15 Things you can only do in Porto
The are some things you can only do in Porto. And we're not saying they are the strangiest, but they are defnitely unique. From admiring the city from the top of a church to going on a francesinha crawl, we can promise you you won't get bored. So if you are visiting Porto, make sure to add these to our to-do list.
Recommended: 101 things to do in Porto
15 Things you can only do in Porto
Take a stroll in the largest urban park in the country
We're talking about Parque da Cidade, of course.
Watch concerts under a theatre's stage
Understage is the concert hall of the Rivoli theatre and is located below the main auditorium. Producers Lovers & Lollypops, Amplificasom and Matéria Prima bring national and international bands to this stage.
Go on a francesinha crawl
We know full well that there are francesinhas elsewhere in the country, but nowhere beats Porto in terms of quantity and – let’s be real – quality. On this braggy note, here a few places worth checking out: Café Santiago, Bufete Fase, Lado B, Brasão Cervejaria, Yuko tavern, Bacarola Café, Capa Negra, Cufra, Cervejaria Galiza, Locanda, A Regaleira and Tappas Café.
Swim in a saltwater pool designed by Álvaro Siza Vieira
There’s nothing like Piscina das Marés, in Leça da Palmeira. Classified as a National Monument since 2011, they opened at the end of 1960 and are accessible to the public.
Admire a panoramic view of the city from the top of a church
The Nossa Senhora da Conceição church has one of the highest viewpoints in Porto. From there, you can observe an extended landscape that includes the city centre, Foz do Douro, the Monte da Virgem viewpoint in Gaia, Cabedelo beach, the Serra de Valongo natural park and São Félix Hill, in Póvoa de Varzim.
Watch kids jump off the D. Luís I Bridge
It's Ribeira landmark, and was captured on film more than once by Portuguese director Manoel de Oliveira. The daredevils stand in position on the outside of the bridge, skydiving style, say their prayers and jump into the water from about 17 metres high.
Walk into a miniature rabelo boat workshop
Barcos Náná, in Muro dos Bacalhoeiros, is a mandatory stop for proud locals. Senhor Fernando is keeping the family tradition alive, and sells various types of his miniature boats.
Walk around an aromatic medical and seasoning plant nursery
It’s called Cantinho das Aromáticas, it’s in Gaia, and anyone can visit its 2.5 hectares. At the end, stock up at the shop.
Look at a painting by a disciple of Hieronymus Bosch
It’s in the Maria Isabel Guerra Junqueiro and Luís Pinto de Mesquita Carvalho Foundation, and is a decal painting of the Garden of Earthly Delights, by Bosch. It’s been mentioned in various international studies of the artist’s work.
Visit the FC Porto Museum
In there are three centuries of history and unique trophies, like the Intercontinental Cup, the UEFA Cup or the European Supercup.
Go to the Portuguese edition of the Primavera Sound festival
Born and raised in Barcelona, this is one of the most popular music festivals in Europe. In 2012, Porto was the city chosen to receive the first and only extension of the event out of its homeland. www.nosprimaverasound.com
See a permanent scenography exhibition
The Noites Brancas (White Nights) exhibitions gathers the scenographies of some of the São João National Theatre’s own productions, and can be found in the São Bento da Vitória Monastery.
Arrábida Bridge
Since 2016, the bridge's arch has become the only one open to visitors in Europe, courtesy of the Porto Bridge Climb Company. There are 262 steps, 65 metres high over the river, and the view is breathtaking. Don’t worry, the climb is done with a guide and proper safety equipment.
www.portobridgeclimb.com
Discover the country’s first Baptist church
Named Tabernáculo Baptista, it was built between 1913 and 1916 in Boavista.
See the bottle of the first penicillin injection administrated to a portuguese man
In 1944, Fernando Ramôa escaped death and his daughter donated the bottle that saved him to Porto’s Pharmacy Museum.
Have fun in Porto
Travel tips every first time Porto visitor needs to know
The people of Porto are good-hearted, but like everywhere else in the world, there are always those who try to take advantage of tourists. So here’s a quick guide on how to survive your trip without getting ripped off. Or the least possible.
The 10 most instagrammable sites in Porto
Gone are the days of analogic photographs and postcards where we wrote about our trip’s latest news. Today it takes just about a minute and a half to take a picture, publish it, share it and wait for the avalanche of “likes”. Here are the landscapes, monuments and sceneries that would make for the most beautiful postcards of Porto… if we still lived in that time.
