RunCity

Porto on foot: a self-guided walking route

This route takes you past 11 of Porto's best-known sights, including Serra do Pilar viewpoint, Dom Luís I Bridge, Ribeira Square and more. It is about 3.5 km on foot, roughly 1.5 hours at an easy pace with short stops. Follow the list on your own, or play it as a free GPS checkpoint game with RunCity and race the clock on the Porto leaderboard.

  • 11Stops
  • about 3.5 kmDistance
  • 1.5 hoursWalking
  • about 43 minRunning
Play Porto in RunCity

Free during launch. Runs in your phone's browser; the app is in English, German and Hungarian.

Porto
Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0

Porto's route is short, about 3.5 km, but steep: the city climbs straight up from the Douro on both banks. It starts across the river in Vila Nova de Gaia at the Jardim do Morro, the bonus stop, where the city gathers for sunset, and the Serra do Pilar viewpoint beside it. The top deck of the Dom Luís I Bridge, shared with the metro, takes you over the river; the riverside houses of Ribeira are below on the Porto side.

From the quay the route climbs through the old town: the São Francisco church next to the Bolsa, the fortress-like cathedral and its terrace, the tiled hall of São Bento station and the granite Clérigos Tower. Livraria Lello's carved front is around the corner, and the last stops are the grand Avenida dos Aliados and the restored Bolhão market. Comfortable shoes matter more than distance here; the Guindais funicular climbs from the riverside up to Batalha if you need it.

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Download the route as GPX (for Komoot, Strava or a watch)

The stops

A suggested order. In the game you can visit them in any order.

  1. Jardim do Morro

    Jardim do Morro Bonus

    The hilltop garden where the city gathers for sunset.

    Photo: Unknown author · CC BY 2.5

  2. Serra do Pilar viewpoint

    Serra do Pilar viewpoint

    The round cloister hill facing Porto across the river.

    Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0

  3. Dom Luís I Bridge

    Dom Luís I Bridge Photo

    The double-deck iron arch spanning the Douro.

    Photo: Deensel · CC BY 2.0

  4. Ribeira Square

    Ribeira Square Photo

    The colourful riverfront houses seen from the quay.

    Photo: Josep Renalias · CC BY-SA 3.0

  5. Igreja de São Francisco

    Igreja de São Francisco

    The Gothic church beside the Palácio da Bolsa.

    Photo: Georges Jansoone · CC BY 2.5

  6. Porto Cathedral

    Porto Cathedral Photo

    The fortress-like cathedral and its terrace.

    Photo: Laszlo Daroczy from Miskolc, Hungary · CC BY 2.0

  7. São Bento Station

    São Bento Station Photo

    The station façade on its little square.

    Photo: HombreDHojalata · CC BY-SA 4.0

  8. Clérigos Tower

    Clérigos Tower Photo

    The granite tower rising above the old town roofs.

    Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0

  9. Livraria Lello

    Livraria Lello Photo

    The carved neo-Gothic bookshop façade.

    Photo: Guinness323 · CC0

  10. Avenida dos Aliados

    Avenida dos Aliados

    The grand boulevard with the City Hall at its head.

    Photo: Barcex · CC BY-SA 3.0

  11. Mercado do Bolhão

    Mercado do Bolhão

    The renovated market hall and its iron-and-stone façade.

    Photo: Petnog · CC BY-SA 4.0

Play Porto in RunCity

Leaderboard

    Questions

    Can you see Porto on foot in one day?

    Yes. The 11 stops on this route add up to about 3.5 km, roughly 1.5 hours at an easy pace with short stops.

    Is this self-guided walking tour free?

    Yes. The route and map on this page are free, and the RunCity game for Porto is free during launch.

    How does the RunCity game work in Porto?

    Open Porto in RunCity, walk to a stop and tap Validate: your phone's GPS confirms you are there. Some stops also ask for a photo. Timed runs go on the Porto leaderboard.

    Where does the route start?

    This page suggests starting at Jardim do Morro and finishing at Mercado do Bolhão. In the game you can take the stops in any order.

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