Porto is the second largest city in Portugal after Lisbon, and in recent years, it has been recognized as one of the top destinations to visit in Europe. The core area of Porto is relatively compact and similar to Lisbon, consisting of many hills, alleys, etc. It doesn’t take long to explore Porto, and it’s easy to see most of the city in two full days.

Photography in the City

I’ll begin by saying that I was in the city for three days, and during two days, it rained, so I can’t say I had the time for a thorough review of the photography opportunities here, but some must-see spots in Porto are easily found. Walking is the best way to experience the city, and you will want to cross the Luís I Bridge. This bridge, an icon of the city, consists of a lower deck for pedestrians and road traffic and an upper deck where most visitors are found. The upper deck is for the metro route in addition to pedestrians and gives the best views of Porto. You will find people along the entirety of the bridge, including the path of the metro. It makes it interesting and somewhat dangerous, with hundreds of people crossing a metro path, although the metro progresses slowly. The bridge provides the best views of the riverfront, which contains restaurants, cafes, bright-coloured buildings, and various boats in the water.

Other nice sites in Porto include churches to admire the exteriors, including the Igreja de São Francisco and the Igreja do Carmo. I mention exterior because photography is prohibited in at least one (Igreja de São Francisco), although phone photos without flash seem tolerated.

Abandonment in Porto

Porto is a city with some beautiful, classic architecture but also one containing a lot of abandoned homes and other structures. These structures are not concentrated in specific areas and can be found throughout the city, including popular areas considered prime real estate in most other cities. One in every five Porto buildings is estimated to be in some derelict state. No single factor contributed to the decline of these buildings, as it was a combination of global events, historical reasons, messy inheritances, and the overall cost of redevelopment. But these abandoned buildings in Porto can make for some impressive photos as they add to the city’s character.

Summary and Quick Stops

Porto is a city that has become one of the must-visit destinations on many people’s travel lists. It’s an exciting city with a storied and challenging history that should be experienced on foot. Like Lisbon, the terrain can be difficult, especially in wet weather - have some comfortable shoes with good traction.

There are a lot of intriguing areas in Porto, but my time in the city allowed for limited exploration. I’d recommend checking out the Majestic Cafe; it will probably be hectic inside, but taking a walk by and checking out the exterior is worth it. It is perhaps within close walking distance as it’s in the most commercial area of downtown Porto. The same goes for visiting the Livraria Lello Bookstore. This bookstore is recognized as one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world and has influenced some scenes of Harry Potter as author JK Rowling used to live in Porto. As a result of its popularity, it gets jam-packed, and if you are expecting to go into the bookstore, expect 200-250 other people waiting to get in as well.