Nestled on the slopes above the Douro Estuary, the coastal city of Porto in northwest Portugal is a historic mercantile city with a rich heritage of business and trade. Known for its stately bridges and port wine production, the city is a World Heritage site and boasts breathtaking architecture, medieval walls, ancient Baroque churches, and narrow cobbled streets lined with colorful buildings. The medieval Ribeira (riverside) district is home to the palatial 19th-century Palácio de Bolsa and the lavish São Francisco Church, while the stylish Foz do Douro district which is famed for its beautiful beaches and trendy cafés.
Experience Livraria Lello
Designed by renowned architect, Francisco Xavier Esteves and owned by bibliophile brothers, José and António Lello, Livraria Lello – also known as the Lello Bookstore - is a spectacular bookstore in Porto that is both a functional store and a work of art. Lined with walls of books, the store features elaborate wood and carvings busts of famous Portuguese writers, as well as stained-glass windows and a beautiful wooden staircase. Founded in 1869, Livraria Lello is one of the oldest bookstores in Portugal and has been featured in several scenes in the Harry Potter films.
R. das Carmelitas 144, 4050-161 Porto, Portugal, Phone: +35-12-22-00-20-37
Graham’s Port Lodge
Situated on a ridge opposite the Douro River in Vila Nova de Gaia, Graham’s Port Lodge is a working cellar dating back to 1890 that has been aging world-class port for more than 130 years.
Take a tour of Taylor’s Port
Founded in 1692 in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal by Job Bearsley, Taylor’s Port is dedicated to the production of world-class Port wine and is one of the oldest founding Port houses in the world. Taylor’s offers informative tours of its famous cellars at Vila Nova de Gaia, where visitors can learn about the history of Port wine and its production in the Douro Valley today.
Rua do Choupelo 250, 4400-088 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal, Phone: +35-12-23-74-28-00
Appreciate Azulejo Art
Azulejo tiles are small decorative tiles that are unique to Portugal and are used to decorate buildings, homes, and streets, and the city of Porto is particularly renowned for these beautiful tiles. The town has several buildings that have become landmarks due to their breathtaking artistic and cultural mosaics, including the Igreja de Santo Ildefonso, the Igreja do Carmo, and the Estação São Bento. The city runs a project known as Os Azulejos do Porto (The Tiles of Porto) that preserves this rich artistic and cultural heritage by highlighting the exquisite decoration of façades with tiles, a well-known use of tiles that is dated from the 19th century in Portugal and represents an essential part of its artistic heritage.
Porto, Portugal
Foz do Douro
In addition to beautiful architecture, rich culture and history, and delicious cuisine, Porto is also home to stunning golden sandy beaches, which make up the spectacular coastline of the Costa Verde. Foz do Douro is one such beach – lapped by the Atlantic Ocean and lined with an esplanade for strolling, the blue-flag beach is lined with buzzing beach bars, numerous restaurants, including two Michelin-starred establishments, lush botanical gardens and several lighthouses commanding breathtaking ocean views. The Costa Verde coastline is lined with many beautiful beaches, which are easily accessible from central Porto via the city’s inexpensive public transport network.
Luis I Bridge
The Dom Luis I Bridge, or Luís I Bridge, is an impressive 172-meter double-deck metal arch bridge that spans the River Douro between the cities of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia. Designed by Téophile Seyrig, a student of Gustave Eiffel, and completed in 1886, the bridge’s lower deck bears regular traffic, and narrow walkways and the upper floor accommodates one of the city’s metro lines and pedestrians. The bridge is named after the king of Portugal, Luís I, and boasts beautiful views of both Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia, which is famous for its port wine houses.
Pte. Luiz I, Porto, Portugal
Palacio da Bolsa (Stock Exchange Palace)
The Palacio da Bolsa (Stock Exchange Palace) is a historical building located in the Infante D. Henrique Square in the heart of Porto that houses the Associação Comercial do Porto. Designed by Porto architect Joaquim da Costa Lima Júnior and built in the 19th century in the Neoclassical style with Palladian influences. The interior of the Palace is magnificently decorated with striking features like a large metallic, octagonal dome with glass panels over the central courtyard, a grand stairway built by Gonçalves e Sousa in 1968, and stunning ceiling frescoes painted by António Ramalho. The building is been classified as a National Monument and is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.
R. de Ferreira Borges, 4050-253 Porto, Portugal
Museu Serralves (Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art)
Located in Fundação Serralves, the Museu Serralves (Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art) is a world-class museum of contemporary art. Opened in 1999, the Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art is housed in a striking minimalist building designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Alvaro Siza Vieira and displays cutting-edge international art. The open spaces and sharp angles for the building create an exquisite space for showcasing the museum’s collection, which spans from the 1960s to the present, representing the beginning of the contemporary art movement. The collection showcases a variety of modern concepts in various media and styles from pop art and minimalism, to film and photography. Eighteen hectares of exquisitely manicured formal gardens designed by French architect Jacques Gréber lie next to the museum and feature striking sculptures, tranquil ponds, and ornate fountains.
R. Dom João de Castro 210, 4150-417 Porto, Portugal, Phone: +35-12-26-15-65-00
Restaurante Cafeina
Located on the banks of the Douro river, Restaurante Cafeina is a casual eatery just a block away from the beach in the Foz area of Porto that serves an array of tapas, fresh seafood dishes, and other contemporary European creations.
Pedro Lemos
Named after the restaurant’s head chef, Pedro Lemos specializes in gourmet Portuguese cuisine with a focus on using fresh, locally sourced ingredients and paired with fine wines from around the world.
Casa da Horta
Casa da Horta is a casual restaurant that specializes in vegetarian fare using locally sourced and organic ingredients and produce.
Restaurante O Comercial - Palacio da Bolsa
Restaurante O Comercial - Palacio da Bolsa is a sophisticated restaurant in the city’s stock exchange that offers a slick spot for business lunches and lavish dinners.
O Paparico
Hailed as Porto’s best restaurant, O Paparico is a highly-acclaimed dining destination helmed by Executive Chef Jonathan Seiller, who creates an innovative menu of sublime Portuguese cuisine.
