Porto Trip Overview
Take the afternoon to discover the best that Porto has to offer. A private and exclusive tour, made with you and yours in mind.
Get ready to discover Porto through the eyes of those who were born in it and live with it.
A tour with “mandatory” stops
What characterizes this tour is the possibility of stopping — whenever possible — next to the emblematic buildings of the historic center of the city.
It is also possible to visit — and in some cases stop to take some of the most beautiful photographs in the city — the 6 bridges that connect Porto to Vila Nova de Gaia.
We continue the tour towards Foz.
There, it is possible to watch attentively the embrace that the Douro finally gives to the Atlantic.
We return to the trip, but this time by the sea, as far as Matosinhos.
This former fishing village, today has several points of interest, including its beautiful cruise terminal, fish auction and restaurants, of course.
Many of them are famous and have become the greatest exponents of the region’s gastronomy.
Additional Info
* Duration: 2 to 3 hours
* Starts: Porto, Portugal
* Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Porto, Porto, Portugal
Take the afternoon to discover the best that Porto has to offer. A private and exclusive tour, made with you and yours in mind.
Get ready to discover Porto through the eyes of those who were born in it and live with it.
A tour with “mandatory” stops
What characterizes this tour is the possibility of stopping — whenever possible — next to the emblematic buildings of the historic center of the city.
It is also possible to visit — and in some cases stop to take some of the most beautiful photographs in the city — the 6 bridges that connect Porto to Vila Nova de Gaia.
We continue the tour towards Foz.
There, it is possible to watch attentively the embrace that the Douro finally gives to the Atlantic.
We return to the trip, but this time by the sea, as far as Matosinhos.
This former fishing village, today has several points of interest, including its beautiful cruise terminal, fish auction and restaurants, of course.
Many of them are famous and have become the greatest exponents of the region’s gastronomy.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Pass By: Liberdade Square, Avenida dos Aliados Downtown, Porto 4049-066 Portugal
This wide avenue, flanked by a group of buildings from the 1920s and 1940s, is closed on the south side by the Cardosas building (19th century) and on the north by the town hall.
In the center of Liberty Square stands the statue of D. Pedro IV of the king, inaugurated in 1866.
Pass By: Sao Bento Railway Station, Praca Almeida Garrett, Porto 4000-069 Portugal
São Bento Train Station was built in the early twentieth century, in the exact location of the former São Bento de Avé Maria Convent.
The glass and iron structure was designed by architect Marques da Silva. The hall is adorned with twenty thousand tiles painted by Jorge Colaço that illustrate the evolution of transport and the events of Portuguese history and life.
Pass By: Porto Cathedral (Se Catedral), S/N0 Terreiro Se 3 Centro Histórico, Porto 4050-573 Portugal
Romanesque style building dating from the 12th / 13th century, which has been expanded and renovated over the years to its final setting in the 20th century, resulting in an idealized reconstruction of the medieval cathedral.
Special mention: 14th century Gothic chapel of St. John the Evangelist and Cloister; the expansion of the chancel, the Blessed Sacrament Chapel and its silver altar, from the 18th century (Mannerist)
Pass By: Church of Santa Clara, Largo Primeiro de Dezembro, Porto 4000-404 Portugal
Building of Gothic origin, whose interior was covered with gilded in the first half of the eighteenth century. The building dates from the first half of the fifteenth century. It has undergone some changes in modern times when the beautiful Renaissance portal was built. This true Baroque jewel impresses with its decorative exuberance.
Pass By: Muralha Fernandina, Rua Arnaldo Gama, Porto Portugal
The Dan Fernando wall was built to replace the old late medieval wall that in the fifteenth century had become too small for the growing city. It was rebuilt by Dan Fernando, named after his name, between 1368 and 1437, with the money from the wine transfer fee, and was about 3000 steps and 30 feet high. It was crowned by battlements and fortified by bastions and towers. Today there are still two excerpts.
Pass By: Edificio da Reitoria da Universidade do Porto, Praca Gomes Teixeira, Porto 4099-002 Portugal
Designed by Carlos Amarante in the neoclassical style and funded by the Literary Subsidy, a wine tax, 1803.
The classic-style building bears some resemblance to Santo António Hospital.
In 1911, it housed the Faculty of Sciences and currently houses the Rectorate and the Natural History Museum of the University of Porto.
Pass By: Torre dos Clerigos, Rua Sao Filipe Neri, Porto 4050-546 Portugal
This baroque work by Nicolau Nasoni was built in the first half of the eighteenth century.
The Clérigos Tower is one of the most emblematic monuments of Porto.
The panoramic view of the city and the Douro River, which can be seen from the top of the tower, makes the climb of 240 steps worthwhile.
Pass By: Livraria Lello, Rua Carmelitas 144 Vitória, Porto 4050-161 Portugal
The building where the library is now located was opened in 1906.
Special mention goes to its beautiful Art Nouveau facade with neo-Gothic details.
Inside, the library is decorated with painted plaster, imitating wood and features a magnificent staircase that connects it to the upper floor, one of Porto’s first reinforced concrete works.
Also noteworthy is the huge stained glass skylight, with the library’s monogram and motto.
Pass By: Ponte de Dom Luis I, Pte. Luiz I, Porto Portugal
Planned by engineer Teófilo Seyrig, a disciple of Eiffel, was inaugurated in 1886 and consists of two overlapping iron decks.
The bridge is 395 meters long and 8 meters wide, and its arch is still considered the largest wrought iron arch in the world.
The upper floor is currently used by the Porto Metro, linking the Porto Cathedral area with Jardim do Morro and Avenida da República in Vila Nova de Gaia.
Pass By: Pilares da Antiga Ponte Pensil, Cais da Ribeira 24, Porto 4050-509 Portugal
Work of the French company Claranges Lucotte and Company.
It was opened in 1843 and met the need for a permanent bridge between Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia.
It was said, however, that the bridge trembled as “green sticks” and this feeling of insecurity contributed to its short existence.
It was deactivated in 1887 and replaced by the Luis I Bridge. Currently there are only two obelisk-shaped stone pillars.
Pass By: Palacio da Bolsa, Rua Ferreira Borges, Porto 4050-253 Portugal
The National Monument, the Stock Exchange Palace is the property and headquarters of the Commercial Association of Porto.
It was designed by Joaquim da Costa Lima in a neoclassical style in 1842.
Situated in the historical center, it is one of the most visited monuments with the famous Arabian Room being its major highlight.
The Cultural and Conference Center, the Stock Exchange Palace is a venue with unique conditions for hosting events and excellent initiatives.
Pass By: Igreja Paroquial de San Nicolau, Rua Infante Dom Henrique 93, Porto 4050-298 Portugal
This building is extremely representative of the religious architecture of Porto from the late 17th century.
It is also part of a Mannerist tendency, although some baroque influence can be seen.
The nave comprises the remarkable altar of Saint Eligio, which shows the beautiful image of Saint Eloi (patron saint of metallurgists).
Pass By: Igreja de Sao Francisco, Rua do Infante Dom Henrique, Porto 4050-297 Portugal
The most important Gothic temple in the city, whose construction began in the 14th century,
It is one of the most important works of Baroque, for its golden interior of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
It was the exuberance of his carved woodwork that led Count Raczinsky to describe him as the “Golden Church.”
And impressed, he adds: ‘The church of this church is so beautiful and rich that it goes far beyond anything I’ve seen in Portugal and around the world.’
It is worth noting the Tree of Jesse as well as the catacombs.
It has been a National Monument since 1910 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.
Pass By: Alfandega Porto Congress Centre, Rua Nova da Alfandega, Porto 4050-430 Portugal
A neoclassical building, built in the 19th century, according to a project by engineer Jean F. G. Colson.
It has two facades, one facing the Douro river and another facing the city.
Note the structural solutions that used iron in conjunction with other materials – stone, brick or wood – depending on the functionality of the different spaces.
In 1987, it was decided to house the future Museum of Transport and Communications.
Pass By: Museu do Carro Electrico, Alameda Basilio Teles 51, Porto 4150-127 Portugal
Inaugurated in 1992, the Electric Car Museum contains a collection of trams and other ancillary vehicles that roamed the streets of Porto and left a mark on the history of light urban rail transport in the city.
Its properties also include an example of the American horse-drawn trolleybus that was introduced to Porto in 1872.
Housed in the former Massarelos plant, a listed municipal building, the museum also features some of the original equipment previously used.
Pass By: Ponte da Arrabida, Via de Cintura Interna, Porto 4150 Portugal
The Arrabida Bridge, designed by Edgar Cardoso and 270 m long, was for some time the largest reinforced concrete bridge in the world.
Opened in 1963, it is 70 meters above average water level.
The bronze sculptures are at the top of the four great pillars that support the central span, contributing to the bridge’s innovative spirit and modernist style.
Pass By: Fortress Sao Joao Baptista, Esplanada do Castelo, Porto 4150-196 Portugal
The fortress was built in the late 16th century to protect the coast and the entrance of the Douro.
Modern fortresses have been added (section XVII) to the original structure of this fine example of military architecture and the fort access gate (18th century).
Pass By: Castle of the Cheese, Praca Goncalves Zarco 20, Porto 4100-274 Portugal
São Francisco Xavier Fort (Cheese Castle)
Built in the 17th century to protect the coast from the pirates of North Africa, it is located on a rocky, cheese-shaped hill named after Cheese Castle.
Pass By: She Changes (The Anemone), Praca Cidade do Salvador, Porto 4100-170 Portugal
She Changes, locally known as anemone (anemone), is a sculpture designed by plastic artist Janet Echelman for the cities of Porto and Matosinhos, northern Portugal.
It is beautiful and looks like a huge fishing net that moves with the wind, it is a fluid work of art.
Pass By: Port of Leixoes, Avenida da Liberdade, Leca da Palmeira 4450-718 Portugal
Leixões Cruise Terminal
Pass By: Casa da Musica, Avenida da Boavista 604 610, Porto 4149-071 Portugal
Designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, Casa da Música was opened in 2005. Since then it has become an icon of contemporary architecture.
Pass By: Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar, Largo de Aviz Próximo à Ponte Dom Luís I, Vila Nova de Gaia 4430-329 Portugal
The Serra de Pilar Monastery was created after the reform of the Augustinian Order, when the Grijó monks were transferred to the new place. The construction of the new monastery begins in 1537, which features a church-shaped plan with a circular plan, main chapel, a rectangular plan, and a circular cloister, all arranged in sequence.
It is considered one of the most remarkable buildings of classical European architecture due to the circular church and the cloister. In 1809, the space of the Monastery was occupied by Wellington troops, when the Portuguese army’s attack on the city of Porto, occupied by Napoleon’s troops, was planned.
Pass By: Ponte de Sao Joao, Avenida de Gustavo Eiffel, Porto 4000-279 Portugal
This railway structure, by Edgar Cardoso, connects Campanhã station in Porto to all southern destinations, being the first station General Torres in Vila Nova de Gaia.
Its 250m central span was a new world record between the “portico” bridges.
The three spans are supported by two large quays founded on the riverbed near each of the river banks.
The inauguration took place on June 24, 1991, St. John’s Day.
Pass By: Ponte D. Maria Pia, Porto 4430-999 Portugal
Gustavo Eiffel’s first masterpiece, in which he worked with Theóphile Seyrig, was inaugurated in 1877 and remained in use for 114 years.
It has a double hinge arch that supports a single track rail deck over lattice pillars.
In 1982, it was classified as a national monument and, in 1999, gained international recognition as being of historical importance to civil engineering due to its innovative construction.
Pass By: Ponte Infante Dom Henrique, R. de Cabo Simao 89, Porto 4430 Portugal
The bridge was inaugurated on March 30, 2003, following a project by engineer Adão da Fonseca.
It was built to replace the upper lane of the D. Luís I bridge, now used by the subway line D.
With a deck of 371 meters long and 20 meters wide, it is a Maillart-type arch bridge, built at a high altitude, with an extension ratio of 11.2, with a span of 280 m – a record is regarded by world experts as one of the most elegant of its kind.
