City Guides
Porto
Sightseeing
Sightseeing
Porto
Sightseeing Overview
Porto’s riverfront is arguably the most attractive part of the city, with the port wine cellars on the south bank in Vila Nova di Gaia, the magnificent Ponte D Luís I iron bridge crossing the river and the many restaurants and bars on both sides of the Douro.
The city’s most recent attraction is the Casa da Musica, a huge €109 million building opened in 2005, created by Dutch architect Rem Kolhaas and devoted to music.
Among the city’s church buildings, the cathedral and the 76m (249ft) tall tower Torre dos Clérigos are well worth visiting, although the Igreja de Santa Clara, with its amazing gilded and carved woodwork is arguably the jewel in Porto’s ecclesiastic crown.
The Palaçio da Bolsa (Stock Exchange Palace) is also worth exploring. A neoclassical building from the 19th century, it contains the wonderful Arab Hall, the city’s most beautiful reception hall.
Café Majestic, a Belle Epoque-style café from the 1920s, is a Porto institution and The Fundação e Museu de Serralves (Serralves Foundation and Contemporary Art Museum), one of Portugal’s best contemporary art museums, is also very popular.
Tourist Information
Tourist Welcome Centre
Casa da CâmaraTerreiro da Sé
Tel: 223 325 174.
Website: www.portoturismo.pt
Turismo Norte de Portugal
Praça D. João I, 25 - 4º Dir.
Tel: 223 393 550.
Website: www.visitportoenorte.com
There are tourist information offices also at Rua do Infante D Henrique 63 in the Old Town (tel: 222 060 412 or 222 060 413) and at Rua Clube dos Fenianos 25 in the city centre (tel: 223 393 472 or 223 323 303). They have specialised staff who will help visitors obtain all the information they need about Porto and also assist with accommodation, bookings and tickets.
Passes
The Porto Card gives free entrance to the city’s municipal museums and discounts at several other museums and monuments. Card holders can also get discounts at various shows, cultural institutions, cruises on the Douro River, city tours, restaurants, shops and other places of interest. In terms of public transport, the Porto Card offers free travel on almost all metro connections, free travel all over the STCP network (buses, tram, aerobus, Guindais funicular) and free travel on the CP suburban trains, from Valongo to Coimbrões. The card can be bought for one, two and three days.
Travel Essentials
Sightseeing Overview
Porto’s riverfront is arguably the most attractive part of the city, with the port wine cellars on the south bank in Vila Nova di Gaia, the magnificent Ponte D Luís I iron bridge crossing the river and the many restaurants and bars on both sides of the Douro.
The city’s most recent attraction is the Casa da Musica, a huge €109 million building opened in 2005, created by Dutch architect Rem Kolhaas and devoted to music.
Among the city’s church buildings, the cathedral and the 76m (249ft) tall tower Torre dos Clérigos are well worth visiting, although the Igreja de Santa Clara, with its amazing gilded and carved woodwork is arguably the jewel in Porto’s ecclesiastic crown.
The Palaçio da Bolsa (Stock Exchange Palace) is also worth exploring. A neoclassical building from the 19th century, it contains the wonderful Arab Hall, the city’s most beautiful reception hall.
Café Majestic, a Belle Epoque-style café from the 1920s, is a Porto institution and The Fundação e Museu de Serralves (Serralves Foundation and Contemporary Art Museum), one of Portugal’s best contemporary art museums, is also very popular.
The city’s most recent attraction is the Casa da Musica, a huge €109 million building opened in 2005, created by Dutch architect Rem Kolhaas and devoted to music.
Among the city’s church buildings, the cathedral and the 76m (249ft) tall tower Torre dos Clérigos are well worth visiting, although the Igreja de Santa Clara, with its amazing gilded and carved woodwork is arguably the jewel in Porto’s ecclesiastic crown.
The Palaçio da Bolsa (Stock Exchange Palace) is also worth exploring. A neoclassical building from the 19th century, it contains the wonderful Arab Hall, the city’s most beautiful reception hall.
Café Majestic, a Belle Epoque-style café from the 1920s, is a Porto institution and The Fundação e Museu de Serralves (Serralves Foundation and Contemporary Art Museum), one of Portugal’s best contemporary art museums, is also very popular.
Tourist Information
Tourist Welcome Centre
Casa da CâmaraTerreiro da Sé
Tel: 223 325 174.
Website: www.portoturismo.pt
Turismo Norte de Portugal
Praça D. João I, 25 - 4º Dir.
Tel: 223 393 550.
Website: www.visitportoenorte.com
There are tourist information offices also at Rua do Infante D Henrique 63 in the Old Town (tel: 222 060 412 or 222 060 413) and at Rua Clube dos Fenianos 25 in the city centre (tel: 223 393 472 or 223 323 303). They have specialised staff who will help visitors obtain all the information they need about Porto and also assist with accommodation, bookings and tickets.
Casa da CâmaraTerreiro da Sé
Tel: 223 325 174.
Website: www.portoturismo.pt
Turismo Norte de Portugal
Praça D. João I, 25 - 4º Dir.
Tel: 223 393 550.
Website: www.visitportoenorte.com
There are tourist information offices also at Rua do Infante D Henrique 63 in the Old Town (tel: 222 060 412 or 222 060 413) and at Rua Clube dos Fenianos 25 in the city centre (tel: 223 393 472 or 223 323 303). They have specialised staff who will help visitors obtain all the information they need about Porto and also assist with accommodation, bookings and tickets.
Passes
The Porto Card gives free entrance to the city’s municipal museums and discounts at several other museums and monuments. Card holders can also get discounts at various shows, cultural institutions, cruises on the Douro River, city tours, restaurants, shops and other places of interest. In terms of public transport, the Porto Card offers free travel on almost all metro connections, free travel all over the STCP network (buses, tram, aerobus, Guindais funicular) and free travel on the CP suburban trains, from Valongo to Coimbrões. The card can be bought for one, two and three days.
Travel Essentials
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