If you land at night, night bus 3M runs to Avenida dos Aliados, and if there are several of you with lots of luggage, a taxi or an Uber can be worth it. Here you’ll find all the options with prices, journey times and stops, how to get down to Ribeira and across the river to Gaia, and how to carry on to the Douro Valley, Braga and Lisbon.

Quick overview

• Metro line E (purple): 2.30 euros (around £1.90) plus 0.60 euros (around 50p) for the Andante card, 27 minutes to Trindade and 33 minutes to Campanhã, runs every 15 minutes during the day and every 20 to 40 minutes in the evening from around 6am to 12.42am.
• Bus 601: 2.30 euros (around £1.90) with Andante or 2.50 euros (around £2.10) from the driver, 35 to 55 minutes to Cordoaria by Torre dos Clérigos, runs roughly every half hour during the day from 5.30am until after midnight.
• Night bus 3M: same price as bus 601, just under 30 minutes to Avenida dos Aliados, runs once an hour from 12.30am and every half hour between 3.30am and 5.30am.
• Taxi: around 20 to 35 euros (around £17 to £30) to the centre on the meter, 20 to 30 minutes without traffic.
• Uber and Bolt: the price is shown in the app before you book, and it’s often lower than a taxi.
• Private transfer: from around 26 euros (around £22) per car when you book in advance, and the driver meets you in the arrivals hall.

How to find the transport at the airport

Porto Airport has a single passenger terminal, so you can’t go wrong. Once you’ve collected your luggage and come out into the arrivals hall, follow the signs for the Metro. Aeroporto metro station is just outside the terminal building, and it’s the end of line E, so every train at the platform heads towards the centre. There are ticket machines at the station where you buy your ticket.

The city buses run by STCP stop at the Aeroporto stop in front of the terminal, and the taxis also wait outside the arrivals hall. Long-distance coaches, including FlixBus and Getbus to Braga, Guimarães and Lisbon, leave from coach park P8, which is at the right-hand end of the car park opposite the arrivals level. If you book an Uber or Bolt, the app shows where to meet your driver, and it isn’t always at the nearest exit. Bus routes to and from the airport are listed on STCP’s page about the airport connection.

1. Metro line E to Trindade and the city centre

The Porto metro is a light rail system that runs above ground for most of the way and goes underground in the centre. Line E is purple and runs from Aeroporto via Botica, Verdes, Senhora da Hora and Casa da Música to Trindade, the main hub in the city centre. The journey to Trindade takes 27 minutes, and you reach Casa da Música in about 22 minutes.

During the day, every other train continues from Trindade via Bolhão, Campo 24 de Agosto and Heroísmo to Campanhã railway station and Estádio do Dragão. In the evening, all trains run the whole way to Estádio do Dragão. The journey to Campanhã takes 33 minutes, and if that’s where you’re going, look for a train showing Estádio do Dragão on the display, or change at Trindade.

On weekdays, line E runs every 15 minutes between 7am and 8pm, and early in the morning it runs every half hour. From 8pm to 11pm it runs every 20 minutes and after that every 30 to 40 minutes. The first train from the airport leaves shortly before or shortly after 6am, and the last one leaves at 12.42am. Metro do Porto changes its timetable a few times a year, so check the timetables at Metro do Porto before you travel.

Trains can be busy at rush hour, so keep your suitcase close. The metro suits almost everyone staying in the centre, in Gaia or by the beach in Matosinhos, as you can change to the other lines along the way on the same ticket.

Prices and tickets

The tickets are called Andante and are valid on the metro, STCP buses and local trains in the Porto area. The price depends on the number of zones, and from the airport to the centre you need a Z4 ticket, which costs 2.30 euros (around £1.90). The same ticket also covers Vila Nova de Gaia on the other side of the river. The ticket is valid for 1 hour and 15 minutes from first validation, so you have time to change to another metro line or a bus without paying again.

The ticket is loaded onto a rechargeable paper card, the Andante Azul, which costs 0.60 euros (around 50p) and can be used for a year. Each person needs their own card, so one card with two tickets can’t be used by two people on the same journey. If you buy 10 single tickets at once, you get an extra one free. There’s also a 24-hour ticket for zone Z4 for 8.30 euros (around £7). Prices are listed at Andante.

If you’ll be getting around the city for several days, the Andante Tour tourist card can be worth it. Andante Tour 1 costs 7.75 euros (around £6.50) and is valid for 24 hours, and Andante Tour 3 costs 16.55 euros (around £14) and is valid for 72 hours from first validation. The cards are valid across the whole Andante network of buses, metro and trains, but not on the Funicular dos Guindais or the historic trams. Read more at Andante Tour.

Where to buy your ticket

The ticket machines at the airport metro station sell both the Andante Azul card and the tickets. Choose a Z4 ticket, and remember to buy a card for each person. Before going down to the platform, hold your card against one of the validators, and when the light turns green, your ticket is validated. You need to validate again every time you change line or mode of transport, even within the 1 hour and 15 minutes.

You can also pay with your own bank card or your phone. At validators with the contactless symbol at Aeroporto station, you’re charged for a Z4 ticket at 2.30 euros (around £1.90), and it’s valid for 1 hour and 15 minutes. If you travel four times or more in one day, you pay no more than 7.75 euros (around £6.50). The scheme only applies at selected stations, including Trindade, Casa da Música, São Bento, Aliados and Campanhã, and it has been introduced as a trial, so check Andante’s page on paying by card before you travel. Tickets can also be bought in Andante’s app, Anda.

Where should you get off?

Trindade: The big hub in the city centre where all the lines meet. From here it’s a 5 to 10-minute walk to Avenida dos Aliados and the Baixa district with its cafés and bars. If you want to stay close to the metro, you can see hotels in Baixa here. If you’re unsure which area suits you, read my guide to where to stay in Porto.

São Bento and Ribeira: At Trindade, change to the yellow line D towards Santo Ovídio or Vila d’Este. After two stops, about 3 minutes, get off at São Bento, home to the famous railway station with its blue azulejo tiles. From here it’s about a 10-minute walk downhill to Ribeira by the river. This is the historic quarter most people dream of staying in, and you can see hotels in Ribeira here.

Vila Nova de Gaia: Stay on line D across the upper deck of the Ponte Luís I bridge to Jardim do Morro or General Torres, about 5 to 7 minutes from Trindade. From here you walk down to the port wine cellars at Cais de Gaia, and from Jardim do Morro you can also take the Teleférico de Gaia cable car down. The Z4 ticket covers the whole journey from the airport. If you’re staying on this side of the river, you can see hotels in Vila Nova de Gaia here.

Bolhão, Campo 24 de Agosto and Heroísmo: The stations after Trindade, served only by trains towards Estádio do Dragão. Bolhão is by the big Mercado do Bolhão market, and Campo 24 de Agosto and Heroísmo are in the local Bonfim neighbourhood, where you can see hotels in Bonfim here.

Casa da Música: The station by the concert hall in the Boavista district, about 22 minutes from the airport. If you’re heading for the beach and fish restaurants in Matosinhos, get off earlier at Senhora da Hora and change to the blue line A, which reaches Matosinhos Sul in about 13 minutes.

Campanhã: The city’s main railway station, served by trains to Lisbon, Braga and the Douro Valley. From the airport the journey takes 33 minutes on the trains running to Estádio do Dragão.

2. Bus 601 and 602 to Cordoaria

The city buses are run by STCP, and bus 601 is the fastest of them to the centre. It runs from the airport through Leça and past the Mar Shopping centre to the Boavista roundabout by Casa da Música, then on via Praça da Galiza to the final stop at Cordoaria. The journey takes 35 to 55 minutes depending on traffic, and at rush hour you should expect the longer time.

The bus runs from 5.30am until after midnight, roughly every half hour during the day and up to 50 minutes apart late in the evening. Bus 602 also runs from the airport to Cordoaria, but it takes a long detour through Maia and usually takes an hour or more, so it’s rarely relevant to you.

The bus suits you best if you land very early, before the metro is running, or if you’re staying close to Cordoaria. The pitfalls are traffic and luggage, as the bus can fill up with local commuters along the way, and there isn’t much room for large suitcases.

Prices and tickets

If you have an Andante card with a Z4 ticket, the journey costs 2.30 euros (around £1.90), and you validate the card as you board. If you don’t have a card, you can buy a ticket from the driver for 2.50 euros (around £2.10) and pay in cash, with MB WAY or by card. The ticket from the driver is only valid for the journey you buy it for, so you can’t change on it. Prices are listed on STCP’s fares page.

Where should you get off the bus?

Boavista-Casa da Música: The stop by the concert hall in Boavista, where you can change to the metro.

Cordoaria: The final stop by the Jardim da Cordoaria park, right next to Torre dos Clérigos. From here it’s a 5 to 10-minute walk to Ribeira and Baixa.

3. Night bus 3M to Avenida dos Aliados

When the metro stops just after midnight, night bus 3M takes over. It runs every night between the airport and Avenida dos Aliados, the wide boulevard with the city hall in the centre, and stops at places including Trindade, Carolina Michaelis and Praça da República along the way. The journey takes just under 30 minutes, as there’s very little traffic at night.

From the airport the bus leaves at 12.30am, 1.30am, 2.30am and 3.30am and then every half hour until 5.30am. Towards the airport it leaves Avenida dos Aliados at 1am, 2am and 3am and then every half hour from 3.30am to 5.30am. The ticket costs the same as during the day, 2.30 euros (around £1.90) with Andante or 2.50 euros (around £2.10) from the driver.

The night bus is the only public transport at night, so if your flight lands after midnight, it’s a good alternative to a taxi. Check the departure time before heading out to the stop, as there can be up to an hour between buses. Departures are listed on STCP’s page about the airport connection.

4. Taxi, Uber and Bolt

Taxis wait at the exit from the arrivals hall and run on the meter. Expect around 20 to 35 euros (around £17 to £30) to the centre, depending on where you’re going and how much traffic there is. The journey usually takes 20 to 30 minutes without traffic. At night, at weekends and on public holidays the fare is higher than on weekdays during the day.

Fares are set by the authorities and adjusted from time to time, so the starting fee and surcharges may change. Keep an eye on the meter during the journey, and if you’re unsure, ask the driver for an approximate price before you get in. If you can’t pay in cash and need to pay by card, say so straight away, as not all taxis take cards.

Uber and Bolt also operate from the airport, and the price is shown in the app before you book. It’s often lower than a taxi, but it goes up when lots of people book at once, for example when several flights land at the same time. The app shows where to meet your driver, and it isn’t always at the nearest exit. Read more about pick-ups at Uber.

A taxi or Uber takes you to the door, so they’re most worthwhile when there are three or four of you, when you have lots of luggage, or when your hotel is in the steep streets of Ribeira, where you’d otherwise have to drag your suitcase up and down the hills.

Private transfer

If you want to be sure a car is waiting, you can book a private transfer from Porto Airport to your hotel here. Prices start at around 26 euros (around £22) for a car for up to four people, the driver meets you in the arrivals hall, and the price is agreed in advance. It’s a good option when you’re landing late with children, or if your hotel is on a street that’s hard to find.

On to the Douro Valley, Braga and Lisbon straight from the airport

If you’re not going into Porto, you can often travel directly. Getbus runs non-stop to Braga and Guimarães from coach park P8 every day, with tickets from 9 euros (around £7.50). FlixBus also runs from P8 to Braga in about 40 minutes and to places including Guimarães, Coimbra and Aveiro. You’ll find departures and prices at Getbus. If you’d rather take the train to Braga, take the metro to Campanhã, where local trains get there in about an hour.

For the Douro Valley, trains run along the Linha do Douro from São Bento and Campanhã to Peso da Régua and Pinhão. The journey normally takes around two hours to Régua and around two and a half hours to Pinhão, but parts of the line are sometimes served by rail replacement buses due to engineering works, so check the timetable at CP before you travel. From the airport, take the metro to Campanhã, or to Trindade and change to line D towards São Bento. If you want to drive yourself around the vineyards, the car hire companies are at the airport.

For Lisbon, Alfa Pendular trains run from Campanhã to Santa Apolónia in about 2 hours and 50 minutes, with several departures a day. FlixBus also runs directly from the airport to Lisbon in around 4 hours. If your trip continues south, you can read my guide to where to stay in Lisbon, and if you’re flying home from there, see my guide to getting from Lisbon Airport to the city centre and back again.

Getting back to the airport

Trains towards Aeroporto run from Trindade via Casa da Música and Senhora da Hora. During the day, every other train starts back at Estádio do Dragão and Campanhã, and in the evening they all start there. If you’re staying near Ribeira, first take line D from São Bento to Trindade and change to a train towards Aeroporto, and the Z4 ticket covers the whole journey. The first train from Trindade leaves at 5.58am, getting you to the airport shortly before 6.30am, and the last train leaves Estádio do Dragão at 12.29am.

If you have an early flight, the metro is often too late. Night bus 3M leaves Avenida dos Aliados at 1am, 2am and 3am and then every half hour until 5.30am, reaching the airport just under 30 minutes later. Bus 601 runs from Cordoaria from 6am and takes 35 to 55 minutes to the airport.

By taxi or Uber, expect roughly the same as on the way in. If you want the car booked before you leave home, you can book a private transfer from your hotel to the airport here. Follow your airline’s recommended check-in times, and allow extra time if you need to change at Trindade with suitcases.

Which option should you choose?

Here’s my recommendation based on where you’re staying:

Baixa and Aliados: Take the metro to Trindade. It runs every 15 minutes during the day and costs 2.30 euros (around £1.90) plus the card.

Ribeira: Take the metro to Trindade and change to line D to São Bento. If you have lots of luggage, I’d take a taxi or an Uber right down to the hotel, as the streets are steep.

Vila Nova de Gaia: Take the metro to Trindade and change to line D to Jardim do Morro or General Torres.

Bonfim: Take a train towards Estádio do Dragão to Campo 24 de Agosto or Heroísmo, so you don’t need to change.

Matosinhos: Take the metro to Senhora da Hora and change to line A towards Senhor de Matosinhos.

If you land at night: Night bus 3M runs to Avenida dos Aliados, but check the departure time. If it doesn’t fit, a taxi, an Uber or a pre-booked transfer is easiest.

If there are three or four of you: Four metro tickets with cards cost 11.60 euros (around £10), so the metro is cheapest. On the other hand, a taxi at around 20 to 35 euros (around £17 to £30) or a transfer takes you right to the door.

If you’re travelling straight on: Take Getbus or FlixBus directly from P8 to Braga and Guimarães, and take the metro to Campanhã if you’re catching the train to Lisbon or the Douro Valley.

Practical tips for getting from Porto Airport to the city centre

Buy an Andante card for each person. The card costs 0.60 euros (around 50p), and two people can’t share the same card on the same journey. Keep the card, as you can top it up with new tickets throughout your stay.

Validate every time. You need to hold your card against the validator when you start your journey and every time you change line. This applies even if you’re still within the 1 hour and 15 minutes the ticket is valid for.

Choose the right zone. From the airport you need a Z4 ticket to the centre and Gaia. A ticket for a smaller zone isn’t valid for the whole journey, and you risk a fine if you’re checked.

Allow for the hills. Porto is a very hilly city, and from São Bento down to Ribeira it’s a steep descent over cobblestones. With large suitcases, a taxi for the last stretch is often worth the money.

Choose your hotel by its connections. If you stay in Baixa, the metro gets you to Trindade without changing, and if you stay in Gaia or Ribeira, you’ll need to change to line D. If you’re unsure which area to choose, read my guide to where to stay in Porto.

The post Porto Airport to the City Centre – Transport Guide appeared first on Destination Well Known.

Here are my picks for the 17 best things to see and do in Porto, with prices, opening hours and tips on what to book before you go. Prices are in euros, and 1 euro is roughly £0.84. The city is very hilly, so wear good shoes, and remember that Mercado do Bolhão is closed on Sundays. The last two sections are about day trips to the Douro Valley and to Guimarães and Braga.

1. Ribeira and Cais da Ribeira

Ribeira is the old district down by the river and probably the most photographed place in Porto. The narrow, colourful houses stand close together along the Cais da Ribeira quay, and behind them the alleys climb up the hillside towards the cathedral. The district is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Historic Centre of Oporto, which also includes the Dom Luís I Bridge and the Serra do Pilar monastery on the other side of the river.

It doesn’t cost anything to wander around here, and that’s exactly the point. Walk along Cais da Ribeira to the square, Praça da Ribeira, and turn into the streets behind the quay, where you’ll find small places to eat and bars. The restaurants right by the water are expensive and often mediocre, so I think you should walk a street or two further in to eat. In the evening, you can hear fado, the melancholy Portuguese song, on small stages in the district.

My tip is to come early in the morning, before the day-trippers and the queues for the boats fill the quay, or late in the evening, when the houses on the Gaia side light up. Ribeira is also the first area in my guide to where to stay in Porto, and you can see hotels in Ribeira here.

Book a fado concert with port wine close to Ribeira.

2. Dom Luís I Bridge

The Dom Luís I Bridge is Porto’s landmark. It was designed by the engineer Théophile Seyrig, who had worked with Gustave Eiffel, and it opened on 31 October 1886. The bridge is 395 metres long and has two iron decks, one above the other.

Metro line D runs on the upper deck, and there’s a pavement next to the tracks, so you can cross on foot. The view down over Ribeira, the river and the rooftops of the Old Town is one of the best in the city, and it’s free. The lower deck links the quay in Ribeira directly with Cais de Gaia, and it’s the easiest way over to the port wine cellars.

On the Gaia side, you’ll find the Jardim do Morro park and, just above it, the Serra do Pilar monastery with its round church. From here, you can see all of Porto on the other side of the river, and at sunset lots of people sit on the grass. My tip is to walk across the upper deck towards Gaia late in the afternoon, watch the sunset from Jardim do Morro and then walk down to the quay. The way down is steep, but you can also take the Teleférico de Gaia cable car down to the river. Stick to the pavement on the bridge, because the metro passes close by.

3. Port Wine Cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia

Port wine is produced in the Douro Valley, but for several hundred years the wine has been shipped down the river and stored in the cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia, right opposite Porto. The old port houses stand side by side here, and most of them have their names painted in big letters on the roof. You can visit many of them on a tour with a tasting, including Taylor’s, Graham’s, Sandeman, Cálem and Cockburn’s.

A tour usually takes an hour or a little more. You see the big oak barrels, hear how port wine is made and finish by tasting two or three different types. The price depends on the house and on how fine the wines you taste are, and it’s typically around €20 to €40 (about £17 to £34). It’s a good idea to book in advance, especially at weekends and in summer, because the popular times sell out.

Taylor’s and Graham’s are a little way up the hill with great views over the river, while Sandeman and Cálem are right by the quay. My tip is to do one thorough tour and then carry on tasting in one of the houses’ bars without a tour. Cais de Gaia is also in my guide to the areas of Porto, and if you’d like to stay on this side of the river with a view of the city, you can see hotels in Vila Nova de Gaia here.

Book a ticket for Taylor’s port wine cellar with a tasting.

4. Six Bridges Cruise

From the quays in both Ribeira and Gaia, boats head out on the classic cruises under Porto’s six bridges. Many of them are built like the old rabelo boats that used to carry the port wine barrels down the river from the Douro Valley. The cruise goes up the river under the Dom Luís I Bridge, the Infante Bridge and the old Maria Pia railway bridge, which Eiffel’s company built, and then turns back towards the Arrábida Bridge closer to the sea.

A standard cruise lasts about 50 minutes and costs around €15 to €20 (about £13 to £17). There are departures all day, and you can buy a ticket at the boats on the quay, but the queues are long in summer. Smaller boats with fewer passengers and a glass of port wine on board cost more, and some of them also sail at sunset.

I think the cruise is a good way to see the city from the water, but don’t expect a long guided commentary on the big boats. My tip is to choose a cruise late in the afternoon, when the light falls on the houses in Ribeira, and to sit on the side of the boat that faces Porto on the way back.

Book a cruise under the bridges with port wine and a sunset option.

5. Livraria Lello

Livraria Lello on Rua das Carmelitas is one of the most famous bookshops in the world. The shop moved into its current building in 1906, and inside there are carved wooden panels, a stained-glass ceiling and the winding red staircase that everyone wants to photograph. Many people link the place with Harry Potter, because J.K. Rowling lived in Porto for a while, but she’s said herself that she’s never been inside the shop.

You need a ticket to get in, and the ticket works as a voucher, so its value is deducted if you buy a book. The standard ticket costs around €10 (about £8), and children up to and including three go free. The shop is open every day of the week from 9am to 7.30pm, but it’s closed on 1 January, Easter Sunday, 1 May, 24 June and 25 December. The ticket is valid for up to 60 minutes after the time you’ve booked, and if you buy it in the queue, you can only pay by card.

I’ll be honest. The shop is small, it’s packed with people, and the visit itself rarely takes more than a quarter of an hour. My tip is to book the first slot in the morning and find a book you’d like to have anyway, so the ticket isn’t wasted. The churches Igreja do Carmo and Igreja dos Carmelitas are a few steps away, and Carmo has a large tiled facade facing the street.

Book a walking tour with Livraria Lello, a river cruise and the cable car.

6. Torre dos Clérigos

Torre dos Clérigos is the tall baroque bell tower that you can see from almost everywhere in Porto. The church was designed by the Italian architect Nicolau Nasoni, and according to Clérigos’ own website, the tower has dominated the city’s skyline since 1763. It’s about 75 metres high, and you climb 225 steps up a narrow spiral staircase to the top, where you can see out over the whole city and the river.

The day ticket costs €10 (about £8) and gives access to both the tower and the museum. Students pay €7 (about £6), and children up to the age of 10 go free. It’s open every day from 9am to 7pm, with last entry half an hour before closing, and around Christmas and New Year the opening hours are shorter on certain days. At Easter, in summer and over Christmas, it’s also open in the evening from 7pm to 11pm, and the tower then costs €5 (about £4). With the Porto Card, you get half price on the day ticket.

The staircase is narrow, and in the middle of the day there can be queues both up and down. My tip is to come right after opening or to do the late visit if it’s open in the evening while you’re in the city. The tower is a couple of minutes’ walk from Livraria Lello, so the two go well together.

Book a ticket for Torre dos Clérigos.

7. São Bento Station

São Bento railway station is in the middle of Baixa and is probably the most beautiful train station you’ll ever see. In the large entrance hall, the walls are covered with around 22,000 blue and white tiles, azulejos, by the artist Jorge Colaço. They show important moments in Portugal’s history, including King João I and Queen Philippa of Lancaster and the conquest of Ceuta. The first train pulled into the station in 1896, but it wasn’t officially inaugurated until 5 October 1916.

Entry is free, and you just walk in from the square, Praça de Almeida Garrett. The station is still in use, and from here the regional trains run to places such as the Douro Valley, Guimarães and Braga, so you’ll probably pass through again if you go on a day trip. São Bento metro station on line D is right next door.

My tip is to stand in the middle of the hall and look up, because the top row of coloured tiles is often overlooked. Come early or late in the day, when there are fewer tour groups. Baixa, around São Bento and Avenida dos Aliados, is a good place to stay, with a short distance to most of the city, and you can see hotels in Baixa here.

8. Palácio da Bolsa

Palácio da Bolsa is Porto’s old stock exchange building, and it stands on the square Praça do Infante D. Henrique in the lower part of the Old Town. It was built by the city’s commercial association in the 19th century, and the chamber of commerce is still based in the building. From the outside, it looks fairly plain, but inside it’s one of the most impressive places in the city.

The first stop is Pátio das Nações, the large hall with the glass dome, which is surrounded by 20 coats of arms. The tour ends in Salão Árabe, the Arab Room, which is inspired by the Alhambra in Granada and was built from 1862 to 1880. The room is still Porto’s most important hall for official events and is also used for concerts.

You can only see the building on a compulsory 30-minute guided tour. It costs €14 (about £12), students and seniors pay €9.50 (about £8), and children up to the age of 12 get in free with an adult. The tours run from 9am to 6.30pm in several languages, and the tours in English fill up quickly. My tip is to buy a ticket for a specific tour when you arrive in the morning and spend the waiting time in Igreja de São Francisco right next door.

9. Igreja de São Francisco

From the outside, Igreja de São Francisco looks like a fairly ordinary Gothic church, but inside almost every single surface is covered in gilded woodcarving. It’s Porto’s most lavish church interior, and according to the city’s tourist office, the Polish count Raczyński called it the church of gold. Look out in particular for the Tree of Jesse, a carved family tree of Jesus’ ancestors.

A ticket costs €9 (about £8) for adults and €6.50 (about £5) for students, and the visit also includes the catacombs, where members of the order were buried. The church is open every day from 9am to 8pm from March to October and from 9am to 6pm from November to February, but the times can change, so check them before you go.

You aren’t allowed to take photos inside the church itself, so here you’ll just have to look. My tip is to combine the visit with Palácio da Bolsa, which is right next door, and do both in the morning before you walk down to Ribeira. Together, the two places take a couple of hours.

10. Sé do Porto

Porto Cathedral, Sé do Porto, stands high on the hill above Ribeira, and with its two square towers it looks more like a fortress than a church. It has a Romanesque core from the 12th and 13th centuries, but it’s been rebuilt many times, so you’ll also see Gothic and baroque. The square in front of the church, Terreiro da Sé, is one of the best viewpoints over the rooftops of the Old Town and across to Gaia.

The church interior itself is fairly simple, but the Gothic cloister with its blue and white tiles is worth paying a little extra for. A ticket for the cloister and the treasury costs around €3 (about £3), and from the upper floors you come out onto a terrace with a view. Opening hours are shorter in winter, and you can’t walk around during Mass.

My tip is to walk up to the cathedral from Ribeira via the steep steps and narrow alleys of the Barredo district, where washing hangs out to dry between the houses. From the cathedral, it’s also a short walk to the upper deck of the Dom Luís I Bridge, so you can easily do the two places one after the other.

11. Mercado do Bolhão

Mercado do Bolhão is Porto’s big covered food market in Baixa. The building is more than 100 years old and listed, and after a long restoration the market reopened in 2022. According to the market’s own website, there are 77 stalls, seven restaurants and 28 shops facing the street.

Here you can buy fruit, vegetables, fish, cheese, sausages, olives and port wine, and several of the stalls sell food and drinks that you can have on the spot. The market is spread over two floors around an open courtyard. It’s open Monday to Saturday and closed on Sundays, so plan around that.

Come in the morning on a weekday, when the stalls are at their fullest and the locals do their shopping. I think it’s a good place for a cheap lunch in the centre. My tip is to try a pastel de nata, Portugal’s famous little custard tart, and if you’d like to learn how to bake them yourself, there are workshops in the city that make a fun activity on a rainy day.

Book a workshop where you learn to bake pastel de nata.

12. Rua de Santa Catarina and Capela das Almas

Rua de Santa Catarina is Porto’s main pedestrian street, and it runs north from the square Praça da Batalha past shops, cafés and the Via Catarina shopping centre. Halfway along the street is the famous Café Majestic from the 1920s, with mirrors, leather and stucco, but expect a queue and high prices. I think it’s fine to pop in for a look, but have your coffee somewhere else if you’re travelling on a budget.

Further up the street, on the corner of Rua de Fernandes Tomás, stands Capela das Almas, a small chapel whose outer walls are completely covered in blue and white tiles. The tilework dates from 1929 and shows scenes from the lives of saints, including Francis of Assisi and Saint Catherine. It’s the facade you come for, and you can see it for free from the street.

My tip is to walk the whole street from Praça da Batalha, where the Igreja de Santo Ildefonso church also has a beautiful tiled facade, and finish at Capela das Almas. Mercado do Bolhão is only a couple of minutes away, so you can easily fit it all into one morning. Try to come on a weekday, because on Saturdays the street is packed with people.

13. Jardins do Palácio de Cristal

Jardins do Palácio de Cristal is a large park on a hillside west of the Old Town. The name comes from a crystal palace of glass and iron that stood here in the 19th century, but today a domed hall stands in its place. The gardens are the reason to come, with old trees, fountains, small themed gardens and peacocks wandering freely among the visitors.

From the terraces in the southern part of the park, you get one of the best views over the Douro and out towards the Arrábida Bridge and the sea. Entry is free, and the gardens are open from 8am to 9pm from April to September and from 8am to 7pm from October to March. From Torre dos Clérigos, it’s about a 15-minute walk.

My tip is to take a break here in the middle of the day, when it’s hot down in the city, and find a bench in the shade. The gardens are also a good place to go with children, because there’s room to run around. If you’d like to carry on afterwards, you can walk down the hill to the river, where the old tram runs along the water towards Foz.

14. Serralves

Fundação de Serralves in the western part of the city is Porto’s most important place for modern art. The Museum of Contemporary Art is in a white building designed by the Porto architect Álvaro Siza, and in the large park stands the pink art deco villa Casa de Serralves. The park has woodland, lakes, formal gardens, an old farm and a canopy walkway, the Treetop Walk, up among the treetops.

A ticket for everything costs €24 (about £20) and gives access to the museum, the park, the Treetop Walk and Casa de Serralves. If you only want to see the park, it costs €15 (about £13). Young people aged 12 to 17, students and over-65s get half price, and children under 12 get in free. Opening hours change between the summer and winter seasons, so check the Serralves website before you set off.

Bus 201 from Aliados stops at Serralves, and so does bus 207 towards Foz. I think the park alone is worth the trip, even if you’re not into modern art. My tip is to spend half a day here and combine the visit with Foz do Douro, which is a short way further west.

15. Foz do Douro and Tram Line 1

Foz do Douro is the district where the river flows into the Atlantic Ocean, and it’s Porto’s answer to a seaside promenade. Here you walk along the sea past small beaches, cafés and the Farol de Felgueiras lighthouse at the end of the pier, where the waves crash high when the sea is rough. The Jardim do Passeio Alegre garden with its palm trees is a good place to start.

The most fun way to get here is on the old tram, line 1, which runs along the Douro from the Old Town to Passeio Alegre. A single ticket bought on board costs €6 (about £5), and a two-day ticket costs €12 (about £10). Children aged 4 to 12 pay €3.50 (about £3) for a single ticket. The trams run every day, but the timetable changes with the seasons.

There’s often a queue at the first stop in the centre, especially in the middle of the day. My tip is to take the tram out to Foz in the afternoon, walk along the sea and watch the sunset from the pier. You can take one of the ordinary buses back, which are cheaper. Foz is also a quiet place to stay close to the sea, and you can see hotels in Foz do Douro here.

16. Day Trip to the Douro Valley

The Douro Valley east of Porto is where port wine comes from, and the landscape with its steep vineyard terraces running down to the river has been on UNESCO’s World Heritage List since 2001 under the name Alto Douro Wine Region. Wine has been grown in the area for around 2,000 years, and many of the port houses in Gaia have their own wine estates, quintas, out here.

You can take the train yourself from São Bento on the Douro line, which follows the river for much of the way. The journey to Peso da Régua takes about two hours, and it’s around half an hour more to Pinhão with its tiled station. Only a few trains run each day, so check CP’s timetable before you set off, and sit on the right-hand side in the direction of travel, so you have the river by the window.

By train, you only see a small part of the valley, and getting around to the wine estates without a car takes planning. An organised day trip with wine tastings at a couple of quintas, lunch and a boat trip on the river is therefore the easiest option for most people, and it takes most of the day. My tip is to go in September or October, during the grape harvest, when the vineyards change colour.

Book a day trip to the Douro Valley with a boat trip, wine tasting and lunch.

17. Day Trip to Guimarães and Braga

Guimarães and Braga lie north of Porto and can be combined in one day. Guimarães is called the cradle of Portugal, because the country’s first king, Afonso Henriques, was born here according to tradition, and the medieval town centre, together with the old tanners’ quarter, is on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Here you can see the castle and the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza, Paço dos Duques de Bragança, and wander around the small squares of the Old Town.

Braga is one of Portugal’s oldest cities and an important religious centre with many churches and a large cathedral. Just outside the city lies the pilgrimage site of Bom Jesus do Monte with its baroque Stairway of the Five Senses, which has been a World Heritage Site since 2019. You can walk up the steps or take the old funicular, which is powered by water.

Both cities have direct trains from São Bento, and the journey takes about an hour each way, but it’s hard to fit in both cities and Bom Jesus in one day by public transport. If you only have time for one city, I’d recommend Guimarães. If you’d like to see it all, an organised day trip is the easiest option, and some of the tours also stop at the coastal town of Viana do Castelo.

Book a day trip to Guimarães, Braga and Viana do Castelo from Porto.

Practical Travel Tips for Porto

You can easily explore the Old Town, Ribeira and Baixa on foot, but Porto is a hilly city with lots of steps, so wear good shoes. For longer journeys, you use the metro and buses with the Andante card, which costs €0.60 (about 50p) and can be topped up. A single journey in zone Z2 costs €1.40 (about £1). Andante Tour 1 costs €7.75 (about £6) and is valid for 24 hours, and Andante Tour 3 costs €16.55 (about £14) and is valid for 72 hours.

From the airport, metro line E, the purple line, runs directly to the centre, and the journey takes about half an hour. You need a ticket for zone Z4, which costs €2.30 (about £2).

Plan your days around the days of the week and the public holidays. Mercado do Bolhão is closed on Sundays, and Livraria Lello is closed on a number of public holidays, including 24 June, when the city celebrates its big São João festival the night before. You should book Livraria Lello, Palácio da Bolsa and the popular port wine cellars in advance. Spring and autumn are the best times to visit Porto, because in summer it’s packed with tourists, and in winter it rains a lot.

If you’d like to see the full range, you can see all hotels in Porto on Booking.com. If you’re carrying on to Lisbon, the train takes around three hours, and you can read my picks of the best things to do in Lisbon and my guide to where to stay in Lisbon.

The post 17 Best Things to Do in Porto: Sights, Prices & Tips appeared first on Destination Well Known.

Porto, or Oporto as the city is also called in Portuguese, is a charming city in northwestern Portugal.

With its 2.1 million inhabitants, Porto is Portugal’s second-largest city after Lisbon.

It is located right on the Douro River and stretches out towards the Atlantic Ocean, so even if there are no beaches inside the city (as we otherwise know it from cities like Nice, Barcelona and Naples), there are good opportunities to combine a city break with beach trips.

Let’s get started with the guide: where to stay in Porto?

Best Areas in Porto

If you’re in a hurry or just want a quick overview, here it is:

• Ribeira – best area for first-time travellers & families with children
• Baixa – the city centre with lots of life & bars
• Bonfim – stay close to the locals without so many tourists
• Cais de Gaia – quiet surroundings & luxury hotels with a view

Click on the name of the area and see the best hotels.

The guide on where to stay in Porto continues below with a walk-through of the areas and the hotels I recommend.

1. Ribeira – historic & cozy area in the center ⭐️

Ribeira is the heart of Porto and the best place to stay for most tourists, especially first-time travellers and families with children.

Located along the Douro River, the historic quarter offers colourful buildings, charming cobbled streets and a great atmosphere.

The area is full of small cafes, restaurants and shops where you can enjoy local specialities and find souvenirs.

See the best hotels in Ribeira here.

One of the biggest advantages of staying in Ribeira is its central location.

You can easily walk to many of the city’s main attractions, such as the Dom Luís I Bridge, the Sé Cathedral and the famous Port Wine Museum.

There are also plenty of options for boat trips on the river, which the kids will love. You’ll find prices and tips for the river cruises and the city’s other sights in my guide to the best things to do in Porto.

On the downside, Ribeira can be pretty touristy and a bit more expensive than other Porto areas.

In the evening, there can also be a bit of noise from the many restaurants and bars, which may not be ideal for everyone.

But if you want to stay in the city centre and experience the Porto atmosphere, Ribeira is undoubtedly the best place to stay in Porto.

Places to stay in Ribeira

With its perfect location right down to the river and with the centre itself just behind, it is clear that it is not here in Ribeira that you will find the cheapest hotels in Porto.

On the other hand, there are some excellent hotels – let me show you a few places in different price ranges.

Exmo Hotel by Olivia is a gem on the Douro River in Porto.

The hotel offers modern, stylishly furnished rooms, several of which have spectacular views over the water – perfect for enjoying a quiet morning or a romantic evening.

Previous guests highlight the friendly and welcoming service that makes them feel at home.

The hotel also has an excellent location that makes it easy to explore the city’s attractions, restaurants and shops.

See more photos & book here.

Located in the heart of Ribeira, Porto River offers a unique blend of comfort and historic charm.

The hotel has tastefully decorated rooms and apartments, many with magnificent views of the Douro River.

Past guests especially praise the friendly and helpful staff, as well as the fantastic location that makes it easy to explore Porto’s most iconic sights.

Breakfast is served in a cozy atmosphere with fresh, local products.

See more photos & book here.

Oca Ribeira do Porto Hotel is an excellent choice for travellers on a budget without compromising quality. This hotel is affordable and is praised for its clean and comfortable rooms.

Guests highlight the central location in Ribeira, close to the Douro River and the city’s main attractions, making it easy to explore Porto on foot.

The staff are known for their friendly and welcoming service, contributing to a pleasant experience.

See more photos & book here.

2. Baixa – best area for Cafes and Bars

Baixa (also called Sé) is the vibrant centre of Porto and a mecca for those who love cafes and bars.

Baixa means city centre/downtown in Portuguese.

The area is packed with beautiful squares, historic buildings and an energetic atmosphere that makes it perfect for those who want to be in the middle of city life.

See the best hotels in Baixa here.

Baixa is home to some of Porto’s most iconic cafes, such as the famous Café Majestic, where you can enjoy coffee in elegant surroundings.

There is also a large selection of bars, from cozy pubs to trendy cocktail bars that stay open until late at night.

The advantage of staying in Baixa is that you have everything close at hand. It’s easy to walk to most of the city’s attractions, and there’s always something to do no matter the time of day.

On the other hand, the area can be quite busy and noisy, especially in the evenings and on weekends.

If you thrive in a lively environment and love to have many options for entertainment, Baixa is the perfect place to stay in Porto.

Places to stay in Porto city centre

As the centre of Porto, there are naturally many good hotels to choose from in Baixa. Let me introduce some of my favourites – we’ll start with a proper luxury hotel in the heart of Porto.

Wine & Books Porto Hotel is a first-class luxury hotel located in the heart of Baixa.

The hotel offers a range of luxurious facilities, including an indoor pool and an elegant rooftop bar where you can enjoy a drink overlooking the city.

The rooms are beautifully decorated with modern comfort and classic style, creating a genuinely lovely atmosphere.

Previous guests often emphasise the hotel’s high level of service and the many amenities that make their stay extra unique.

Wine & Books Porto Hotel is the perfect place to stay in Porto for those looking for a luxurious experience in the middle of Porto’s vibrant centre.

See more photos & book here.

Mercure Porto Centro Aliados is a beautiful 4-star hotel in the centre of Porto.

The hotel has an outdoor swimming pool, which is ideal for cooling off in the hot summer months – and that’s actually hard to find here in the centre of town.

The rooms are modern and comfortable, and the hotel is praised for its friendly service and good facilities.

Guests often mention the excellent location, which makes it easy to explore the city’s many attractions on foot.

Although the Mercure Porto Centro Aliados is a luxury hotel, it is surprisingly affordable, making it an excellent choice for travellers who want quality without breaking the bank.

See more photos & book here.

Decanting Porto House is an excellent choice for budget-conscious travellers looking for a simple and comfortable place to stay in the centre of Porto.

This hotel offers clean and functional rooms without too much luxury but with everything you need for a comfortable stay.

Previous guests especially praise the super helpful staff who go to great lengths to ensure you have a good stay.

The hotel’s central location makes it easy to explore the city’s many sights on foot.

A really good hotel in the centre of Porto for those who don’t need a lot of luxury but want to stay close to everything.

See more photos & book here.

3. Bonfim – stay with the locals without that many tourists

Bonfim is the perfect area for those who want to experience authentic Porto without being overwhelmed by tourists.

This neighbourhood is a little more secluded and offers an authentic local atmosphere with lots of charm.

Bonfim is known for its beautiful, old buildings and cozy streets.

Here, you will find local markets, small shops and authentic cafes where you can enjoy a relaxed atmosphere and taste daily life in Porto.

See the best hotels in Bonfim here.

The area also has several green areas and parks where you can relax and enjoy a quiet moment away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

A significant advantage of staying in Bonfim is that the prices, both in hotels and restaurants, are generally lower here than in the more touristy areas such as Ribeira and Baixa.

On the downside, Bonfim is a bit further away from some of the main tourist attractions, so be prepared to take public transport or walk a bit further to reach them.

But if you are looking for an authentic stay with the opportunity to mingle with the locals, Bonfim is an excellent choice.

Places to stay in Bonfim

Bonfim is not an area with a hotel on every street corner. On the other hand, some charming small hotels are perhaps a little nicer than the larger places in the centre.

At least I have a few pretty cute favourites.

Outsite Porto Mouco is, for example, a rather wonderful boutique hotel.

The hotel is known for its unique decor and cosy atmosphere. One of the highlights is the small but lovely pool where guests can relax after exploring Porto.

The rooms are tastefully decorated with a focus on comfort and style, and many guests praise the hotel’s intimate atmosphere and excellent service.

If you are looking for a unique and cosy place to stay that combines luxury with a homely feel, Outsite Porto Mouco is a perfect choice.

See more photos & book here.

Acta The Avenue is a slightly larger hotel known for its fine details and modern facilities.

The hotel has a really lovely rooftop with an impressive view of Porto, perfect for enjoying a drink and relaxing.

The rooms are spacious and stylishly furnished with a focus on comfort.

Guests often highlight the high standard of service and the cosy atmosphere.

See more photos and book here.

Palácio Fenizia Lux Apartments is the place to stay in Porto for those who would like to have a bit of a homely environment or perhaps need to be in Porto for a more extended period – here, there is a fully equipped kitchen in each holiday apartment.

I love staying in vacation apartments on city breaks, but honestly, I’m tired of all the hassle of booking an Airbnb. A place like this in Porto is the perfect middle ground.

The rooms are tastefully decorated with modern facilities and plenty of space to relax.

Guests appreciate the personal service and the homely atmosphere that makes it easy to feel at home.

See more photos and book here.

4. Cais de Gaia – quiet surroundings & luxury hotels with a view

Cais de Gaia offers some of the most spectacular views, especially at sunset.

Here, you will also find the beautiful park, Jardim do Morro, where you can relax and enjoy the panoramic view of Porto.

The area is known for its cosy cafes and restaurants, which are mainly frequented by locals, and provide an authentic experience away from the large tourist crowds.

See the best hotels in Cais de Gaia here.

I always think this is incredible to experience on city-breaks – when you find these little pockets outside the centre, where it’s cosy and not so much English is spoken at the neighbouring tables.

On the downside, it may require some transportation to get to some of the major attractions in Porto. You don’t stay right there where it all happens.

Places to stay in Cais de Gaia

Over on this side of the river, there are some charming luxury hotels!

And my research shows that you get significantly more value for money on this side of the river than in the centre, so if you want to stay at a luxury hotel in Porto, consider one of the following.

Vincci Ponte de Ferro is a fantastic hotel by the Douro River.

The hotel offers an impressive rooftop pool to enjoy a breathtaking view of the river and Porto.

The rooms are modern and stylish, and guests often praise the hotel’s high level of service and comfortable facilities.

See more photos & book here.

The Lodge Hotel is another luxury hotel in Cais de Gaia that impresses with its outdoor pool and charming rooms.

The hotel offers an exclusive experience with first-class service and tastefully decorated rooms that ensure maximum comfort.

Guests love the tranquil atmosphere and excellent facilities that make it easy to relax and enjoy their stay.

See more photos & book here.

Hilton Porto Gaia is a slightly cheaper alternative, but still a 5-star hotel with many great facilities.

Guests appreciate the hotel’s combination of price and quality, making it an excellent choice for those who want luxury without breaking the budget.

See more photos & book here.

Where not to stay in Porto? ❗️

Although Porto is generally a safe city, there are some areas that it may be best to avoid as a tourist.

One of these areas is Bairro do Aleixo, which has a history of drug dealing and crime.

Although much has been done to improve the situation, it is still an area that should be avoided, especially at night.

Another area that can be problematic is the Cerco do Porto.

This neighbourhood also has a history of crime and drug dealing, and although crime has decreased, it is still recommended to avoid the inner streets here, especially after dark.

Finally, Lagarteiro is also an area where it can be unsafe to walk around, especially at night.

The area has been known for drug-related violence in the past, and although improvements have been made, caution should still be exercised here.

However, it must be said that these areas are not exactly places where the average tourist will pass by by accident.

Overall, Porto is a city full of charm, history and variety, making it an excellent destination for all travellers.

Whether you are a first-time visitor, a food and wine connoisseur, or want to experience local life, Porto has something to offer you.

I hope you could use this guide on where to stay in Porto and are now ready for your trip to Portugal.

Frequently asked questions:

The post Where To Stay in Porto? 4 Best Areas & Places to Stay + Avoid! 🇵🇹 appeared first on Destination Well Known.