What to visit when staying in Porto

First of all… Great choice! The city of Porto has a lovely mixture of sensations that captivates any visitor. If you want to take a cultural trip, get lost in our historic streets, a world heritage site, let the Torre dos Clérigos and our Sé tell you stories from our past. If your intention is to relax a little and forget about your daily life, try bathing in the waves of our Atlantic ocean and at night having a drink in the Galleries. It’s your choice. Especially because in Porto, we have everything.

Finding accommodation in the city is mainly due to the activities you intend to do while you are here. The city is relatively small and this allows you to simply walk from one point of interest to another.

So these are our suggestions:

Ribeira

The Ribeira area is one of the most beautiful parts of our Porto. Located on the banks of the Douro River, this is an area where you can easily find places to visit, such as the Palácio da Bolsa or the Church of S. Francisco, where you can also take the tram or simply enjoy the sunset on a terrace by the river. Crossing the D. Luís l bridge on foot, you reach the other bank where we have the famous Port Wine cellars.

Downtown

Downtown is the central part of the city where tourist attractions are concentrated. From Torre dos Clérigos to Rua de Santa Catarina, the streets of downtown Porto are full of energy and a unique vibe where not even the hillsides seem to matter. Places of interest such as Igreja do Carmo, Livraria Lello, the Town Hall and São Bento station are located here.

Foz

For those who want to enjoy the sunny days, staying by the sea is a fantastic choice. In an area where the horizon is the ocean, Foz allows you to have accommodation where you just have to cross the street to be on the beach.

Vila Nova de Gaia

It borders Porto with the south, and the Douro River is the dividing line between these two cities. Those who visit the city of Porto because of the interest of the delicious Port Wine, can choose to stay in a local accommodation in the pedestrian zone on the bank of Vila Nova de Gaia. This way you can visit as many cellars as you can, without taking a long walk back. Note that this side of the river has the most breathtaking views of the city of Porto!

Boavista

The Boavista area is chosen by those who come to the city on business trips, since it is a part more focused on the business area. However it can be an interesting area for those looking for nature tourism, as we have the Serralves Museum/Gardens and the Crystal Palace gardens nearby.

We must emphasize that all these different parts are connected by public transport. For those who do not want to neglect physical exercise while on vacation, we recommend traveling between these areas with hikes that vary between fifteen and thirty minutes, with Foz being more distant, roughly an hour and a half walk from the center.

Now that you know where you are staying, tell us the address and we will pick you up for a fantastic visit to the Douro valley!

We have fantastic tours that you will surely love! 

Text by Diana Pereira, tour guide of Oporto Road Trips