Porto Trip Overview
Take the morning to discover the best that Porto has to offer. A private and exclusive tour, made with you and yours in mind. Get ready to see Porto through the eyes of those who were born there and live in it now.
A tour with “must-see” stops.
What characterizes this tour is the possibility of stopping whenever possible next to the emblematic buildings of the historic centre of the city.
It is also possible to visit, and in some cases stop to take beautiful photographs of the city, the six bridges that connect Porto to Vila Nova de Gaia.
We continue the tour towards Foz, “the mouth of the river”. There, it is possible to observe where the Douro joins the Atlantic.
We returned to Matosinhos by the sea. This former fishing village has several points of interest, among them its beautiful cruise terminal, fish market and, of course, restaurants. Many of them are famous as top exponents of the region’s cuisine. Here you can taste the best fish you’ve eat in your life.
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 morning to discover the best that Porto has to offer. A private and exclusive tour, made with you and yours in mind. Get ready to see Porto through the eyes of those who were born there and live in it now.
A tour with “must-see” stops.
What characterizes this tour is the possibility of stopping whenever possible next to the emblematic buildings of the historic centre of the city.
It is also possible to visit, and in some cases stop to take beautiful photographs of the city, the six bridges that connect Porto to Vila Nova de Gaia.
We continue the tour towards Foz, “the mouth of the river”. There, it is possible to observe where the Douro joins the Atlantic.
We returned to Matosinhos by the sea. This former fishing village has several points of interest, among them its beautiful cruise terminal, fish market and, of course, restaurants. Many of them are famous as top exponents of the region’s cuisine. Here you can taste the best fish you’ve eat in your life.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Liberdade Square, Avenida dos Aliados Downtown, Porto 4049-066 Portugal
This wide avenue, flanked by a group of buildings from the 20s and 40s, is closed on the southern side by the Cardosas building (19th century), and at North by the City Hall.
In the centre of the Praça da Liberdade (Liberty Square) stands the king’s D. Pedro IV statue, inaugurated in 1866.
Stop At: Sao Bento Railway Station, Praca Almeida Garrett, Porto 4000-069 Portugal
The São Bento Railway Station was built at the beginning of the twentieth century on the exact location of the former Convent of São Bento de Avé Maria.
The glass and iron structure was designed by the architect Marques da Silva. The vestibule is adorned with twenty thousand tiles painted by Jorge Colaço that illustrate the transport evolution and events of Portuguese history and life.
Stop At: Porto Cathedral (Se Catedral), S/N0 Terreiro Se 3 Centro Histórico, Porto 4050-573 Portugal
Construction dating from the twelfth/thirteenth century, in Romanesque style, that has been enlarged and renewed over the years up to its final setting, in the twentieth century, resulting in an idealized reconstitution of the medieval cathedral.
Special mention goes to: the Gothic São João Evangelista Chapel and the cloister, from the fourteenth century; the enlargement of the main chapel, the Santíssimo Sacramento Chapel and its silver altar, from the eighteenth century (mannerist)
Stop At: Church of Santa Clara, Largo Primeiro de Dezembro, Porto 4000-404 Portugal
Building of Gothic origin whose interior was covered with golden gild in the first half of the eighteenth century. The construction dates from the first half of the fifteenth century. It went through some changes in modern times when the beautiful Renaissance portal was built. This real Baroque jewel impresses by its decorative exuberance.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Muralha Fernandina, Rua Arnaldo Gama, Porto Portugal
The Dão Fernando wall was built to substitute the old late-medieval wall that, by the 15th Century, had become too small for the growing city. It was rebuilt by Dão Fernando, after whom it was named, between 1368 and 1437 with money from the wine transfer tax and it was about 3000 paces long and 30 feet high. It was topped off by battlements and strengthened by bastions and towers. Two stretches still exist today.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Edificio da Reitoria da Universidade do Porto, Praca Gomes Teixeira, Porto 4099-002 Portugal
Designed by Carlos Amarante in the neoclassical style and financed by the Literary Subsidy, a tax on wine, 1803.
The building, of classical style, has some similarities with the Santo António Hospital.
In 1911 it housed the Faculty of Sciences, and presently houses the Rectory and the Natural History Museum of the University of Porto.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: 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 the city of Porto.
The panoramic view over the city and the river Douro which can be seen from the top of the tower makes the 240 step climb worth the effort.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Livraria Lello, Rua Carmelitas 144 Vitória, Porto 4050-161 Portugal
The building where the library is now located was inaugurated in 1906.
Special mention goes to its beautiful Art Nouveau façade with neo-Gothic details.
On the inside, the library is decorated in painted plaster imitating wood and presents a magnificent staircase linking it to the upper floor one of the first reinforced concrete works in Porto.
Also worthy of attention is the huge stained – glass skylight, bearing the library’s monogram and motto.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Ponte de Dom Luis I, Pte. Luiz I, Porto Portugal
Planned by the engineer Teófilo Seyrig, a disciple of Eiffel, it was inaugurated in 1886 and it is composed by two overlapping iron decks.
The bridge has 395 metres long and 8 metres wide, and its arch is still considered to be the world’s biggest one in forged iron.
Nowadays the upper deck is used by the Metro of Porto, connecting the area of Porto’s Cathedral to the Garden of Morro and to the República Avenue in Vila Nova de Gaia.
Stop At: Pilares da Antiga Ponte Pensil, Cais da Ribeira 24, Porto 4050-509 Portugal
Work of the French firm Claranges Lucotte and Company.
It was inaugurated in 1843 and fulfilled the need of a permanent bridge connecting Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia.
It was said, however, that the bridge shook like “green sticks” and this feeling of insecurity contributed to its short 44yr existence.
It was deactivated in 1887 and replaced by Ponte Luis I. Currently, only two stone, obelisk shaped pillars remain.
Stop At: Palacio da Bolsa, Rua Ferreira Borges, Porto 4050-253 Portugal
A National Monument, the Palácio da Bolsa (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 centre, it is one of the most visited monuments with the famous Arabian Room being its major highlight.
A Cultural and Conference Centre, the Stock Exchange Palace is a venue with unique conditions for hosting events and excellent initiatives.
Stop At: Igreja Paroquial de San Nicolau, Rua Infante Dom Henrique 93, Porto 4050-298 Portugal
This building is hugely representative of Porto’s religious architecture of the late seventeenth century.
It is also part of a mannerist tendency although some Baroque influence can be seen.
The nave comprises the notable St Eligius retable, which shows the beautiful image of Santo Elói (St Eligius), Patron of metalworkers.
Stop At: Igreja de Sao Francisco, Rua do Infante Dom Henrique, Porto 4050-297 Portugal
The city’s most important Gothic temple, whose construction began in the fourteenth century,
It is one of the most important works of the Baroque, by its gilded interior from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
It was the exuberance of its gild carved wood work that led Count Raczinsky to describe it as the ‘Church of Gold’.
And, overwhelmed, he adds: ‘The gild of this church is so beautiful and rich that goes far beyond everything I have seen in Portugal and in the whole world’.
It is worth of notice the Tree of Jesse, as well as the catacombs.
It is a National Monument since 1910 and World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO since 1996.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Alfandega Porto Congress Centre, Rua Nova da Alfandega, Porto 4050-430 Portugal
A neoclassical building, built in the 19th century, according to a project carried out by the engineer Jean F. G. Colson.
It has two facades, one facing the Douro river and one facing the city.
Note the structural solutions that resorted to the use of 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.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Museu do Carro Electrico, Alameda Basilio Teles 51, Porto 4150-127 Portugal
Opened in 1992, the Museu do Carro Eléctrico (Tram Museum) contains a collection of trams and other auxiliary vehicles which used to run along the streets of Porto and left a mark on the history of light urban rail transport in the city.
Its holdings also include an example of the horse-pulled American trolley buses which were first introduced into Porto in 1872.
Housed in the old Massarelos power station, a listed municipal building, the museum also exhibits some of the original equipment used before.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Ponte da Arrabida, Via de Cintura Interna, Porto 4150 Portugal
The Arrábida Bridge, designed by Edgar Cardoso and with a span of 270 m, was, for some time, the longest reinforced concrete bridge span in the world.
Inaugurated in 1963, it sits 70 meters above the average water level.
Bronze sculptures sit on top of the four great pillars that support the central span, adding to the bridge’s innovative spirit and modernist style.
Stop At: Fortress Sao Joao Baptista, Esplanada do Castelo, Porto 4150-196 Portugal
The fortress was built at the end of the sixteenth century to protect the coast and the Douro entrance.
Modern strongholds were added (sec. XVII) to the original structure of this fine example of military architecture and the access gate to the fort (18th century).
Stop At: Castle of the Cheese, Praca Goncalves Zarco 20, Porto 4100-274 Portugal
Fort São Francisco Xavier (Cheese Castle)
Built in the 17th century to protect the coast from the pirates of North Africa, it is located on a cheese-shaped rocky hill, thus obtaining the name Castelo do Queijo (Cheese Castle).
Stop At: She Changes (The Anemone), Praca Cidade do Salvador, Porto 4100-170 Portugal
She Changes, known locally as anémona (the anemone), is a sculpture designed by artist Janet Echelman for the cities of Porto and Matosinhos, Northern Portugal.
It is beautiful and looks like a huge fishnet than moves with the wind, it is fluid piece of art.
Stop At: Port of Leixoes, Avenida da Liberdade, Leca da Palmeira 4450-718 Portugal
Placed amidst an attractive tourist destination, Porto, Leixões has increased its cruises’ operation. Following the open of the new Cruise Quay, in April 2011, the Port of Leixões started to have two docking berths for cruises and to receive larger ships (up to 300m). In 2012, the number of passengers increased 81% and the number of ships 25%. 75.613 passengers have visited Porto. In 2013 the Port of Leixões expects around 70 cruise calls corresponding to more than 66.000 passengers and 30.000 crew members visiting the region.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Casa da Musica, Avenida da Boavista 604 610, Porto 4149-071 Portugal
Designed by the Dutch arquitect, Rem Koolhaas, the Casa da Musica was opened in 2005. Since then it has become an icon of contemporary arquitecture.
Stop At: Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar, Largo de Aviz Próximo à Ponte Dom Luís I, Vila Nova de Gaia 4430-329 Portugal
The Monastery of Serra of Pilar was created after the reform of the Order of Augustinian, when the monks of Grijó were transferred to the new location. It begins in 1537 the construction of the new monastery, which features a plant that consists by the church, of circular plant, the main chapel, of rectangular plant, and the cloister also of circular plant, all arranged sequentially.
It is considered one of the most remarkable buildings of the European classical architecture due to the circular church and cloister. In 1809 the Monastery space was occupied by the troops of Wellington, when was planed the attack by the Portuguese army to the city of Porto, occupied by Napoleon’s troops.
Stop At: 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 with the first station being General Torres in Vila Nova de Gaia.
Its central span of 250m, was a new world record among the bridges in “portico”.
The three spans are supported by two large piers founded in the riverbed close to each of the riverbanks.
The inauguration took place on June 24, 1991, the day of São João.
Stop At: Ponte D. Maria Pia, Porto 4430-999 Portugal
Gustavo Eiffel’s first masterpiece, which he worked on with Theóphile Seyrig, was inaugurated in 1877 and remained in use for 114 years.
It has a double hinged arch that supports a single-track railway deck on truss pillars.
In 1982 it was classified as a national monument and in 1999 it gained international recognition as being of historical importance to civil engineering due to its innovative construction.
Stop At: Ponte Infante Dom Henrique, R. de Cabo Simao 89, Porto 4430 Portugal
The bridge was inaugurated in 30 March 2003 following a project by the engineer Adão da Fonseca.
It was built to replace the upper deck lane of the D. Luís I Bridge, used now by the metro line D .
With a 371 metres long and 20 metres wide deck, it is a Maillart-type arch bridge, built at a high altitude level, presenting a span-rise ratio of 11,2, with a 280 m arch span – a world record, it is considered by the world experts to be one of the most elegant of its type.
