Things To Do In Porto

Situated at the mouth of the Rio Douro where it drains into the Atlantic Ocean, Porto's population and economy closely rival that of Lisbon, and in terms of beauty and history the two are easily equal. The 'Capital of the North' is particularly famous for being an international exporter of port wine, as well as the location from which the drink derives its name, 'Port'. It also has a rich legacy of seafaring, a bridge designed by Gustav Eiffel, and possesses historical centres dating back to Roman times.

While visiting Porto, consider giving the following activities a try:

1) Tuk It Easy | Zip through Porto's sprawling maze of rustic cobbled streets and beautiful lofty terraces on a speedy auto rickshaw. Tuking People's 1-hour historic city tuk-tuk tour is one of the most memorable ways to see Porto by land.

2) City Sightseeing Porto | Enjoy a flexible introduction to the colourful northern Portuguese city of Porto on an open-top sightseeing bus. Hop-on and off at iconic landmarks throughout the city and along the River Douro.

Tickets are valid for 48 hours and you can listen to digital audio commentary about the city's sights and history while you travel. There are also a number of attractions where you can receive discounted entry if you show your ticket, these include the Casa da Musica (33%), the Teleferico de Gaia cable cars (10%) and Sea Life Centre Porto (30%).

3) Go Bridge Spotting | The popular 6 Bridges Cruise is Porto's main sightseeing tour on the River Douro. With frequent departures scheduled each day, head along to Ribeira Quay and board an awaiting Rabelo boat.

These vessels are emblematic of city's seafaring and wine producing heritage, having once been used to transport wine from the inland Douro vineyards. Today they show visitors Porto's main points of interest, such as the Maria Pia Bridge, San Francisco Church and Serra do Pilar Monastery.