What to See
4 highlights📍 Tap the pin for directions
Port Wine Cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia
The port wine lodges sit across the Douro River from Porto in Vila Nova de Gaia. Taylor's, Ramos Pinto, and Graham's are reliable for guided cellar tours with tastings. The views back across the river to Porto's Ribeira waterfront are spectacular. Book tours in advance.
São Bento Railway Station
The main train station is covered in 20,000 hand-painted azulejo tiles depicting scenes from Portuguese history — genuinely one of the most beautiful railway stations in the world. Free to enter.
Livraria Lello Bookshop
One of the most beautiful bookshops in the world — a 1906 neo-Gothic building with a sinuous red staircase that inspired J.K. Rowling (she lived in Porto in the early 1990s). Entry now requires a ticket due to tourist volumes; the ticket price is deductible on any book purchase. Worth seeing.
Douro Valley Wine Region
The Douro Valley, the oldest demarcated wine region in the world, begins about an hour east of Porto. A boat cruise from Porto up the river is a classic way to see it. The terraced quintas (wine estates) open for visits and tastings — book ahead.