A lively urban locale along the otherwise rural Douro River, Porto, Portugal is one of southern Europe’s most engaging cities. River cruises to Porto offer travelers the opportunity to sample the region’s famous fortified wine varietal -- Port. In addition to delicious wines, the city features an incredible Old Town and a love for its football, or soccer, team, FC Porto. Whether the purpose of your Porto visit is to see architecture, eat, or catch an FC Porto game, you’ll be immersed in the exciting life of this city on your Portuguese river cruise.

Travel the Douro River to Porto, Portugal

Porto spans both sides of the river, making it an ideal destination for Douro River cruises. The city of Porto still uses the river as a major trade route, transporting Port wine and other goods. Over the last century, the Douro has become a popular route for river cruises, taking voyagers to cities like Porto, Lisbon, and Amadora. River cruises on the Douro, not limited to cities like Porto, will pass through the Douro wine region and more on the rolling Portuguese countryside.

Architecture on Porto’s river voyages

Porto is the river cruise destination for design lovers. It has numerous bridges over its Douro River, built to allow transportation and trade across the city. Parts of Porto are designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites even. Its signature Portuguese architecture styles found throughout the city are Manueline, Portuguese Baroque, and Portuguese Renaissance. By no means limited to those, the city is filled with everything from Gothic to Modern. Here, we’ve listed some of our favorite architecture in the city of Porto.

• Porto Cruise Terminal. This location is the first place any river cruise traveler visits when coming to Porto. The Porto Cruise Terminal is a modern Luís Pedro Silva design that encourages the flow of travelers from their Porto cruise ship to land.
• Lello Bookstore. Livraria Lello -- its Portuguese name -- is arguably the inspiration for the bookstore featured in the Harry Potter books. It’s often noted as one of the top bookstores in the world. Featuring a cozy interior and built in the Neo-Manueline style, this bookstore should be on the tour list when your river cruise visits Porto. 
• Luís I Bridge. Spanning the Douro River, this metal arch bridge is a monumental feature for cruise vessels that pass underneath. The bridge’s lower levels are for pedestrians and cars, while the upper level features a light rail and can also be walked. 
• Old Town. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, Old Town is one of the very best Porto attractions. Filled with older architecture styles and located right against the Douro, this location also contains the Ribeira neighborhood.​

Porto Cruise Terminal on the Douro River

Livraria Lello Bookstore in Porto, Portugal

River cruise dining and drinking in Porto

Old Town Restaurant in Porto, Portugal

A highlight of any Portuguese city is the delicious cuisine. Porto is no exception, filled with many world-class establishments and local-favorited cafes. Despite being a smaller city with just over 200,000 residents, Porto has an amazing 11 Michelin-starred restaurants. When you’ve had your fill of eating, Porto river cruise wine tastings are an excellent way to enjoy the area’s favorite drink. 

Along the river, the Ribeira neighborhood is close to the Porto Cruise Terminal. It prides itself on authenticity, offering a lively mix of shops and restaurants. The district has several traditional Portuguese eateries for the finest Porto river dining, perfect for a late night stop before returning to the ship.

Luis I Bridge over the Douro River

Old Town "Ribeira" Neighborhood in Porto

Old Town Waterfront on the Douro River

Preparing for a river voyage to Porto, Portugal

​On any river cruise to Porto, travelers can expect a warm welcome from the city’s residents. Enjoying a high standard of life themselves, the Portuguese are often friendly and outgoing. The primary language in Porto is Portuguese. For those that don’t speak the language, Porto river cruise tours are available with guides happy to help. The weather in Porto is very temperate, with warm summers and mild winters. For a European river cruise, Porto offers the best of all worlds -- delicious dining, incredible architecture, a lively and welcoming culture, and great weather to boot.