Note: this guide to Porto contains affiliate links. I was also invited on a press trip with Jet2Holidays to review their flights and hotel in Porto. This is not a paid post and all opinions are my own. Thank you for the support!
From riverside wine bars and historic tiled stations to rooftop viewpoints and some of the best food in Portugal, Porto packs a huge amount into a relatively compact city. One minute you’re climbing church towers overlooking terracotta rooftops, the next you’re eating fresh seafood by the Douro River or wandering through one of the world’s most famous bookshops.
What makes Porto especially good for a city break is how walkable many of its main attractions are. Several of the city’s biggest sights sit within the historic centre, making it easy to combine landmarks, food stops and viewpoints without needing a rigid itinerary.
This guide rounds up the best things to do in Porto, including the city’s most famous attractions alongside food, wine and cultural experiences genuinely worth your time. Don’t miss my Porto itinerary guide to help you get planning!
Short on time? The best things to do in Porto at a glance
If you only have one or two days in Porto, these are the experiences worth prioritising:
- Walk across Dom Luís I Bridge at sunset
- Explore the Ribeira district
- Visit Livraria Lello
- Climb Clérigos Tower
- See São Bento station’s azulejo tiles
- Go port tasting in Vila Nova de Gaia
- Take a Porto food tour
- Eat at Time Out Market
- Watch a traditional Fado performance
- Stop for pastel de nata and coffee between sightseeing
Top 10 things to do in Porto
1. Walk across Dom Luís I Bridge
Stretching across the Douro River between Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia, Dom Luís I Bridge is Porto’s most famous landmark and one of the best viewpoints in the city.
The upper level gives you panoramic views over Ribeira’s colourful buildings, the riverfront and the wine cellars lining Gaia opposite. Sunset is especially beautiful here, especially with a glass of Port Sangria to hand.
We ended up crossing the bridge multiple times during our trip because it naturally connects several of Porto’s main attractions. It’s also one of the easiest ways to move between the historic centre and Gaia’s wine cellars.
Location: Between Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia
Time needed: 20–45 minutes
Cost: Free
TBTL tip: Visit around sunset, then continue to Jardim do Morro on the Gaia side for one of the best viewpoints in Porto.
2. Explore the Ribeira district
If there’s one area that captures Porto’s atmosphere best, it’s Ribeira. This UNESCO World Heritage neighbourhood is packed with colourful facades, narrow cobbled streets, riverside terraces and tiny wine bars tucked down alleyways.
It’s touristy but it still full of character. One of the best things to do here is simply wander without much of a plan, stopping for drinks by the water or ducking into side streets away from the busy promenade.
Location: Along the Douro waterfront
Time needed: 1–3 hours
Cost: Free unless eating or drinking
TBTL tip: Ribeira is especially good to combine with port tasting in Gaia since they sit directly opposite each other across the river.
3. Visit Livraria Lello
Often described as one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world, Livraria Lello is one of Porto’s most visited attractions. Inside, dramatic staircases, stained-glass ceilings and carved wooden interiors make it feel more like a theatre set than a bookshop.
There’s plenty of Harry Potter mythology attached to it, although the queues are very real. Even so, it’s still worth visiting if it’s your first time in Porto, particularly if you love historic architecture or bookshops.
The main thing to know is that booking ahead is essential. Without advance tickets, queues can become enormous, especially during weekends and summer.
Location: Rua das Carmelitas
Time needed: 30–45 minutes
Cost: Around €10–€15 depending on ticket type but you can redeem this against a book from the store
TBTL tip: Book the earliest morning slot you can. It gets significantly busier later in the day.
4. Climb Clérigos Tower
For some of the best panoramic views in Porto, head up Clérigos Tower. Rising above the historic centre, the 75-metre bell tower overlooks the city’s rooftops, churches and the Douro River beyond.
The climb is short but steep, with narrow staircases on the way up, but the views at the top are more than worth it. It also gives you a much better sense of Porto’s layout, particularly how hilly the city actually is.
One of the nicest things about this part of Porto is how many attractions sit close together. Livraria Lello, Igreja do Carmo and several excellent cafes are all within a few minutes’ walk.
Location: Rua de São Filipe de Nery
Time needed: 45 minutes–1 hour
Cost: Around €10
TBTL tip: Visit early or later in the evening to avoid the busiest queues and strongest midday heat.
5. See the azulejo tiles inside São Bento station
Even if you’re not catching a train, São Bento railway station is absolutely worth visiting. The entrance hall is covered with more than 20,000 blue-and-white azulejo tiles depicting scenes from Portuguese history.
Despite being one of Porto’s busiest stations, it still feels surprisingly calm inside once you stop to properly look around. It’s also one of the easiest Porto attractions to slot into your day because of its central location.
Location: Praça de Almeida Garrett
Time needed: 15 minutes
Cost: Free
TBTL tip: Step in for a glance around the station before heading to next door Time Out Market.
6. Go port tasting in Vila Nova de Gaia
You can’t visit Porto without trying port wine in the city it was named after. And whilst you can try port anywhere in the city, a tasting is more than worthwhile.
Across the river in Vila Nova de Gaia, historic wine cellars line the waterfront, many offering guided tastings and tours. We went to Cálem Cellar Port House where we learnt about the history of port production before tasting a variety of bottles alongside cheeses and chocolate.
Experiences vary depending on the producer, but most tours explain how port is made, aged and blended before ending with a tasting. Even if you’re not usually a huge port drinker, the setting alone makes this one of the best experiences in Porto.
Location: Vila Nova de Gaia
Time needed: 1–3 hours
Cost: Usually €15–€35 depending on tasting
TBTL tip: Book ahead if there’s a specific cellar you want to visit, especially during weekends and summer.
7. Take a Porto food tour
One of the best ways to properly understand Porto is through its food. A guided food tour helps you discover traditional dishes, local wine and neighbourhood spots you’d probably walk straight past otherwise.
Many tours include stops around Mercado do Bolhão, Porto’s historic market, where you’ll find fresh produce, seafood, pastries and local delicacies. Along the way, expect everything from bifanas and Francesinha sandwiches to pastries, cheeses and Portuguese wine.
My culinary walking tour was one of the highlights of my trip! Learn more in my guide to what to eat and drink in Porto.
Location: Usually around the historic centre and Bolhão
Time needed: 3–4 hours
Cost: Around €50–€120
TBTL tip: Come hungry — most tours include enough food to replace lunch entirely.
8. Eat at Time Out Market Porto
Located inside São Bento station, Time Out Market Porto is one of the easiest places to try several Portuguese dishes in one stop. The market brings together some of Porto’s best-known chefs, restaurants and bars under one roof.
After checking into our hotel, this was one of the first places we visited and it worked perfectly as an introduction to Porto’s food scene without needing to commit to a formal restaurant booking immediately.
We ordered several Portuguese tapas dishes including garlic prawns dripping in sauce, shrimp and broken eggs, plus a Francesinha sandwich that was every bit as heavy as promised.
Location: São Bento station
Time needed: 1–2 hours
Cost: Depends what you order
TBTL tip: This is especially good for groups or indecisive eaters since everyone can order from different vendors.
9. Watch a traditional Fado performance
Although Fado is more strongly associated with Lisbon, Porto has some excellent cosy venues where you can experience Portugal’s traditional music culture.
Watching a live Fado performance ended up being one of the most memorable parts of our trip. I didn’t know what to expect but it was an emotional, intimate experience that set the tone for an evening in Porto.
Many venues combine performances with drinks or dinner, making this one of the best evening activities in Porto after a full day of sightseeing.
Location: Various venues across Porto
Time needed: 1–2 hours
Cost: Around €15–€50 depending on venue
TBTL tip: Smaller venues usually provide a much better atmosphere than larger tourist-focused shows.
10. Stop for pastel de nata and coffee
Not every Porto activity needs to involve a major attraction. Like many European cities, one of the best things to do in Porto is simply slow down at a cafe between sightseeing stops. And when in Portugal, a pastel de nata is a must!
You’ll find excellent bakeries throughout the city, particularly around Bolhão and the historic centre, although Manteigaria serves some of the best.
Location: Across the city
Time needed: 15–30 minutes
Cost: Usually under €5
TBTL tip: Don’t just stop at the first bakery you see near — some of the best cafes we found were slightly away from the busiest tourist streets including Floresta Cafe by Hungry Biker.
Got more time in Porto? Here are a few more things worth doing
Take a Portuguese tile painting workshop
After seeing Porto’s famous azulejo tiles across churches, train stations and building facades, you might be inspired to get artistic. A tile painting workshop is the best way to get hands on – and was one of my favourite activities in Porto.
Several studios offer short workshops where you can paint your own traditional-style tile to take home. It’s a nice slower-paced activity if you want a break from constant walking and sightseeing, especially during hotter afternoons.
Join a walking tour of Porto
If you’re visiting Porto for the first time, a guided walking tour is one of the easiest ways to understand the city’s layout and history properly. Most tours cover major landmarks like Ribeira, São Bento station and Clérigos Tower while also giving more context around Porto’s architecture, food culture and history.
It’s also a good option at the start of a trip because Porto’s steep hills and layered neighbourhoods can feel slightly confusing initially. Discover walking tours in Porto here.
Go shopping around Rua de Santa Catarina
If you enjoy mixing sightseeing with shopping, Rua de Santa Catarina is Porto’s main shopping street and a good place to spend an hour or two between attractions. I absolutely loved staying here at Pousada do Porto, and spent quite a few pennies on local crafts, clothes and cafes!
For more ideas on where to shop, cafes worth stopping at and areas to explore nearby, see our full Porto itinerary guide.
Visit Igreja do Carmo
One of Porto’s most photographed churches, Igreja do Carmo is famous for its huge blue-and-white tiled exterior. Even if you don’t go inside, it’s worth stopping by while exploring the Clérigos and Livraria Lello area.
Take a Douro River cruise
If you want a slower-paced way to see Porto, short Douro River cruises pass beneath the city’s famous bridges while giving you views back across Ribeira and Gaia. They’re especially popular during warmer months.
Ride the historic tram to Foz do Douro
Porto’s vintage tram line follows the river west towards Foz do Douro and the Atlantic coast. Even if you don’t spend a full day there, the journey itself is one of the city’s most scenic transport experiences.
Spend time at the beaches in Foz do Douro
If you’re visiting Porto for longer than a weekend, escaping to the coast for an afternoon is well worth it. Foz do Douro feels noticeably calmer than the busy historic centre and is filled with beach bars, seafood restaurants and long coastal promenades.
One of the best things about Porto is how easily the city balances sightseeing with slower moments. You can spend the morning climbing towers and exploring historic landmarks, then slow things down with riverside drinks, long lunches or port tastings overlooking the Douro.
For more help planning your trip, including where to stay, what to eat and how to structure your days, don’t miss my guide to planning a city break in Porto as well as the best places to eat and drink.
