Things to do in Porto

Landmark · Ribeira (UNESCO old town)

The postcard heart of Porto — tiered medieval houses tumbling down to the Douro, the iron Dom Luís I bridge above, and rabelo boats on the water.

Local tip: Walk the upper deck of the Dom Luís I bridge at sunset for the classic view over the river and the Gaia cellars, then drop to the Ribeira quay for dinner. Go early morning to photograph it crowd-free.

Culture · Baixa (centre)

The fantastical 1906 bookshop with its crimson staircase (a Harry Potter muse), beside the baroque Clérigos tower with the best 360° view of the city.

Local tip: Buy the Lello ticket online and go at opening to beat the queues (the ticket price is redeemable against a book). Climb the Clérigos tower for the panorama; the surrounding streets hide great cafés and the university quarter.

Food · Vila Nova de Gaia (across the river)

The south bank lined with the historic port-wine lodges — Taylor's, Graham's, Sandeman — where the wine ages in vast cellars, with riverside terraces facing old Porto.

Local tip: Cross the lower deck of the bridge or take the Gaia cable car down. Book a tasting at one of the smaller lodges for fewer crowds; sunset from the Gaia waterfront, looking back at Ribeira, is the best free show in town.

Food · Baixa (centre)

The grand two-storey municipal market, beautifully restored — fishmongers, produce, flowers, cheese and petiscos counters under a glass roof, the city's everyday larder.

Local tip: Come mid-morning for the buzz, graze the food counters, and buy bacalhau, cheese and Portuguese wine to take home. Pair it with a francesinha nearby — Porto's outrageous steak-and-sausage sandwich drowned in beer-and-tomato sauce.

Nature · Foz (river mouth)

Where the Douro meets the ocean — a breezy seaside district of promenades, lighthouses, rock pools and surf beaches, a tram ride from the centre.

Local tip: Ride the vintage Line 1 tram along the river out to Foz, walk the Atlantic promenade past the Felgueiras lighthouse, and have sunset drinks at a beach bar. Sea-cold even in summer, but the walk is the thing.

Culture · Lordelo do Ouro (west)

A world-class contemporary-art museum and a pink Art Deco villa set in 18 hectares of formal gardens and woodland — the city's cultural-and-green oasis.

Local tip: Go for a major exhibition, then lose an afternoon in the gardens (the 'Serralves em Festa' all-night arts party each spring is a highlight). The treetop walk is a hit; combine with nearby Foz for a full day west of the centre.