Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0
Porto
Porto is a city on the River Douro in northern Portugal, with a historic riverside Ribeira district, port wine lodges across the river in Vila Nova de Gaia, and the Dom Luis I bridge.
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Where to stay, by what matters to you
- Places to stay with a level walk to the beach in Porto
- Places to stay in Porto that work without a car
- Quiet places to stay in Porto: few bars nearby
- Lively places to stay in Porto: bars and clubs close by
- Within 30 minutes by car of Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport
- Within 30 minutes by car of Estádio do Dragão
- Within 20 minutes of São Bento railway station
- Within 20 minutes of Livraria Lello
- Within 20 minutes of Porto Cathedral
- Within 20 minutes of Dom Luís I Bridge
- Within 20 minutes of Vila Nova de Gaia port wine cellars
Best things to do in Porto
The one thing not to miss
Day-trip to Braga and the Baroque stairway at Bom Jesus do Monte, a UNESCO World Heritage shrine just outside the city that climbs 116 metres.
Braga and Bom Jesus do Monte1. Braga and Bom Jesus do Monte
Braga is a northern Portuguese city with Roman roots and the country's oldest archdiocese. Just outside is the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte, a pilgrimage site with a Baroque stairway climbing 116 metres, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2019.
Our sources do not say whether you need to book ahead; check the official site before you go.
13,123 readers a month
2. A day trip to Coimbra
A city whose university, moved there in 1308, is the oldest academic institution in the Portuguese-speaking world. UNESCO listed its historic university buildings in 2013. Roman remains include an aqueduct.
Our sources do not say whether you need to book ahead; check the official site before you go.
10,693 readers a month
Sources
3. A day trip to Guimarães
Often called the birthplace of Portugal because its first king, Afonso Henriques, was born here. The historic town centre has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001.
Our sources do not say whether you need to book ahead; check the official site before you go.
7,765 readers a month
Sources
4. Estádio do Dragão
FC Porto's home ground since 2003, an all-seater stadium with 50,033 seats, designed by Manuel Salgado. It hosted the 2021 UEFA Champions League final.
Our sources do not cover tours or match tickets; check the club's official site.
6,667 readers a month
Sources
5. Dom Luís I Bridge
A double-deck metal arch bridge over the Douro between Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia. Its 172 metre span was the longest of its type when built. The upper level carries pedestrians and Metro line D; the lower level links the two waterfronts.
5,984 readers a month
Sources
6. A day trip to Aveiro
A canal city nicknamed the Venice of Portugal. Moliceiro boats, once used to harvest seaweed, now carry visitors along the Ria de Aveiro, and the city is known for its early 20th century Art Nouveau buildings.
Our sources do not say whether you need to book ahead; check the official site before you go.
5,422 readers a month
Sources
7. Vila Nova de Gaia port wine cellars
Gaia sits across the Douro from Porto. Its many cellars, known locally as caves, store and age port wine, and they have become a major tourist attraction.
Our sources do not say whether you need to book ahead; check the official site before you go.
4,240 readers a month
Sources
8. Livraria Lello
A bookshop in Porto's historic centre, inaugurated in 1906. It is one of the oldest bookshops in Portugal and is often rated among the best in the world.
Our sources do not say whether you need to book ahead; check the official site before you go.
3,139 readers a month
Sources
9. Porto Cathedral
One of Porto's oldest monuments and an important Romanesque building, begun in the second half of the 12th century. Its Gothic cloister was built in the 14th and 15th centuries, and King John I married here in 1387.
Our sources do not say whether you need to book ahead; check the official site before you go.
2,989 readers a month
Sources
10. São Bento railway station
A railway terminal in Porto's historic centre, built from 1904 to plans by José Marques da Silva. Its hall is covered with about twenty thousand azulejo tiles painted by Jorge Colaço, showing scenes from Portuguese history.
2,692 readers a month
Just missed the list: Matosinhos (11th by readers; a coastal city north of Porto); Clérigos Church (12th by readers; a baroque church in central Porto)
How we ranked these
By how many people read about each place on English Wikipedia in a typical month, measured October 2026. It is a popularity measure, not our opinion. Braga and Bom Jesus do Monte leads with about 13,123 readers a month. Photos come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; the author and licence are on each photo.
Research required. Area notes for this destination are not written yet. The top 10 above is sourced; the rest of this page is an outline.
Affiliate disclosure: Booking links on this site are partner links. Once our partnership is active we earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. It does not change what we recommend. How this works.