Porto is a city that is characterized by its colors, tiles, and the gastronomy that it has. Likewise, water is also one of the most important elements and affects its physiognomy. Porto is located next to a very large river, the Douro, and also very close to the Atlantic, making it a very rainy city.

In this post we will tell you 20 things you can do during your visit to the city. Porto is not the capital of Portugal, however, it is one of the most important cities and has nothing to envy its neighbor, Lisbon. Likewise, if you want to know other types of information about this destination you can consult all the recommendations that we make for you here.

Chapel of the Souls

One of the essential visits on your trip to Porto, and one of the most photographed churches you will surely have seen anywhere. This chapel, inaugurated in 1929, contains 16,000 glazed tiles in the white and blue color that characterizes Porto, occupying 360 m² of the wall. The tiles depict different religious scenes, specifically, you can find painted different scenes from the lives of Saint Catherine and Saint Francis of Assisi, since the chapel was built in their honor. If you want to discover more about the azulejos of Porto you can read this “A journey through Porto’s most charming azulejos". They are painted by Eduardo do Leite, a painter much in demand for this type of work.

This is a very touristy place and if you want to spend some time taking photos and observing the details, the visit time can be extended. We spent a good time there as the tile wall that characterizes it is one of the most important visits and the one you remember the most at the end of the trip.

Da Liberdade Sqaure

This square is the meeting point of 4 of Porto's main streets; Cristóvão Colombo, João Pinheiro, Brasil and Bias Fortes. It is important because it separates the old part of the city from the new. In the center of the square you can find a statue of Pedro IV showing the manuscript of the city that was built in 1862. It is a meeting point where people usually pass to go from one point to another in the city. From here you can exit towards Avenida dos Aliados.

Dos Aliados Avenue

The Avenue of the Allies has become one of the most important points in Porto, with the City Hall located there. It is considered by many to be the heart of the city, due to the large number of bars, restaurants, shops and events that take place there, such as football celebrations and concerts, among others. You can find the Café a Brasileira or the Cafeteria Guarany (founded in 1933), all of them with a very authentic decoration and important in their time. A few years ago there was also the famous Café Imperial, which is currently one of the most beautiful fast food chains in the world. The Sao Bento Station and the Torre dos Clérigos are located on this avenue, which we will explain below.

Dos Clérigos Tower

This tower, designed by the architect Nicolau Nassoni, can be seen from almost any point in the city. This detail means that years ago it was used as a reference point for some ships that passed through the Duero River, although currently it is only used as a bell tower. A curious fact is that it is built on top of the Hill of the Hanged, where those condemned to death used to be executed in the past. It offers privileged views of the city that can be visited for free by climbing the more than 200 stairs that the tower has.

Sao Bento Station

This train station, inaugurated in 1903, is not only a reference point for the city's transport, but is also characterized by having a work of art inside. It contains more than 20,000 glazed ceramic tiles along its walls, forming a total of 551 square meters of tiles.

These tiles tell part of the history that makes up Portugal today, and have different shades of color, unlike the rest of the churches that contain only blue and white tiles. The station owes its name to an old monastery that was located in the same location before its construction. It is interesting to observe the works of art that appear on the tiles, as they contain different stories of the city. And if you want to take a tour of the most beautiful tiles in Porto, you can find information in this article.

Saint Ildefons Church

Do Bolhao Market

The most emblematic market in Porto has been active since 1839, inaugurated with the aim of grouping together most of the markets that existed in the city. Inside you can find different stalls of fruit, vegetables, meat, plants, but we recommend you walk along the two floors that are in the market to enjoy some stalls that have been preserved in the same way as a few years ago. Pay attention to the beautiful details of the design and structure of the market, showing glazed tiles characteristic of Portugal in some parts of it.

It is also a good option to stop for a meal at the market, where there are different bars and restaurants where you can taste local and fresh produce at the moment. It is not one of the cheapest places in Porto due to the popularity it has gained over the years, but it still remains one of the places in the city where you can eat with the highest quality.

Da Bolsa Palace

It is a neoclassical style palace that has been the headquarters of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Porto and has been used as a visitor's hall of Porto, receiving many of the most important visitors and monarchs of the time. It was built in the 19th century on the ruins of an old Franciscan convent, and was inaugurated in 1891. As a curiosity, it took almost 70 years to build, and only with the Arab room they dedicated 18 years. It is currently a UNESCO World Heritage Site and inside you can find many rooms decorated and designed with hundreds of details that make the Palace unique. Even today it is used as a meeting room of the Porto Commercial Association and they meet there every Monday morning. We think it is a very interesting visit and it is worth visiting. You can buy the tickets here.

Palacio do Cristal Gardens

Since 1869 these gardens with almost 10 hectares have been in operation and although they are a bit far from the city, it is worth the walk there. The gardens offer panoramic views of the river and the Atlantic Ocean and you will find different fountains, plants, small lakes and peacocks while you visit them. And you will wonder why the gardens are named after them if there is no palace there, because it turns out that 4 years before their inauguration there had been a palace where some exhibitions and fairs were held, which is why it was decided to name the gardens. It has currently been replaced by the Rosa Mota pavilion where some concerts and events are held. The most outstanding places in the gardens are some such as the Garden of the Camellias, the Garden of Feelings, the Garden of the Aromatic Plants, or some viewpoints.

Joana Vasconcelos' mural

Another work of urban art that stands out from all those that can be found on the streets of the city. It is also known as Steak n’Shake, because it is located next to a burger joint that is currently no longer open. This mural is about 20 meters long and contains many azulejos that are painted by hand one by one. The work tries to break with the classic style of painted tiles typical of Porto and is inspired by the embroidery and designs of Viana do Castelo. 

Do Carmo and Dos Carmelitas Church

The Iglesia do Carmo, located on the right, is a Baroque church that was built by the architect José de Figueiredo Seixas between 1756 and 1762 and belongs to the Carmelite order and Mount Carmel. Although its main Rococo-style facade is made of granite, when you turn to the side, you can see a mosaic made of thousands of glazed tiles by Silvestre Silvestri.

The church of the Carmelites, located on the left, was built in the 17th century from concrete and can be seen on the facade of the churches that are of different styles. This one is in the Baroque style, without so many details, and what stands out the most is its bell tower, which shows some blue and white stained glass windows that decorate the dome.

As a curiosity, these two churches, colloquially called Siamese, are actually separated by a small building, the HIDDEN HOUSE. The building where this house is located is less than 1 meter wide and legend has it that it was built due to a regulation that prohibited two churches from touching each other. However, the reality is that the Carmelites who lived there refused to allow the two churches to touch each other because this would prevent light from entering through the transept. The priest of the church lived there for many years, as well as craftsmen and painters during the construction of the Iglesia do Carmo.

Santa Clara's Church

Da Sé's Neighborhood

This is the oldest neighborhood in Porto and the city was formed around it. The Cathedral da Sé also bears this name and dominates the highest part of the neighborhood. It is one of the neighborhoods that still preserves the old houses and the combination of the buildings with the colors that characterize the city provides a unique atmosphere. It is highly recommended to walk through streets such as Rua do Sant’Ana, Largo da Pena do Ventosa or Rua das Aldas, with a very authentic atmosphere and some viewpoints that are found in the middle of the narrow streets and medieval buildings.

Da Sé Cathedral

This Romanesque-Gothic cathedral was built in the 12th century, but it wasn't until the following century that the works were finished. On the main facade it's not one of the most outstanding buildings, but inside it's full of rooms with a lot of history. As for the tiles, you can see some in the cloister and on the outside once you've climbed the stairs. You can also climb to the top of the cathedral tower, which after the effort of climbing the stairs rewards you with beautiful views of the city.

Each of the bells in the cathedral tower has a name; Santa Anna bell, Firal, Jerónimo, and the largest, Globus.

FUN FACT

Das Aldas Street

Do Baredo Street

In any case, Porto is full of beautiful streets, and although we only mention some here, we find Rua das Tapias, Rua dos Caldereiros, or Rua do Miragaia with its church, among others that are also very charming.

Lluís I Bridge

The most famous bridge in Porto, it is located over the Douro River and is almost 400 meters long. The bridge was inaugurated in 18886 and is responsible for connecting Porto with Vilanova de Gaia. It consists of two levels; the upper one, which is where the train passes, and the lower one, with 180 meters in length but where cars pass. You can cross on foot on both lanes, but you have to be careful with the wind since it blows strongly from the upper part. To get there you have the option of walking from the historic center of Porto, taking the Funicular dos Guindais to the Ribeira, or taking the metro.

The bridge was built by Théofile Seyrig, a disciple of
the engineer of the Eiffel Tower, Gustave Eiffel.

FUN FACT

Cais de Gaia

Next to the Douro River, about 20 minutes walk from the center of Porto, is the Cais de Gaia. This part of the city allows you to walk along the river enjoying the views of the Luís I Bridge and is one of the most charming areas, along with the Morro Gardens, the Half Rabbit, many gastronomic offers and a nightlife. It is in this part where the most famous wineries in Porto are grouped, so if you want to do a tasting or a tour + wine tasting of the wineries you can consult this web pageIt is also a good option to enjoy the area, the views offered by the gardens (which are explained in more detail below), and stop for a meal at some of the best restaurants in Porto.

Do Morro Gardens

These gardens are located in a privileged place in Vilanova de Gaia, offering incredible views of the river and the Lluís I Bridge. During the Civil War they were a strategic point in the city, and are currently recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is a good place to walk, have a picnic or enjoy one of the best sunsets you can find in the city. It is also a perfect place to watch the fireworks that are made for Saint John. The Porto Gardens, inaugurated in 1927, have a special charm due to the number of viewpoints they have, where you can appreciate the city from another perspective that makes it even more special. For us, the most beautiful viewpoints are the Jardim do Morro viewpoint, or the Serra del Pilar viewpoint, which is located in front of the Serra del Pilar convent and can also be visited. A few minutes from the gardens there is also the Gatinhos viewpoint, which we found very beautiful.

There are different options to get to the gardens; if you are coming from the historic center of Porto you can take the metro, or you can cross the Luis I bridge by walking along the top or bottom. If you are already on the other side of the Douro but want to save yourself the climb by walking, another option is to take the Gaia cable car, which costs 6 euros (9 round trip) and will leave you a 2-minute walk from the gardens. Another option is to do one of the journeys on foot and the other by cable car or metro.

Half Rabbit

To finish visiting the Vilanova de Gaia area, you can't miss this sculpture called "Half Rabbit". It is a work of art created by the Portuguese artist Artur Bordalo (Bordalo II) with the help of the Mistaker Maker collective. What characterizes the work is that recycled materials have been used and half of the rabbit is painted in bright colors and the other half has been left in its original state in order to appreciate the difference and the real color. It is one of the best works of street art, although we recommend that you walk through the streets and observe all the art offered by the street artists of Porto.