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Best Things to Do
Top 20 Best Things to Do in Porto District [2025]
Livraria Lello
4.3
/5
186 reviews
9.1
From £8.67
Based on 18,481 reviews
582m from downtown
Phone +351 22 200 2037
Address: R. das Carmelitas 144, 4050-161 Porto, Portugal
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5-1 hour
Highlights:
Trilingual library attracts international readers
Spiral wooden stairs: magical world
Saved by 364 users124 positive reviews
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Livraria Lello is truly stunning; a magical place that feels straight out of a Harry Potter scene. The iconic staircase, stained glass ceiling, and rich wooden details are breathtaking, and it’s easy to see why it inspired J.K. Rowling during her time in Porto.However, the experience is far too crowded. The space is quite small, yet large groups are allowed in at once, making it difficult to move, enjoy the architecture, or take decent photos.It’s interesting but overpriced for what you get, unless they start limiting the number of visitors per time slot.Tip: Book online in advance and go early if you want a slightly calmer experience.
i knew what was inside, i was surprised it was so small & cramped. the €10 ticket also serves as a bookshop voucher, but it cannot be applied to merch, only to books. i love books & libraries, but this was way too touristy for me.
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Porto Cathedral
4.6
/5
105 reviews
7.6
Based on 5,057 reviews
599m from downtown
Phone +351 22 205 9028
Address: Terreiro da Sé, 4050-573 Porto, Portugal
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Highlights:
Overlook Douro River & Gaia
Old town & Douro River views
Saved by 162 users34% positive reviews
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Porto Cathedral, one of the oldest religious buildings in Porto, was built in the 12th century and completed after a century. It combines Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque architectural styles and is now a core part of Porto's World Cultural Heritage. The church is located on the hill on the north bank of the Douro River, where you can enjoy the panoramic view of the city and the river at the same time. It is beautiful.
Porto must-see attractions: a feast of vision and experience
If you are planning a trip to Europe, then this attraction in Porto is definitely worth putting on your itinerary. It is like a shining pearl inlaid in the city, attracting tourists from all over the world with its unique charm.
The moment you step into the attraction, it feels like entering a dreamlike art palace. The most eye-catching thing is the exquisite white and blue tiles, which are arranged in a staggered manner, as if telling the history and story of the city. These tiles are pure in color, white like snow, blue like the deep ocean, interweaving with each other to form a series of artistic patterns. From simple geometric figures to complex figures and landscapes, each tile embodies the hard work and wisdom of the craftsmen. However, if you want to take amazing photos in this world of white and blue tiles, it is particularly important to match your clothes in advance. Light-colored clothing, such as off-white dresses and light blue shirts, can complement the tones of the tiles, allowing you to easily blend into this beautiful background and become a lively part of the picture; while clothing with simple patterns or plain colors can avoid visual conflicts with the tile patterns and highlight the main body of the characters. Carefully matched clothing, coupled with the right shooting angle and light, every photo can become a fashionable blockbuster that will be popular on WeChat Moments.
However, if you want to fully appreciate the beauty of the scenic spot, you also need to be prepared to climb the stairs. The stairs here are winding, as if leading to a mysterious secret place. Although climbing the stairs may consume some physical strength, you can get different surprises and beautiful scenery at each level. Therefore, be sure to wear a pair of comfortable shoes to make your journey easier and more enjoyable. Comfortable shoes can not only reduce foot fatigue, but also make you safer and more comfortable during the walking process, and devote yourself to exploring the scenic spot.
When you climb up the stairs step by step and finally reach the top, the scene in front of you will surely amaze you. Here, you can overlook the entire city of Porto, and a magnificent picture slowly unfolds before your eyes. The city's well-arranged buildings, red tiles and white walls sparkle under the sun; the winding Douro River, the river water is sparkling, and the boats slowly sail on the river, drawing beautiful arcs; the rolling mountains in the distance add a touch of natural color to the city. Whether it is in the early morning, the sun shines on every corner of the city, giving everything a golden glow; or in the evening, the sun sets, the sky is dyed a gorgeous orange-red, and it reflects the lights of the city. The scenery here is breathtaking.
To ensure that you can start this wonderful journey smoothly, it is recommended to book tickets in advance. As the popularity of this attraction continues to increase, more and more tourists come here. Booking tickets in advance not only allows you to avoid waiting in line for a long time at the entrance of the attraction, saving precious time, but also ensures that you can enter the attraction at your favorite time to visit and better plan your itinerary. Imagine that while others are still anxiously queuing up to buy tickets, you have already leisurely stepped into the scenic spot and started to enjoy the beautiful scenery here.
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Luís I Bridge
4.6
/5
122 reviews
6.9
866m from downtown
Address: Porto, Portugal
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5-1 hour
No.1 of Night Attractions in Porto District
Highlights:
360° view of Douro River
Dual-purpose bridge: transport & sightseeing
Saved by 161 users31% positive reviews
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The Dom Luís I Bridge in Porto is a steel arch bridge across the Douro River.
The Dom Luís I Bridge is one of the largest arch bridges in Europe, 560 feet long, with two lanes of high and low. The shape of the arch bridge is roughly similar to the bottom floor of the Eiffel Tower, and it is very magnificent.
It is also called the Waibaidu Bridge in Portugal🤩 by Chinese people.
There are so many people. The bridge has two floors. The lower floor is mainly for traffic, and the upper floor has a large number of hikers and trams. You can stop to admire the Douro River and the buildings on both sides. The scenery is very good. There are railways and trams on the bridge, so you must pay attention to safety and be careful about your finances.
No.
4
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Clerigos Tower
4.2
/5
100 reviews
6.6
From £6.07
Based on 8,915 reviews
603m from downtown
Phone +351 220 145 489
Address: R. de São Filipe de Nery, 4050-546 Porto, Portugal
Recommended sightseeing time: 1 hour
Highlights:
360° view over Douro River
View autumn rooftops & scenery
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The Clérigos Tower (Monk's Tower, also known as the Priest's Tower) in Porto was built in 1763 and is located in the city center. It is a landmark building in Porto and was once the tallest building in Portugal. It has the functions of a Baroque church and a bell tower.
The small square is crowded with people, and the wooden trams that are still running are slowly pulling up to the station, just like the rhythm of this city, leisurely and relaxed.
The Clergy Tower is a landmark building in the center of Porto. The tower is about 76 meters high. Compared with the shorter buildings around it, it stands like a giant and is very eye-catching, making it the easiest attraction to find. It can be seen from almost every angle in the old city. I wanted to climb the tower to see the distance because the weather was good at around 10 o'clock in the morning. There is no elevator in the tower. Although it is not very high, it is a bit tiring for people who do not exercise for a long time. I really felt dizzy while climbing the spiral escalator. After resting several times, I finally reached the top. The surrounding buildings were in full view, and there was still fog in the distance. There was a kind of hazy beauty that was still worth it.
No.
5
São Bento Station
4.5
/5
46 reviews
6.4
278m from downtown
Phone +351-22-2002722
Address: Praça de Almeida Garrett, 4000-069 Porto, Portugal
Highlights:
16th-century monastery & 20,000 tiles
20,000 tile paintings show Portugal's history
38% positive reviews
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Portugal-Porto-São Bento Station
São Bento Station is a century-old railway station in Porto, Portugal, known as "one of the most beautiful railway stations in the world". It is not only a transportation hub, but also a palace that integrates history, art and culture. The most shocking thing is the 20,000 blue and white tile murals in the station hall, which took Portuguese artist Jorge Colaço 11 years to complete, depicting Portugal's historical events, rural scenery and traditional life scenes. Each painting tells the story of this country.
Porto's São Bento Station is a century-old station built in 1910. The interior of the station is covered with blue and white tiles. Tourists in the station raised their mobile phones and cameras to appreciate Portugal's unique tile art.
No.
6
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Chapel of Souls
4.3
/5
30 reviews
6.2
310m from downtown
Phone +351-22-2005765
Address: R. de Santa Catarina 428, 4000-124 Porto, Portugal
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-3 hours
Highlights:
Free entry all day
Stunning exterior with exquisite tiles
Saved by 144 users43% positive reviews
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Portugal - Porto - Church of the Holy Spirit
The poetry of blue and white porcelain and the purity of faith
The Church of the Holy Spirit (Capela das Almas) in Porto is famous for its iconic blue and white porcelain facade and is an artistic treasure that cannot be ignored in the old town of Porto. Although the church was built in the early 20th century, it carries the historical and cultural memory of Portugal in the 18th century tile art style.
The Church of the Holy Spirit with a blue and white porcelain facade is inlaid with 11,000 blue and white tiles. These tiles are painted with 18th-century techniques and depict the life of saints and religious scenes. The tiles in the sun have a cold blue and white luster, which contrasts sharply with the red tile roofs of the old town of Porto, like a flowing religious painting.
The Holy Spirit Church in Bodo is a blue and white porcelain tile building. It uses tiles to collage stories from the Bible. It is very creative and distinctive. It is very conspicuous at the corner and is also a photo spot. If you have the opportunity, you can come to Bodo. It is a very beautiful attraction!
No.
7
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Church of Saint Ildefonso
5.0
/5
9 reviews
6.0
201m from downtown
Phone +351 22 200 4366
Address: Praça da Batalha s/n, 4000-101 Porto, Portugal
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Highlights:
Portuguese architecture's blue tile art
18th Century Roman Catholic Church
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Portugal - Porto - Church of Santo Ildefonso, the time and space echo of Baroque art
The Church of Santo Ildefonso (Igreja de Santo Ildefonso) is a Baroque church in Porto, Portugal, famous for its complex facade decoration and profound historical and cultural heritage. The most eye-catching feature of the Church of Santo Ildefonso is its blue and white tile facade, which is made of traditional Portuguese tiles and depicts the life and religious scenes of Santo Ildefonso. These tiles have a cold blue and white luster in the sun, which contrasts with the Baroque sculptures on the top of the church - the complex scroll patterns, angel statues and religious symbols are intertwined, showing the ultimate pursuit of dynamics and decorativeness in Baroque art.
Mesmerising piece of history and design. There’s a lot to see for €1 - the church is gorgeous but the museum section is quite small. It has a calming and healing energy. ✨
No.
8
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Douro River
4.9
/5
8 reviews
5.9
From £13.12
1.7 km from downtown
Phone +351-22-3722415
Address: Porto | Arrabida, Porto, Portugal
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-3 hours
Highlights:
Picturesque riverside & European architecture
Wine region spanning 478 miles
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The view from here is amazing!
You can view it from both under and above the bridge, and both offer different views so I recommend it.
I especially recommend taking the metro to the top to enjoy the view!
Such a lovely River, close to City of Porto (Oporto) and Vila Nova de Gaia you can find some of his great views, The Douro River is the highest-flow river of the Iberian Peninsula. 📸 some photos of his mouth at Porto, near Foz do Douro.
No.
9
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Cais da Ribeira
4.8
/5
38 reviews
5.8
Based on 11,111 reviews
827m from downtown
Phone +351-910-244180
Address: Ribeira, Porto, Portugal
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5-1 hour
Highlights:
Medieval architecture & gondolas
Riverside pier's bronze war memorial
30% positive reviews
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Libera Marina in Porto is Portugal's favorite area.
Libera Marina is located in the heart of Porto's old town, adjacent to the Douro River. It is a vibrant and historical tourist destination.
There are many tourists. The view from the mountain and the riverside are pleasant. There are many restaurants and coffee bars on the river bank, which are suitable for strolling and sitting.
Porto Liber Wharf has a long history. It was a trade transit point in the past, and the busy scene continues to this day. In particular, the ships transporting wine barrels come and go, which is a classic scene. Watch the scenery and chat with locals at the coffee bar by the river, and feel the economic development history and wine culture of Porto.
No.
10
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Calem
4.8
/5
9 reviews
5.7
Based on 2,314 reviews
1.1 km from downtown
Phone +351 22 374 6660
Address: Av. de Diogo Leite 344, 4400-111 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
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This is one of the century-old wineries on the Douro River. There are countless wineries along the river. The winery runs its own restaurant across the street and sells its wines to tourists passing by. You can taste them. This winery provides one-stop service, from the lobby to the exhibition hall, and there are all kinds of introductions inside. Finally, we go to the second floor to taste three glasses of wine. It's too sweet for me...
A famous wine producing area, there are many wines here. Making wine in a winery is also a very magical, wonderful and ritualistic process. I also learned a lot about wine here.
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