Porto, the second largest city in Portugal, is renowned worldwide for its Port wine cellars. While it is possible to take the kids to visit them, there is plenty more to see and do. Below we have a few suggestions of things to see and do while in Porto with children, but also where to stay and where to eat. There is a lot more beyond Port wine.
We spent 3 days in Porto in late September. We visited the classic sights and had some great food too. Porto is a lovely city. The whole world seems to be in love with Porto right now and for good reasons.
1. How to go around
Porto is not a huge city, which makes it perfect to visit on foot with the family. The sidewalks can be narrow and a bit rough for your pram or pushchair, so you will often resort to walking on the street. But it is entirely feasible. Cobblestones are everywhere, just like in Lisbon, so a baby carrier can be a good idea.
Porto is also quite hilly, so if your kids have had enough, the funicular is great fun.
And lastly, the metro can be useful too depending on where you stay. But you certainly don't need a car.
2. Our favourite spot: the riverside
With the Port wine cellars on one side and the gorgeous city of Porto on the other, this is where the magic lies. On a gorgeous sunny day, you can see the old wooden boats transporting the wine in barrels on the Douro (called Rabelo), the stunning Dom Luís I Bridge (inspired by Eiffel designs), and some gorgeous traditional tiled houses.
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| Miss photographer |
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Dom Luís I Bridge |
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| Porto's colourful houses |
3. The famous bookstore: Lello
Yes, it is a gorgeous bookstore. But we were surprised: 1. by the fact that you had to pay and queue to enter a store! And 2. by the fact that it was so crowded. The two together was not an entirely great combo for children. If you make a purchase, they will take the price of your entry ticket off the price of the book(s). But still, it is, in my opinion, sadly, way too overcrowded to enjoy (think Instagrammers fighting for the best angle of the stairs).
4. Away from the tourists: the beach
Not many people venture out of Porto center to reach the seaside. Porto is only a few minutes away from the Atlantic Ocean. And the fresh sea breeze was a lovely way to cool off and a nice change of scenery for the children. We loved walking along the beach for an afternoon.
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| Ice-cream at the seaside |
5. Where to stay
If you are looking for accommodation, we stayed in a really lovely AirBnB. Clean, simple and great location to walk to the city centre. The host was also really helpful. Highly recommended.
If you are looking for accommodation, we stayed in a really lovely AirBnB. Clean, simple and great location to walk to the city centre. The host was also really helpful. Highly recommended.
If you want authentic Portuguese food, take a look at this article about Portuguese foods. Many of the recommendations on it are in Porto.
To go further afield, here is a little road trip around Portugal we took a few years back. Some other places to visit can be combined with a stay in Porto.
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