10 Unique Things to do in Porto, Portugal

Porto, Portugal is one of the most picturesque cities in Europe. With its brightly colored buildings, small winding streets and scenic Douro River, Porto is an ideal city to visit. Porto should absolutely be on any traveler’s bucket list. It’s a city filled with fun things to do and sites to see. To make it even better, it’s also highly affordable. Ready to plan your trip to Porto? Keep reading for 10 unique things to do in Porto, that go beyond the typical tourist activities!

10 Unique Things to do in Porto

1: Go Sailing on the Douro River

While in Porto, one of the most popular activities is a boat tour on the Douro River. However, instead of hopping on any packed tourist boat that shuttles tourists up and down the river, book a private or semi-private boat where you can relax and take in the scenery without being shoulder to shoulder with tons of other travelers.

These tours are far more relaxing, and while they don’t always provide commentary on what exactly you’re looking at, they’re a really nice way to take in the views of Porto.

I booked this boat tour on AirBnb Experiences, and it was a great way to see the city from the water. I was able to take lots of photos and they even gave us glasses of port to enjoy on the cruise.

Other private boat tour options:

• Private Tour on the Douro (1 to 4 people) in a Boat Just For You
• Private Tour on a Charming Sailboat on the Douro River
• Private Douro River Sailing Cruise

2: Find the Best Pasteis de Nata

Portugal is known for their delicious pasteis de nata – an egg custard tart topped with cinnamon. You can find these delicious sweets all over Porto, but there are some shops that cannot be missed!

Some of the best pasteis de nata in Porto:

• Manteigaria
• Nata Lisboa
• Fábrica da Nata
• Natas D’Ouro

When I’m in Porto, I love wandering around and popping into a bunch of different shops to sample their pasteis de nata. This is such a fun way to spend an afternoon, especially if the weather isn’t great!

3: Paint Your Own Azulejo (Portuguese Tile)

Porto is famous for its buildings facades decorated with charming azulejos (tiles). You’ll find these tiled buildings all over the city, and they’re a real treat to see.

While in Porto, it is so much fun to take an azulejo painting class, where you can learn about the history of azulejos in Porto and make your own souvenir.

I took a painting class with Gazate Azulejos and it was so much fun! I learned a lot about azulejos in Porto and I love how my tiles turned out.

4: Take a TukTuk Tour of the City

Okay, so a TukTuk tour is perhaps one of the most touristy things you can do in Porto – but I still 100% recommend it. I had such a great time on my TukTuk tour and it was a fantastic way to see the city and learn more about its history.

TukTuk tours will drive you all around Porto, stopping at major sites for photos. Something I really loved about the tour is that it showed me where everything was located in the city, so I could then go back to any sites I wanted to see again.

Overall, this a really great way to spend a couple hours in Porto. It’s an affordable way to see the city and it definitely beats walking uphill to some of the top tourist spots. This is a great thing to do on your first day in Porto in order to get a feel for the city and a sense of where everything is located.

TukTuk tours in Porto:

• Guided Tour to the Historical Center on a Tuk Tuk
• Discovering the Undefeated City of Porto in a Tuk-Tuk
• Full-Day Private Tuk Tuk All Around Porto
• Vintage Porto Tour (not a TukTuk, but this vintage style car is very cool)

5: Ride the Tram to the Beach

Porto has tram lines that connect different areas of the city. While these trams work to get you from one place to another, they’re also a fun way to sight-see. I specifically recommend taking Line 1 all the way from the beginning to the end. You’ll get wonderful views of the Douro River while your ride.

Getting on at the first stop, Infante, ensures you’ll get a good seat, and it’s a fun experience to ride the whole line. In total, it only takes about 25 minutes to get to the last stop, and from there, it’s a quick walk to the beach and Foz Lighthouse (Farolim de Felgueiras.)

Tram Information:

• Ride Line 1
• Get on at Infante, right by the steps to the Church of São Francisco
• You must pay cash to ride the tram
  • €3.50 one way €6.00 round trip
• The trams run every 20 minutes, or so

6: Climb Clérigos Tower at Sunset

Climbing Clérigos Tower is a must-do when in Porto. The tower is a focal point of Porto and one of the most recognizable sites in the city. If you want really spectacular views, I recommend climbing the tower at sunset.

Construction began on the tower in 1754 and the 75 meter (245 feet) tower is built in a Baroque architectural style.

There are 225 steps to the top, but it doesn’t take long, and the 360 degree views of Porto are so worth it!

Be sure to book timed tickets online in advance!

7: Have a Picnic at Palacio Cristal Gardens

Not too far from the Art District in Porto you’ll find Palacio Cristal Gardens. These gardens are scenic and relaxing and offer great views of the Douro River. There are even peacocks wandering around!

The gardens are free to explore and make a great place to take a picnic. There are also playgrounds, making the gardens an excellent place for kids and families.

8: Take Unique Tours – Like a Harry Potter Tour!

While in Porto there is no shortage of interesting tours you can take. From street art walking tours, to art classes, to food tours, there’s really something for everyone! I love that there are so many unique options, going beyond the standard walking and history tours – but they, of course, have those too!

I went on a Harry Potter walking tour, and it was an interesting combination of Harry Potter trivia, sites and Porto history.

Other fun and unique tours in Porto include:

• Night Tour in Porto with Dinner & Fado Show
• African Heritage and Colonial Roots Tour in Porto
• The Incredible Women of Porto
• Create Watercolour with Hugo do Lago
• Learn How to Make Pastel de Nata!
• Adventure Tour By Porto Buggy

I’m a huge fan of AirBnb Experiences, and there are so many incredible ones to choose from in Porto!

9: Have Coffee at My Coffee Porto for the Best Views

My Coffee Porto is such a gem! While the coffee and food are good, I specifically went for the beautiful views overlooking the Douro River, Vila Nova de Gaia and Luís I Bridge. Grab an outside table, sip on a coffee and people watch – it’s the perfect spot.

You will need to walk down (and back up) some hillside stairs to get to this coffee shop, but it’s worth it for the views!

10: Marvel at the Gold Interior of São Francisco Church

There are so many stunning buildings to visit while in Porto, some free and some paid.

If you only go in one during your trip to the city, make sure it’s São Francisco Church. The interior of this church is breathtaking. It’s all gold and truly stunning to see. It is said that over 300 kilos of gold dust was used to decorate the inside of the church!

Your ticket to view the church (8€) will also gain you entry into the church’s catacombs and museum, which you can check out if you have extra time.

Note: taking photos/videos in the church is not allowed.

Bonus: Take a Day Trip to Aveiro

If you have extra time in the Porto area, day trips are great options. While most travelers opt for a trip the wineries in the Douro Valley, a trip to the city of Aveiro is another great option.

Aveiro is located less than an hour from Porto by train, and trains run regularly in both directions for 4€-6€.

In Aveiro, you’ll find picturesque canals that you can float down in a traditional, colorful boat (barcos moliceiros). The city is also known for its art nouveau buildings and beautiful azulejos (tiles).

Be sure to also try the famous ovos moles from Confeitaria Peixinho. Founded in 1856, Confeitaria Peixinho is the oldest and most famous ovos moles shop in Aveiro.

If you’re traveling to Aveiro by car, or going on a guided tour, be sure to also stop by Costa Nova to see the brightly painted striped houses on the beach! These houses are called palheiros or “haystack” houses, and you’ll find them just 10 minutes by car from Aveiro city center.

I love that Aveiro is small enough to be explored in just half a day! It makes it the perfect little day trip from Porto.

Day trips to Aveiro:

• The Little Venice of Portugal: Aveiro Small Group Tour with Typical Boat Ride
• Aveiro Atlantic Tour (Biking)
• Coimbra & Aveiro Amazing Cultural Full Day Tour from Porto
• Aveiro and Coimbra Full Day Private Tour From Porto

Activities to Skip in Porto

Teleferico De Gaia (Gaia Cable Car)

While the views from the Gaia Cable Car were definitely cool, I wouldn’t consider this a must-do. First, the ride is pretty short (5 minutes each way) and the views are no more spectacular than those from the bridges connecting Porto and Gaia.

Unless you have a short time in Porto, or have kids and want an activity that doesn’t require a lot of walking, I’d skip the cable car and save your €9.00.

Majestic Café

So this comes with the caveat that I have never actually eaten/had coffee at Majestic Café – so perhaps I can’t say it’s overrated. However, there is almost always a long line to get a table and it’s very expensive.

This all being said, it is regarded as one of the most beautiful cafes in Europe (check out their Instagram), so if you can get a table without waiting too long and don’t mind spending €5 on an espresso, then check it out!

I personally wasn’t willing to wait in line, and there were other less touristy cafes I wanted to check out instead. If you have been to Majestic Cafe, let me know your thoughts on it!

Porto Tips and Advice

Transportation, Safety and Where to Stay

• How do you get around Porto?
  • While there is public transport (bus & metro) in Porto, the easiest way to get around is on foot. The city is small, and while it is hilly, I found it to be very walkable.
  • Additionally, Ubers are readily available and very inexpensive. We paid €6 to get all the way across the city, for example. While we didn’t use Uber a ton, it was a good option when it was raining or late at night.
• Is Porto safe at night?
  • The short answer is yes. But always be aware and stay in well lit areas, especially if you’re alone. Ubers are super affordable, and I definitely recommend using them at night.
• What is the best area to stay in Porto?
  • I recommend staying as close to the city center as possible, that way you can easily walk to restaurants, shops and tourist attractions.
  • Hotels and AirBnbs in these areas may be more expensive, and slightly smaller, but personally I think it’s worth it to be close to everything.
  • If you’re staying in Porto for an extended period of time, or want to be outside of the hustle and bustle of the city center, the Bonfim neighborhood is great. There are lots of cafes and you can walk to the city center in 15ish minutes. Bonfim has especially good coffee shops – so it’s definitely worth checking those out! Check out: Dona Mira, Aquela Kombucha (grab & go, but so good!), Mesa 325 and Combi Coffee.
• How many days in Porto is enough?
  • Three days in Porto is enough to see the major sites – any less than that, in my opinion, will feel rushed. For me, 5 days was ideal.

Tipping and Restaurants

• Do you tip waiters in Porto?
  • It’s not expected like it is in the US, but leaving a few extra euros after a meal will definitely be appreciated! 5%-10% for good service at nice restaurants is a good rule of thumb to follow.
• Can you drink tap water in Porto?
  • Yes, the tap water in Porto is safe to drink.

What other questions do you have about traveling to Portugal and the unique things to do in Porto? Let me know in the comments on DM us on Instagram, @twosistersabroad.

The Best Hotels in Porto

Porto City Center

• Mercure Porto Centro Aliados ($$)
• Chic & Basic Gravity ($$)
• Catalonia Porto ($$)
• Jardim da Batalha Boutique Hotel ($$)
• Exmo Hotel ($$$)
• Torel Palace Porto ($$$)

Outside of the City Center

• Oca Oriental Porto Hotel ($$)
  • Affordable, located in Bonfim
• Vincci Ponte de Ferro ($$$)
  • Located in Vila Nova de Gaia with amazing views  
• The Yeatman ($$$$)
  • Located across the river in Gaia – the views are magnificent

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So there you have it! I hope you found this guide to fun and unique things to do in Porto, Portugal to be helpful! Make sure you’re following us on Instagram, @twosistersabroad, for even more Portugal travel content.

If you have any questions, or any unique things to do in Porto to add to this post, let me know in the comments!

Lastly, I appreciate you sharing this post with someone you know who’d love to travel to Porto, Portugal!

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♡Kate

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