10 Free Things To Do in Porto
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Spain’s neighbor to the west is Portugal, and there are many fascinating and gorgeous places to discover there. Porto is a marvelous city in the north and is definitely worth a visit.
Put on your comfortable shoes and let’s explore Porto!
10 Free Things To Do in Porto
- Although Porto is quite hilly it is easy to see many sights on foot. The UNESCO World Heritage district called Ribeira is along the river and heads uphill from there. Wear comfy shoes, you’ll find a lot of pretty but uneven mosaic stone sidewalks. You can also explore the Ribeira on foot and then take the metro, buses or taxis to see other areas.
- Porto has an amazing variety of street art. Head out with your camera and your travel companions on a hunt for the coolest graffiti.
- The Soares dos Reis Museum is free to visit on the first Sunday of the month.
- See how many different colors and patterns of tiles you can spot on Porto’s beautiful buildings. Be sure to visit the famous São Bento station to see the azulejos inside. You can also take a guided tile walking tour. I also enjoy the gorgeous colors of paint found in any neighborhood. Yellows, pinks, blues and greens grace the façades.
- Looking for fun things to do in Porto? Go for a bike ride! Pedal along the Douro and head to the beach. You can rent a bike here or go on a guided bike tour.
- Cross the Dom Luis I bridge for spectacular views of the river and both shores. You can walk on the lower footpath or head up to the second level where the tram passes for an even higher perspective.
- Once you get across the bridge you can explore Vila Nova de Gaia. This is the historic area where you’ll find the port wineries and tasting rooms. Port tastings are included if you join a guided tour of one of the port cellars. Check this one out.
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- If you’d like to escape the city you can walk along the Douro to the beach and spend the day on the sand. It takes about an hour to walk one way, or you can take the historic tram #1.
- One of my favorite things to do in a city is visit the local markets. Check out the Saturday Porto Belo and Clerigos markets, or visit the Mercado do Bolhão (closed for renovations in 2018). I am also fascinated by Porto’s traditional grocers. You can find many of these shops around area of the Mercado do Bolhão.
- Walk the new Caminhos do Romântico pedestrian paths and learn from the posted signs. You can find out more about the paths here. If you are with a group you can even book a guided tour. This is one of the wonderful unique things to do in Porto.
If you are on a budget you can definitely take advantage of these free things to do in Porto. Enjoy your visit to this beautiful city!
For information about how to get to Portugal from Spain, check out our guide to transportation.
Looking for lodgings in Porto? Compare prices on hotels at Hotels Combined.
