Porto is a city that surprised me the most during my trip to Portugal. I’ve seen so many photos and videos of this city, and yet, seeing it in person, I was still stunned by its beauty. It’s a place full of colors, energy, and passion. We were in Porto during the weekend, and there were bands playing on the streets; every square was full of people enjoying the spring sunshine. Porto is also a city full of Instagrammable photo spots. Here are the places we visited, and we were able to do all of them in two days.
Chapel of Souls
This is one of the most iconic tiled walls in Portugal. It stands in the middle of a busy shopping street in the heart of Porto. The tiles are so vibrant and beautiful, with incredible details. It’s definitely worth a look!
Igreja do Carmo
Another impressive tiled wall, and is often mixed with Chapel of Souls. This wall of Church Igreja do Carmo has a lighter shade of blue and is just as beautiful as the other one. It is in a less busy area, so it was easier for us to take photos.
Sé do Porto (Porto Cathedral)
The majestic Porto Cathedral is definitely a landmark you can’t miss. The church has an incredible architectural design and intricate blue-tiled walls. It is so well-preserved, but from the moss on the stone walls, you can still sense the passing of time. Outside of the church, there is a viewpoint where you can see the panoramic view of Porto.
São Bento Train Station
This is perhaps the most beautiful train station that I’ve ever seen. It’s been operating since 1910 till this day, and the tile works in the front hall are just impressive. If you are a Portuguese tile lover like me, this spot is a must-see.
We first went there in the afternoon, but the train station was too busy for us to take any photos. So we returned the next day very early in the morning, and it was perfect.
Majestic Café
This is perhaps the most famous old coffee house in Porto. The interior design has a vintage feeling that will transport you to the 1920s. A big reason why this place is so famous is the story associated with J.K. Rowling and the creation of Harry Porter. Some say that the pricing here is a bit overpriced. However, it is still a quaint spot to have a cup of coffee for the classy vibes.
Marginal de Gaia
A trip without a riverside of Porto is not complete. This is hands-down one of my favorite spots of my Portugal trip. This view from the riverfront is epic: the colorful buildings on the other side, the seagulls, the ships, the bridge, every element forms a perfect painting of Porto. We stayed till sunset and watched the golden glow of the sun slowly fade away. It is a place that will make you fall in love with Porto even more.
Kitties Rock
I have mixed feelings about this spot. The view from this place is stunning, and it’s not hard to find. But to access the real rock where many people take photos, you have to climb up giant rocks, and it didn’t feel safe for me to climb the top part since I’m very afraid of heights, to begin with, so we only took photos on the lower part of the rock.
Here are my recommendations for the photo spots and tips in Porto! Let me know if any of them inspires you or if you’ve been to any of them! I hope you love Porto as much as I do after spending a weekend there.
MAP WITH ALL MENTIONED PHOTO SPOTS IN THIS BLOG POST
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