Planning your itinerary and are looking for some of the unique things to do in Porto? Well then you have come to the right place. We like many others that have visited the city before us, were fascinated with everything that Porto had to offer. The city is well known for its culture, history, food, music, wine and more!
There are loads of things to keep you occupied for days on end. I had to struggle to keep this list relatively short and sweet. It is definitely not a wonder that this city has become popular among tourists who are looking for a location for a long stay holiday. Even digital nomads tend to pick Porto for this very same reason.
Are you planning an itinerary and haven’t figured everything out yet? This list should help you add a unique twist to your time in the city.
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Table of Contents
Unique Things to Do In Porto: Buildings
1. Livraria Lello
Have you heard of Livraria Lello? This is the very same library where the Harry Potter movies were shot at. Now you don’t have to be a Harry Potter fan to really enjoy this library/bookshop. The inside of the shop is very ornate. Its staircase in particular is very beautiful.
The downside is that while visiting the Livraria Lello is definitely one of the unique things to do in Porto, it is also one of the most popular ones.
You have to book your slot in advance and arrive 15 minutes before your time slot. Everything is organized but it can be a bit costly to get in.
Is it worth it? Well, we thought that we could comp all our tickets against one book but apparently one ticket is good for a discount against one book and cannot be combined. So even though we did enjoy it a lot, in retrospect, I may not have paid to enter, especially since you have to get tickets for the kids too.
2. Porto City Hall
Located right in the heart of the city is an impressive building that is used as the city hall. The Porto city hall is open to the public during the day and taking a tour of it is one of the free things to do in Porto that you should add to your list. There aren’t a whole lot of things to see here because most of the building is used for people that work in city hall BUT there is an interactive map that will help you tour Porto virtually.
Ideally, you will find that this makes a great starting spot for your stay in Porto because it will help you plan your itinerary better.
3. Átrio da Estação de São Bento
Sao Bento Station is Porto’s main railway station. Saying that visiting it is one of the unique things to do in Porto sounds a bit odd doesn’t it? But the station has this amazing wall which is decorated with azulejos. The blue and white tiles combine together to form a cool picture.
Now you really won’t spend a lot of time here but since it is very centrally located, it is easy to pop in and out of the station just to see it.
Unique Things To Do In Porto: Museums
4. Antiga Cadeia da Relação do Porto
My brother is a big fan of photography and it came as no surprise that one of the places that he visited was the photography museum. It was on my bucket list too but not at the very top. He did succeed in dragging me there and boy was I glad that he did because we probably would have missed this awesome structure.
What I did not know about the Antiga Cadeia da Relação do Porto was that it was located in the old prison building of the city. The triangular shaped building is pretty unique and easy to get to. When you visit the museum to check out all the photography that it houses (and they are pretty awesome) you can also check out how the prison was structured back then.
You can easily spend one to two hours exploring it and in the end it was one of my favorite unique things to do in Porto.
5. Tram Museum
Museu do Carro Eléctrico also known as the Tram museum is one of the cool kid friendly unique things to do in Porto. The museum has loads of different street cars that have been restored over time. You can see ones that are super old. So old that they were pulled by horses! These date back to the 1960’s!
But the street cars are not the only attraction. As the name of the museum suggests, it also has a number of trams on display too. The oldest vintage tram that is on display is from 1872 and was horse drawn. Interesting right? It is even cooler in person so make sure to add it to your itinerary.
6. Bolsa Palace
⭐️ Rating: 4.4/5 (2,713 Reviews) Price: $13 per person Duration: 30 min 📍Meeting Point: Bolsa Palace Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!
I found the Bolsa Palace extremely interesting. First off, we walked past it a number of times and the building itself was pretty impressive. Then on one rainy day, we decided to head in because we were looking for activities where we could keep dry and keep busy.
The Bolsa palace had a seriously big line in it and we were in it for almost 20 minutes before we got bumped in front because we had small kids. So if you want to visit, I would recommend booking your tickets in advance!
“Maria was informative while we enjoyed touring and taking pictures.”
Sandra (read more reviews now!)
The Bolsa palace can only be seen via a guided tour and I highly recommend taking one. The inside of the building is gorgeous and the tour guide will explain the history of the building, the significance of each room and give you a bit of insight into the architecture of the building too.
Unique Things To Do In Porto: Churches
Like almost every other city in Portugal, you will find that Porto is covered with churches. Many of these are extremely old, filled with artwork and/or azulejos, have a lot of history and are very interesting. Here are a couple that I rank high as far as uniqueness is concerned. That’s the reason why I’ve included them in the list of unique things to do in Porto.
7. Carmo And Carmelitas Churches
The Carmo and Carmelitas Churches are by far one of the most intriguing buildings in the city. I saw these churches when we were wandering around on our first day in Porto. Now I actually planned on visiting them later when I was not as exhausted but the evening sun illuminated them and made them look gorgeous. My impatience got the better of me and I entered.
At first I thought that it was just one super wide church but no. The Carmo and Carmelitas churches are actually two churches that are separated by a single house. You can see this if you stand in front of them and look at their facade. The house that separates them is just a meter wide!
Why would the churches be built like this? Well back then two churches were not allowed to share a wall. The small house in between was a work around this. Over time it housed not only the chaplains and the artists of the time but also was a place where secret meetings took place during the invasion of Portugal by Napoleon
8. Porto Cathedral
Another particularly unique church that you can visit is the Porto cathedral. Located at the top of a hill, the cathedral is one of the viewpoints where you can see the Porto skyline sprawled out in front of it.
At first I thought that the cathedral was small but I was really mistaken. You stand in line for a bit and then walk in. Here you will see that the cathedral resembles a kind of a fort.
This is because it was positioned very close to the walls that once protected the city. The view from above helped them keep an eye out for potential invaders.
Now the cathedral is very old but it has a mix of different architectural styles. This is because the construction began in the 12th century but the cathedral was renovated multiple times over the centuries. A couple of things to note are the cloisters, the beautiful azulejos, the tower and its bells and the gorgeous church. You can see why visiting the Porto cathedral is one of the unique things to do in Porto.
Unique Things To Do In Porto: Food
Porto is a pretty big foodie hub. There are loads of restaurants, cafes and pubs that serve up all kinds of different delicacies. There are local specialities which I will talk about in a bit and there are also some pretty cool experiences that easily make it to the list of unique things to do in Porto.
9. McDonald’s Imperial
Would you believe me if I told you that one of the interesting and unique things to do in Porto is to visit the McDonald’s Imperial?
Even though it sounds odd, visiting the McDonald’s is pretty unique because of the building it is located in. The McDonald’s Imperial is centrally located and is a historic café.
The huge eagle at the entrance along with the huge name board will welcome you in. The colorful inside is totally worth seeing.
As for the food… Well that is pretty much the normal McDonald’s fare. Nothing surprising there. There are however long lines when it comes to this place. This is because it has gone viral on social media. So make sure that you budget for some time to get in and catch your meal.
10. All Things Bacalhau
Bacalhau is the Portuguese translation for codfish and is one of the most popular meals in the country. It is served up in different ways. Sometimes it is baked or made with cream. Bacalhau asado is roasted cod fish which is another way in which the Portuguese eat this fish. The most popular version with the tourists however is the Pastel De Bacalhau.
You will find local shops that serve these up alongside drinks. There is even a famous chain that specializes in making these delicacies. You can eat alongside a glass of the famed Porto wine.
11. Rissóis
You can’t leave Porto without trying out the rissol or rissois (plural). I have a particular affinity to this particular snack because rissois de camarao are very popular in Goa. They were served up at parties, weddings, christenings and more.
When we left Goa, I actually learned to make them at home. It’s a pretty time consuming process. These dumplings are half moon shaped and are stuffed with a creamy prawn filling. They are then coated in breadcrumbs before they are deep fried in oil. You can see why the ones in Porto immediately caught my attention.
Generally speaking, rissois are served up as a snack alongside a cup of coffee or tea. You can also have it as an appetizer or with a glass of cold beer. I know that the pasteis de bacalhau are more popular in Porto but my favorite will always be this prawn stuffed snack.
12. Learn To Make Pastel De Nata
⭐️ Rating: 4.8/5 (131 Reviews) Price: $38 per person Duration: 1.5 hours 📍Meeting Point: near Livraria Lello Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!
You’ve probably heard about the legendary pastel de nata. Odds are you’ve even tasted it before you’ve set foot in Portugal. The Portuguese delicacy has made its way around the world with increasing popularity. I mean what is not to love? The crispy pastry base pairs so well with the creamy center.
Now you can have your fill of pasteis de nata every single day that you are in Portugal but like me, odds are you will miss it like crazy when you get back home.
So why not take a part of Portugal back with you? There are a couple of great places that offer courses on how to make pasteis de nata.
They obviously provide all the ingredients. All you have to do is turn up and be prepared to learn a new skill.
“Berta was a fantastic teacher and we had so much fun! It was a brilliant way of enjoying this local delicacy. The class was really chilled but educational, and the pastel de nata’s were so delicious. Thank you so much for being so kind & generous in teaching us your recipe. Would highly highly recommend booking this class for your trip to Porto!”
Amy (read more reviews now!)
A fun part about learning to make the pasteis de nata is also learning about its history. Your chef will talk to you about how the treat made its way across the world and how proud the Portuguese are of this fact. Once you are done making your pasteis de nata, you get to enjoy them alongside a glass of the regional Porto wine.
Not only is this one of the unique things to do in Porto, it is one of the experiences that you will carry with you for a long while.
13. Take A Food Tour
⭐️ Rating: 4.8/5 (449 Reviews) Price: $80 per person Duration: 3 hours 📍Meeting Point: Rua Alexandre Herculano 251, 4000-053 Porto, Portugal Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!
Portuguese cuisine is legendary. In fact because of our Goan background, we love the medley of flavors and spices because it reminds us a lot of food back home. In fact, I actually did a lot of shopping for groceries and took them back home to the Netherlands as souvenirs.
If you are foodie, I would highly recommend taking one of the food tours of the city for a number of reasons. For one thing you will understand the culinary evolution of the food in Porto.
There are a lot of stories that a local can tell you and the easiest way to get access to them is with a tour guide or over a glass of wine with a local who is your friend.
Now since all of us don’t have friends in Porto, heading out on a food tour is a pretty obvious choice.
“We really enjoyed the tour. Our guide Lucas was super great, giving us a sense of the history of the different spots we went to and a sense of the lifestyle for locals. We learnt a lot and the food was really tasty.
In quite a few places they also offerred us wine with the food which weren’t expecting so it really was good value for money. We also enjoyed getting to know the people in our group. I would highly recommend.”
Shakira (read more reviews now!)
Your local guide will take you to the secret local spots. These are away from the popular tourist hubs and they serve up authentic Portuguese food. He/she will also tell you what to taste and try.
A couple of things that will tantalize your taste buds on this tour include the famous bifana, numerous types of cheese, smoked meats, olives, bread and more. Obviously you will also get a chance to sample the local wine that Porto is famous for.
This is one of the experiences that is a favorite of mine when it comes to unique things to do in Porto. That’s because I’m a big foodie. If you are one too then this is definitely something that you should consider.
14. Learn To Make Azulejos
⭐️ Rating: 4.9/5 (163 Reviews) Price: $44 per person Duration: 2 hours 📍Meeting Point: Domus Arte Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!
Do you know those pretty blue and white tiles that you see all over Portugal? They are called azulejos. Azul in Portuguese means blue. We see these famous paintings on both tiles that adorn the walls as well as on grocery. Painting these tiles is an art and there are workshops that are conducted in Porto on how to do this.
Before you ask, no! You do not need any insane art skills to attend this. These tile painting classes are geared towards people visiting Porto and offer a mix of history about the famous tiles and guidance on how to make them.
The best part is that this is one of the cool unique activities in Porto that is totally kid friendly!
What you have to do is choose one of the predesigned tiles in the archive. Generally these are similar to the patterns that you see when wandering around the city.
“It was a pleasant experience, I spent 2 pleasant hours, drank wine, laughed with acquaintances and strangers. Our instructor stopped by each one to make sure we understood the directions and to help us with tips and fix small mistakes.
We have created our own precious souvenirs. I’m very happy with my artwork, even if some lines are more precisely defined than others. The wine was served halfway through the workshop. :)”
Sorina (read more reviews now!)
Alternatively, you can make your own pattern. You even get to keep the tile as a souvenir when you are done!
For the adults in the group, this tile painting session is accompanied with a glass of wine to keep you inspired. To be honest, I felt like I was offered up a glass of wine everywhere! That’s Porto for you!
15. Go For A Cruise On The Douro Valley
⭐️ Rating: 4.2/5 (4323 Reviews) Price: $20 per person Duration: 50 min 📍Meeting Point: Cais da Estiva, Porto Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!
One of the most interesting unique things to do in Porto is to set sail on the Douro river. The river is a pretty prominent part of the city’s landscape and while you catch some pretty spectacular views from the hills, the views from a cruise on the river are totally different.
Like in Lisbon there are two types of cruises that you can take. One is in the day and that lets you see the city abuzz with activity.
The other is an evening or night cruise. The evening cruise is highly sought after because you get to see the valley during daylight, at sunset and at night. All for the price of one trip.
“Very good river cruise, going under the bridges of Porto Very good commentary, explaining the history of the bridges and important buildings on the river sides Very good photo opportunities Worth doing if you have time while in Porto.”
Kevin (read more reviews now!)
Alternatively you could just cruise at night. It is less hot and more peaceful. It all depends on when you have time on your itinerary. So what makes it unique? Well originally these boats were used to transport wine down the valley. Now they have been adapted to carry tourists. Pretty interesting right? You get to travel in a part of history.
16. Visit The Wine Cellars
⭐️ Rating: 4.8/5 (1631 Reviews) Price: $30 per person Duration: 1.5 hours 📍Meeting Point: depends on the option booked Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!
Wine tasting is definitely one of the attractions in Portugal but when it comes to Porto, things get really interesting.
Gaya, the expanse of city that lies on the opposite of the Douro river and has wine cellars which are built into the hill. They are an interesting part of the history of the region.
So while you could easily go on a wine tasting tour elsewhere, I would recommend booking a tour of cellars.
Here you will learn about the history of wine production in the city, how it was stored and transported. After your walk around the cellars, you settle in to taste different kinds of wine.
“Good, enthusiastic and detailed explanation of the origins of the company and the making of Port. Extensive tour of the storage areas and a good tasting. Combination with chocolate is recommended.”
Roger (read more reviews now!)
Some tours do this while you listen to a live fado performance. Yes! That’s a thing. I think this tour is very popular because you get to combine three different experiences in one. It is particularly useful if you have just a short duration in the city or if you don’t want to spend on three different tours.
And there you have it, these are some of the top unique things to do in Porto that I could think off. I have a number of other ideas that could be included but the list was already so long that I decided to wind it off.
If you have something to add to the list or think I should add in more options let me know in the comments below.
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