Port cellars, azulejos & the Douro
Porto
Porto · Port wine & riverside romance
Portugal’s soulful second city stacks granite houses above the Douro, its riverfront lined with port-wine cellars and double-decker iron bridges. Blue-tiled churches, a fairy-tale bookshop and hearty food give Porto deep character.
Top sightsSights
Ribeira district
A UNESCO riverfront maze of tiled houses and cafes.
Dom Luís I Bridge
A double-deck iron bridge with walkable upper span.
Port wine cellars
Cross to Gaia to tour and taste the famous fortified wine.
Livraria Lello
A neo-Gothic bookshop said to inspire Harry Potter.
São Bento Station
A train station clad in 20,000 painted azulejo tiles.
What to eatFood
Francesinha
A meaty sandwich under melted cheese and beer sauce.
Bacalhau à Gomes de Sá
Salt cod baked with potato, egg and olives.
Port wine
Sweet fortified wine aged in the Gaia cellars.
Good to know
- Cross to Vila Nova de Gaia for the best bridge photos and cellars.
- A Douro valley cruise or wine tour is well worth a day.
- The city is hilly; funiculars and the metro help with climbs.
Getting there
Porto’s airport links Europe widely; fast trains reach Lisbon in about three hours.
Next city
Sintra