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The Ribeira riverfront, Porto, seen from the Dom Luís I bridge

No. 68 Top 100 City Destinations 2025

Porto

Portugal

Portugal's riverside second city of port wine cellars, tiled churches and the Dom Luís I bridge.

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Photo: Krzysztof Golik, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Porto is No. 68 in Euromonitor International's Top 100 City Destinations Index 2025. Portugal's second city climbs the steep north bank of the Douro River near the Atlantic, and its historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed in 1996.

Across the river in Vila Nova de Gaia, the cellars of the port wine houses offer tours and tastings, and the Douro Valley's vineyards are a day trip upriver.

The façade of Livraria Lello bookshop, Porto
The façade of Livraria Lello bookshop, Porto. Photo: John Samuel, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Best time to go

May to September is warm and sunny; the São João festival on the night of 23–24 June is the city's biggest party.

Winters are mild but often rainy.

Top sights

  • 1

    Ribeira

    The colourful riverfront quarter of narrow streets, cafés and boats offering river cruises.

  • 2

    Dom Luís I bridge

    A two-level iron bridge opened in 1886; walk the top deck for views of the city and the river.

  • 3

    Port wine cellars

    Tour and taste at the port houses along the Gaia riverfront.

  • 4

    Livraria Lello

    A famously ornate bookshop with a red, curving staircase. Entry requires a ticket; book online.

  • 5

    Clérigos Tower

    A baroque bell tower; climb it for views over the rooftops.

  • 6

    São Bento station

    A railway station whose entrance hall is lined with about 20,000 blue-and-white azulejo tiles.

  • 7

    Serralves In our Top 100 Museums

    A contemporary art museum by Álvaro Siza in a large park with an Art Deco villa.

Getting there

Porto Airport (OPO) is about 11 km north-west of the centre; metro line E (violet) runs to the city in about 30 minutes.

Alfa Pendular and Intercidades trains link Porto with Lisbon in about 3 hours.

Getting around

The metro, buses and historic trams serve the city; buy a rechargeable Andante card.

The centre is walkable but very hilly; the Guindais funicular links the Ribeira with the upper town.

Practical tips

Currency
Euro (EUR). Cards, including contactless, are accepted almost everywhere.
Language
Portuguese. English is widely spoken in tourist areas.
Safety
Porto is generally safe; watch for pickpockets in crowded areas and on trams. The emergency number is 112.
Visa & entry
Portugal is in the Schengen Area. Many visitors, including citizens of the US, Canada, the UK and Australia, can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) now records non-EU travellers' entries and exits at the border, and the ETIAS travel authorisation is due to follow. Check the official EU site travel-europe.europa.eu and your own government's travel advice before you go.
Power
230 V, 50 Hz; plug types C and F.

Official information: Visit Porto (official tourism website). Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.

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