While walking through the streets, interacting with the people and visiting local museums, restaurants and concert halls, there are details that will forever shape your experience in Porto, as this is a city that, if you search hard enough, truly allows you to dive deep into its core. That being said, there are plenty of activities for you to choose from, depending on your mood and 鈥� of course 鈥� company.
Things to do in Porto alone
For anyone moving to Porto alone, we recommend taking a walk through the trendiest street in Porto: the artsy , the city's unofficial art district. Flanked by multiple art galleries, this is Porto's rebellious scream against modern times and a symbol of counter-culture. You can feel it through the alternative clothing shops, the retro-cool decorations and the organic fruit and vegetable markets. Plus, it's also a great place to meet different people from all walks of life! Even if you're not particularly comfortable talking to strangers out of the blue, you may join one of the quarter's many workshops and make new friends while learning a new skill.
Alternatively, don't forget to also check out , , or , some of the city's most famous concert houses and performance halls. You will be granted a show pretty much every single night, providing you with the opportunity to enjoy a lovely night out and attend a concert you soon won't forget. If you're more of the outdoorsy type, you're always welcome to go for a jog in the or at the .
Lastly, Porto (much like any big Portuguese city) is uber famous for its coffee shops and bakeries, where you can sit down, read a book and have a little cup of joe along with a pastel de nata. The perfect setting for some 鈥渕e time鈥�.
Things to do in Porto with your partner
Starting with more romantic endeavors, we have to mention that cruising the Douro by boat has to be one of the best and most important things to do in Porto 鈥� after all, this river is an essential feature of the city's history and landscape. You can also take a tour through one of the to get an authentic taste of the local culture in Porto. In case you've already made it to the cellars and are looking for a different wine-related activity, you can take your better half to the , a cultural/exhibition center dedicated to the city's most popular export, where visitors can engage in workshops, try sensorial experiences, visit museums or simply enjoy a meal.
However, if you and your loved one are hoping for a quiet and beautiful green area where to relax, catch up after a day of work, have a picnic or simply read a book, you may take a walk through the Pal谩cio de Cristal Gardens 鈥� one of the city's best-kept secrets and a real master class on landscape design where one can find a gorgeous maze of flowers, fountains and statues. Plus, the views over the city are amazing! Speaking of views, Porto is quite known for its viewpoints, with multiple places across the city center providing great vistas over the river banks and/or the downtown area. Why not grab a beer or a cocktail, take your loved one by the hand, and go appreciate the sunset from one of these viewpoints? Great viewpoints include , or .
Things to do in Porto with friends
Finally, if you are looking for fun places to visit with your friends, nothing beats a night out at , Porto's most popular nightlife hub, filled to the brim with bars and clubs where everyone gathers on Friday and Saturday nights. Nearby, you'll also notice large groups of students congregating around , where people just enjoy hanging out and drinking, after buying a few beers at or 鈥� considered the city's ultimate cheap drinking spots! If night-owling isn't really your thing, you can hit and go on a shopping spree, as this is the city's main pedestrian street, as well as one of its busiest and liveliest.
However, if you just want to hit one club and dance the night away, it's worth checking out , or . For the LGBTQ community, , and are the go-to places for a night out in Porto!
For something way calmer, it won't take you too long to realize most hangouts take place around a coffee table. Particularly among the younger generations, it is quite common to go out for a cup of coffee and sit there for hours on end, just talking about life and reminiscing about old times. There are plenty of coffee shops in Porto, but we recommend checking out , , , or . For the ultimate tourist experience, you can check , one of the most beautiful cafes in the world and a place where students, writers and other intellectuals gathered to discuss the country's political situation, while outside the Salazar dictatorial regime persecuted all who opposed him. Unfortunately, Majestic is nothing but a huge, touristy theme park, and no locals ever go there anymore. Plus, prices are ludicrous. Still, for a one-off thing, admiring the insane interiors is probably worth every penny of the (ridiculously) overpriced cup of coffee.
Activities to do with kids in Porto
Considering the country's family-oriented mindset, it comes as no surprise that there are plenty of kid-friendly activities in Porto!
The is one such activity, offering loads of fun and educational activities for kids and grown-ups alike. This interactive museum and exhibition center focuses on the iconic travels of Portuguese sailors and explorers, highlighting the small (or big) ways this tiny country ended up influencing places all over the world. Across the river, in Vila Nova de Gaia, you can also take the family on a day out to the and to the nearby . For something a bit more active, you can take your kids to one of the many beaches located 20-30 minutes away from the downtown area, especially in , or ; go for a (literal) walk in the park at or through the beautiful ; or test your accuracy skills at the .
If you want to keep your kids busy but wish to check out the city as well, catching one of Porto's old trams is a must! There are only 3 lines remaining, but they'll take you along the river banks in a short but very picturesque journey. We specifically recommend riding on Line 1 for Porto's classic tram experience. Alternatively, you may also check the or the for great views over the Douro. Furthermore, and since Portugal is a nation that is absolutely obsessed with football, catching a local game at can also be a pretty cool thing to do with kids. Alternatively, you may also climb up 鈥� arguably the city's most noticeable building 鈥� or visit the legendary , consistently ranked among the most beautiful bookstores in the world.
On the other hand, if you happen to get unlucky with the weather and need somewhere indoors to spend time with the kids, why not check what's on display at one of the local theaters or concert halls (such as , or )? If that doesn't hit the sweet spot, then you may simply grab a bag of popcorn and catch a movie at one of the city's many cinemas (mostly located inside shopping malls). As an alternative, you can also discover one of the city's many museums, such as the , the or the .
Special events and tourist attractions in Porto
Although not as lively or 鈥渉appening鈥� as Lisbon, Porto still plays host to some pretty amazing festivals and events throughout the year. Out of all the music festivals that take place in Porto every year, and rank among the most popular, while Blues fans are also welcome to join in at the .
However, the most spectacular night of the year takes place on June 23, during the celebrations of Saint John, the city's patron saint (the official holiday is June 24, but people celebrate on the night of the 23rd). It's by far the best party of its kind in Portugal, overshadowing Lisbon's Santo Ant贸nio by a mile! During the festivities, the streets get jam-packed with people from all over the city and all walks of life as dozens of impromptu parties, bars, and concerts spring up everywhere (and anywhere). Also, don't raise an eyebrow when you see people hitting each other over the head with a plastic hammer; it's tradition, so everything goes!
Be that as it may, and even on the rare instances when there isn't much going on in the city, Porto is still very much worth exploring for the typical 鈥渢ourist experience鈥�. Just take a walk, explore the river banks and downtown area, and hit all of the classics, such as , the or .
Sports in Porto
Football is by far the most popular sport in Porto, with the overwhelming majority of locals supporting the local giant FC Porto. Needless to say, matches usually attract big crowds, with people who didn't make it to the stadium gathering to watch the games in pubs, restaurants of caf茅s. Even if you don't feel like catching a game, fans can simply take a tour of the city's largest stadium: Est谩dio do Drag茫o. Other popular sports in Porto include cycling, futsal (a 5vs5, indoor variation of football), basketball, handball and roller hockey. Lately, it has also become quite common to meet people who play either padel, tennis or pickleball on a regular basis.
Moreover, there are lots of gyms scattered across the city, tending to all budgets and levels of expertise. For the most popular chains, check out , , , or . If you'd like to play some sports but struggle with finding people to pair up with, there are also mobile apps that help you book courts/pitches and find other players interested in joining a game of padel, tennis or football, such as , or .
Besides, with many beaches within 20-30 minutes from the city center, surfing is another sport that some Portuguese natives are very passionate about. Most beach towns like , , , and will have surfing boards for rent and even surfing schools if you are new to the sport.
We do our best to provide accurate and up to date information. However, if you have noticed any inaccuracies in this article, please let us know in the comments section below.
