Porto with kids

Cathedral, Ribeira and across the Douro

• 6Sights
• 1Kid stops
• about 3 kmDistance
• 1.5 hoursWith play time

This walk is about 2.9 km and links six places in Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia: the cathedral, the Igreja de São Francisco, Ribeira Square, the Dom Luís I Bridge, the Jardim do Morro garden and the Serra do Pilar viewpoint. It starts at the cathedral, goes down to the riverfront, crosses the Douro once and ends on the hill in Gaia.

The stop for children is a playground beside the lower station of the Gaia cable car, on the far bank before the walk up to Jardim do Morro. Family guides call Porto hilly, with steps and cobbles, so the tips below are about getting around with a buggy or a baby carrier.

1. 

   Porto Cathedral

   The fortress-like cathedral and its terrace.

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

2. 

   Igreja de São Francisco

   The Gothic church beside the Palácio da Bolsa.

   Photo: Georges Jansoone · CC BY 2.5

3. 

   Ribeira Square

   The colourful riverfront houses seen from the quay.

   Photo: Josep Renalias · CC BY-SA 3.0

4. 

   Dom Luís I Bridge

   The double-deck iron arch spanning the Douro.

   Photo: Deensel · CC BY 2.0

5. Playground at the Gaia cable car Playground

   A playground beside the lower station of the Gaia cable car, on the river bank in Vila Nova de Gaia, mapped as open to the public at all times.

   On the map

6. 

   Jardim do Morro

   The hilltop garden where the city gathers for sunset.

   Photo: Unknown author · CC BY 2.5

7. 

   Serra do Pilar viewpoint

   The round cloister hill facing Porto across the river.

   Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0

Tips for parents

• One family guide says Porto is very hilly with lots of steps, especially around the Ribeira area, so it can quickly tire small kids. The route passes through Ribeira.
• Another guide says the city is full of stairs, uphill streets and cobblestone roads. It suggests a baby carrier or backpack for the steep and uneven areas, advises against light strollers with very small wheels and twin strollers, and recommends a single foldable lightweight stroller with large wheels.
• A family guide recommends walking across the Dom Luís I Bridge, and adds to keep an eye out for the trams that pass every so often.
• An itinerary mentions a small playground at the bottom of the Gaia cable car where kids can run around. OSM maps a playground about 25 m across beside the lower station, open at all times.
• A family guide calls Jardim do Morro a small park right by the Gaia cable car. It says the cable car goes from close to the top of the bridge down to river level, and calls it an easier alternative to the winding back streets.

Public toilets

• About 170 m from Ribeira Square · On the map