Sé Cathedral of Porto
This cathedral is built in the upper part of the city and is the most important religious building. It stands in the Batalha quarter, next to the walls that, years ago, protected the city.
Construction of the cathedral began in the 12th century and it features different styles due to the many building campaigns it has undergone. For the most part, the style is Baroque, even though the body of the church and its structure are Romanesque. The Chapel of St. John the Evangelist and the cloister, on the other hand, are Gothic.
The large columns inside give you a sense of narrowness as you enter. The decoration is very austere and the walls are bare, except for a few Baroque chapels and the main altar.
As for the cloister, it is accessed from inside the cathedral through a door on the right‑hand side. It dates from the 14th century and is decorated with tiles that depict religious scenes. From here you can also access the Casa do Cabido, where the cathedral’s real treasure is kept: a large collection of religious metalwork.
Clérigos Church and Tower
The Clérigos Church was built between 1735 and 1748. It has an 18th‑century Baroque style and is crowned by another of Porto’s emblematic monuments, the Clérigos Tower.
The monumental complex dates from the 18th century and was commissioned by the brotherhood of the Poor Clerics of the city’s old quarter. It is located on what was known as “the hill of the hanged”, because this is where people who had been executed used to be buried.
The 76 metres of the Clérigos Tower make it the tallest bell tower in Portugal. It has 225 steps that lead up to one of the most privileged panoramic viewpoints in the city. On the way up you pass 49 bells that form a carillon which, if they ring as you go by, will give you quite a scare. Once you reach the top, you’ll see that the effort is worth it, because the views and the photos you can take from there are stunning.
Mercado do Bolhão
If you’re looking for a must‑see visit, Mercado do Bolhão, opened in 1914, is one of the most authentic places to visit in Porto. There you can find a wide variety of products: meat, fish, fruit and flowers.
It is laid out over several floors and the shops are arranged around a central courtyard. The interior is very large and you’ll find the essence of the Portuguese city here, with many cod shops that retain their old appearance and have not been modernised.
It is very close to one of the most popular and lively areas of the city, Avenida dos Aliados. After extensive refurbishment, it reopened in September 2022 and today looks completely restored, a reference point for observing authentic local life.
The market has been fully operating again since 2022. Before your visit, check the official opening hours and current offering (stalls and restaurants) on the Bolhão website.
São Bento Station
The Porto–São Bento Railway Station is one of the stations in Portugal that will impress you the most. It was built at the beginning of the 20th century on the remains of the former São Bento de Avé‑Maria convent and today still retains that old, melancholy air so characteristic of Porto. It was inaugurated on 5 October 1916.
Its façade is stately, but the real jewel is inside, where you’ll find a hall whose walls depict the history of Portugal with more than 20,000 tiles.
As it is located in the city centre, in Praça de Almeida Garrett, you will probably pass by more than once, so don’t just settle for the façade – go inside. From there you can also catch trains to Braga, Guimarães, Viana do Castelo or the wine‑growing region.
Palácio da Bolsa (Stock Exchange Palace)
The headquarters of Porto’s Commercial Association are housed in this palace in the city’s historic centre. The Palácio da Bolsa was built on the ruins of a Franciscan convent after it was destroyed by fire. Construction began in 1842 and it was not inaugurated until 1891, more than half a century later.
Its interior is Neoclassical and it is another of the National Monuments. It features the so‑called Courtyard of the Nations, a large central courtyard covered by a glass structure that allows light to flood into the palace.
A marble and granite staircase takes you up to the second floor, where you’ll discover rooms such as the General Assembly Hall, lined with wood, the Golden Room, which is covered in gold leaf, and the Arab Room, which is the most important hall. Covering 300 square metres, it is inspired by the Alhambra and has a Moorish style. This is where official receptions are held.
Lello e Irmão Bookshop
Very close to the Clérigos Tower, right in the heart of the city, stands what is considered the most beautiful bookshop in all of Europe. It is housed in a Neo‑Gothic building from 1906 and inside you can admire many old details that will undoubtedly transport you more than a hundred years back in time.
The huge wooden shelves that reach up to the ceiling are packed with books, and in the centre of the shop there is a carved wooden staircase, while the stained‑glass skylight bathes this storybook setting in light. As a curiosity, it is often said that J.K. Rowling was inspired by the magic of this bookshop for her saga; however, the author publicly denied this in 2020. It is not just a place to buy books, but a truly enchanting corner in which to lose yourself.
Church of São Francisco
The Franciscans settled in Porto in the 13th century and built a first church in 1245; the current Gothic church was built between 1383 and 1410. After the fire that destroyed the cloister in 1832, it had to be rebuilt.
Although its structure is Gothic, the interior was covered with Baroque decoration. Inside you can see three naves lined with gilded carvings, for which several hundred kilograms of gold were used. This is very significant because, given the poverty in the surrounding area, it was closed for worship, as it was considered too ostentatious.
One of the main attractions of this church is found in the left side aisle. Here you will find the Tree of Jesse, a polychrome wooden sculpture considered one of the best of its kind in the world.
Casa da Música
Next to Praça de Mouzinho de Albuquerque (Rotunda da Boavista), in the centre of the Boavista district, stands this emblematic building designed by the architect Rem Koolhaas. Construction began in 1999 and it was included in the “Porto 2001: European Capital of Culture” project, although the building works were not completed until 2005.
TIP
Check the programme before your visit. In addition to guided tours, you can attend concerts and cultural events. Tickets for the most popular events usually sell out in advance.
Crystal Palace Gardens
This park was laid out at the end of the 19th century. It is located in the upper part of Porto and offers a pleasant green space with privileged views over the mouth of the Douro, where it flows into the Atlantic. In the gardens you can find themed areas such as the medicinal plants section, the aromatic plants area, the rose garden, the garden of feelings and the woodland.
Church of São Lourenço dos Grilos
Construction of this church began in the 16th century, but it was not completed until 200 years later, in the 18th century. It is not a church that stands out for its size; it is very simple and, unlike the rest of the city’s churches, it is not excessively decorated, but is practically bare, with the stonework left exposed.
If you go through a wooden door, you access the Museum of Sacred Art and Archaeology of Porto. Despite its name, there are hardly any archaeological pieces, but as a museum of sacred art it is well worth it. On the upper floor you can visit different rooms with high stone ceilings where statues of saints, liturgical objects and religious metalwork are on display.
Sea Life Porto
The aquarium has an underwater tunnel and 31 tanks, including a main tank of 500,000 litres. It is home to hundreds of species of animals. Penguins, sharks, giant turtles and stingrays are some of the species you’ll find.
What to do at Sea Life Porto?
The aquarium is located next to the City Park, so if you are travelling to Porto with children, this is a must‑visit. What’s more, Sea Life Porto offers lots of attractions that make it a spectacular family day out, though the most striking feature is the tunnel holding 500,000 litres of water and the penguin harbour, where you can watch the penguins swimming around to their heart’s content.
Casa do Infante
Its original construction dates back to 1325 and it takes its name from being the birthplace of one of the most important figures of the Age of Discoveries: Henry the Navigator.
This residence was used to accommodate official visitors of the Royal Household and today it is a small museum exhibiting remains from excavations and some of the floors that once formed part of the building.
Soares dos Reis Museum
With more than 200 years of history, it is the oldest public museum in Portugal. In its rooms you can see ceramics, prints, furniture and glassware. However, the most important part of the museum is its collections of sculpture and painting. Among them, the work of the Portuguese sculptor who gives the museum its name, António Soares dos Reis, particularly stands out.
The Palácio dos Carrancas is the building that houses the museum. This palace has been used privately since the late 18th century and was home to such illustrious figures as the Duke of Wellington, General Soult and Dom Pedro IV.
Serralves Foundation
This European cultural institution has the mission of promoting contemporary art. Inside you can visit the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Serralves House, an auditorium and the Manoel de Oliveira Cinema House. The Museum of Art opened its doors in 1999 and has since hosted numerous temporary exhibitions by avant‑garde artists.
Its gardens cover 18 hectares around the museum. At certain times of the year, especially in summer, you can enjoy various musical events there.
Town of Vila Nova de Gaia: best wine cellars
In this town you’ll find most of the wine cellars where one of the world’s most popular wines is aged: Port wine. What sets this wine apart from others is that brandy is added to interrupt its fermentation. This preserves the sweetness of the original grapes while giving it a high alcohol content.
In Vila Nova de Gaia you can visit the Port wine cellars accompanied by a guide who will explain the production process. At the end of the visit, you’ll be offered a tasting of white wine and red wine.
Ramos Pinto Cellar
Adriano Ramos Pinto founded it in 1880 and it is one of the most famous. Its wines are of great quality and account for a large part of the Port wine market.
This cellar has a museum with a large collection of objects from the early days of the company. The visit is perhaps the least interesting and the shortest, although the museum makes it worthwhile.
Sandeman Cellar
The emblem of this cellar is Don Sandeman, a 1928 character recognisable by a Spanish hat and a Portuguese black cape. The guide at the cellar dresses in this way to explain everything that goes on there.
It is one of the best and most renowned cellars in the world. In the museum you’ll learn that the cellar was founded by a young Scotsman in 1790. It can be visited daily and there are different prices depending on the type of tour you choose.
Ferreira Cellar
This cellar is built over an old convent and is one of the most special. During the visit you’ll notice its distinctive smell (sweet wine and damp wood). Here you’ll learn about all the types of wine that are produced. It is one of the most beautiful cellars and its interior is well worth discovering. You can visit every day and the price will depend on the type of tour chosen.
Cálem Cellar
This is one of the main Port wine cellars and it was founded in 1859. It is very close to the Luís I Bridge and is one of the most visited. Originally they exported wine to Brazil, which is why its logo is a caravel, a symbol of transatlantic trade. Despite its reputation, it is not one of the very best.
How to get to Porto?
You can get to Porto in several ways, depending on where you are and the means of transport you choose:
- Plane: If you travel by plane, the city centre is 13 kilometres from the city’s main airport: Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO). The most practical option for getting to the city centre is the metro.
- Train: From Spain, the current international connection in operation is the Celta Vigo–Porto service (≈2 h 20 min; 2 departures daily; from 17/08/2025 with a change of train at Viana do Castelo). From Portugal, there are frequent trains from Lisbon/Coimbra/Braga to Porto (Alfa Pendular/Intercidades).
- Bus: Alsa and Eurolines offer routes from the main cities in Spain.
Tips for your trip
- 🚇 Public transport: The Andante card lets you use the metro and buses.
- 📍 Location: Stay in the historic centre for easy access to the main sights.
- 🎫 Porto Card: Consider buying it if you plan to visit several museums.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Porto
When is the best time to visit Porto?
The best time is between May and October, when the weather is more pleasant. July and August are the busiest and hottest months. Spring and autumn offer mild temperatures and fewer tourists.
How many days do you need to visit Porto?
A minimum of 3 days is recommended to visit the main attractions. With this amount of time you can explore the historic centre, take a tour of the wine cellars and enjoy the local food without rushing.
What kind of climate does Porto have?
Porto has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Csb), with a marked Atlantic influence: mild summers and rainy winters.
* The information on prices, timetables and access conditions is current as of December 2025 according to official sources. These details may change at any time due to public holidays, construction work or changes in regulations. Always check the official websites or phone numbers for each place before your visit.
