We arrived in Porto on Wednesday May 14th and had scheduled a walking tour through Porto. We also were in search of a vintage bottle of Port Wine. Porto has to be one of our favorite cities we enjoy along with Lisbon. It also helps that we were here before ten years ago.
Porto, Portugal’s second-largest city, is a place where old-world charm meets riverside romance. Cobblestone streets twist between colorful facades, the scent of grilled sardines lingers in the air, and the hum of trams echoes past churches dressed in azulejos. On a recent trip, I spent one perfect day on foot, soaking in the city’s cultural highlights—one bookshop, one station, and one unforgettable boat ride at a time. In addition, there were many other sites to enjpy.
My walking tour began with a literary pilgrimage to Livraria Lello, often called one of the most beautiful bookstores on the planet—and rightly so. The neo-Gothic facade alone is impressive, but stepping inside feels like crossing into a magical realm.
A red spiral staircase climbs dramatically through the center of the space, and stained glass glows from the ceiling above. Shelves upon shelves of books line dark wooden walls. Even if you’re not a book lover, the architecture alone is worth the visit. The staircase is carved as shown in right hand picture above.
As we walked towards the train station we stopped at McDonalds. You may ask why are you eating at McDonalds, it is not the food but the Art Deco within that McDonalds kept from the previous building.
A short walk downhill led me to São Bento Station, a working train terminal that’s more like an art gallery. Inside, over 20,000 blue-and-white tiles (azulejos) depict scenes from Portuguese history: battles, royal processions, and everyday rural life.
I lingered here longer than I expected, just taking in the scale and detail. Sunlight spilled in through high windows, casting a soft glow on the ceramic masterpieces. It’s free to enter, and it’s easily one of Porto’s most photogenic spots.
From the station, we wandered downhill through narrow alleys toward the Ribeira—Porto’s riverside district. It’s bustling with cafés, shops, and street musicians, but the real gem is the Douro River. From the upper level of Porto, we traverse via cable car with great views of the river.
We boarded a traditional rabelo boat for a 6-bridge cruise, which lasts about 50 minutes. These wooden boats were once used to carry port wine barrels from the Douro Valley into the city. Today, they glide past Porto’s waterfront, giving you panoramic views of both banks—including Gaia and its port wine cellars.
As we floated under the iconic Dom Luís I Bridge, I looked back at the stacked, colorful buildings and knew this was the best way to end the afternoon.
As we were having cocktails before dinner, we watched the sun set over the horizon with a slight hint of green present. Later in the evening the moon graced our presents.
