, you can grab a delicious gourmet burger from the Bugo Art Burgers.
8. Go to Claus Porto for Samples
Claus Porto is one of the oldest and recognized brands of Porto, and their outlet is more than a commercial hub. That’s because you can watch presentations related to the 130-year-long history of the brand. They have classic products on the ground floor, which include colognes, lotions, and soaps. In fact, there is a huge sink made from a single Estremoz marble block that pours these amazing lotions into your hands.
On the first floor, there is a gallery filled with newspaper clippings from the 1940s, handmade designs, perfume bottles, and lithographs. The best thing about visiting Claus Porto is the interactive experience you can get from the monthly workshops. These workshops are hosted on the second floor of the outlet (there is a lab here). Attending these workshops will help you learn how you can make their products.
9. Livraria Lello for Book Shopping
Livraria Lello is one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world, and it lives up to its reputation. It is designed with Art Nouveau and Neo-Gothic aesthetic in mind, and Francisco Xavier Esteves is the mastermind behind this bookstore. It was inaugurated back in 1906 by the Lello brothers themselves. There is wood paneling with gothic carvings as well as a curved staircase, so it looks straight out of a fairytale.
The bookstore has floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, and there is no shortage of light, thanks to the skylight. The most interesting fact is that some parts of Hogwarts were inspired by this bookstore. For this reason, it has become a popular tourist destination among Harry Potter lovers. It is open every day from 9 AM to 7:30 PM, but it’s better to book the tickets in advance if you want to avoid the long queues.
10. Discover the Riverbanks with Six Bridges Cruise
For everyone who wants to have a relaxing time after hopping from one port wine cellar to another, this cruise is the perfect option. It is a 50-minute long cruise that takes you across the Douro River and you can see six famous bridges of Porto.
The bridges include Ponte D. Maria Pia, Luis I Bridge, Ponte da Arrabida, Ponte de São João, Ponte do Freixo, and Ponte Infante Dom Henrique. You will love gazing over the architecture of the estuary of these bridges.
Conclusion
Visiting Porto is one of the best decisions if you have a knack for historical landmarks and scenic viewpoints because there is no shortage in this city. This list has a perfect blend of different activities, but make sure you wear comfortable shoes!
FAQs
Are Two Days Enough to Explore Porto?
Yes, two days are enough to explore Porto and watch the highlights. For instance, you can go for wine tasting in Gaia, stroll on the sandy beaches of Matosinhos, and stroll in the Douro Valley.
Is Porto an Expensive City for Tourists?
No, it’s not very expensive because a weekend trip to Porto can be easily planned for $400-500 for one person.
What Is the Best Way of Exploring Porto?
The best way to explore Porto is by walking. That’s because it is a hilly city, but it’s quite small, so you can reach all the important sights easily. In addition, you can take guided tours because you get a full experience of every landmark of the city.
What Is Porto Popular for?
Porto is popular for the port wine, which is a fortified wine. It’s served after meals because it has amazing digestion qualities, and you can also enjoy it with desserts and appetizers.
Which Is Best, Lisbon or Porto?
Lisbon is a good destination for people who like the big city life and variety. On the contrary, Porto is recommended for people who are looking for authentic Portuguese culture and want to enjoy the native porto wine.
