Porto Old Town Quest: 1942 Paperboy Adventure
Step into the shoes of Mário, a 1942 paperboy, and uncover the hidden stories of Porto's historic streets.
This Porto Old Town walking quest sends you through ten real landmarks on a story-driven adventure set in 1942, revealing histories most visitors walk past without a second glance.
Using the Questo app on your phone, you play as Mário, an ambitious paperboy navigating Porto during the Second World War. At each stop you decode a detail, solve a riddle, or observe something most tourists never notice. The experience covers roughly 3.1 kilometres and takes about 80 minutes at a relaxed pace.
The route threads through São Bento Station, Rua das Flores, the medieval Tower of Rua de Baixo, the Church of the Crickets, and the grand Avenida dos Aliados, among other sites. You can pause at any point for a coffee, a photograph, or a longer look at a building.
The narrative reaches into surprising corners of Portuguese history, including a 19th-century almond poisoning scandal on Rua das Flores, the Siege of Porto that left the cathedral quarter nearly empty, and the story of diplomat Aristides de Sousa Mendes, who defied direct orders to issue visas that saved roughly 30,000 people from Nazi-occupied France.
Highlights
Walk ten real landmarks across Porto's Old Town on a single connected route of 3.1 kilometres.
Discover the true story of Aristides de Sousa Mendes, who saved 30,000 lives by defying Nazi-era orders.
Reach a panoramic city lookout that offers one of Porto's most photogenic views over the rooftops.
Play at your own pace — pause for coffee, take detours, and resume whenever you are ready.
Uncover a 19th-century poisoning case on Rua das Flores that most guidebooks never mention.
Everything runs through the Questo app — no printed maps, no fixed departure times, no group to keep up with.
Rated easy difficulty and suitable for couples, families with curious children, and solo travellers alike.
Route Overview
The quest begins at Porto's iconic railway station. Examine the surroundings to unlock your first clue and learn the story tied to this historic building before moving on.
Pass the hundred-year-old goldsmith turned multi-brand emporium and solve a riddle connected to the street's darker 19th-century past, including a notorious poisoning case.
Stand before the monument to the man who helped launch the Age of Discoveries, then pass the Casa do Infante, the old customshouse tied to Porto's maritime origins.
Encounter one of Porto's oldest surviving medieval structures, a five-storey tower dating to the 13th century, before walking around the elevated Episcopal Palace.
Circle the Romanesque cathedral and stop beside the equestrian statue of the ninth-century nobleman credited as the first ruler of the County of Portugal.
Finish on Porto's most imposing avenue, flanked by Beaux-Arts and neoclassical facades, where the statue of a newspaper vendor marks the end of Mário's story.
What Is Included
Included
- Access to the full Porto Old Town quest via the Questo app
- Ten-stop self-guided route through Porto's historic centre
- Story-driven riddles and location-based challenges
- Play-at-your-own-pace format with no fixed schedule
- Questa booking code activation for unlimited replay on the day
Not Included
- Smartphone with the Questo app installed (required, free download)
- Mobile data or Wi-Fi connection during the quest
- Food, drinks, or any personal expenses along the route
- Transport to the starting point at São Bento Station
Important Information
Ready to Walk Porto's Hidden History?
Activate your quest at São Bento Station and spend 80 minutes uncovering the stories behind Porto's most storied streets, at your own pace, on your own schedule.
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