1 day visit in Porto (The most authentic guide)

Tourism in Porto

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Porto is definitely that city you simply cannot grasp in a one-day visit. Still, we understand that sometimes you have other priorities and we are happy that you managed to squeeze in-between your tight schedule a few hours to visit the Very Noble and Invicta City of Porto (yes, that is actually the full name of the city).

So, we decided to put together some interesting spots for you to visit and take some valuable shots of our most charming city. They are in the vicinity of each other, so you can take this as an itinerary or recombine them as modules according to your available time, priorities and tastes. We even added a map in the end.

Speaking of time, let’s dive into the subject right away. Hop in.

1st - The El Dorado

One of the most defining elements of the city it’s the Douro (Golden) River. Springing from Spain, it spreads through Portugal and Spain up to the sea, as one of the Peninsula’s largest rivers.

As with any major water course, it spawned a civilization of culture and commerce. After all, it’s in its hills that you will find the Port (you know, the famous wine) Vineyards and it’s through its course that the boats used to transport the wine to the cellars where it was stored.

Any other moment we would suggest you a boat or a helicopter trip, but since you don’t have much time, you can start off by checking the XIVth century Fernandina Wall that serves you a great view over the river as well (probably the only time a wall built to keep people out does any good to anyone). You can then move closer and see it from the metal double-deck arch Luiz I Bridge, between Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia, designed by a Gustave Eiffel (the same architect that designed the famous French tower) disciple, Théophile Seyrig.

From there, you should pay a visit to the Porto Cathedral, a grand Romanesque/Gothic/Baroque construction lurking over the city. The patio will serve you a nice view of Gaia and the river as well.

2nd - At the heart of it all

Follow the line down from the Cathedral and you will bump into the Fountaine bleau-style S. Bento train station, where you can admire some really beautiful azulejo tile-clad walls with scenes evoking both Portugal and the railroad history. Formerly a Benedictine convent that was burned to the ground, the building is fully operational even in this day and age.

Looking out diagonally to the right of any of its doors, you will see the Baroque Congregados Church, where you can also see the paintings of Acácio Lino, a nineteenth century Porto artist.

Once you leave it, go around it to the right and you will find yourself in the main square, Avenida dos Aliados where the City Hall sits. This is basically the center of the city. Whenever something big happens, whether it’s the city’s football team winning or a New Year’s passing, this is the place where people come together to celebrate that truly magnificent thing of being a Porto citizen.

If you enter the main square from there you will find the most beautiful McDonald's of the world, still known by its former name, Imperial. Don’t take our words for it: it’s 9Gag that says so.

Still at the foot of the square and facing the City Hall, at its center, you will see the equestrian statue of D. Pedro IV, one of our last kings. The Porto division of the Bank of Portugal is here in this square as well, to the left of the statue.

The square itself, called Praça da Liberdade (Freedom Square), has a beautiful gothic feel at night, a bit of a Gotham City vibe, but during the day it’s a gorgeous place to take pictures full of depth; it sports some chairs for lounging, a statue of Almeida Garrett, one of our accomplished writers and a water mirror right in front of the City Hall designed by Siza Vieira (in fact, this version of the whole square was designed by him). Go behind the City Hall and admire the Holy Trinity Church.

3rd - Harry Potter and the Clerigos Tower

While J. K. Rowling is yet to write this exciting chapter of the Hogwarts School saga, you can already check the bookshop Lello & Irmão, in which magnificent staircase the famed writer inspired herself while writing about the magical library in her books. The ticket fee will be deduced of any book you buy there. You can move to there coming from the Holy Trinity Church, through any of the streets that go up, coming from the main square.

Right beside the bookshop you can see one of the most recognizable monuments of Porto: the Torre dos Clérigos (the Clerigos Tower), now renovated and full of history to share. Originally projected by Nicolau Nasoni, it stood as the tallest point in the city and it’s still a great place to take a panoramic shot of the city and try to identify all the buildings from above. The Church is worth seeing too. Then go outside, stroll down the Clerigos’ street and take a shot of the Clerigos’ Church with the Tower behind it. You’re back in Freedom Square.

4rd - Arabian dreams

You are on a roll now, so just keep going. Pass the railroad station again and head down in the direction of the river. You can now check both the Port Wine Institute (self-explanatory, right? wink wink) and the old Palácio da Bolsa (Stock Exchange Palace). Sounds boring? Please, bear with us: go in and wait until the end of the trip, when they will show you the Arabian Salon. Do not check for pictures of it online. I repeat: don’t spoil this for yourself, don’t spoil it for others. Notice that we didn’t even share a link? Well, that’s no accident.

Close and for a finishing touch, visit the Saint Francis Church (Igreja de S. Francisco).

By the end of this short visit, that runs you are probably tired, by now, you want to eat, right? Well, glad you asked. You are very, very close to us, so come pay as a visit and share with us what you think of our little itinerary.

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#Porto #GuideofPorto #Tourism #Clérigos #LivrariaLello