Charlotte & William
Things To Do
Port Wine Cellar Tour & Tastings
Across the river, Porto has some lovely (and historic) bodegas with beautiful views over the city. Some of the most popular are: Taylor’s, Graham’s, Sandeman, and Croft. For more tasting experiences in central Porto, there are lots of restaurants and wine bars to enjoy! From €25 per adult
Visit Livraria Lello
One of the most beautiful bookstores in the world, and visitors line up each day to catch a glimpse inside! Entry is 10€ (redeemable against a book purchase) and you need to pre-book at the link below!
Coffee spots across Porto
There are many coffee pitstops you can make across Porto! Some popular ones include Moustache Coffee House (relaxed vibe), Confeitaria do Bolhão (the pastries are amazing!), and Café Progresso (one of Porto’s oldest coffee houses). We visited Nola in 2025 and loved the relaxed atmosphere, yummy food and variety of drinks. The coffees and smoothies were memorable! Nola is also apparently great for gluten-free, dairy-free and veggie options!
Mercado do Bolhão
This traditional open-air market first opened its doors in 1837, and remains a historic icon and heart of the city of Porto. You can find all sorts of different foods and drinks here, as well as souvenir shops and cafes! 0€s to enter!
Rua de Santa Catarina and its surroundings
Rua de Santa Catarina is Porto’s main shopping centre with a lovely mix of shops, cafes and restaurants along the high street. For indoor shopping, Centro Comercial Via Catarina is a modern multi-floor shopping centre with dozens of shops and eateries to choose from. 0€s to enter!
Cais da Ribeira
Cais da Ribeira, a riverfront promenade along the Douro (next to the Dom Luis I Bridge), has many restaurants and bars to explore, along with Rabelo boats for river cruises. One of our favourite restaurants, Taberna Rio, is on this stretch. All of the bars and restaurants here have indoor and outdoor seating, so perfect for sunny days! 0€s to enter!
Sao Bento Train Station
Located in the historic centre of Porto, the railway station is worth a visit to enjoy its beautiful architecture, the many murals depicting rural scenes and large panels of azulejo tiles. Even if you don't have a train to catch, Sao Bento is an attraction in itself and worth visiting! 0€s to enter!
Nightlife Highlights
Porto has a vibrant nightlife with many spots to visit during your stay! Here are some of the best: Restaurants: - Taberna Rio (we visited last year – amazing food!) - Brasão Antas (delicious food and exceptional service) - Boa-bao (street food in a luxurious restaurant setting) - Canti (great food with a lovely atmosphere) Bars: - Capela Incomum (wine bar in a converted chapel!) - The Royal Cocktail Club (sophisticated cocktail bar with contemporary design) - Curioso Cocktail Bar (autor and classic cocktails, wine, beer and snacks) - Torto (fun vibe with spray painted walls and hot pink lighting) Beer: - Letraria (200+ varieties of beers and incredible tapas with a lovely garden) - Bonaparte Downtown (Irish bar in central Porto) - Gulden Draak BierHuis Porto (Belgium beer bar with great food & drink and a friendly atmosphere) Nightclubs (most nightlife spots are clustered in the same area): - Plano B, Maria Pistolas, Pérola Negra, DSTRKT, Maus Hábitos, and Rendez-Vous
The Paiva Walkways & Spectacular 516 Footbridge
This route is a hikers paradise with several river beaches, natural lagoons, rugged rock formations and lush vegetation! Definitely worth a visit if you enjoy exploring nature like us. Entrance is 12€ per person.
Jardins do Palacio de Cristal
Beautiful gardens with plenty of spectacular views and lots of wildlife, including peacocks everywhere! There is a spot to get snacks and refreshments, or grab a coffee in the centre and take a walk around the park. 0€s to enter!
Enjoy a guided electric bike tour
This 3-Hour Guided Electric Bike Tour with Bluedragon City Tours has great reviews, and is a unique way to explore everything Porto has to offer! On this tour, you can explore the colourful Medieval streets of the Ribeira neighborhood, climb the hilly streets with ease on an e-bike, see the famous Romanesque Porto Cathedral, and marvel at the views from the top deck of the Dom Luís I Bridge! With your own dedicated guide, this is a great option if you want to see lots of sights in one afternoon.
Catedral do Porto
If you're a lover of beautiful buildings, this is a must visit! You can see the cloisters, cathedral itself, tower area and treasury for just 3€ entry. Be warned - this is quite a climb from the riverside. 3€ entry
Mercado Bom Sucesso
Mercado Bom Sucesso is a modern food market with a wide variety of stands – a great spot, relaxed atmosphere, and plenty of Portuguese cuisine to sample!
Indoor Minigolf Porto
If you are looking for something fun to do in the city, the mini golf experience here is neon themed and super laid back. They also have pool, air hockey or foosball on-site too! Adults est. 14€ and under 13s is 12€
Take the kids to Sea Life Aquarium
This is also a great option if you identify as a Big Kid (we're looking at you, Uncle Warren) <3 Online prices start from 18.50€ per adult
Candlelight Concert in Palácio do Freixo
This venue is literally right next door to the main hotel (two-minute walk). If you’re into orchestral music with a modern twist, this is definitely worth considering! Fun fact: We actually had tickets to a Candlelight Concert in Manchester for Valentine’s Day 2023. The plan was perfect until we got in the car at 7:30 PM. Charlotte (thankfully) decided to check the tickets, only to realise that the concert had started at 7. So instead of a romantic evening of live music, we ended up at home with a Sainsbury’s meal deal. Not quite the same vibe, but at least the mac & cheese was good! Candlelight Concerts can also be found at Palácio da Bolsa (more about this if you scroll!) Tickets start from around 20€.
Take a Private Boat Tour
With the added benefit of being an 8-minute walk away from the main hotel, you can hire a boat to explore Porto by sea! Around 40€ each
Fancy something speedier? Try Jet Skiing along the Douro River
Again, this activity is in walking distance of the main hotel. 100€ pp for 30 mins
and so much more!
If in doubt, GetYourGuide is a great website for finding things to do! Porto has so much to offer, and there are some lovely and unique activities on GetYourGuide if you are looking to build an itinerary. Think Pastel de Nata cooking classes, music & comedy shows, tuk tuk tours, off-road buggy adventures, segway experiences, grand cathedrals, spa days, and much more! We hope you have the most amazing time exploring Porto before and/or after our wedding! Thank you again for making the effort to celebrate with us in this beautiful city – it means so much to us and our families.