Top things to do in Porto
Attractions, tours and activities in Porto
Recommended museums in Porto
Where to discover culture and the arts in Porto
Porto: the city's best neighbourhoods
Find a great area to stay in Porto
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Bonfim
0.6 miles from city centre
Lively nights come to a quaint end on the Bonfim promenade. The waterfront kiosks are the perfect after-party outposts for relieving late-night hunger. Go there for snacks like “bifanas", the region's trademark steak sammy. Bonfim also keeps a candle burning for Porto customs like “bailinhos”, where the young and old dance together on the street.
Places to stay from € 6.96 per night
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Sé
0.4 miles from city centre
Porto’s historic centre. In Sé, slim streets wind past stone houses, some painted in effulgent yellows. The narrow roads and clandestine allies are best seen by foot. Heritage is writ large in Sé Cathedral, which is a threeway mashup of romantic, gothic and baroque. It’s the perfect place to finish your pilgrimage through these streets.
Places to stay from € 11.02 per night
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Porto City Centre
In the city centre
The poster child for hip Porto. The Vida Portuguesa shop takes you back in time with its retro toothpaste and hair tonics. For a trendy place to imbibe, head to Champanheria da Baixa and toast with chalices of champagne sangria. The literati should take supper in Casa do Livro, a posh restaurant arranged inside a bookshop.
Places to stay from € 7.38 per night
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Miragaia
0.6 miles from city centre
This affluent area is awash in colourful facades. It’s a postcard moment everywhere you turn. Wander through the area’s unique bars and cafes, some of which are inside docked boats. Or head over to Alfândega, which topped 2014’s charts for best conference space in Business Destinations Magazine. It's a prime place to peruse a rotating set of global exhibitions.
Places to stay from € 16 per night
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Ribeira
0.6 miles from city centre
Take the scenic route. The best way to get down to Ribeira from downtown Porto is on the Guindais Funicular. As you descend, the River Douro glistens below, and Rabelo boats glide its cobalt currents. Colourful buildings add an artsy touch to the shoreline. Come with an appetite - traditional "tascas" abound and little local markets brim with bounty.
Places to stay from € 25 per night
About Porto
Including tips for the best time to visit Porto
There’s a special kind of energy in Porto: one that buzzes with an infectious appetite for all the good things in life – especially food and wine.
The best way to get to know this fabulous culinary scene is by diving straight in. Choose a restaurant along the banks of the River Douro and settle into the city’s al fresco dining culture. ‘Bacalhau’ (salted cod) and freshly grilled octopus pair perfectly with a glass of dry white port – but the star of Portuguese cuisine is the original, sweet red port. Take a tasting tour of the wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia or get lost in the maze-like streets of the medieval Ribeira district to seek out the best varieties in the city.
After quenching your thirst, let your attention turn to Porto’s breadth of impressive architecture. São Francisco Church wows visitors with its lavish baroque interior and gilded carvings, while the blue and white-tiled facades of the Chapel of Souls captivate with their intricate picture stories.
For the best views in town, cross Dom Luís I Bridge from São Bento railway station, or climb the 240 steps to the top of Clérigos Church, an 18th-century tower located in the heart of the city. Meanwhile, the golden sands and consistent swells of Matosinhos Beach will keep any sunbather or surfer content for the afternoon.
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| Most popular time to visit | October–December |
| Cheapest time to visit | January–March |
| Local currency | EUR |
| Language | Portuguese |
| Average weekend price | € 87.01 per night |
| Average weekday price | € 89.64 per night |
| Typical stay | 2 nights |
Points of interest in Porto
Stay near the top sightseeing spots in Porto
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Douro River
0.7 miles from city centre
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Music House
1.2 miles from city centre
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Estadio do Dragao
1.6 miles from city centre
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City Market Bolhao
0.2 miles from city centre
Porto reviews
What other travellers say about Porto
We had three nights and had planned to do a day trip...
15 May 2025
We had three nights and had planned to do a day trip somewhere by train but there was a rail strike, however this meant we saw Porto properly and didn’t miss anything in the centre, and also took a tram number 1 along to the estuary, best Pastel de Nata of the holiday ( including Lisbon!) to be had in the Bond Lair cafe by the tram stop at the end of the line. (Also best WC 🤣) The weather was too good to spend inside museums etc so we walked everywhere, especially up to miradouras. The queues for funiculars etc were long so we walked up instead, the hills weren’t nearly as steep as we’d expected! We thoroughly enjoyed a boat trip too. Our other favourite thing was buying a glass of very reasonably priced wine and wandering round the Bolhão market! We did the Fonseca Porto Tour near the WOW area, which I recommend.
The metro system is excellent.
14 May 2025
The metro system is excellent. It makes it super easy to get around. There is lots to see in and around Porto. We spent a whole day in the Douro valley and left most of the other sights for another trip.
Plenty to see and do.
14 May 2025
Plenty to see and do. Locals were very friendly and helpful. Built on a hill so can be a challenge however public transport is excellant. River cruise, port wine and cable car all great fun. Great for shopping.
Beautiful city, lots of history, easy to get around, it...
14 May 2025
Beautiful city, lots of history, easy to get around, it is very hilly, with lots of very steep streets, be prepared, but good Metro System and Taxi was affordable. Lots of places to eat with amply choice of cuisine and to suit all budgets. We took a Walking Tour on our first day, it was a brilliant introduction to city.
Porto is a charming and vibrant city, rich in history,...
13 May 2025
Porto is a charming and vibrant city, rich in history, culture, and stunning architecture. From the colorful Ribeira district to the iconic Dom Luís I Bridge and world-famous port wine cellars, delicious food, every corner offers something special. It’s a perfect mix of old-world charm and modern energy—ideal for both relaxation and exploration.
When we do City breaks, we always WALK the City,as it is the...
13 May 2025
When we do City breaks, we always WALK the City,as it is the best way to really see it. Porto is rather run down in many areas,most shockingly at the Porto side of their famous bridge. The number of empty and derelict buildings is staggering. The main Square outside Sa Bento Station was a construction site at the time of our visit (May,2025) and the skyline of the city was dominated by Cranes. That said, there were enough attractive areas to hold our interest. The Crystal Palace Gardens are beautiful and the peacocks, chickens and other birds there were great. The tour of the Super Bock Arena, including a climb to the roof and a chocolate glass of Port wine at the top was a highlight. The World of Discoveries is brilliant and we`d highly recommend it. FC Portos stadium and Museum tour is fantastic and we spent a full morning there. In Gaia,World of Wine is exceptional, and we could not understand why it was practically empty on both the days we visited.The Cork Museum,in particular, is fascinating. We loved walking the upper bridge by night to see the City lit up below us. The six bridges tour is well worth doing too. We covered the City on foot during our 7 day stay and enjoyed it,although we now regard Porto as ticked off our `list`. For those not as keen on walking, we think a long weekend would be adequate.
Popular places to stay in Porto
Stay in some of the best accommodation Porto has to offer
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Ribeira Douro Hotel Porto City Centre , Porto
From € 253.15 per night
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GA Palace Hotel & Spa, a XIXth-Century Villa Sé, Porto
From € 408 per night
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108MM House Lordelo do Ouro e Massarelos, Porto
From € 164.20 per night
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Casa da Companhia, Vignette Collection by IHG Porto City Centre , Porto
From € 333 per night
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Torel Palace Porto Sé, Porto
From € 420 per night
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Other accommodation in Porto
Choose from a wide variety of places to stay in Porto
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Apartments
From € 12 per night
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Villas
From € 30 per night
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Cabins
From € 295 per night
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Cottages
From € 30 per night
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Glamping
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Serviced apartments
From € 58 per night
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Holiday homes
From € 30 per night
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Guest houses
From € 11.47 per night
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Hostels
From € 6.96 per night
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B&Bs
From € 27 per night
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Homestays
From € 12.24 per night
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Boats
From € 71.28 per night
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Luxury tents
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Self catering accommodation
From € 12 per night
