Portugal is full of history and Porto isn’t an exception.
Porto is the second best-known city in the country and a treat for all visitors. Get ready for a dose of culture, architecture, and high-quality food and wine – all in the same place!
Morning in Porto
First, start your day with a lovely breakfast at Dama Pe de Cabra that combines simple, rustic, and traditional Portuguese flavours. This tiny cafe gets crowded during peak times and on weekends, so come early if you can.
With full bellies and eager feet, the next point of call will be the city centre. Start with Avenida dos Aliados. Consider this area as the main artery of the city, marked to the north by the City Hall and to the south by the Cardosas Palace (19th century).
Afterward, do not forget to visit one of the most emblematic monuments of Porto. Clérigos was built in 1754 and designed by the Italian architect Nicolau Nasoni. Its tower has six floors and about 240 steps to the top, where you can enjoy an amazing view of the whole city.
Furthermore, Lello Bookshop, born in 1906, is one of the oldest and most beautiful in the country. Due to the large influx of visitors, the bookstore decided to start charging entrance. However, the amount charged will be deducted from any book purchase.
Lello Bookshop
Afternoon Activities:
Wander through the narrow winding lanes until reaching the Ribeira. Here you will discover the colourful tile facades and hunched grannies hanging clothes from the balconies. This delightfully scruffy neighbourhood was a place we couldn’t wait to get lost in.
Join a boat trip up the river and finish on the other side – Vila Nova de Gaia – across Ponte de Luis I, the famous double-decker bridge.
Opposite the dilapidated charm of the Ribeira, Vila Nova de Gaia is home to a vast network of perfectly tempered cellars filled with barrels of tawny, ruby, and white wine.
Ribeira
Time for a break and to enjoy lunch at Enoteca17•56. Located on the Cais de Gaiait offers tastings with a large gastronomic offer, where wine is king. So, do not leave without tasting the best wine in the world – Vinho do Porto. The Port is matured in the vast cellars (referred to as lodges) that line the banks of the river.
Next to the river, there is a cable car that transports visitors up to the Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar, a circular church and monastery, which also offers amazing views of the Douro river. On the way down, take a moment and enjoy the view on the top of bridge – Ponte Luís I. If you have time, the sunset from there is amazing!
Contact us and we will take you there!