The Magic of Porto

TRAVEL DIARY: PORTO 4

Due to the persistent rain in the morning and looking like the same for the following days, we opted for a two-day hop-on-hop-off bus tour, conveniently stopping near our airbnb.

From the top seats of the double decker bus we saw some amazing misty sceneries and public art.

By the time we got down it was all sunny and bright.

We were able to walk around to the shops and listen and watch some buskers.

Passed by this church, which I found out later on, was built and expanded with two side chapels in the 14th century and rebuilt in 1748 by the architect Nicolau Nasoni. Its façade is a mix between Baroque and Rococo, making it one of the most opulent and decorative façades created by this artist.

Rua das Flores, named after the Bishop of Porto’s gardens, is a charming street that leads to a bustling square filled with various dining options. After some deliberation, we decided to try LSD Largo São Domingos for lunch and was pleasantly surprised by the exceptional meal it offered.

This public square is situated just near the Ribeira area. These were shots taken on all four corners of the square.

Just a few minutes walk (it said 5 minutes on Google Maps but who knows how long it took us haha) and we reached the Praca Ribeira. This square is in the city centre where all the shops were located. And since the sun seemed like it was staying, we went on the Six Bridges Cruise. This cruise was included for free with the Hop On Hop Off ticket and we enjoyed the sights of 6 different architectures of the bridges on the Duoro River.

After the cruise, Jack and I stayed for a while on the banks of the Douro to appreciate the view. What a beautiful tranquil site.

Dinner time was pizza and drinks in the centre of Praca Ribeira while listening to lively music. This is what holiday really feels.

And then it was sunset in this beautiful city of Porto.

Photos from 26 October 2023

9 Comments

  1. Toonsarah says:

    What a lovely day exploring this beautiful city! The bus is a great option in poor weather but I’m glad the sun came out later. The cruise sounds good and those river views are gorgeous!

    1. Teresa says:

      Thanks so much Sarah. We had a great time regardless

  2. margaret21 says:

    A fabulously varied exploration.

    1. Teresa says:

      Thanks Margaret ❤️

  3. Wind Kisses says:

    A lovely walk, and a great day to start on the Hop on/ Hop off. You sure covered some ground. The Douro views are beautiful and a lovely drink to top of the day at sunset.

    1. Teresa says:

      We had to do whatever we can during a wet day. So happy we did. Wanted to go on some day trips which we failed to do.

  4. scooj says:

    I would go back there tomorrow if I could.

    1. Teresa says:

      Oh yes, same here 🩷

  5. restlessjo says:

    It’s a lively city, isn’t it? I do need to go back this year. Many thanks for sharing, Teresa!

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