第一个定时器指南波尔图:18鼓舞人心的这个ngs to See and Do in Porto, Portugal
Porto is one of Europe’s oldest cities and the second largest in Portugal. Located on the country’s northwest coast, Porto was built along the hills overlooking the Douro river estuary, where it served as an important commercial port for centuries to come.
Rich with history and vibrant culture, Porto is a city everyone should add to theirEurope bucket list. The country itself is named after Porto, the first capital city, hinting at the important status the city once held.
In 1996, the city was recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and today, modern day Porto is a major tourist hub.
More than 2.8 million travelers from across the globe flock to the streets of Porto each year, making it one of the fastest-growing tourist destinations in Europe. Porto is on the Portuguese Way path of the Camino de Santiago making it popular with adventure travelers.
If Porto is a part of your travel itinerary, you’re probably curious about what it has to offer to a traveler from afar. So join us for a virtual tour of the city and prepare to have the holiday of a lifetime.
Here’s ourFirst Timers Guide to Porto, with 18 amazing sites and unique things to do in Porto whether you’re a culture hound, adventure traveler, or heading for a Camino pilgrimage.
Things to Do in Porto
1. Visit The Soares dos Reis National Museum
The Soares dos Reis National Museum was built in 1833 in order to exhibit religious art confiscated from Portuguese convents. Most of the original pieces are still on display to this day. The museum also houses art taken from the followers of King Miguel I.
The name of the museum comes from Antonio Soares dos Reis, a 19th-century artist from Vila Nova de Gaia, a settlement on the south bank of the Douro. Some of his pieces are displayed in the museum as well, as are those of other famous Portuguese artists such as Vieira Portuense, Domingos Sequeira, Silva Porto, and Miguel Angelo Lupi.
2. Visit The Church of Santa Clara
The Church of Santa Clara was built in 1457 to replace a ruined medieval convent. It sits next to one of the most renowned sections of Porto’s medieval fortifications. The church was lavishly remodeled in the first half of the 18th century, as was the case for many other religious structures in the city. Its main attraction is the gilded wooden carvings covering the walls, which are set against red marble.
This style of design is known as “Barroco Joanino”, and it came to prominence during the reign of John V, the so-called Portuguese Sun King.
3. Sail on The Douro River
As you’re planning yourPortugal itinerary, be sure and include seeing Porto from a completely unique view. The Douro is one of the biggest rivers in the Iberian Peninsula. It is around 900 km long, and it stretches from Castile to Porto, where it enters the Atlantic. Tourists and locals alike agree that there is something special about the Douro.
The river is open for boat tourism, and the voyage costs about €15. A tour guide will tell you interesting details about the warehouses on the south bank, the bridges crisscrossing the river, and landmarks on the north bank. The most impressive sight on the river is the Maria Pia Bridge, originally designed by Gustave Eiffel.
4. Visit Casa da Música
One of the more recent additions to the city, Casa da Música is an auditorium built in 2005. Rem Koolhaas, a world-renowned Dutch architect, designed the venue in collaboration with a number of high-tech acoustic companies. The concert hall is a sight to behold. Its 1300 seats are bounded by two massive glass walls, a major achievement in the world of auditorium design.
During the day you can hear the Port Symphony orchestra rehearsing, and in the evening you can witness the performance first hand if you book your tickets in advance.
5. Find Rare Books at Livraria Lello
If you fancy yourself something of a bookworm, you owe it to yourself to visit this amazing bookshop on Rua das Carmelitas. Livraria Lello is one of the oldest bookstores in town, dating back to 1906.
在新艺术建筑本身的设计style with traces of Gothic in the form of murals and pinnacles. The inside is dominated by a wooden staircase, pipes on the ceiling, and a stained-glass skylight. If you care about celebrity endorsement, J. K. Rowling used to frequent the place while she was working as an English teacher abroad.
6. Visit The House Museum of Guerra Junqueiro
Guerra Junqueiro是葡萄牙最长之一t poets. His writings had a massive influence on the anti-monarchy Revolution of 1910. Guerra Junqueiro lived in an estate in the medieval quarter of the city.
The estate was converted into a museum and donated to Porto in 1940. It was built in the style of high baroque. The estate houses Junqueiro’s collection of ceramic dishes from Nuremberg, tin-glazed pottery from Viana do Castelo, many pieces of luxury furniture, and various kinds of religious art from across the world.
7. Take a Wine Tour
Porto is world-famous for its fortified Port wine, and for good reason. Porto wine is enhanced through the addition of grape spirit, which slows down fermentation and preserves the wine’s sweet flavor. The wine is then stored in oak barrels for years to come.
Many tourists flock to the south bank of the Douro to visit one of its many wine cellars, including the Caves Sandeman, Taylor’s Port, and Real Companhia Velha. These wine cellars have a long tradition, and many include a wine museum on the premises. T
aking a tour and tasting Port wine in Porto of all places is a must-do for foodies, and certainly one for the romanticcouples bucket listif you love tasting wines from around the world.
8. Stroll Through The Jardins do Palácio de Cristal
The Crystal Palace Gardens were built to accompany the eponymous Crystal Palace back in 1865. While the palace is no longer there, the gardens still exist in all their natural splendor. The gardens contain a large variety of plant life, including pines, ginkgo, beech trees, rhododendrons, and camellias.
You might catch the sight of a peacock from time to time as well. In place of the palace now stands the Porto Romantic Museum, which is worth a visit as well.
9. Explore The Cais da Ribeira
Porto’s famous riverside district, Cais da Ribeira, is a great place to explore on a busy weekend. The area is littered with bars, shops, and restaurants, and you can reach them all while taking a scenic walk down the riverside.
If you’re more of an adventurous type, you can dive deep into the maze of tiny streets and stairways that criss-cross the district. A neat little feature that the local government introduced recently are the information boards telling the history of the various parts of the district.
10. Visit the FC Porto Museum
Football fans owe it to themselves to visit the FC Porto Museum during their stay. FC Porto won the Portuguese league 25 times and the Portuguese cup 16 times, making it one of the most successful football teams in Portugal.
The team is a part of the city’s culture, and you can learn a lot about the local culture by taking this museum tour. The museum leverages modern technology and multimedia to introduce visitors to famous players such as Mário Jardel and Teófilo Cubillas.
The Gift Shop is worth a stop at the end. While it’s pricey — as any museum gift shop — they do have some of the coolest jerseys for sale, a perfectPortugal souvenirfor sports lovers!
11. Visit The Church of São Francisco
If you’re a fan of all things medieval, you should definitely visit the Church of São Francisco during your stay. The church is hailed as the last Gothic monument in Porto. It was built way back in 1425 and redecorated with fantastic woodwork during the 16th century.
Walk around to the apse to gaze at the elongated lancet windows, and then head back to the main portal, which is decorated by a striking rose window. The interior hosts Gothic walls, pillars, and vaults covered in intricate carvings of birds, foliage, and cherubs.
12. Relax at Parque da Cidade
Parque da Cidade is the biggest park in Porto and the largest urban park in all of Portugal. It encompasses over 83 hectares of land, and it stretches as far as Forte de São Francisco Xavier on the Atlantic.
当地人和游客都涌向德的公园e a stroll, ride their bicycles, or just cool off beneath the pines. There are granite monoliths placed around the park, giving it a primeval sort of feeling. You can also use the park as a shortcut to reach the nearby Matosinhos Beach.
13. Visit Palácio da Bolsa
Palácio da Bolsa is Porto’s old stock exchange, and the Heart of Porto’s Commerce. It was built in the aftermath of the Siege of Porto in 1832 in the vicinity of the Church of São Francisco, which had burned down in the process. Construction lasted for a long time, with the exterior finally being finished in 1850.
The facade of the structure was built in neoclassical style, whereas the interior is more eclectic in nature. You can find carvings, sculptures, plaster ornaments, frescoes, and other forms of art sitting side by side.
14. Discover Port’s Bridges
Porto has some of the world’s most stunning bridges to see and even climb. Perhaps the most emblematic of the Porto bridges is thePonte Dom Luis. Considered by many to be one of the most historic andfamous landmarks in Portugal, the Dom Luis Bridge connects both levels of the city, as well as downtown Porto and Gaia.
Another engineering marvel in Porto — one which you can actually climb — is thePonte da Arrábida, one of the last bridges to be constructed over the Douro back in 1963. The bridge is an architectural marvel, and it contains one of the longest concrete arches in the world.
The unique thing about Ponte da Arrábida is the fact that it became an extreme sports hub thanks to bridge climbing. Once you’re fitted with the proper safety gear, you can climb the arch beneath the top road. The apex of the arch offers a breathtaking view of the older parts of Porto.
15. Visit The Atlantic Coast
Though beaches on the Atlantic are not as popular as their Mediterranean counterparts, they are still worth visiting. Porto has more than 10 in its immediate vicinity, and they are a great place to chill out during the warm summer months. Closest to the city is Matosinhos, which you can reach by going through Parque de Cidade. If you don’t mind traveling for a bit, you can make a trip to the coastal town of Miramar. There you will find an elegant 17th-century chapel wedged between sand and rocks.
16. Survey The City From Clérigos Church
The tower of Clerigos Church can be seen from most parts of the city, and it was the tallest building in the entirety of Portugal when it was built. It is a finely sculpted monument, covered with intricate carvings all the way to the top.
The construction of the tower was finished in 1763, and it follows the design conventions associated with the campaniles of Tuscany. If you choose to climb the tower, prepare for a breathtaking panorama of the entire city.
17. Walk The Camino Portugués
Once you’ve seen all there is to see in Porto, you can continue your journey through Portugal by walking down the Camino de Santiago. The so-calledCamino Portugués, or Portuguese Way, is a part of a larger network of pilgrim paths strewn across Northern Spain and Portugal.
Pilgrims of old used the Camino to reach Santiago de Compostela, a cathedral in Spain containing the remains of St. James.
The walk from Porto to Santiago de Compostela is 240km long, so be prepared for the long journey. We recommend you take the Coastal Route for a relaxed, scenic journey without many tourists. Oh, and readThe Pilgrimageby Paulo Coelho for some beautiful inspiration before you embark on the Camino…one of those greatbooks about travel and self-discovery!
18. Discover the Beauty of Modern Porto
Porto is quickly becoming one of Europe’s leading tourist destinations, and it’s easy to see why. Examples of cool modern architecture and cultural exhibitions are everywhere. There is something for everyone in this ancient city, from institutions of high culture, to amazing cuisine, exciting nightlife, and plenty of spaces for taking things easy. Porto is waiting to be discovered, and a must visit on yourPortugal itinerary.
Where to Stay in Porto
From the popular Ribeira to Foz near the beach, there are as many neighborhoods in Porto as there are personalities to this popular city. The unofficial capital city of northern Portugal, Porto is also the largest city in the country and main tourist spot.
So when you’re looking for the best accommodations, where you stay all depends on what you’re interested in seeing. Thisguide on where to stay in Portowill help you choose the best place for you!
About the Author
Anna ofCamino Adventuresloves getting and out hiking during the weekend and has completed a few long multi-day hikes including twice on the Camino de Santiago for 4 weeks and a Camino route in France for 2 weeks. She’s also had the pleasure of hiking up Ben Nevis, hiking all over Ireland. Her favorite so far? 3 weeks in the Canadian Rockies!