Porto Half-day Guided Historical Tour

Porto's Cathedral

Our tour starts at the exterior of Porto Cathedral, an historic landmark in the old city centre, birthplace of Porto. The "Morro da Sé" is the oldest district in Porto.

Dated from the twelfth century and, throughout history, it has undergone many reconstructions, hence different styles. Most of the cathedral is Baroque, although the façade structure and the body of the church are Romanesque, and the cloister and chapel of São João Evangelista are Gothic in style.

Sao Bento Train Station

The iconic Sao Bento Train Station, built at the beginning of the 19th century, is famous for the atrium covered with twenty thousand historic tiles, by the painter Jorge Colaço. 

São Bento Railway Station in Porto was opened at the site of a former Benedictine monastery. The structure emanates the city’s typical melancholy and nostalgic air.

Although the train station is striking from outside, the real beauty lies inside. The main hall is breathtaking with over 20,000 tiles that reflect the history of Portugal.

Our expert guide will explain in this hall the importance of this building and the famous scenes of the Portuguese history re-created on its impressive tiles.

Porto City Centre World UNESCO Heritage

From your comfortable minibus, you will be taken through the narrow and hilly streets of Porto historical city center. Our tour expert will point out and explain the most remarkable buildings, monuments, streets and avenues such as: Porto Cathedral, S. Bento Train Station,  Santa Catarina commercial street with its renowned Café Majestic, Aliados Avenue, Stockage Market House of Porto, Church of Saint Francis, Church and Tower dos Clérigos, Lello & Irmão Bookstore, Ribeira, D. Luis I Bridge, Port Wine Cellars, etc.

Oporto city is UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.

Bookstore Livraria Lello & Irmão

Lello Bookshop, is located in the heart of Porto in an iconic neo-gothic building from 1906, which kept its authetic facade.

The bookstore has two floors with shelves packed with books of all shapes and sizes covering every wall and touching the ceiling. An elegant wooden and red velvet staircase stands in the middle of the library connecting both floors.

Many visitors are drawn by the fairly Harry Potter connection, as author J.K. Rowling is thought to have drawn inspiration from the neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau interior for her novels, during her stay in the city teaching English.

Church and Tower of Clérigos

The Clérigos Church is a genuine Baroque work from the mid-19th century. XVIII, designed by Nicolau Nasoni, an architect of Italian origin who left his mark on many monuments in Porto and the northern region of Portugal.

Inside you will find many statues of saints, prominent cornices and balustrades. Built in granite and marble, has six floors, which correspond to approximately 75 meters in height, accessible by a spiral staircase with 240 steps.

D. Luís I Bridge

The Dom Luís I Bridge connects the River Douro between Porto on the north bank and Vila Nova de Gaia on the south bank, where the famous Port Wine cellars are located.

Designed by the German architect, Téophile Seyrig a disciple of Gustave Eiffel, the Dom Luís I Bridge had the longest span of any metal bridge in the world when it was completed in 1886.

Port Wine Cellars

Visiting a Port Wine Cellar must be at the top of the list when visiting Oporto since it's a unique and exclusive experience of Porto City.

All Port cellars and wine lodges are in Vila Nova de Gaia, on the other side of the Douro River where the Port wine has been ageing for several centuries in wooden barrels.

Discover the unique process of making this amazing fortified wine while visiting the cellar with an expert guide, showing its knowledge about Port wine process, different types, and its history.

The tour ends with a tasting of two select Port wines.