The Best Things to Do in Porto (2026)

Porto is compact, atmospheric and full of character: the stacked houses of the Ribeira, the great iron bridge, tiled churches, a fairy-tale bookshop, port wine cellars and the Douro Valley on its doorstep. Here are the best things to do in Porto, with 2026 prices.

Quick answer: see the tiles at São Bento station (free), climb Clérigos Tower (about €10), visit Livraria Lello (about €8 to €10), tour the Palácio da Bolsa (€14), walk the Ribeira and over the D. Luís I bridge to taste port in Gaia, take the six bridges cruise (€18–20), and spend a day in the Douro Valley.

The classics

1. The Ribeira: Porto’s riverside, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The colourful houses, the arcaded Cais da Ribeira and the boats moored below are at their best early in the morning, before the terraces fill up.
2. Ponte D. Luís I: walk both decks; the top deck has the views. The upper deck carries the metro and pedestrians, and the lower deck has been closed to private cars since 2023, so it’s much calmer to walk now. See the Dom Luís I Bridge.
3. São Bento station: about 20,000 azulejo tiles telling Portugal’s history. Free. It’s still a working station, so you can just walk into the hall. Allow 15 minutes.
4. Clérigos Tower: 225 steps to a 360° view (about €10 with the museum). The narrow stairs get congested at busy times, so go at opening time or late in the day. See the Clérigos Tower guide.
5. Livraria Lello: the famous staircase; book the first slot online. The ticket price can be put towards a book. It’s small, so expect to share the stairs with plenty of other people. It usually opens daily from 9am to 7:30pm. See our Livraria Lello guide.
6. Palácio da Bolsa: the dazzling Arab Room, by guided tour (€14). Tours last about 30 minutes and run in several languages; book a time slot at the door or online, as English tours fill up in summer.
7. Igreja de São Francisco: a Gothic church covered in gold, with catacombs (about €9 in 2026). See our São Francisco guide. It’s right next to the Bolsa, so do them together.
8. The cathedral (Sé): free terrace views over the rooftops. There’s a small fee for the tiled cloister, which is well worth it.

A first-day route on foot

Most of the classics are within a 20-minute walk of each other, but Porto is steep, so it pays to walk downhill.

• Morning: start at Livraria Lello for an early slot, then Clérigos Tower next door. Walk down to São Bento station and up to the cathedral terrace.
• Lunch: head down through the lanes to the Ribeira.
• Afternoon: the Palácio da Bolsa and São Francisco, then walk across the lower deck of the bridge to Gaia for a port tasting.
• Sunset: ride the Gaia cable car (about €7 one way or €10 return) or walk up to the Jardim do Morro, then cross back on the top deck of the bridge as the lights come on.

The Guindais funicular, which used to carry people up from the Ribeira, has been suspended since July 2026. Plan for the climb on foot or take a taxi.

Port wine and food

• Port cellars in Gaia: tours and tastings across the river. See port tastings.
• Francesinha and pork sandwiches. See what to eat in Porto.
• Mercado do Bolhão: the restored market (closed Sundays).
• A food tour. See Porto food tours.

The francesinha is Porto’s signature dish: a sandwich layered with meats, covered in melted cheese and a beer and tomato sauce, usually with chips. Also try tripas à moda do Porto (a tripe and bean stew, the reason locals are nicknamed tripeiros), a bifana pork sandwich, grilled sardines in summer and a glass of white port with tonic. Most cellar tours in Gaia last about an hour and end with two or three ports to taste.

On the river and the coast

• Six bridges cruise: 50 minutes (€18–20). See cruises.
• Tram 1 to Foz: where the river meets the sea, with a lighthouse and beaches. The vintage tram runs along the river from near São Francisco church, and a single ticket is about €6, bought on board.
• Matosinhos: beaches and grilled fish. It’s on the blue metro line, about 25 minutes from the centre.

Views and photos

Sunset at Serra do Pilar or the Jardim do Morro in Gaia, the Palácio de Cristal gardens and the tiled Capela das Almas. See Porto’s best photo spots.

Culture

• Serralves: contemporary art museum and park with a treetop walk.
• Casa da Música: landmark concert hall with guided tours.
• WOW (World of Wine): museums and restaurants in old port lodges.

Serralves is in the west of the city, so combine it with Foz. Casa da Música, designed by Rem Koolhaas, is on the metro at the station of the same name, and it’s worth checking what’s on in the evening.

Getting around

• On foot: the centre is compact but hilly. Wear shoes with grip, as the granite cobbles are slippery when wet.
• Metro: six lines, and the purple line runs from the airport to the centre. You need a rechargeable Andante card. See Porto public transport.
• Tram 22: back on the tracks since 1 August 2026. The vintage tram runs a 30-minute loop from Carmo past Clérigos and Praça da Liberdade to Batalha, about every 30 minutes, for about €6 (pay on board by card or MB Way).
• Uber, Bolt and taxis: cheap for short hops, and useful for getting uphill at the end of the day.
• Don’t drive in the centre: streets are narrow, parking is scarce and you won’t need a car until you leave the city.

When to go

May, June and September are the best months: warm, longer days and fewer showers. July and August are busiest. The big night of the year is São João on 23 to 24 June, when the whole city parties until dawn with grilled sardines and fireworks over the river. See the São João festival. Winter is mild but wet, with low prices.

Day trips

The Douro Valley, Aveiro, Braga and Guimarães, and Viana do Castelo. See the best day trips from Porto and Douro wine tours.

Plan your trip

• Itineraries: 1 day and 2 days.
• Where to stay: by area, with a view, boutique, hostels.
• With kids: Porto with kids.
• On a budget: free things to do in Porto.
• Tours: the best tours in Porto.

Is Porto worth visiting?

Yes. Porto is worth visiting for its UNESCO-listed riverside, port tastings, tiled churches, food and the Douro Valley. The downsides are steep streets, more rain than the south and summer crowds in Ribeira. Spend 2 to 3 days, plus a Douro day trip.

Why Porto is worth it

• The setting: houses tumbling down to the Douro, crossed by iconic bridges. See the Dom Luís I Bridge.
• Port wine: cellar tours in Gaia. See the best port cellars.
• Food: francesinhas, grilled fish and good value. See what to eat in Porto.
• Architecture: tiled churches, São Bento station and Lello. See São Bento station.
• The Douro Valley: see the Douro day trip.

The downsides

• Hills: steep streets and stairs.
• Weather: wetter, especially in winter. See Porto on a rainy day.
• Crowds: Ribeira and Lello get busy.
• Beaches: the Atlantic is cold for swimming.

Who will love it

Wine lovers, foodies, photographers and anyone who enjoys a characterful, walkable city. See romantic Porto and Porto on a budget.

How many days do you need in Porto?

2 to 3 days is ideal for the city: the historic centre, Ribeira, the port cellars in Gaia and Foz. Add a fourth day for the Douro Valley, and a fifth for Braga and Guimarães or Aveiro.

What you can do

• 1 day: the highlights. See Porto in one day.
• 2 days: the centre and Gaia. See 2 days in Porto.
• 3 days: add Foz and a slower pace. See 3 days in Porto.
• 4 days: add the Douro Valley. See 4 days in Porto.

Day trips worth adding

• The Douro Valley: see the Douro day trip.
• Braga and Guimarães: see Braga and Guimarães.
• Aveiro: see Aveiro.
• More: see the best day trips from Porto.

FAQ

Is the Porto Card still worth buying?

Don’t plan around it: the Porto Card was reported suspended in July 2026. For transport, the Andante Tour ticket covers the metro, STCP buses and urban trains for 24 hours (about €7.75) or 72 hours (about €16.55), but it only pays off if you ride a lot.

Do you need to book Livraria Lello in advance?

It’s wise, especially in summer. Tickets cost about €8 to €10 for a time slot, and the price comes off a book if you buy one. The first slot of the day is the calmest.

Is the Guindais funicular running?

No, it has been suspended since July 2026. To get from the Ribeira up to the top of the bridge, climb the stairs, take a taxi, or cross the lower deck to Gaia and ride the cable car up to the Jardim do Morro.

Is there a tourist tax in Porto?

Yes. Hotels and rentals add €3 per person per night to your bill. The city council began reviewing it in 2026, with a rise to €4 under discussion.

See also: Porto’s churches, the Clerigos Tower guide, the best time to visit Porto, the best things to do in Portugal, Porto safety tips, the best restaurants in Porto, Bolhão Market, Porto’s best rooftop bars, WOW (World of Wine), Porto’s historic trams, the Majestic Café, Casa da Música, the Igreja do Carmo and football in Portugal.

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