The northern capital and the real pearl of Portugal, the city of Porto is simply an inexhaustible treasure for tourists. This city is so atmospheric and authentic that you can fall in love with it at first sight. Old houses, half-shabby walls and crooked streets of Ribeira excite the imagination, excellent port is hot blood, and simple and hearty Portuguese cuisine will forever remain in the heart of any visitor to Porto.
You can walk around the city endlessly - admire the unusual azulejos, enter baroque churches, wander thoughtfully along the Cais da Ribeira embankment. It seems that you can never get tired of Porto. River walks along the Douro Valley can diversify your leisure time if all corners of the city have already been carefully examined and captured in memories for many years.
The best hotels and hotels at affordable prices.
from 500 rubles / day
What to see and where to go in Porto?
The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.
Ribeira quarter
A picturesque central quarter located by the Douro River. It is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Many of the houses in Ribeira are 300 years old, but still inhabited. The quarter descends to the Caís da Ribeira promenade using a system of steep stairs and narrow streets, among which it is easy to get lost. On the waterfront there are taverns, restaurants with traditional Portuguese fishermen's cuisine and viewing platforms with benches.
Freedom Square
The central square of Porto, surrounded by charming 19th-20th century mansions and administrative buildings. in the art nouveau style. The appearance of the square and the surrounding quarters is strikingly different from the chaotic development of the old part of the city, since all buildings were erected according to a single architectural plan. In the middle there is a monument to King Pedro IV, created in the middle of the 19th century.
Santa Catarina street
The commercial heart of Porto, where the maximum number of shops, souvenir shops, cafes and pastry shops are concentrated. Because of this, the street is very popular with tourists. Here you can buy shoes, bags and other products from the local cork oak, original Portuguese port, taste a variety of pastries or have a glass of excellent wine from the grape varieties of the Douro Valley.
Bookstore "Livraria Lello"
Livraria Lello is famous not so much for its assortment as for the interior decoration and architecture of the building in which it is located. This store is considered the most beautiful bookstore in the world. It consists of two floors, an elegant red staircase leads to the second, the roof of the store is folded of graceful stained-glass windows. The store opened at the end of the 19th century, at the moment it is ranked among the national monuments of Portugal.
Cafe Majestic
A famous cafe with a magnificent Art Nouveau interior, where you can taste many varieties of aromatic coffee and order delicious pastries. The cafe is located on Santa Catarina street, so it is always packed to overflowing with tourists. You have to try very hard to find a free table there. The cafe was opened in a building built at the beginning of the 20th century, very quickly it gained popularity among the local aristocracy, and later was noticed by guests of Porto.
House of Music
One of the main concert halls in Porto. The building was erected in 2005 by the architect R. Koolhaas. After its discovery, for some reason, it was immediately designated the symbol of Porto. Some architectural experts call the House of Music an outstanding modern project and compare it with the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and the Berlin Philharmonic. The concert hall has 1200 seats; inside there is a restaurant, an open terrace, a music shop.
Serralves Museum
The museum was erected in the middle of the 20th century according to the project of A. Vieira. The building itself, where the exposition is located, was built in the minimalist style, it is surrounded by a magnificent landscape park. The museum specializes in contemporary art; exhibitions of eminent masters are often held here. Visitors can relax in the park, which in itself can be called a separate art object.
Soares-dos-Reis Museum
One of the most important museums in the city, located in the Carrancash Palace. A rich collection of Portuguese national art is exhibited here. An impressive part of the exhibition is occupied by a collection of sculptures by Antonio Suares Reis. The museum was opened at the beginning of the 19th century with the participation of King Pedro IV. The first exhibits were works of art and works of court artists confiscated from monasteries.
Porto Cathedral
The main city cathedral, which is located at the highest point of Porto. Therefore, it can be seen from almost any part of the city. The uniqueness of this temple is that it was erected in the XII century and has come down to us in its original form. The cathedral was not rebuilt, expanded or demolished. Porto has been growing around the massive Romanesque building for several centuries. The cathedral is decorated with traditional azulejo ceramics.
Clerigos Church and Tower
The Clérigos Tower is a recognizable symbol of Porto; it can be seen from anywhere in the city, like a cathedral. For many centuries, the structure served as a reference point for ships entering the harbor of Porto from the Atlantic Ocean. The tower itself is the church bell tower of the church, erected in the middle of the 18th century.
Church of Carmo and Carmelites
Two temples located so close to each other that at first glance they can be mistaken for a single structure. The Carmo Church was built in the Baroque and Rococo style, the facade of the Carmelite Church is made in a more relaxed classical manner. The buildings are decorated with blue azulejo ligature by master Sylvester Silvestri. The interiors of the churches are richly painted and decorated, some elements are trimmed with gold.
Church of St. Francis
Members of the Order of St. Francis of Assisi appeared in Porto as early as the 13th century. Almost immediately, they began building their own temple. The work was completed in the 15th century and since then the appearance of the temple has remained practically unchanged. The building is a prominent representative of the Portuguese Gothic. The modern interior was created later - in the 17th-18th centuries. It is distinguished by its splendor and splendor of decoration.
Capella das Almas
A small church of the 18th century, which at first did not stand out in anything special from the surrounding landscape. In 1929, it was covered with thousands of traditional azulejo tiles, after which it took one of the leading places in the list of Porto attractions. There is no other building in the city that would be more richly decorated with blue and white traditional tiles with various historical and mythical themes.
Bishop's palace
The history of the building began in the XII century, when the local church leader João Raphael de Mendonz wanted to build his own palace. But he did not wait for the completion of the work. The first structure was built in the Romanesque style, but it was rebuilt several times over the centuries. In the 18th century, the palace was once again rebuilt, elements of the Baroque were added to the architectural style.
Stock Exchange Palace
A neoclassical palace located on the site of a former Franciscan monastery. The monastery burned down at the beginning of the 19th century, and the ruins were quickly taken over by local merchants. They immediately began building the headquarters for their commercial association. The building was designed by the architect Joaquim Junior. Many local craftsmen have worked on the decoration and interior design.
Sao Bento train station
Porto's main station, where trains from all over the country arrive.Many suburban trains leave the station, which is an undoubted plus for tourists. The building was built on the site of a burned down (and gradually fell into disrepair) Benedictine monastery. The foundation stone of the future station was laid by Carlos I in 1900. São Bento became known all over the world for its magnificent interior decoration - all walls are decorated with picturesque azulejo tiles.
Don Luis bridge
Railway bridge over the Douro river, connecting the port and the town of Villa Nova di Gaia. The building was designed by a student of Gustave Eiffel - Theophile Seirig. The bridge turned out to be very picturesque - the "openwork" pontoons seem to be flying over the river, the graceful design harmoniously complements the surrounding landscape. The bridge offers a magnificent view of Porto, the city of Vila Nova de Gaia and the Douro riverbed.
Maria Pia bridge
Another iron bridge that spans the Douro River and adorns the cityscape. It was erected at the end of the 19th century using advanced technologies, which made it possible to install supports on the unsteady gravel bottom of the river. The bridge was created by the architect of the Eiffel Tower - Gustave Eiffel. The design is considered a real masterpiece of engineering, however, like all Eiffel's creations.
Dragao stadium
Home football arena of the local Porto team, a functional and modern European stadium. Here in 2004 the matches of the World Championship were held. The stadium also hosted performances by several well-known musical groups. The structure is designed in such a way that the spectator stands are as close as possible to the arena. The stadium can accommodate about 52 thousand people.
Port wine
Porto is the birthplace of port and the location of the companies producing this drink. The offices, production and cellars of the main wine companies (Calem, Sandeman, Cockburn, W. & J. Graham and others) are located in the city of Vila Nova de Gaia. It is located on the left bank of the Douro River, opposite Porto. In the valley of the Douro River, there are vineyards where special grape varieties for port wine grow. Some companies advertise vintage boats with barrels of port on the Caís da Ribeira promenade.
