Porto stole my heart in less than 48hrs with its stunning tiles, beautiful riverside views and copious amounts of port and pastel de natas. It’s the perfect size for a weekend city break, although you’ll want to stay longer when you arrive! I was scheduled to visit in 2020 but that trip was, like so many, struck off the travel agenda by COVID and so it’s only four and a half years later that I’ve finally been able to visit. Porto did not disappoint. At all! The only challenge in comparison being that it’s probably quite a lot busier now than it might have been on the original visit.
This Portuguese city is situated in the north of the country and right by the coast along the river Douro. Technically Porto is on the north of the river and Vila Nova de Gaia is the name of the city on the south side of the river but for the purposes of this post (and every blog you’ll find about Porto Insta spots) I’m including both under this title. So, you’ll find Instagrammable locations on both sides of the river. Porto has become well known for its myriad of tile covered buildings as well as lots of street art and incredible views. On this list of the 20 best Instagram spots in Porto you’ll find everything from a train station to a street art rabbit, from fountains to bookshops. Make sure you save this for your trip to ‘Invicta’.
Top Tip – Booking Activities & Tours
My favourite app for booking tours, adventures and plenty of fun is Get Your Guide. There are so many epic memories that you can choose to make from food tours to entry tickets, laidback wine tasting to adrenaline filled adventures. Make sure you use my discount code CATTHOMSON5 for 5% off your first booking when you download the app as a new user 👇
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1. Capela das Almas, Chapel of Souls
As you explore Porto, you’ll notice that many of the buildings are covered in ornately detailed tiles. In part this is for decoration but also to help protect the buildings from the salty sea air that blows off the Atlantic Ocean. To this end, many of the most Instagrammable places in Porto are so picture perfect because of the tiles that adorn them. The first of these on my list is the fabulous Capela das Almas, Chapel of Souls. As you stroll up Rua de Santa Catarina for a spot of shopping, when you come across Capela das Almas its bright blue and white facade jumps out at you in contrast to the shops that surround it. The chapel is relatively small but its the azulejo, added in 1929 that are the crowning glory and why you have to get your camera snapping.
2. Porto São Bento
There are not many cities that can say one of their best Instagram spots is a train station but for Porto it is the case. Porto São Bento is the main station in the heart of the city and it is so beautiful. This is mainly down to the stunning blue and white tiles which adorn so many buildings in the city but it is also the soaring arches, marble tiled floor and little charming details that take you back in time. The best time to visit will depend on the day of the week but ideally morning on a weekend as you won’t contend with commuters to get a shot!
3. Livraria Lello
Livraria Lello could be considered a controversial addition to this list. That’s because it has become an Instagram trope to the extent that the bookshop charges for entry. It is understandable as without an entry ticket and a limit to who can enter, this bookshop would probably be exceedingly busy yet with minimal sales. Livraria Lello is famous as being one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world as well as where JK Rowling is said to have been inspired whilst writing Harry Potter during her time living in Porto. You’ll find it all over social media and whilst it is gorgeous, the hoards of other people you’ll be jostling alongside is a bit overwhelming. I can’t decide whether to tell you that it’s worth the €8 entrance ticket (which you can claim back on a book purchase, although the cheapest book I saw was €14), because it really depends why you’re there. It’s stunning, just be prepared that it won’t look like how you saw on social media.
Top Tip – Data Roaming
If you’re visiting Porto from overseas then getting online with an eSIM from Holafly is such a game changer. No swapping SIMs. No complicated data roaming. Lots of choice. If your phone is compatible, just download the eSIM and get going!
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4. The Half Rabbit
There is lots of street art dotted around Porto but the most iconic, and the one that makes the best Instagram shot, is the Half Rabbit situated over the river in Vila Nova de Gaia. The Half Rabbit was created in 2017 and is made out of rubbish and recycled materials as a comment on the wastefulness of society. Find it at R. Guilherme Gomes Fernandes 42,
5. Igreja do Carmo
Igreja do Carmo is a baroque church in Porto which is well regarded for its fabulous tiled side. It’s potentially the most famous spot in Porto and one that is captured all too frequently. This church is also unusual because it’s right next door to a second church and they’re collectively known as the Twin Churches, although with a very unusual, skinny house straddled inbetween them.
6. Pastel de Nata
Technically a Pastel de Nata is not a place (I don’t need to tell you that I’m sure 😉) but snapping a pic of your sweet treat whilst in the Porto is a must do. Not just to make everyone jealous but also a reminder to return! These egg custard filled tarts are divine and a Portuguese staple. They’re best when they’re still warm, the custard is runny and the pastry is flakey. Two places to visit which have some of the best pastels in Porto but are also very pretty to photograph as well are Castro & Fábrica da Nata.
7. Fonte do Cubo
The Ribeira district of Porto is a colourful, bustling area of the city, located along the Porto side of the river. It’s full of narrow, cobble stone alleys, steep hills, lively bars and plenty of buskers along the riverfront. It’s no surprise that there are plenty of Instagram opportunities around here and it’s worth coming out in the morning to catch first light as well as later in the evening to catch the flurry of activity and energy that comes as people head out.
This location is set just back from the riverside walkway and it’s not really the Fonte do Cubo itself that is the Instagrammable spot here. It’s the wonderful coloured homes that sit behind it, covered in a rainbow of tiles. This spot is sure to make you smile and is a cheery addition to your Porto camera roll.
8. Largo da Pena Ventosa
Around a five minute walk (uphill!) from Fonte do Cubo you’ll uncover a small series of narrow, winding alleys with Largo da Pena Ventosa at its heart. This is one of the prettiest little corners of Porto you can capture and its wonderfully laid out to photograph with ready made angles. Excellent.
9. Majestic Cafe
The city has many stunning restaurants, cafes, shops and bars with interesting facades so it’s very hard to keep it to just a few in this list otherwise we’d be here all day! Majestic Cafe is definitely worthy of a spot because it has a wonderful Art Nouveau facade. The interior is reminiscent of a Paris cafe with mirrors, chandeliers and a Belle Epoque feel. The cafe used to be where the writers, artists, philosophers and politicians of Porto would come to discuss ideas and themes and more recently it is where JK Rowling spent some time writing drafts of Harry Potter. I didn’t go in to eat and was later warned by a tour guide about eating there because it’s super expensive so I can’t advise on going in or not!
10. Church of Saint Ildefonso
The Church of Saint Ildefonso sits solitarily at Batalha square and with its soaring twin towers, stands out both as you see it in real life but also for a photograph. It’s another location with the fabulous blue and white azulejos that adorn its front.
11. A Pérola do Bolhão
This beautiful facade is another gem to photograph. A Pérola do Bolhão is a deli in Porto with mounds of cheese, wine, meats, fruit and biscuits galore. Great for a little taste of Porto to take home. The exterior is a sweet shade of green and yellow with Art Nouveau tiles declaring its name.
12. Hungry Biker Cafe
Hungry Biker cafe has two sites in Porto and admittedly I went to both. The first (Do Norte) was so good that we also went to the other location (Floresta). Both served some of the best brunch food I’ve ever had as well as great coffee and in a super cute location. The settings of both are quite rustic and you feel as though you’ve stepped into a cabin in the woods with lots of wonderful little details that add to the ambience.
13. Porto Cathedral
My one regret in Porto (aside from not having to leave 🥲) is that we didn’t have time to visit Porto Cathedra. In hindsight, we could have snuck it in on the last morning before we flew as we ended up with plenty of time at the airport but you never know! Thankfully we did manage to pop up to see the imposing exterior facade but from what I’ve seen it’s the inside that is spectacular. There are vaulted ceilings and more blue and white tiles to photograph so please share your captures in the comments to inspire me to visit Porto again.
14. Miradouro da Rua das Aldas
There are a myriad of miradouros (viewpoints, lookouts) in Porto and one of the best is Miradouro da Rua das Aldas. The majority of miradouros marked out are for views of Pont Luis I but this one offers a view across the terracotta rooftops of Ribeira and towards the river and ocean beyond. This is a great spot to come at sunrise as the cotton candy pinks and oranges fill the sky and the light is lovely and soft.
15. Ribeira from Av. de Diogo Leite
The colourful homes and buildings of Ribeira with the old city rising up behind on the steep hills along the Douro is one of the most iconic views of Porto and used on nearly every travel guide, flight icon or website about the city. Head over to Vila Nova de Gaia and stroll along the riverfront here to find your perfect capture, looking back across the water. Make sure to include one of the Rabelo boats in the foreground.
16. The Fantastic World of Portuguese Sardines
Porto is famous for its sardines as this was once a thriving industry in the city and symbol of its maritime history. The Fantastic World of Portuguese Sardines is featuring on this list because its location in Vila Nova de Gaia as floor to ceiling stacks of sardine tins with all sorts of flavours, designs and colours which makes for an eclectic photo which I think is quite evocative of Wes Anderson imagery.
We learnt lots about the cuisine of Porto on a food walking tour of the city which was super fun, tasty and informative!
Top Tip – Booking Activities & Tours
My favourite app for booking tours, adventures and plenty of fun is Get Your Guide. There are so many epic memories that you can choose to make from food tours to entry tickets, laidback wine tasting to adrenaline filled adventures. Make sure you use my discount code CATTHOMSON5 for 5% off your first booking when you download the app as a new user 👇
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17. View from Torre dos Clérigos
Torre dos Clérigos stands up high on Porto’s skyline as the tallest building in the city. It’s height is actually not that great (76m) but because of its location, right on the top of a hill that drop to the Douro river, it seems to tower over the city. In the 18th century, the church and tower area was commissioned by the Brotherhood of the Clérigos (Clerics) and its Baroque architecture was designed by Italian Nicolau Nasoni. Make your way up the winding spiral stairwell to the top of the tower for the heighest bird’s eye view in Porto.
18. Cais da Ribeira de Gaia
When you walk across the lower level of Pont Luis I from Porto to Vila Nova de Gaia, directly at the end on your right is a little terrace which many people will walk straight past. But it’s actually a charming spot to capture the bridge and the houses of Porto with a tree that frames the scene rather nicely.
19. Pont Luis I
Porto’s most iconic landmark is Pont Luis I which spans the two sides of the Douro river with a lower and an upper section. Many mistakenly believe its the work of Gustave Eiffel (of Eiffel Tower fame) when in fact this bridge was designed by his student, the architecture of Eiffel is two bridges further up the river. No matter, this bridge is an incredible feat of engineering and a must photograph whilst in the city. I’ve already shared a number of spots on this list where you can see the bridge from but photographing the city and the river whilst you admire the view is a must.
20. Teleferico de Gaia
Over in Vila Nova de Gaia you can take a cable car from the riverside up to the top of Pont Luis I if you’ve done too much walking, exploring Porto’s steep hills and streets. There are some lovely views on the way up the cable car but there’s also a spectacular view at the top on the way in / out of the cable car station. Many people visit the Jardim do Morro to watch sunset in Porto, but this location you’ll have an uninterrupted vista across the bridge, the river and the city.
Despite this being my third trip to Portugal, this is the first article I’ve written about this beautiful country. Make sure to subscribe to find out when I share more information about Porto and check out these other Instagrammable places in Europe 💖
Cat x