-Europe.Portugal.Porto-
I always had Porto on my mind as one of the places to visit. The chance to briefly visit the city came with our last minute decision to do a cruise on the Azamara in March 2026. The cruise ended in Lisbon but we needed a flight to Venice Treviso airport of which Porto airport provides.
So we hopped onto the high-speed train from Lisbon Santa Apolonia Station to Porto. And just like that we had the chance to have a very short overview of this city where everyone says is prettier than Lisbon.
Note: This post contains affiliate links where I may earn a commission from at no extra cost to you. I promise that I am only endorsing products I use myself and trust in. This support in turn helps me sustain this website to bring you more travel tips. Let’s win together!
Table of Contents
Getting from Lisbon to Porto
We took the morning Alfa Pendular (AP) train at 8am – to get into Porto earlier. We arrived at Porto Campanha station in about 3 hours. The ride was comfortable – with wide seats, power supply on every seat and had big windows to admire the landscape as we drove by. The hours flew quickly by and before long we arrived.
As we wanted to check out the city but had our luggage with us, I bought the train ticket from Santa Apolonia to Sao Bento station. This meant we didn’t have to purchase a separate ticket. We checked for the next departure to Sao Bento and took the next train which brought us to the city center.
Sao Bento Train Station
Walking into São Bento Train Station is like stepping into a blue-and-white daydream. While most people visit for its stunning Azulejo tilework—over 20,000 hand-painted tiles by Jorge Colaço that chronicle Portugal’s storied history and rural life. It felt like a welcome peek into the city’s heritage after stepping off the train. I definitely recommend Sao Bento as the station you arrive in , given a choice.
Besides this Sao Bento station also offers luggage storage of different sizes – pretty easy to use. We had to pay 1 Euro to lock the storage and when we came back – we paid the difference in amount for the time we stored our luggage.
What we did in Porto
Once our luggage was safely stored, we were now hands free to visit Porto – a good thing too because I was not prepared to how much downhill we had to walk in order to reach the riverside. Which meant we had to walk back uphill after.
I admittedly did not plan in depth what to see in Porto this time but still we managed to see some highlights of the city in the few hours we were there.
Rua das Flores
If São Bento is the city’s grand entrance, Rua das Flores is its most charming corridor. Once the prestigious home of Porto’s 16th-century aristocracy and goldsmiths, this narrow, pedestrianized street has evolved into a vibrant tapestry of the old and the new. As you stroll past its beautifully restored townhouses with their wrought-iron balconies, you’ll find a curated mix of traditional artisan shops, bohemian boutiques, and some of the city’s best brunch spots and wine bars. The street’s gentle slope creates a natural stage for talented street musicians, whose melodies bounce off the colorful facades, making it the perfect place to experience Porto’s contemporary creative energy while still feeling the weight of its centuries-old history.
Palácio da Bolsa
The Palácio da Bolsa is a masterwork of 19th-century Neoclassical architecture that serves as a monument to Porto’s commercial history and its former status as the city’s stock exchange. While the grand facade is impressive, the true splendor lies within its opulent themed rooms, which can only be visited via mandatory guided tours available in several languages. The absolute highlight is the Arabian Room, a dazzling ballroom inspired by the Alhambra and covered in intricate Moorish-style gold leaf and woodwork that creates a mesmerizing, jewel-box effect. Other notable stops include the Hall of Nations, topped by a massive glass dome that floods the space with light, and the Noble Staircase, which reviewers often call one of the most beautiful in Europe for its detailed stonework and elegant chandeliers.
Visiting Information
Entrance Fee: The standard adult ticket is €14. Seniors and students pay €9.50, and children under 12 enter for free.
Opening Times: The palace is open daily from 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM.
Tours: Guided tours typically last about 30 minutes and are offered in English, Portuguese, Spanish, and French. Because tours can sell out, especially in popular languages, it is often recommended to arrive early in the day to secure a time slot.
Mercado Ferreira Borges
The Mercado Ferreira Borges is a striking example of 19th-century iron architecture that stands out immediately due to its vibrant red cast-iron frame and expansive glass panels. Although it was originally built to replace the city’s older markets, it never truly functioned as a traditional marketplace and has instead been transformed into a dynamic cultural hub. Today, it is best known as the home of Hard Club, a popular venue that hosts live music performances, electronic dance nights, and various exhibitions. For a traveler, it offers a fascinating contrast to the granite monuments nearby, serving as a creative space where historic industrial design meets Porto’s modern nightlife and arts scene.
Highlights for Visitors
Industrial Architecture: Admire the intricate metalwork and the “Glass Palace” aesthetic, which is particularly photogenic during the golden hour when light reflects off the red structure.
Hard Club: Check their schedule for live concerts or DJ sets if you want to experience the city’s contemporary music culture inside a historic shell.
Art & Events: The interior often hosts temporary art installations, book fairs, or craft markets, making it a great spot to discover local Portuguese creators.
Dining: There is an on-site restaurant and bar where you can grab a drink and appreciate the massive scale of the iron girders above you.
Visiting Information
Opening Times: The building is generally open daily from 10:00 AM to 12:00 AM, though these hours can extend later into the night for specific ticketed concerts or club events.
Entrance: Entry to the main building is typically free, though access to specific concerts or the nightclub area requires a ticket.
Ribeira District
The Ribeira District is the soulful, historic heart of Porto and a UNESCO World Heritage site that feels like a living museum. Nestled along the banks of the Douro River, this neighborhood is defined by a labyrinth of steep, winding medieval alleyways and tall, brightly colored houses decorated with drying laundry and traditional tiles. It is the city’s most atmospheric quarter, where the ancient granite walls of the city meet the vibrant energy of riverside cafes and street performers. Visiting Ribeira is less about checking off a list of monuments and more about getting lost in its narrow “escadas” (stairways) and soaking in the timeless maritime spirit that has defined Porto for centuries.
Porto Riverfront
The Porto riverfront, known as the Cais da Ribeira, offers what is arguably the most iconic vista in all of Portugal, especially with the monumental Luis I Bridge arching grandly in the background. As you walk along the Douro, the scene is a masterful mix of industrial ironwork and colorful, sun-drenched history; the double-deck bridge acts as a majestic frame for the traditional Rabelo boats that once transported wine barrels from the valley. At sunset, the riverfront transforms into a golden theater where the granite of the city glows, street musicians provide a live soundtrack, and the lights of the port wine lodges across the water begin to twinkle. It is the definitive “postcard moment” of any trip, capturing the perfect balance between Porto’s rugged maritime past and its vibrant, romantic present.
Igreja do Carmo
The Igreja do Carmo is one of Porto’s most visually arresting landmarks, famous for the massive mural of blue and white azulejo tiles that covers its entire exterior side wall. This 18th-century Baroque masterpiece is unique because it actually sits right next to another church, the Igreja dos Carmelitas; the two are separated by a tiny, one-meter-wide house—the “Hidden House”—built so the two churches wouldn’t share a wall and to comply with a law that prohibited two churches from being joined. Inside, the church is equally impressive, featuring ornate gold-leaf altars and intricate wood carvings that reflect the wealth and religious devotion of the era.
Highlights & Visiting Information
The Azulejo Facade: The exterior tile work, designed by Silvestre Silvestri, depicts the founding of the Carmelite Order and is a favorite spot for photographers.
The Hidden House: You can tour the narrowest house in the city, which was inhabited until the 1980s, to see how people lived in such a cramped, vertical space.
The Catacombs: A visit often includes access to the historic catacombs and the church’s treasury, which houses significant religious artifacts.
Entrance Fee: Entry to the main church is generally free for prayer, but there is a combined ticket that allows access to the Hidden House, the catacombs, and the museum.
Opening Hours: The complex is open daily from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
Livraria Lello
Livraria Lello is widely celebrated as one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world, renowned for its stunning neo-Gothic facade and its dramatic, crimson-colored central staircase. Stepping inside feels like entering a cathedral of literature, where intricate carved wood details, a massive stained-glass ceiling, and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves create an atmosphere of old-world enchantment. While it is famously associated with the Harry Potter series, the shop’s true appeal lies in its preservation of 19th-century Portuguese architectural splendor, making it a must-see landmark for bibliophiles and design enthusiasts alike. I did not expect that it would be so popular an attraction and I tried to book last-minute online but it just was not possible!
Visiting Advice & Information
Booking in Advance: Entry is strictly managed via a voucher system. It is highly recommended to purchase your “Ticket-Voucher” online through the official website well in advance, as time slots frequently sell out.
Entry Prices: Important to note that there are different entry prices. Standard is a non-guided option with the entrance fee being deductible if you buy a book.
Opening Times: The bookstore is typically open daily from 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM.
Beat the Crowds: To enjoy the architecture with fewer people in your photos, aim for the very first time slot in the morning or the final hour before closing.
Luggage Storage in Porto
The Luggage Hack (Crucial Step) Drop your bags right as you arrive in Porto like we did. We went with Option B which has different sized lockers that can fit your luggage. We paid a Euro to be able to lock the locker and paid the rest of the fees when we came back to open it back up.
Option A (Left Luggage Lockers): There are 9 spots in Porto to leave your luggage in lockers or luggage shops (needs coins and notes)
Option B (São Bento Station): Transfer from Campanhã to the beautiful, centrally located São Bento station (a quick 4-minute local train ride included in your long-distance ticket). São Bento also has large luggage lockers and accepts credit card.
Option C (Luggage Apps): Use a service like Bounce which allows you to securely leave your bags at a verified shop or hotel right in the heart of the city for a few Euros
Just Pin It!
Related posts you might like...
