
Popular Picks
Browse popular sites among travelers.

Ribeira

‘Pillars of the Old’ Suspension Bridge

Porto Cathedral

Bolsa Palace

Graham's Port Lodge

Douro Valley
Favorite Moment
Check out Guidester’s favorite Porto experience.
Exploring Portugal’s Northern Gem
Porto is largely built on a steep hillside overlooking the river Duoro, with abundant overgrowth giving it an almost mystic feel. I’m glad that I spent several days here to really understand what the city has to offer. Not only can you find historic beauty in abundance, but the great cuisine and connection to port wine is one of the city’s lasting legacies.
The historical center of Porto is an urban set of rich history and incalculable significance. Dating back to Roman times, and saturated with Medieval architecture, a large portion of the historic district was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.





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Despite all the changes over the years, the historic center of Porto maintains its unique urban character. Located on the south hillside of Porto, the neighborhood of Ribeira makes up this UNESCO site with its winding streets and tiny alleyways leading down to the river. As the name may suggest Porto is where port wine originated from. This area of Portugal is the industry epicenter and the city embraces this culture as such. Do not miss visiting a port wine cellar as part of your experience. A must see port wine cellar to visit is Grahams. This place was a full on factory and storehouse of the finest port wines in the world. You can get on a tour highlighting the origins and history of port wine, showing how they make it, and a special tasting after the tour. The tasting room is placed on a hill in a large patio garden overlooking the city, which is just gorgeous. If you’re up for it, I would highly recommend getting a scooter to explore the area. It’s a great way to get around and it’s a fun experience in itself. Renting a moped in any European city is, in my opinion, one of the best ways to experience a new place. You can see more in less time, and you can experience the city from an entirely different perspective. There is nothing quite like zipping past cars on a scooter while being surrounded by thousand year old buildings and historic monuments. Some cities are better for this than others, but Porto was one of my favorites to date; second only to Rome. I rode it everywhere, parked it anywhere, and traffic wasn’t bad at all. I was able to jump around from point to point without needing a cab or walking several miles. Porto is also near the coast so you’re only a short ride to the ocean from the city center. Portugal’s coast see the largest waves of any place in the world which makes a trip to the ocean doubly worth a visit. I took a half day with the moped and zipped around the gorgeous coastline. Definitely add Porto to your travel bucket list for when we can all travel again!

Jack Baumann
Hi, my name is Jack Baumann, and I have a passion for helping independent travelers unlock the wonders of Europe. I founded Guidester - we build personal mobile guidebooks sourced from local experts - so travelers could cut through the noise and dive deeper into the wonders of Europe. I hope you enjoy my stories and tips!

Jack Baumann
Hi, my name is Jack Baumann, and I have a passion for helping independent travelers unlock the wonders of Europe. I founded Guidester - we build personal mobile guidebooks sourced from local experts - so travelers could cut through the noise and dive deeper into the wonders of Europe. I hope you enjoy my stories and tips!
Play Around
Explore Porto through virtual walks and tours.
Visit Porto Cathedral
Explore the streets of Ribeira
Video Tours
Explore Porto through virtual walks and tours.
Start Planning
Begin planning your next adventure to Porto.
Local Tips
There are great opportunities to get wonderful views of the city center, but two stand out as the best.
On top of the old suspension bridge you can get unparalleled views of the city center and its mystic overgrowth covering half the buildings.
Another spot, Torre dos Clérigos is one of the main attractions in Porto that offers unobstructed views of the city. The church tower was the tallest structure in Portugal when completed in 1763, and as the main feature of the city’s skyline, ships used it as a guide when coming into port. It has since become a popular tourist attraction for the aerial view of the city from the top. The viewing platform sits at 249 feet up after a steep flight of 240 steps. Well worth the climb!
Beyond the iconic, postmodern Casa da Música concert hall, you'll find less touristy, if still busy, streets that are home to the botanical gardens and an old synagogue.
Get a moped. This is one of the best ways to easily and quickly get around the city. You can rent one for your entire stay or just one day to take in some different sights and enjoy the city from a different perspective.
Where To Stay
Inside the UNESCO neighborhood of Ribeira would be preferable if you’re short on time as it puts you right in the middle of the major attractions, however this will be a more expensive option.
There are plenty of hotels outside the historic center that may be more cost effective and you can simply walk or take a cab into the old town.
Guidester Favorites

Porto Cathedral
Porto Cathedral is a National Monument and as its name implies, a Catholic Cathedral. It’s a gorgeous building worth a visit and from here you can have see the Douro River. The cathedral sits in a large square with a column in the middle where criminals in the olden days were hanged.

Livraria Lello bookshop
Time Magazine, The Guardian, and Lonely Planet call this bookshop the coolest in the world. A bookshop with an extraordinary historical and architectural value, Livraria Lello has been the inspiration for many a writer and it’s even been said J.K. Rowling got some of her inspiration for Harry Potter in this amazingly eclectic bookstore.

Graham's Port Lodge
Time Magazine, The Guardian, and Lonely Planet call this bookshop the coolest in the world. A bookshop with an extraordinary historical and architectural value, Livraria Lello has been the inspiration for many a writer and it’s even been said J.K. Rowling got some of her inspiration for Harry Potter in this amazingly eclectic bookstore.
Local Eats

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