Top Things to do in Porto District
Top Hotels in Porto District
The 10 Best Things to do for Honeymoon in Porto District, Northern Portugal
Discover the best top things to do in Porto District, Portugal including Pocas Vinhos, Casa Ramos Pinto, Taylor's Port, Ponte de Dom Luis I, Torre dos Clerigos, Douro River, Palacio da Bolsa, Quinta da Aveleda, Cais da Ribeira, Serra do Pilar Viewpoint.
Restaurants in Porto District
1. Pocas Vinhos
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 184 reviews
Pocas lies in the hands of the 3rd and 4th generation, being one of the very few Port Wine company that was born Portuguese and still belongs to the same Portuguese family. The Old Tawny Ports have built Pocas’ reputation but DOC Douro wines have been proving their own quality over the last 30 years. Recently, Pocas received the award of “Fortified wine producer of the year 2018” by the Portuguese magazine “Revista de Vinhos”. Additionally, welcoming about 28 000 visitors per year, our Visitor Center has been also distinguished with the Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence. We have plenty of different reasons for inviting you to be part of a true family atmosphere, to feel the unforgettable aroma of the noblest wines, and to see up close a real day-to-day cellar routine.
Reviewed By johnmodesto - Modesto, United States
Pocas is far from the maddening crowd, located in a non touristy part of the city, you can take a bus there or walk up from the river. The cellars and tasting room are lovely, the guide friendly, with excellent English and willing to answer questions, she provided a detailed explanation of the different Port styles, this house also produces dry wines which you can try. The basic tour and tasting is 8 euros, for my wife and I we upgraded to a 12 and 15 euro tasting, 3 pours each, which meant we could try six different wines by sharing. The highlight was a 20 year old Tawny, but all the wines were tasty. A world class wine tasting visit and experience.
2. Casa Ramos Pinto
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 919 reviews
Reviewed By nwspm - Altrincham, United Kingdom
We enjoyed the variety of experiences in the different Port houses along the river front in Vila Nova de Gaia. The Ramos Pinto tour was distinctive for the walk through the beautiful old offices of the company. Our guide told us interesting anecdotes about the history of the furnishings and the artwork. The tasting room was comfortable and airy ; we enjoy the wines and bought a bottle of white port and a metal sign of one of the iconic adverts.
3. Taylor's Port
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,767 reviews
Taylor’s, accepted by most wine authorities to be the greatest of all port shippers, invites you to a pleasant and informative tour of its famous lodges at Vila Nova de Gaia. During the tour the visitor will be given the opportunity to learn about the fascinating history of Port wine, as well as that of the House of Taylor Fladgate making it one of the oldest Port companies.
Reviewed By 45philips - Crewe, United Kingdom
Super interesting self guided audio tour, done at your own pace. Well laid out with plenty of photos, maps and diagrams to explain the history and process without getting too technical or boring. No need to book just turn up, we arrived around 11 on a Sunday morning and it wasn’t busy. Fantastic value at €15 a per person for the tour and 2 generous samples one red one white Tasting is in a beautiful garden area where you can also purchase a selection of snacks to compliment the ports you are tasting. Helpful and friendly staff throughout our visit. You can’t visit Porto and not come here.
4. Ponte de Dom Luis I
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 24,398 reviews
Built in 1886, this bridge links Porto and Gaia.
Reviewed By 364anac - Porto, Portugal
This Eiffel style bridge is the perfect spot to see the Rebelo boats where the Oporto wine barrels were carried down the river from the Douro valley, the historic Porto town center and a perfect background for the trip picture from the Gaia cable car (teleférico de Gaia)
5. Torre dos Clerigos
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8,585 reviews
Clérigos Tower is the foremost undisputed landmark of Porto and a reference in the city's history. Clérigos Tower opened its doors in 1763, becoming the highest bell tower of Portugal, with over 75 metres. In 1753 the Italian architect Nicolau Nasoni was invited to design and build this magnificent Heritage, considered National Monument since 1910. The famous church was built in the eighteenth century, between 1732 and 1749 and this was the most emblematic work of the architect Nicolau Nasoni. Is one of the most beautiful temples of baroque feature, and a reference in the history of Porto. The Exhibitions allow to discover the history of the Brotherhood of Clérigos, admire pieces from the eighteenth to the nineteenth century, in painting, furniture, jewellery and vestment collections. Christus collection, on the 3 floor, is a trip through time and space where art and religion complement each other.
Reviewed By NickofSurrey - Surrey, United Kingdom
We debated whether to bother but on this our last morning decided at go as we were passing. 5 euros for admission to the church, exhibition areas and the tower. Church is very nice and ornate. Tower is not for the infirm. Step and very narrow steps reward you with some of the best views of the city (though fhe Dom Luis 1 bridge is hidden from view). We went in at 09 50 and had only been at the top for 5 minutes when a lot of people arrived. I guess they believed it opened at 1000 by the suddenly influx. It was then difficult to get past each other. Opens at 0900.
6. Douro River
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7,397 reviews
Reviewed By The_Loup_Garou - Phoenix, United States
A Mighty River of Commerce In November, we were once more on the Douro River, or above it, watching it flow. We spent hours on the patio of our room at the Yeatman in Vila Nova de Gaia, observing the life blood of northern Portugal, the Douro River. Unlike our previous visit, we did not have time to take a cruise on the Douro, higher above Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia, but we actually had more time to just watch the river flow - the water taxis, the tourist cruise vessels, and then the flow of commerce. Looking out at the replicas of the rabelos, the boats used to bring the Port wines down from the vineyards, far upstream, to the Port Houses of Vila Nova de Gaia, and Porto, I could almost imagine those earlier journeys. Though the River has been tamed somewhat, by a series of dams and locks, it is still a powerful current, heading toward the Atlantic, just a few miles away. In some ways, the Douro reminded me of the Mississippi River, in the USA, with the various types of vessels plying it hourly. Just watching commerce, in various forms, became a pastime with us, and with a bottle of wine, we could have spent the entire trip, just watching this river.
7. Palacio da Bolsa
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,347 reviews
National Monument, located in the historical centre of the city, classified as World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the Palacio da Bolsa, built by the Porto Commercial Association on the ruins of the Saint Francis Convent, has become by excellence the Porto city’s drawing room, welcoming the most illustrious visitors, amongst which are monarchs, presidents and ministers from almost every country, transforming this building into the most visited monument in northern Portugal.
Reviewed By JimRiesterer - Edina, United States
Formerly the HQ for the rich merchants of Porto and today the center of the chamber of commerce, you will want to take one of the short guided tours of this place next to the famous golden church. Tickets cost €10 and you will be guided through some historic and breathtaking rooms in the Stock exchange palace. Tours are offered in different languages throughout the day and you just need to pop into the ticket office to find out the day's schedule as it varies (apparently). We arrived 9:40 and we able to book the 10:15 English tour. Each group has around 50 people which can be a bit tedious. The tours follow a consistent plan beginning in the lofty hall of nations and ending in the amazing Arabic room. You also see the business court room and several others of note. We were done in a little under an hour.
8. Quinta da Aveleda
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 329 reviews
Reviewed By Martinha_Mar - Guimaraes, Portugal
The visits to the historical gardens. The old cellar. The main house. The manueline window, the tea house on the lake and the Nossa Senhora da Vandoma Fountain. The picnic. Everything is gorgeous.????????
9. Cais da Ribeira
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 10,851 reviews
Reviewed By rhmclapham - Swansea, United Kingdom
The beating heart of an incredible city, just sitting in one of the myriad cafes and restaurants and watching the world bustle past....one of life's must do moments that will linger for a lifetime. Ships ploughing their way up the river, ferries making their way between banks, couples laughing, glorious food, wine and vistas to die for... Did I mention it was a nice place to visit?
10. Serra do Pilar Viewpoint
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,291 reviews
Reviewed By The_Loup_Garou - Phoenix, United States
While visiting the Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar we took advantage of the Serra do Pilar Viewpoint, looking down on the Lower Douro Valley, and the City of Oporto, from the Vila Nova de Gaia side of the River, and parts of Vila Nova de Gaia, also. While we had specifically come for the Monastery, the Serra do Pilar Viewpoint was an added bonus. From our hotel, The Yeatman, the walk to the viewpoint is not the easiest. Though we started on high ground, to begin with, we were headed to even higher ground. For probably the most commanding view of all of the Lower Douro Valley, this is the spot! It is not to be missed, and one can throw in Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar as an added bonus. A “two-fer” if you will.
