Best of Porto: mini guide to explore the city (sightseeing and foodie lovers)
Bernadette
Best of Porto: mini guide to explore the city (sightseeing and foodie lovers)
Le Guide ai Quartieri
The City Center:
Porto has always had a vintage feel. The historic heart of the city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stretches along the hilly northern banks of the Douro River right before it meets the Atlantic Ocean.
Cedofeita area: it’s the city's edgy arts district, plenty of galleries, art shops, and ‘made in Portugal’ pieces of designs (including jewelry, crafts, second hand and vintage clothes stores, designer clothes shops, wall decoration, printed bags and posters).
The whole area is surrounded by resto, cocktails bars and amazing traditional Portuguese Pastries coffees.
This Neighborhood is fascinating for its vibrant, eccentric and international life, while showing its own old beauty and original style.
Walking around the streets, you will discover ancient buildings with secret gardens, and stepping inside the shops, you’ll see the best works of the cosmopolitan and Portuguese young talents.
You will be fascinated by the entrepreneurial energy of the people living here, bringing a good feeling that there are new ways of doing things.
Miguel Bombarda Street has dozens of art & architecture galleries, which makes it one of the main cultural and trendy neighbourhoods of Porto.
6 locals recommend
Cedofeita, Santo Ildefonso, Sé, Miragaia, São Nicolau e Vitória
The City Center:
Porto has always had a vintage feel. The historic heart of the city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stretches along the hilly northern banks of the Douro River right before it meets the Atlantic Ocean.
Cedofeita area: it’s the city's edgy arts district, plenty of galleries, art shops, and ‘made in Portugal’ pieces of designs (including jewelry, crafts, second hand and vintage clothes stores, designer clothes shops, wall decoration, printed bags and posters).
The whole area is surrounded by resto, cocktails bars and amazing traditional Portuguese Pastries coffees.
This Neighborhood is fascinating for its vibrant, eccentric and international life, while showing its own old beauty and original style.
Walking around the streets, you will discover ancient buildings with secret gardens, and stepping inside the shops, you’ll see the best works of the cosmopolitan and Portuguese young talents.
You will be fascinated by the entrepreneurial energy of the people living here, bringing a good feeling that there are new ways of doing things.
Miguel Bombarda Street has dozens of art & architecture galleries, which makes it one of the main cultural and trendy neighbourhoods of Porto.
Carmo Church
Rua do Carmoone of the most stunning contemporary buildings in Porto designed by the Dutch Architect Rem Kolhaas.
When it was built, it was very controversial.
Rem Kolhaas decided to use many glass walls in order to allow the population to see what in going on inside the monument, from concerts or rehearsals of the symphonic orchestra of Porto, to students working at the café on the ground floor.
The architect wanted the building to be part not only of the cultural and social life of Porto, and wanted to invite everyone to join Casa da Música.
Something else that you probably don’t know is that the curved glass serves a purpose.
Glass reflects sounds in one direction, so in order to keep the acoustics perfect, they used curved glass – this way, the sound is reflected in many directions and not just one.
Another secret Portuguese secret is the golden pattern on the wooden walls of Sala Suggia. These are an homage to the golden leaf that it’s commonly found in Portuguese churches. And, on the particular case of Casa da Música, this golden pattern carved in wood represents “the veins” of this amazing monument.
605 locals recommend
Casa da Musica
604-610 Av. da Boavistaone of the most stunning contemporary buildings in Porto designed by the Dutch Architect Rem Kolhaas.
When it was built, it was very controversial.
Rem Kolhaas decided to use many glass walls in order to allow the population to see what in going on inside the monument, from concerts or rehearsals of the symphonic orchestra of Porto, to students working at the café on the ground floor.
The architect wanted the building to be part not only of the cultural and social life of Porto, and wanted to invite everyone to join Casa da Música.
Something else that you probably don’t know is that the curved glass serves a purpose.
Glass reflects sounds in one direction, so in order to keep the acoustics perfect, they used curved glass – this way, the sound is reflected in many directions and not just one.
Another secret Portuguese secret is the golden pattern on the wooden walls of Sala Suggia. These are an homage to the golden leaf that it’s commonly found in Portuguese churches. And, on the particular case of Casa da Música, this golden pattern carved in wood represents “the veins” of this amazing monument.
Igreja de Sao Martinho de Cedofeita
72 Largo do PrioradoYou can’t visit Porto without exploring Foz, one of the most intriguing areas in Porto’s bounds where the Douro river enters the Atlantic Ocean. The area is famous for having gorgeous beaches, good restaurants and diverse architecture.
The tram line 1 will take you from the historic center of Porto, near the Stock Exchange Palace, all the way to a street called Passeio Alegre in Foz.
You’ll ride along the Douro River and pass many important stops including the Porto Wine Museum, the Tram Museum and the Arrábida Bridge, which connects Porto to the neighbouring city, Vila Nova de Gaia.
The starting point of the line is the Infante stop (in front of St Francis church) and it ends at Passeio Alegre stop, but you can hop on or get off at any of the stops in between.
You can get your tickets onboard.
26 locals recommend
Foz
636 R. de SobreirasYou can’t visit Porto without exploring Foz, one of the most intriguing areas in Porto’s bounds where the Douro river enters the Atlantic Ocean. The area is famous for having gorgeous beaches, good restaurants and diverse architecture.
The tram line 1 will take you from the historic center of Porto, near the Stock Exchange Palace, all the way to a street called Passeio Alegre in Foz.
You’ll ride along the Douro River and pass many important stops including the Porto Wine Museum, the Tram Museum and the Arrábida Bridge, which connects Porto to the neighbouring city, Vila Nova de Gaia.
The starting point of the line is the Infante stop (in front of St Francis church) and it ends at Passeio Alegre stop, but you can hop on or get off at any of the stops in between.
You can get your tickets onboard.
Clérigos Tower
Rua de São Filipe de NeryEvents and openings around
Inaugurações Simultâneas Rua M. Bombarda
(Simultaneous Openings) is an event designed to feed the artistic movement and keep the streets alive.
The event has been spreading further and further into Porto’s downtown. Six times a year, on Saturdays, art galleries simultaneously premiere new exhibits, featuring works that range from sculpture to photography, from illustration to installations – all artistic expressions are welcome and available to be appreciated by the general public. Shops are open during the evening and there’s music and entertainment on the streets. It’s a free cultural day. The event occurs a hand-full of times throughout the year and it’s best to check the official Facebook page.
Rua de Miguel Bombarda
Rua de Miguel BombardaBest Douro views
The Crystal Palace is a wonderful park with free-Wifi spots.
Go there and watch the peacocks, walk through the rose gardens and admire different varieties of trees, the fountains.
Best spot/terrace for the most impressive and breathtaking views over Porto, Gaia and the Douro.
1180 locals recommend
Crystal Palace Gardens
Rua de Dom Manuel IIThe Crystal Palace is a wonderful park with free-Wifi spots.
Go there and watch the peacocks, walk through the rose gardens and admire different varieties of trees, the fountains.
Best spot/terrace for the most impressive and breathtaking views over Porto, Gaia and the Douro.
Livraria Lello
144 R. das CarmelitasBest Coffee Bar and Resto around
In Rua de Cedofeita there are loads of traditional stores as well as some nice restaurants and bars, like O Consulado (amazing pancakes!), Catraio (the first craft beer pub in Porto) and Bao’s (for Taiwanese burgers).
KUG - Kitchen & Urban Garden
178 R. de Dom Manuel IITaberna Aduela
36 R. Das OliveirasFLOW Restaurant & Bar
63 Rua da ConceiçãoMiradouro Ignez
252 Rua da RestauraçãoIf you want to experience the Portuguese culture, you can enjoy a Fado show at Casa da Guitarra.
9 locals recommend
House Guitar
49 Av. Vimara PeresIf you want to experience the Portuguese culture, you can enjoy a Fado show at Casa da Guitarra.
The name means “uncommon chapel”, and the bar is indeed peculiar since it’s located... in a chapel. The altar remains there, but that is the venue’s only link to its religious past. This ancient 16th century chapel was turned into an ideal wine bar for couples or small groups of friends to enjoy a quiet night out. Here you’ll be able to discover and taste a wide range of Portuguese wines, mostly from the Douro and Minho regions, both famous and obscure. And you might learn something about them in the process – the staff makes a point of guiding their customers by telling them the story behind what they’re drinking.
61 locals recommend
Capela Incomum
The name means “uncommon chapel”, and the bar is indeed peculiar since it’s located... in a chapel. The altar remains there, but that is the venue’s only link to its religious past. This ancient 16th century chapel was turned into an ideal wine bar for couples or small groups of friends to enjoy a quiet night out. Here you’ll be able to discover and taste a wide range of Portuguese wines, mostly from the Douro and Minho regions, both famous and obscure. And you might learn something about them in the process – the staff makes a point of guiding their customers by telling them the story behind what they’re drinking.
it is one of the few restaurants to compete on quality in snacks, offering hardcore “francesinha” sandwiches (with lighter options available) and rump or sirloin steaks. The menu is simple but here's our advice: start off with fried onion in black garlic mayo, go for the hazelnut chocolate mousse for dessert.
233 locals recommend
Cervejaria Brasão Aliados
28 R. de Ramalho Ortigãoit is one of the few restaurants to compete on quality in snacks, offering hardcore “francesinha” sandwiches (with lighter options available) and rump or sirloin steaks. The menu is simple but here's our advice: start off with fried onion in black garlic mayo, go for the hazelnut chocolate mousse for dessert.
One of the major advantages of having a francesinha at Cantarinha, a discreet and familiar cafe, is the amount of home fried potatoes chips that keeps coming to the table (even if you don’t ask for them!).
It is a question of honour for Cantarinha’s owner: that customers get out of there delighted, after tasting a beautiful francesinha with an astronomical amount of potato chips.
6 locals recommend
Cantarinha
75 Largo da Maternidade de Júlio DinisOne of the major advantages of having a francesinha at Cantarinha, a discreet and familiar cafe, is the amount of home fried potatoes chips that keeps coming to the table (even if you don’t ask for them!).
It is a question of honour for Cantarinha’s owner: that customers get out of there delighted, after tasting a beautiful francesinha with an astronomical amount of potato chips.
Bugo Art Burgers
598 Rua de Miguel Bombarda
Obicà Mozzarella Bar - Porto
10 Rua da PicariaFor Italian taste lovers
Manna Porto
60 Rua da ConceiçãoSeafood, grilled fish, shrimp, oysters, clams and mussels and much more!
Super tasty
Best museum with huge park in Porto
Serralves Contemporary Art Museum combines a contemporary art museum with a magnificent garden, is one of the most special places in the Porto. Every Saturday and Sunday it organizes workshops for families with kids.
Usually the exhibitions are very interactive and hence kids do not get bored as easily as in other museums. Moreover, at Serralves there is a magnificent garden, with a lake and several animals, that kids simply love.
Last but not least, this museum also has a lovely buffet restaurant that is always packed with families with kids. For all these reasons, Serralves is definitely one of the best museums in Porto for families
Museu de Arte Contemporânea (Fundação de Serralves)
210 R. Dom João de CastroOfferta gastronomica
Wines, jams, olive oils, biscuits, tinned goods, chocolates, cheeses and much more: Copo D’Uva, a gourmet store and deli, is in Quarteirão de Bombarda, and has everything you need to fill your pantry back home with good Portuguese products.
Copo d'Uva
101 R. de Adolfo Casais MonteiroWines, jams, olive oils, biscuits, tinned goods, chocolates, cheeses and much more: Copo D’Uva, a gourmet store and deli, is in Quarteirão de Bombarda, and has everything you need to fill your pantry back home with good Portuguese products.
It is one of the best restaurants of traditional Portuguese food in the city, where dishes are made with the expertise and love of the old days.
Why go? There are many reasons, but the friendly service, in true Porto style, the busy and peculiar esplanade on the São Nicolau stairs and the proximity to the river are some of the characteristics that make this restaurant a true box office success.
Best to eat : The freshly-baked cod dumplings that arrive on the table as soon as you sit, octopus fillets with rice, and the famous cow tongue stewed with peas. Everything here is great, the difficult thing is choosing what to go for.
155 locals recommend
Adega São Nicolau
1 R. de São NicolauIt is one of the best restaurants of traditional Portuguese food in the city, where dishes are made with the expertise and love of the old days.
Why go? There are many reasons, but the friendly service, in true Porto style, the busy and peculiar esplanade on the São Nicolau stairs and the proximity to the river are some of the characteristics that make this restaurant a true box office success.
Best to eat : The freshly-baked cod dumplings that arrive on the table as soon as you sit, octopus fillets with rice, and the famous cow tongue stewed with peas. Everything here is great, the difficult thing is choosing what to go for.
is one of the best-known pastries of Porto, such is the quality of its excellent éclairs. Leitaria Quinta da Paço was established way back 1920 in Paços de Ferreira as a dairy factory and still continues to respect that tradition. Its whipped cream, for example, continues to be made only with cream and sugar, as it was in the '50s. The result is a crispy éclair on the outside, because of the choux!
120 locals recommend
Leitaria da Quinta do Paço
47 Praça Guilherme Gomes Fernandesis one of the best-known pastries of Porto, such is the quality of its excellent éclairs. Leitaria Quinta da Paço was established way back 1920 in Paços de Ferreira as a dairy factory and still continues to respect that tradition. Its whipped cream, for example, continues to be made only with cream and sugar, as it was in the '50s. The result is a crispy éclair on the outside, because of the choux!
Visite turistiche
Matosinhos is one of the largest cities in the district of Porto, located in the north of Portugal, in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, on the right side of the Douro River.
Located next to the city of Porto, it has a large area bathed by the Atlantic Ocean. Matosinhos is a city with great industrial development, which seeks to maintain its popular traditions at the same time.
For gastronomy , one could say that it is the anchor. The fish, the seafood, the meat recipes from Matosinhos inland.
For contemporary architecture, one must inevitably speak of Álvaro Siza whose ties to Matosinhos are very strong. First of all, at the level of emotions: Álvaro Siza was born in Matosinhos, his first memories necessarily have the outline, the aroma, the sounds of his city. Matosinhos was truly inspiring. Matosinhos jealously guards the works of Siza, those of his youth, icons of world architecture, national monuments: the Casa de Chá da Boa Nova, the Piscina das Marés, built between the rocks, if they were not - their Author would say at the time - break the view of the sea line. It is tourism up close and that crosses the sea to see the works of Mestre, but also those of Fernando Távora, Alcino Soutinho, Souto Moura
261 locals recommend
Matosinhos Beach
Avenida General Norton de MatosMatosinhos is one of the largest cities in the district of Porto, located in the north of Portugal, in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, on the right side of the Douro River.
Located next to the city of Porto, it has a large area bathed by the Atlantic Ocean. Matosinhos is a city with great industrial development, which seeks to maintain its popular traditions at the same time.
For gastronomy , one could say that it is the anchor. The fish, the seafood, the meat recipes from Matosinhos inland.
For contemporary architecture, one must inevitably speak of Álvaro Siza whose ties to Matosinhos are very strong. First of all, at the level of emotions: Álvaro Siza was born in Matosinhos, his first memories necessarily have the outline, the aroma, the sounds of his city. Matosinhos was truly inspiring. Matosinhos jealously guards the works of Siza, those of his youth, icons of world architecture, national monuments: the Casa de Chá da Boa Nova, the Piscina das Marés, built between the rocks, if they were not - their Author would say at the time - break the view of the sea line. It is tourism up close and that crosses the sea to see the works of Mestre, but also those of Fernando Távora, Alcino Soutinho, Souto Moura