Things to Do in Porto on a Rainy Day

So, you’ve finally landed in Porto ready to see the city’s best attractions…but it’s raining! Even though Porto is located in southern Europe, it’s actually one of the wettest cities in this area, with high annual rainfall particularly in the winter months. We visited the city in mid-March and it rained, drizzled and poured for half of our 3-day stay in Porto. Luckily, we still found plenty of fun activities to do in Porto on a rainy day.

In this post, we’ve put together a list of places to visit, as well as fun and cultural activities to do when the weather is less than ideal. We’ll also briefly discuss why Porto can be quite rainy, when the best time to visit is if you want to avoid it and what to pack if you do end up visiting in the rainier months.

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.

Why is Porto Rainy?

Located in the north of Portugal, Porto has a maritime climate with mild, rainy winters and warm, sunny summers. Being so close to the Atlantic Ocean means rain and humidity in the region is common. The westerly winds also bring in cool and moist air from the ocean.

Even compared to Lisbon, Porto is definitely wetter than the capital city. We visited Lisbon in December a few years ago and luckily didn’t get any rain during our stay.

Things to Do in Porto on a Rainy Day

Book a Tile Painting Workshop

One of our favourite rainy day activities in Porto was a tile painting workshop. You don’t need to walk far to notice that Portuguese tiles, or azulejos, are a clear symbol of Porto and the rest of Portugal. Tiles adorn the facades of most buildings and churches, and they were also being sold at every single souvenir shop we walked past. Although you can just purchase one, having a tile that you painted yourself is going to be a much more meaningful souvenir.

We booked this 2-hour tile painting workshop held in Domus Arte. It started with a brief history of tiles in Portugal, before we were able to pick the template we wanted to replicate. Luckily, they made it quite easy to recreate our chosen designs and gave us plenty of tips on how to paint for a beautiful end result. Even if you don’t consider yourself skilled enough with a paint brush, you’ll still come away with a lovely hand-made tile. In addition, they also served some port wine and snacks.

We don’t often book these more hands-on activities, but we enjoyed it way more than we anticipated. It was a great way to escape from the pouring rain for a few hours. Not to mention that we came away with our own hand-made tiles, which are now proudly displayed on our shelf at home.

Admire the Tiles in Porto Cathedral

Porto Cathedral (Sé do Porto) is a Roman Catholic church built in the 12th century, which makes it one of the oldest buildings in Porto. It’s built on the highest part of the city, providing excellent views of the Douro River, surrounding buildings and iconic landmarks. This is the reason why Porto Cathedral is probably best visited on a nice day. However, visiting on a rainy day is also possible thanks to its stunning interior.

The Cathedral’s gothic cloister had some of the most beautiful blue-and-white tiles we saw in Porto. They were painted between 1729 and 1731 by Valentim de Almeida, depicting scenes from Ovid’s Metamorphoses and the life of the Virgin Mary. Luckily this area is covered, so you won’t have to worry about getting wet. Inside the Cathderal, don’t forget to stop by the Chapel of the Holy Sacrament, which has an impressive Baroque silver altarpiece.

We also recommend checking out the upstairs terrace, as there are some more beautiful tile panels by António Vidal. In addition, head up to the tower if you have somewhat decent visibility because you’ll be rewarded with some of the best views in Porto.

The downside of visiting the cathedral if the forecast is bad is that the upper level is more open and going up to the tower to enjoy the views may not be too pleasant in the rain. However, we would still 100% visit the cathedral on a rainy day just to see the azulejos.

Entry to Porto Cathedral is only 4 EUR per person, which was one of the most affordable admissions we paid during our stay in Porto.

Find Your Next Book at Livraria Lello

If you love books, architecture, are a Harry Potter fan or want to escape the rain for a bit, then visit Livraria Lello. It is a historic bookstore, located along Rua das Carmelitas, close to many famous landmarks in Porto. The bookstore’s stunning Grand Staircase is believed by many Harry Potter fans to be the inspiration behind the moving stairs at Hogwarts. Even though J.K. Rowling never actually confirmed the link, Livraria Lello is still one of the most visited attractions in Porto.

Tickets to the bookstore sell out quickly, especially in the high season or on a rainy day. You can purchase your ticket through the official website or GetYourGuide. There are a few ticket options for Livraria Lello:

• Silver Ticket (12 EUR). This is essentially the standard entry to Livraria Lello. The ticket value is fully deductible towards the purchase of a book.
• Gold Ticket (15 EUR). This ticket gives you fast track entry to the bookstore and the chance to use the ticket value towards books published by Livraria Lello, but not for other publications or any merchandise.
• Platinum Ticket (50 EUR). With this ticket you’ll get priority entry as well as a guided experience in the Gemma Room, which lasts approximately 30 minutes. In addition, you can also use the value towards book purchases.

After visiting many iconic bookstores around the world, we can see why Livraria Lello is mentioned in numerous articles. If you want more information on how to visit, including our personal tips on avoiding the crowds, read our dedicated Livraria Lello guide.

Visit the Stock Exchange Palace (Palácio da Bolsa)

Palacio da Bolsa is a stunning example of 19th-century neoclassical architecture. It’s the headquarters of the Porto Commercial Association and is used as a conference and events centre.

It is definitely an impressive building to look at from the outside. However, it’s possible to book a 30-minute guided tour that will take you through the beautifully decorated rooms. This makes it an excellent activity for escaping the elements for a short while.

Tickets are 14 EUR per person and the tour is available in Portuguese, English, Spanish and French. Since we were trying to book a tour last minute after looking at the forecast, tickets were all sold out. It was a shame that we couldn’t visit because the photos we saw of the grand entrance hall and the Arab Room, inspired by the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain, looked stunning. If you can get tickets, we highly recommend booking the tour!

Take a Port Wine Tour & Tasting

Whether it’s a rainy or sunny day in Porto, a must-do activity in the city is a port wine tasting experience. Now, it’s worth noting that you won’t find any cellars in Porto itself. They are all located across the Douro River in Vila Nova de Gaia (or just Gaia).

You can cross the iconic Dom Luis I Bridge to reach Gaia either on foot or with metro line D by getting an Andante Card. The latter is a great option if it’s windy and pouring with rain, as crossing the bridge on foot won’t be pleasant.

There are plenty of port houses in Gaia to pick from such as Sandeman, Calem, Vinhos Quinta Do Noval and Kopke Wine House. You would need to pre-book your tour and arrive for your chosen time slot. We ended up booking a tasting experience with Calem, which is located close to the bridge. They also offer a tasting and Fado show combo ticket in the evenings, which is what we went for in the end.

The tour started in their museum before taking us through the cellar to see some of the storage barrels, all the while learning about how port wine is made. Since the experience included the Fado show, we had our port tasting whilst enjoying the performance. We had a fantastic time and would highly recommend booking with Calem. However, there are many similar experiences offered in Gaia, so you won’t have trouble finding one that fits.

Enjoy a Fado Show

Another great rainy evening activity in Porto is attending a live Fado show. Fado is a traditional Portuguese musical genre that’s believed to date back to the 19th century. Since Fado plays a significant role in Portuguese culture and identity, in 2011 UNESCO classified it as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Fado is performed by either a male or female singer accompanied by the Portuguese guitar and the classical guitar. The songs have a melancholic and sentimental melody and the lyrics are often about longing, love, the sea and the hardship of life.

Fado shows are usually held in more intimate settings, often accompanied by drinks or a meal. We booked a port wine tasting and Fado show experience at Calem in Gaia and had a really lovely experience. The voices of the singers were captivating and, even though we didn’t understand the lyrics, we were mesmerised by the performances.

Admire the Tiles Inside São Bento Station

Another place to admire the iconic blue-and-white tiles in Porto is at São Bento Station. This railway station was built on the site of a former Benedictine monastery and opened to the public in 1916. Today, many visitors stop here to see the over 20,000 azulejos that cover its interior atrium. The tiles were designed and painted by Jorge Colaco, representing the story of Portugal’s history.

The station can be quite busy with walking tour groups and regular commuters. Since it’s an active station, just be mindful of those wanting to catch their train whilst you’re appreciating this incredible work of art. On a rainy day the floor can be quite wet and slippery, so be careful.

Top Tip. The TimeOut Market is located next to the train station, making it a great indoor lunch spot on a rainy day. They had a great selection of cuisines and we even saw a menu of the day option. We tried bifana here, a simple but very flavourful sandwich.

Visit the Museums

Visiting museums is the perfect indoor activity on a rainy day and Porto has plenty of them. Below we’ve listed a variety to consider, depending on your interests.

Soares dos Reis National Museum. It’s a fantastic art museum to visit on a rainy day. The museum was founded in 1833 and since 1940 it’s been housed in the Carrancas Palace. Across two floors we got to see a vast collection of Portuguese art, including paintings, sculptures, furniture and ceramics. Entry is 10 EUR per person, and it’s closed on Mondays.

Portuguese Centre of Photography. This was our favourite museum in Porto. It is housed in an old prison, which was active until the 1970’s. Today, it houses a large collection of cameras dating back to the 19th century. From the upper floor windows we could also enjoy some lovely views of the city. The best part is that this museum is free to visit.

Casa da Música. The “House of Music” is an interesting building and hosts a variety of concerts, from classical music to contemporary genres. You can take a guided tour of the building or even attend a concert. Although it’s slightly outside the historic centre, most metro lines pass by here. Therefore, it’s easy to visit whilst staying dry on a rainy day.

Serralves Museum. It’s a massive cultural complex that includes the Museum of Contemporary Art, Serralves Park, the Serralves Villa and the Cinema House. Their all-access ticket is 24 EUR and you could easily spend hours here. Whilst it’s not directly on the metro line, you can get there by bus.

Eat Your Way Through Porto

Porto has many incredible cafes, restaurants and markets where you can try signature dishes. To get away from the rain, we popped into many cafes for a mandatory coffee and pastel de nata, walked through food markets and tried a few restaurants. You can also book a dedicated food tour, which will allow you to learn more about Portugal’s traditional cuisine.

• Mercado do Bolhão. If you love food markets, then definitely stop here. Vendors were selling fresh fruit, vegetables, flowers and other local products on the bottom floor. The top floor had some souvenir stands with handmade products.
• Majestic Café. This historic café is a popular one to visit in Porto. It has a stunning interior, so is perfect to hang out in to escape the rain. Just expect the prices to be inflated due to its popularity.
• Fábrica da Nata. There are so many cafes where you can find more affordable coffee and pastel de nata. Probably the most delicious sweet treat we had was at Fábrica da Nata. They have a few spots around the historic centre.
• TimeOut Market. It’s located next to the Sao Bento Station and offers a variety of food options.
• Mercado Bom Sucesso. If you’re venturing out to Casa de Musica, then you can also stop at this indoor market to try some delicious foods.

Attend a Pastel de Nata Baking Class

As with its tiles, Portugal is also well-known for its sweet pastry: Pastel de Nata. It seemed like every bakery or café was selling this delicious custard tart. Whilst you can totally just do a DIY Pastel de Nata-hopping experience on a rainy day in Porto, if you want to actually learn about how they’re made, we suggest booking a dedicated Pastel de Nata baking class.

During our tile painting workshop, there was actually a class going on next door. A cooking class is a fun and educational way to learn how typical dishes, or in this case desserts, are made. If the weather forecast hadn’t have improved the following day, we would certainly have attended a Pastel de Nata making class because it seemed like a lot of fun.

Best Time to Visit Porto in Portugal

Whilst you can visit Porto all-year-round, there are definitely better and worse times to tour this picturesque city.

Spring (March to May). Spring is a good time to visit Porto, although if you want to increase your chances for sunnier days, then come in late-spring. Just note that the crowds will be higher in May than in March and around the Easter holidays.

Summer (June to August). If you’re after a sunny city break and wish to reduce the chances of rain, then visit in the summer months. Thanks to the summer holidays, July and August will be incredibly busy and it may also be very hot. Visiting in June is probably the best month in this season.

Autumn (September to November). A visit to Porto in autumn is a great opportunity to avoid the insane summer crowds and heat. We would pick September, which is still warm compared to October and November, when the chances of rainy days increase significantly.

Winter (December to February). You can totally visit Porto in the winter months if you come prepared. However, we definitely wouldn’t recommend Porto if you’re after a winter-sun holiday.

What to Pack When Visiting Porto in the Shoulder or Off Season

Now, if you know that you’ll be in Porto in the shoulder or off season, then we suggest arriving prepared. First of all, check the forecast closer to the time of your visit. This will help you see what temperatures and conditions you’re likely to get.

We also suggest packing a variety of outfits and accessories. You’ll definitely want a pair of comfortable shoes for walking up and down the steep cobblestone streets of Porto. Ideally, you also want your shoes to be waterproof, as there’s nothing worse than walking around with wet feet.

Having layers is always the way forward. In the shoulder season, you may get a very warm day followed by a rather cold one. Even if the temperatures are nice during the day, early in the morning or later in the evening they can drop and it’ll feel much cooler.

In terms of accessories, make sure to have both sun protection as well as rain protection. Our hotel had umbrellas but we also took our own for the trip, which came in very handy.

Top Tips for Visiting Porto on A Rainy Day

Use public transport to get around. Whilst Porto is very walkable, you may want to use the metro or buses to get between attractions. Let’s face it, walking across the Dom Luis I Bridge to Gaia won’t be very pleasant in windy and rainy conditions.

Mind the slippery surfaces. The cobblestone streets were pretty slippery during rainfall and many of them were also very steep. Some indoor places, such as the train station floor, can also become wet and slippery. Therefore, pick the right footwear and take a bit of caution when walking around.

Don’t forget your umbrella. We noticed that many places had an umbrella storage area, where visitors could place their wet brolly. Whether you brought your own or are using one from your hotel, make sure to pick it back up when you exit.

Don’t let the rain ruin your visit. Lastly, don’t stay in your hotel room on a rainy day. As you can see, there’s plenty of fun and cultural indoor activities to keep you entertained. Embrace the weather and have fun.

Final Thoughts on Things to Do in Porto on a Rainy Day

There are certain things in life that are completely out of our control, such as the weather. Whilst we knew that we had higher chances of rain by visiting Porto in March, we still managed to have a lot of fun. We often skip museums and other indoor activities in favor of being outside, so a rainy day was a great way to do something that wouldn’t have necessarily been our first choice. For example, we enjoyed our tile painting workshop more than anticipated and will probably book similar creative activities on future trips.

Have you ever visited Porto on a rainy day? If so, what activities did you do? If not, what activities would you do when the weather is less than ideal? Let us know in the comments.