Beautiful Viewpoints in Porto, Portugal

We didn’t have to spend too long in Porto to realise just how incredibly picturesque the city is. Thanks to its steep hills, Porto has many incredible viewpoints, or miradouros. There were plenty marked on Google Maps, but we came across just as many by embracing the hills and wandering around the city on foot. In this blog post, we’re going to list our favourite viewpoints in Porto that we think are worth adding to your itinerary.

If you’d like to see what we got up to in Porto, make sure to watch our dedicated Porto video which we’ve shared on our YouTube channel Kitti and Jon.

Beautiful Viewpoints in Porto, Portugal

The main reason why we recommend seeing Porto on foot is because you never know what you’ll come across around the next corner. It could be a lovely alleyway, a beautiful mural or, indeed, a great viewpoint. There are countless viewpoints in Porto, which you can immediately see if you type “miradouro” (Portuguese for viewpoint) into Google Maps. Below we’ve listed many of our favourites, which we could easily incorporate into our 3-day Porto itinerary.

Top of Porto Cathedral

One of the most popular places to visit in Porto is Porto Cathedral (Sé do Porto). Built in the 12th century, this Roman Catholic church is one of the oldest buildings in the city. The Cathedral is already an impressive sight from the outside, but there are two good reasons why you shouldn’t skip a visit to its interior. The walls of its gothic cloister are adorned with the most beautiful blue-and-white tiles in Porto, depicting scenes from Ovid’s Metamorphoses and the life of the Virgin Mary. Whilst the tiles alone are worth seeing, the Cathedral’s tower is also one of the best viewpoints in Porto.

The stairs leading up to the viewing platform are steep but totally worth the effort. Since the Cathedral was built on the highest part of the city we could enjoy sweeping views of the Douro River, the surrounding buildings and other iconic landmarks. Just note that the viewing area is quite narrow and it can get a bit busy.

Entry to Porto Cathedral is only 4 EUR per person, which is totally worth it for seeing all the tiles, as well as the panoramic views.

Miradouro da Rua das Aldas

Right around the corner of Porto Cathedral is a lovely viewpoint called Miradouro da Rua das Aldas. This small viewing platform offered us great views over the rooftops of the nearby buildings, as well as of the Douro River in the distance.

However, what makes this spot special is being able to see the upper façade of Saint Lawrence Church (Igreja de São Lourenço) from this vantage point. You don’t often get such a closeup view of this part of a church, so for this alone it’s worth a quick stop before you make your way down the stairs.

Miradouro da Igreja de São Lourenço

After following the stairs down and around Saint Lawrence Church (Igreja de São Lourenço) we came across another small viewing platform. From here, we could see more of the rooftops of the buildings within the historic centre, including a lovely view of Igreja Paroquial de Nossa Senhora da Vitória standing out in the distance.

Whilst we didn’t linger for too long here, it was worth stopping for a few minutes for a slightly different perspective of Porto.

Torre dos Clérigos

If you don’t mind a leg workout, consider climbing up Clerigos Bell Tower. This tower is an iconic landmark in Porto that you can see from many parts of the city. At the top, your efforts will be rewarded with some panoramic views of Porto. Since it’s a popular place to visit, we suggest arriving early in the morning, or around the golden hour for snapping photos of the view in the best light.

Entry fee to the tower is 10EUR per person. Your admission includes access to the church as well as the Clerigos Museum. Book your skip-the-line ticket here.

Portuguese Photography Center

When we decided to visit the photography museum on a rainy day in Porto we didn’t expect to also enjoy a fantastic viewpoint of the city from its windows.

This museum is housed in an old prison, which was active until the 1970’s. Today, it displays a large collection of cameras dating back to the 19th century. From the upper floor windows, we got some lovely views of the city, which was a welcome surprise.

The photography museum is free to visit.

Miradouro da Vitória

If not for the groups of people standing there, we would’ve walked past Victoria Viewpoint without a second thought. Whilst it’s not the prettiest looking spot, it actually offers some wonderful views of Porto. We could see the rooftops of houses in front of us, with Porto Cathedral and the Dom Luis I Bridge in the background, as well as the Serra do Pilar Monastery and Vila Nova de Gaia on the other side of the Douro River.

If you’ve just visited the Clérigos Tower and Photography Museum, then it’s a great viewpoint to stop at en-route to Rua das Flores, Palacio Bolsa or Porto Cathedral.

Escadas dos Guindais

When we were browsing for unique photo spots in Porto, Escadas dos Guindais popped up a lot. Seeing the different vantage point it would give us compared to the more traditional viewpoints, we immediately added it to our Porto map.

Depending on which direction you’re coming from, you can either climb the steep stairs from the Ribeira waterfront or start descending from the top next to Igreja de Santa Clara. The most recognisable view with the bridge is from the very top of the stairs. We definitely recommend walking either up or down these stairs, because we found the most impressive murals adorning the walls around the mid-way mark.

Whilst we wouldn’t consider this viewpoint a hidden gem, it’s definitely going to give you a refreshing perspective of the Dom Luis I Bridge.

Cais da Ribeira

You don’t always have to ascend a steep hill to enjoy scenic views in Porto. Cais da Ribeira is a waterfront promenade running along the Douro River. On one side, the street is lined with cafes, restaurants and colourful houses towering on top of one another. On the other, we could enjoy views of the Douro River, Dom Luis I Bridge and Gaia. The street gets lively in the evening, when most people come out to enjoy a meal or a drink at one of the restaurants.

Miradouro Avenida Gustavo Eiffel

To the east of Cais da Ribeira and the Dom Luis I Bridge we noticed a couple of viewing platforms along Gustavo Eiffel Avenue. These metal platforms were built over the river, so they gave us some great views of the Dom Luis I Bridge.

We were actually surprised at just how quiet this area was compared to all the crowds to the west of the bridge along Cais da Ribeira. If you want to enjoy some close up views of the Dom Luis I Bridge without navigating through a sea of people, then just walk a few minutes to the east of the bridge.

Funicular dos Guindais

Fancy some views without having to climb Porto’s steep steps? Then take the short funicular that runs between the Ribeira and Batalha districts. This short but steep ride will not only give your legs a well-deserved respite, but will also give you a unique view of the Dom Luis I Bridge. You really can’t go wrong there!

The funicular operates between 8AM and 10PM and runs until 12AM on Fridays and Saturdays. A single ride is 4EUR or you can get a return ticket for 6EUR.

Jardins do Palácio de Cristal

On our first evening in Porto we decided to visit the Crystal Palace Gardens since it was very close to our hotel.

The garden itself is worth a visit if you want to escape the hustle and bustle of Porto. However, it also offers various viewpoints of the city. From Miradouro da Ponte da Arrábida we could see the Arrábida Bridge in the distance. We also came across a small tower (Torreão do Jardim do Palácio), which once again offered some lovely views in both directions. Circling to the east of the garden, we then enjoyed some more views looking back to Porto and Gaia, separated by the Douro River.

The park was also filled with geese, roosters and many peacocks. It was especially beautiful around sunset and is probably less busy than other, more popular viewpoints.

Top of Dom Luís I Bridge

Possibly the most beautiful (and also popular) viewpoint in Porto is the upper deck of the Dom Luís I Bridge. Spanning across the Douro River, it’s Porto’s most iconic bridge. The Dom Luís I Bridge is a double-deck, metal arch bridge designed by engineer Théophile Seyrig. The bridge connects Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia and is used by pedestrians and metro line D on the upper level, and vehicles and pedestrians on the lower.

The upper deck is easily accessible and offers some really unique views of both Porto and Gaia. We crossed the bridge at different times of day, which was a great way to see Porto in different lights. Since the Dom Luís I Bridge is also one of the most popular sunset spots in Porto, expect the bridge to be busy during the golden hour. We really loved crossing the bridge at night too, when everything was lit up. However, if you want to avoid the crowds, come during sunrise or early morning when it’s probably much quieter.

Note. Always be careful, as the metro crosses the bridge close to the sides, which doesn’t leave a lot of space, especially when the bridge is crowded.

Jardim do Morro

A beautiful spot to enjoy splendid views of Porto from is Jardim do Morro. It’s located in Gaia next to the Cable Car station, just after crossing the Dom Luís I Bridge. From here, we could enjoy postcard-perfect views looking back at Porto and the bridge.

The park is a great social gathering place so it gets incredibly busy, especially during sunset. Even in March, people occupied every inch of the green space by the time the sun was ready to dip behind the horizon.

Cais de Gaia

Taking a stroll along Cais de Gaia, the waterfront promenade in Vila Nova de Gaia, is one of the best things to do in Porto. This long walkway is lined with all the port wine cellars on one side and the Douro River on the other.

Here we could take postcard perfect photos of Porto and also admire the Dom Luís I Bridge. In addition, we could also see the traditional Rabelo boats docked in front of the cellars along the river. These were used to transport barrels of port wine from the Douro Valley to the cellars in Gaia. A great time to promenade here is during sunset, when you can see Porto in the best golden light. Stay for a bit longer to see the city and bridge lit up once the sun disappears from the horizon.

Views of Porto from the Douro River

For a truly unique perspective of both Porto and Gaia consider booking a 6 bridges river cruise. It is a leisurely river cruise along the Douro river that sails under the 6 beautiful bridges that connect Porto and Gaia. These are actually the only two cities in Europe connected by 6 bridges.

Cruises depart from either Ribeira Pier in Porto, or Gaia Pier on the other side of the Dom Luís I Bridge. We went from the latter, but it doesn’t really matter where you set sail from.

The cruise is on a Rabelo-inspired boat, with motor engines and much more space compared to the traditional versions. Along the way we could admire Porto and Gaia from a different perspective. In addition, it was a great way to see all the 6 bridges.

View from the Gaia Cable Car

If you want to skip the steep hill walk from Cais de Gaia back up to the Dom Luis I Bridge, take the cable car instead. This will allow you to sit down for a few minutes and enjoy a different perspective of Porto and Gaia. It takes you up to Jardim do Morro, where you can decide to hang out in the garden for sunset or walk up to Miradouro da Serra do Pilar instead.

The cable car operates between 10AM and 8AM. A one-way ticket is 7EUR or you can get a return ticket for 10EUR per person.

Miradouro da Serra do Pilar

Another popular viewpoint in Gaia is Miradouro da Serra do Pilar. It’s located just across from Jardim do Morro, right next to the Monastery of Serra do Pilar. Whilst the monastery is no longer operational, the huge square in front of it is still a favoured viewpoint by visitors to Porto. We walked up there to watch the sunset one evening instead of staying on the upper deck of the Dom Luís I Bridge.

From here, we could enjoy fantastic views looking back to Porto, as well as the Douro River and the Dom Luís I Bridge itself. Looking down to the left we could also see the crowds gathering at Jardim do Morro and we got some views over Gaia as well. Whilst the viewpoint got busy for the golden hour, it didn’t feel as crowded as the bridge, where we also had to be mindful of both people and the metro passing by.

Final Thoughts on Beautiful Viewpoints in Porto, Portugal

As you can see, there’s no shortage of panoramic viewpoints in Porto. We definitely didn’t have to walk too far to come across one. Whilst many of them seemingly offered similar views, in reality, they all gave us a slightly different perspective of the city. The majority of these miradouros are also completely free to visit, which is always a great bonus when you want to save some pennies. We really loved being at Miradouro da Serra do Pilar and the Jardins do Palácio de Cristal for sunset, when the light was absolutely perfect for photography.

Let us know in the comments below which viewpoints you wouldn’t want to miss from our list.  If you found this blog post useful and want to show your support, you can buy us a coffee here.