21 Must See Attractions in Porto

Porto is a charming coastal city that lies on the banks of the Douro River 200 miles north of Lisbon. It is one of Portugal’s oldest cities, having been established during the Roman Empire. Despite its compact size, Porto is packed full of fascinating historic sites, museums, and galleries and is the perfect destination for travelers looking for plentiful culture and history.

If you want to know which of Porto’s sights to see during your visit, check out this list of 21 must-see tourist attractions.

1. Clérigos Church and Tower

• Website: torredosclerigos.pt
• Address: Rua de São Filipe de Nery, Porto
• Opening hours: 9 am – 11 pm

The Clérigos Church is a beautiful baroque structure with an impressive 249-foot bell tower known as the Torre dos Clérigos. The Clérigos Tower is an icon of Porto, and it offers spectacular views of the city’s rooftops and the Douro Valley when you climb its 200 steps. The church was originally built in the mid-18th century and is one of many elegant buildings in Porto that you can’t afford to miss.

2. Palácio da Bolsa

• Website: palaciodabolsa.com
• Address: Rua Ferreira Borges, Porto
• Opening hours: 9 am – 6.30 pm

The Palácio da Bolsa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most renowned landmarks in the heart of Porto. This neoclassical building was constructed as a stock exchange on the ruins of the Saint Francis Convent in the 19th century by the Porto Commercial Association. It’s a striking building with an opulent interior that features gilded stucco ceilings, a Portrait Room, and an Arabian Room inspired by the Alhambra of Granada, Spain. Take a guided tour to make the most of your visit.

3. Igreja de São Francisco

• Website: ordemsaofranciscoporto.pt/museu
• Address: Rua do Infante D. Henrique, Porto
• Opening hours: November – February: 9 am – 5.30 pm / March – October: 9 am – 7 pm / July – September: 9 am – 8 pm

The 18th-century baroque church of Saint Francis offers one of the finest examples of worked gold in Portugal. Gilt carving adorns the high altar, and there’s a stunning gilded, painted wooden tree depicting the genealogy of Christ that shouldn’t be missed.

4. Ponte Dom Luís I

Dom Luís I Bridge is one of Porto’s most iconic structures. It spans the River Douro to connect Porto with Vila Nova de Gaia on the south bank. The charcoal-grey ironwork is reminiscent of Paris’s Eiffel Tower, which is unsurprising considering that the bridge was designed by Théophile Seyrig, a French engineer who was an assistant of Gustave Eiffel.

You can walk across the bridge on its narrow pavements or, if you feel brave, take the 196-foot-high top-tier footpath for truly impressive views. Head to the terrace of Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar on the south bank of the river for a great view of the bridge at dusk.

5. Porto Cathedral

• Website: diocese-porto.pt/catedral-do-porto
• Address: Terreiro da Se, Porto
• Opening hours: April – October: 9 am – 6.30 pm / November – March: 9 am – 5.30 pm

Sé do Porto sits proudly in the highest part of the city close to the walls that once protected Porto. It looks like a fortress from the outside, but inside there’s a mix of beautiful architectural styles. The structure was originally built in the 12th century, but revisions and renovations took place numerous times over the following centuries. That’s why you’ll see Baroque in the temple, Gothic in the cloister and chapels, and Romanesque in the nave.

6. Vila Nova de Gaia

Vila Nova de Gaia is a charming town that sits directly across the Douro River from Porto. It’s here where merchants built port wine cellars to age their wines in the 1700s. You can enjoy walking tours and wine tastings at renowned wineries such as Cockburn’s, Croft, Graham’s, and Taylor’s. Vila Nova de Gaia is also a great place from which to take a river cruise along the Douro.

7. Porto Càlem Cellars

• Website: tour.calem.pt
• Address: Avenida Diogo Leite 344, Vila Nova de Gaia
• Opening hours: 10.00 am – 6.30 pm daily

The House of Cálem has been in business since 1859 and remains one of the most famed producers of Port wine in the world. This family-run business makes award-winning wines and its museum and winery tours provide fascinating insights into the history of winemaking in the Douro Valley.

8. Museu Nacional Soares dos Reis

• Website: museusoaresdosreis.gov.pt
• Address: Palácio dos Carrancas, Rua D. Manuel II, Porto
• Opening hours: Wednesday – Sunday: 10 am – 6 pm / Tuesday: 2 pm – 6 pm

The Soares dos Reis National Museum is the oldest public museum in Portugal and is home to an incredible collection of Portuguese art from the 16th to the 20th centuries. You’ll also find eclectic collections of European and international artworks, including pieces from Dutch, Flemish, Indian, and Japanese artists.

9. Parque das Virtudes

• Address: Passeio das Virtudes 53-3, Porto
• Opening hours: 9 am – 7 pm daily

The Virtudes Municipal Park was originally designed by José Marques Loureiro in the 1800s, but it wasn’t until 1965 that Porto City Council bought it to provide access to the public. It offers gorgeous sunset views on a hillside overlooking the Ribeira neighborhood. Grab a drink from a nearby cafe and settle on the grass or a bench to soak up the vistas and friendly atmosphere.

10. Igreja do Carmo

• Address: Rua Carmo, Porto
• Opening hours: 9 am – 6 pm

The facade of the 18th-century Carmo church is decorated with striking blue and white tiles known as azulejos. It’s this impressive exterior that draws visitors to the church, but be sure to step inside to appreciate the fine Portuguese Rococo interior.

11. Casa da Música

Website: casadamusica.com
Address: Av. da Boavista, 604-610, Porto 4149-071
Opening hours: Monday – Saturday: 10 am – 7 pm / Sunday: 10 am – 6 pm

The Casa da Música is an ultra-modern concert hall renowned for its incredible acoustics. It hosts a huge range of performances to suit various tastes, including classical, fado, jazz, hip-hop, and pop. The building’s sleek architecture is worth going to look at in itself — it has certainly propelled Porto into the 21st century.

12. Fundação de Serralves Museu de Arte Contemporânea

• Website: serralves.pt
• Address: Rua D. João de Castro, 210, Porto

The Serralves Foundation Contemporary Art Museum is a work of art in itself thanks to its ergonomic architecture. There isn’t a permanent collection here, which means every visit is unpredictable and a fantastic way to discover new artists.

13. Café Majestic

• Website: cafemajestic.com
• Address: Rua Santa Catarina, 112, Porto

Cafe Majestic is one of Porto’s oldest and most celebrated cafes and is an excellent place to get a feel for 1920s Portugal. It has an elegant art nouveau facade, and its interior is adorned with marble-topped tables, cherubs in the plasterwork ceilings, and huge Flemish mirrors. Be sure to try the Francesinha, a renowned sandwich filled with sausage, ham, steak, cheese, and a moreish spicy sauce.

14. Livraria Lello

• Website: livrarialello.pt
• Address: Rua das Carmelitas, 144, Porto
• Opening hours: 9 am – 7 pm daily

Livraria Lello is a famed bookshop that is said to have inspired Flourish and Blotts, the fictional bookshop of Diagon Alley in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. Expect a long line to enter, but rest assured it’s well worth the wait once you see the beautiful art nouveau interior with its red staircase, curved bridge, and stained-glass window.

15. Centro Português de Fotografia

• Website: cpf.pt
• Address: Largo Amor de Perdição, Cordoaria, Porto
• Opening hours: 10 am – 6 pm Tuesday to Friday / 3 pm – 7 pm Saturday & Sunday

The Portuguese Center of Photography is set within a former 18th-century prison, and its cells, inner courtyard, and administrative offices lend themselves well to unique exhibition spaces. Both vintage and contemporary photography are on display here. Plus, there’s a fascinating collection of antique photography equipment on the top floor.

16. Avenida dos Aliados

Avenida dos Aliados connects the Praça da Liberdade with the Praça do General Humberto Delgado, which is home to Porto’s City Hall. This glamorous thoroughfare is lined with boutiques, cafes, and restaurants. Don’t forget to take a right along Rua Formosa to visit Mercado do Bolhão — a historic market where you can pick up fresh produce and baked goods.

17. Foz do Douro

Foz do Douro is a seaside town to the west of Porto that boasts sandy beaches and a peaceful atmosphere. It started life as a fishing village but quickly became the summer escape of Porto’s elite. Today, it has a picturesque mix of quaint fishermen’s cottages and luxurious mansions. Head here to enjoy a day on the beach and a dip in the Atlantic, followed by dinner at one of the town’s fantastic seafood restaurants.

18. Jardins do Palácio de Cristal

• Address: Rua D. Manuel II, Porto
• Opening hours: October – March: 8 am – 7 pm daily / April – September: 8 am – 9 pm daily

In 1865, an impressive glass structure designed by English architect Thomas Dillen Jones and modeled on London’s Crystal Palace was built here. Although the park still bears its name, the Palácio de Cristal has been replaced by a modern domed arena. The gardens are dotted with beautiful flowers, fountains, and sculptures, and there’s a lake, a picnic area, and even a public library to enjoy.

19. Coimbra

Coimbra lies around 75 miles from Porto, and a day trip to this university town is a fantastic opportunity to take in some of Northern Portugal’s countryside. Many consider Coimbra to be a miniature version of Lisbon, thanks to its charming, historic architecture. One of the best ways to spend a few hours here is to wander around the Arab-inspired old town with its narrow, winding streets.

20. Capela das Almas

• Address: Rua de Santa Catarina 428, Porto
• Opening hours: 7.30 am – 6.00 pm Monday to Friday / 7.30 am – 12.30 pm & 6.00 pm – 7.30 pm Saturday and Sunday

Soul’s Chapel, also known as Saint Catherine Chapel, is an 18th-century church with a tiled facade that was added in 1929 to tell the stories of Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Catherine. It’s one of Porto’s most beautiful religious structures.

21. São Bento Train Station

• Address: 122 Rua Santa Isabel, Porto
• Opening hours: 24/7

Located in the city center, São Bento railway station is a vital transport hub that connects Porto with other Portuguese cities. It’s a magnificent building that is adorned with more than 20,000 azulejo tiles depicting Portugal’s most important historical events. Even if you don’t travel from São Bento during your Porto vacation, be sure to drop by to admire this beautiful building.

Explore Porto’s Greatest Sights

There’s a huge variety of fascinating sights to see in Porto, but if you’re short on time, be sure to visit some of these must-see attractions. Get started planning your sightseeing itinerary for your upcoming Portuguese adventure.