Lisbon is Portugal’s capital and largest city; it’s also definitely been “discovered” by mass tourism, and is a popular destination for city breaks within Europe. Go to Lisbon on just about any weekend outside of the winter months, and you’ll be met with thousands of cruise ship passengers and tourists from all around the world.
Porto is the second-largest city in Portugal, and has been an important center for trade (and wine!) for centuries. And while Porto is still a popular destination for tourists, the city only gets only about 1/3 the number of visitors that Lisbon does.
I’m not sure I’d got so far as to say that Porto is overlooked, but I DO think that’s it’s underrated. Several people I talked to said that they enjoyed Porto more than Lisbon, and after visiting myself I can understand why!
An introduction to Porto
In my guide to Lisbon, I mentioned that Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in Western Europe. But Porto isn’t all that much “younger.” Porto was mentioned in Roman histories as early as the 4th century, and continued growing through the Middle Ages.
It was an important city during the “Age of Discoveries,” when Porto became one of the most important ship building centers in the world. A century later, it became one of the major ports for the wine trade in Europe – a distinction that it still holds today.
The coolest thing about Porto (for me, at least), is that all these different influences are still visible in the city. You have architectural styles spanning from Medieval to Baroque to Art Nouveau, the wine cellars in Gaia, buildings covered in Portuguese azulejo tiles, plus the Douro River winding through it all.
Porto should definitely make it onto your Portugal itinerary.
What to see in Porto: Admire the architecture
Like I mentioned above, Porto has an interesting mix of architecture. You’ll find everything from Neoclassical buildings and train stations from the 1800s to Romanesque cathedrals to Art Nouveau cafes, plus many other styles in between.
Some of the must-sees (in my opinion) include:
1. Explore the Ribeira
The Ribeira is located along the Douro riverfront in Porto, and is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city. It’s filled with narrow medieval streets and colorful buildings and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.
The highlight of this neighborhood is the Cais da Ribeira, or the waterfront right along the river. This is where much of Porto’s trade used to happen, though today the old warehouses have been transformed into cafes and shops.
Take a stroll here to admire the colorful buildings, and stop at one of the waterfront cafes for a coffee or glass of wine.
Note that the Cais da Ribeira is at the lowest point in Porto, and that you have to walk down some steep hills to get to it. If you don’t want to walk back up those hills, know that there’s a funicular that runs just under the Dom Luis I Bridge. It’s called the Funicular dos Guindais, and costs €3.50 for a one-way ride.
2. Cross the Luís I Bridge
Speaking of that bridge, the iconic Dom Luís I Bridge is visible from Ribeira (and several other points in Porto). Built in 1886, this bridge was designed by a student of Gustave Eiffel, which is evident it its grand iron framework.
The bridge has two decks (one for trains and one for road traffic), with pedestrian access to both. I highly recommend walking across on the top deck towards Vila Nova de Gaia for some excellent views of Porto.
Across the bridge is Vila Nova de Gaia. Head to the Jardim do Morro or fortress-like Monastery of Serra do Pilar for the best views over the river. (It’s especially popular over here around sunset.)
3. Visit the São Bento railway station
Even if you’re not taking any trains to/from Porto, it’s worth popping into the Sao Bento station to admire its entryway. This part of the station is covered in 20,000 hand-painted tiles depicting scenes from Portugal’s history.
4. Admire Porto’s churches
Porto has a number of historical churches you can visit. And, unlike in many European cities where all the churches look roughly the same on the inside, the churches in Porto also span several different architectural styles.
Some of the most notable churches in Porto include:
- Sé do Porto – The Porto Cathedral was built over several centuries, meaning it boasts more than one architectural style. Most notable is its Romanesque nave and rose window.
- São Francisco Church – The Baroque-and-Gothic Church of Saint Francis is one you’ll want to enter to truly appreciate. The interior is covered in golden gilt woodwork.
- Clérigos Church – This Baroque church is most well known for its bell tower, the 249-foot Torre dos Clérigos. You can climb the bell tower for great views out over Porto, though note that you’ll have to ascend more than 200 steps first.
- Igreja do Carmo – This Baroque-style church is striking because of the painted tiles on its exterior. It’s also interesting because it’s connected to the Igreja dos Carmelitas.
5. Tour the Palacio da Bolsa
The Neoclassical Palacio da Bolsa was built in the 19th century to be the seat of Porto’s Commercial Association. It’s name translates to Stock Exchange Palace – but don’t be fooled into thinking this is just a boring financial building.
The Stock Exchange Palace really is built like a palace, and is so much more impressive on the inside.
To visit, you have to book a spot on a tour (€10), and I recommend going as early in the day as you can. They offer tours in multiple languages, but the language a tour is offered in is based on the first person who books.
Highlights inside the Palacio da Bolsa include the glass-domed Pátio das Nações (Hall of Nations), and the Arab Room, which is decorated in a lavish Moorish Revival style.
