Things to do in Oporto Portugal, the city along the Rio Douro

Photo: Igreja Santo Antonio Dos Congregados Porto.

Porto, a World Heritage city, is the perfect place to start a journey covering the natural and cultural diversity of the Northern Portugal. This city is known for the Port wine and also for a beautiful heritage which combines old churches and modern monuments.

Photo: Porto, Portugal.

If you are wondering where Porto is situated on Portugal´s map, here you can find it and, on this other page, you can discover more about the Porto public transport.

The city has a semi-Mediterranean climate, but it’s affected by the Atlantic Ocean and this makes it a bit cooler. The temperatures can rise at 40 °C in August during the heat waves. Moreover, winters in Porto are mild, rainy and humid, and have some cold nights when temperatures can drop below 0 °C.

Photo: Porto, Portugal.

If you are wondering what to do in Porto, let us remind you that this Portuguese pearl is home to many traditional restaurants and also for some of Europe’s most inspiring museums.

Rio Douro is translated from Portuguese as “river of gold” because when the sun is setting down the waters can gleam like liquid gold bars.

Douro River gets to Porto as final destination after traveling many kilometers from its source in the mountainous region of Picos de Urbión from Spain.

Photo: Rio Douro. Porto.

When hearing about Portugal, a few things sound familiar: the Port wine, Lisbon, the seafood, and … azulejos. Set in Portugal’s history and culture, there are many wonderful examples of beautiful tiles.

These tiles date from the 13th century and at first, they were structures cut into geometric shapes in neutral tones. During the last couple of centuries, their use became very popular. Nowadays you can see them decorating churches, restaurants, railway and subway stations, as well as palaces and regular homes all around Portugal.

Photo: Portugal tiles.

Porto´s heart lies in its medieval old city: Porto Ribeira. This district begins along the Douro River and reaches the hills behind. Walking around its streets is like taking a step back in time.

Photo: Rua de Santa Catarina. Porto, Portugal.

The Lello Bookstore is recognized as “one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world” by the magazines ´Time´ and ´The Guardian´, and by the travel guide ´Lonely Planet´ and it is also one of the oldest bookstores in Portugal.

For more than a century, Livraria Lello has been a showcase for the Portuguese literature and helped export this literature to the rest of the world.

This bookstore was frequented by JK Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series and it was an inspiration for her writing.

The Rua das Flores in Porto is one of the best attractions in this city because is lined with chic cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops and boutiques that run down to the Igreja da Misericórdia, the Museu da Misericórdia do Porto, and also to the Largo São Domingos, which are all key point in the city.

Photo: Rua das Flores in Porto. Manuel de Sousa. Adapted under license (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Porto’s Igreja de Santa Clara is one of the best examples of historic Catholic churches. This church is austere and humble on the outside, but when passing through, you are overwhelmed by the opulent decor.

Inside the Igreja de Santa Clara there is a contrast because there is barely an inch of it that is not adorned with angels, saints, cherubs or some other decorative feature.

Photo: Igreja de Santa Clara. Alegna13. Adapted under license (CC BY-SA 3.0)

San Francisco Church is Porto’s most important Gothic monument. Its Baroque interior is full of spectacular gilt-covered wood carvings that are definitely worth seeing. If you choose to visit one church in Porto, make sure it´s this one.

If you want to see the award-winning Historical Centre of Porto, then add Praça da Ribeira on top of the list. This place has always been a very busy area, due to the important economic activity and its proximity to the port. In the middle of it you can see the sculpture ‘The cube of Ribeira’ that reveals the existence of a 17th century fountain.

Photo: Praça da Ribeira. Jorge Franganillo. Adapted under license (CC BY 2.0)

This gorgeous botanical garden is one of Porto’s best escapes because of its paths spotted with sculptures, fountains, giant magnolias, camellias, and olive trees. Jardins do Palácio de Cristal is actually a mix of small gardens that you can wander to relax.

Photo: Jardins do Palácio de Cristal. Porto, Portugal.

Casa da Música is home of the National Orchestra of Porto and it has a different faceted form. Inside, its Grand Auditorium has folded glass facades at both ends which give Porto a fascinating dramatic style.

Another point of interest is one of the most popular and lively markets in the city. The Mercado do Bolhão (Bolhão Market) has several floors where you can see farmers and other citizens selling fresh and typical products from the region. This huge market holds the essence of the city and it is a great place to discover the “real Porto”.

Photo: Mercado do Bolhão in Porto.

If you are a museums lover and Porto is on your travel inventory, take a peek at this list of the best museums to see in Porto.

And now let´s have a look at the most important museums from this city:

Porto’s best art museum has a marvelous collection starting with Neolithic carvings until Portugal’s take on modernism, all housed in the Palácio das Carrancas.

Photo: Museu Nacional Soares dos Reis. Porto. Angelo Romano. Adapted under license (CC BY 2.0)

Serralves Contemporary Art Museum in Porto is the second most visited museum in Portugal. Fully dedicated to contemporary art, it is a great way to see the work of some of the most important artists from nowadays. Besides, a visit here is an opportunity to see Parque de Serralves, considered one of the 250 most beautiful gardens in the world.

Once you checked out Porto´s most important tourist attractions, it’s time to discover some other places around this northern Portuguese city.

And you have plenty to choose from, whether you want a day at the beach, a vivid adventure or you are keen to castles and medieval history. Some of the most fascinating day tours experiences from Porto can be: Braga, Aveiro, Douro River valley, Guimarães, Lisbon, Sintra, Peneda-Gerês, Amarante or even Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

Beyond Porto’s more famous charms (the river with its port and the historic center), this city has a glamour that makes it unique. Porto is shaped to explore it on foot, and you never know where those steps or back alleys will lead you. This is exactly what you will love about this city!

Captivating nightlife, some outstanding food, wine tasting, the street art and its avant-garde design… you name it, Porto has it all!

Photo: Azulejos.