Porto is a magnificent city with a strong historical heritage. Here is a list of things not to miss during your stay in Porto, Portugal.
Going to the Mercado de Bulhao market
Visit a Port wine cellar
In Porto, the port wine cellars are located in Vila Nova de Gaia, on the other side of the Douro river. The view of Porto from this side of the river is absolutely gorgeous. Here is our non-exhaustive list of the best wine cellars to visit:
- Ramos Pinto: we recommend this cellar both for the quality of its Port and for its museum, where you can discover the revolutionary vision of its founder, Adriano Ramos Pinto, who was considered a marketing genius back in 1880.
- Ferreira: even though this famous cellar carries our name, it unfortunately does not belong to us. Created in 1751, this port company relates 250 years of history.
- Sandman: we recommend this cellar for its interactive visits more than for the quality of its Port.
Visit Lello Bookshop
This bookshop built in 1869 is located in the historical centre of the city. The architecture is absolutely gorgeous!
Attend a concert at Casa da Musica
Casa da Musica is a concert hall located in Porto which houses its three orchestras: Orquestra Nacional do Porto, Orquestra Barroca and Remix Ensemble. The building was designed by the Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas. This house of music also offers guided tours.
Drink a cafe com leite at the Majestic
Historical café located on rua Santa Catarina, it is now visited mainly by tourists to appreciate its beauty.
Visit the McDonald’s on Praça da Liberdade
While visiting the Liberdade Square (Praça da Liberdade), don’t forget to take a peek into the McDonald’s in front of it. It is probably the prettiest McDonald in the world…the big American chain kept the 1930’s decor of the Imperial Café. PS: save your appetite for one of our restaurant recommendations. 😉
Visit the Clérigos Tower
The Clérigos Tower is part of a church that was built in the 1700s. It can be seen from anywhere in Porto.
Stopover in Matosinhos
If you’re spending more than 2 days in Porto, you can consider going to Matosinhos. This city, situated right next to Porto, is known for its beaches, bars and restaurants. Some of Carlos’ favourite restaurants in Porto are located in this area.
Make your boyfriend happy by going to the Estádio do Dragão
It is possible to visit the Dragon Stadium, or even better, to go see a game of the local football team FC Porto.
Admire the beauty of the Sao Bento train station
Located in the heart of Porto, take 2 minutes to admire the azuleros (hand-painted ceramic) in the train station.