Location: Porto
Top Things to do in Porto
Things to do in Porto, Northern Portugal: The Best Historic Sites
The town that gave the country (and port wine) its very name, Porto is Portugal’s second-largest metropolis after Lisbon. Sometimes called Oporto, it's an age-old city that has one foot firmly in the industrial present. The old town, centered at Ribeira, was built on the hills overlooking the Douro River, and today is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 14th-century São Francisco church is a main attraction, as are the local port wine cellars, mostly located across the river at Vila Nova de Gaia.
Restaurants in Porto
1. Torre da Rua de Baixo
2. Ag Jewels
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 6 reviews
Ag Jewels is a traditional Portuguese jewelery shop, where you can buy handmade filigree pieces in gold and silver. This is the third generation of the same family in Ag Jewels business.
3. Barbearia Tinoco
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 5 reviews
BARBEARIA TINOCO , built on 1929 in Art Deco, is part of the Histórical,Cultural and local Heritage of Oporto
Reviewed By Bmcarn
Exelent and historical place great professional Anna Arnone Barber Girl???????????????????????? i recomend it to all people to visita and enjoy the cut by the games of Anna. Thank you very much. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
4. Igreja de Sao Francisco
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,460 reviews
Reviewed By JanesLondon - Surbiton, United Kingdom
This chuch has stunning golden Baroque interior and a wonderful carved altarpiece: the Tree of Jesse. There is also a small museum attached. Definitely one of the highlights of our trip.
5. 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.
6. Antiga Cadeia da Relacao
7. Quinta De Villar d'Allen
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 18 reviews
Visit Villar d' Allen estate and its 5 gardens built between 1780 and 1839. First Romantic garden ever built in Portugal (classified as Estate of Public Interest). Guides Tour of the 5 gardens + coffee = 3,50 Plus 9,00 for visiting to the museum and Port Wine Tasting.
Reviewed By Lorraine2010 - Annecy, France
We visited Villar d'Allen which is known for its magnificent grove of camellias. The owner, Dona Isa, is an expert on camellias and one is named the John Allen Camellia. The first floor of the house is kept as it was in 1840. John Allen, educated at Georgetown USA, got into the port production and trade in the 1800s. Dona Isa learned the secrets of blending port from her father-in-law.
8. Casa-Museu Guerra Junqueiro
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 53 reviews
Reviewed By US-Addict - Hasselt, Belgium
One of the most interesting private collections we have seen in Porto. This museum is free on weekend days. It is very different from most museums we have visited in Porto, as it hosts a part of the private collection of poet Guerra Junqueiro. His home has been turned into a museum and is tastefully furnished. The spacious rooms are full of curiosities he collected, even Flemish tapestries! We took our time to stroll through the museum, which was almost empty. So relaxing! And such a steep contrast with the Sé Cathedral, which is literally around the corner, about 300 meters away from this little gem! I would say, skip the Cathedral and spend your valuable time in this gem of a museum.
9. Porto Cathedral (Se Catedral)
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 4,654 reviews
Reviewed By 987margaretj - Salisbury, United Kingdom
The cathedral was built in the Romanesque style in the 12th and 13th centuries and extensively altered in the 17th and 18th centuries and has beautiful blue and white tiles around the cloisters. The fading murals on the ceilings give you an idea of what this place must have looked like centuries ago, absolutely beautiful. There’s also a display of vestments upstairs. It doesn’t take more than an hour to look around and is well worth it.
10. Monumento a Dom Pedro IV
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 575 reviews
Reviewed By permia
It's a commanding monument beautifully placed in the boulevard leading to the City Hall. Authority of the Monarch comes across clearly. Two bas-reliefs on the pedestal show aspects of Pedro's life and death. His life is reflected with him landing at Mindelo and bestowing the flag, with the afterlife showing the handing over of his heart to Porto. The power of the horse is palpable, with his head bowed to Royalty. The King is shown with the constitutional covenant in his right hand.
