Porto’s Best kept Secrets - top 10
Porto: Portugal's Capital of Portwine Treasures
Today, we're diving deep into Porto, the world-renowned port wine capital. Although it's Portugal's second-largest city, its charm and history remain largely untouched by mass tourism. Shocked? You read that right! Porto hasn’t yet been overrun by tourists, so pack your bags and gear up for an unforgettable journey!
While we've piqued your interest, let us intrigue you further. Having lived in Porto, we ventured off the beaten path for you. Apart from our shared love for port wine, we also have an eye for photography. So, not only do we know the finest port wines and cellars to recommend, but we'll also introduce you to cultural and scenic spots beyond the world of wine.
Hidden Gem nr 1: The best wine cellar in our humble opinion: 1890 Lodge Graham’s
Our top pick is the Graham’s port lodge, also known as the 1890 Lodge. Here, you'll journey through time, witnessing prized port wines dating back to the 19th century. While these treasures are on display, behind iron-barred cellar doors lie vintages like the 1945 and 1963—rare gems you won't come across daily.
One of the ‘Pippas’ in the wine cellars of Graham’s in Vila nova de Gaia
https://www.grahams-port.com/1890-lodge
By foot: Rua Rei Ramiro, 514 4400-281 Vila Nova de Gaia
By car: Rua do Agro, 141 4400-003 Vila Nova de Gaia
GPS: N 41 08.285 W 8 37.494
Hidden gem nr 2: Taylors Portwine Cellars and visitors center.
Prepare to be awed by the world's largest wooden wine barrel! The exact number of port wine bottles it holds is staggering. The visitors' center also boasts a unique universe-themed ceiling featuring stars, our galaxy, and the Milky Way. Don't forget to look up!
Hidden Gem nr 3: Visiting the Casa da Musica
Visiting this building is nice when you want to catch a great lunch for just 12,- EUR but the true beauty of this place lies outside. The whole area around this Casa da Musica is from the old days and this building just sits at the roundabout like a space ship dropped a massive building on our planet. The acoustic inside the musical hall is of course perfect and a musical pleasure to the ears.
Hidden Gem nr 4:
With many wines scoring 100 parker points - This is definatly a hidden gem amongst most wine-cellars. Lesser known to the big crowds, down at the river, but tucked away in the narrow streets of the Vila Nova de Gaia streets, Fonseca is one of those places you must have visited during your stay in Porto. Incredible wines and an amazing part of the history of the Douro’s portwine development. If you can, try the 2011 Vintage - It’s a magical wine, destined to become one of the best vintage port wines of the 21th century
Fonseca Cellars
Address: Rua do Choupelo 84, 4400-187 Vila Nova de Gaia
Schedule: Mon to Sun 11h - 19h
https://www.fonseca.pt/en/visit-fonseca/port-cellars
Hidden Gem nr 5:
Churchill’s has taken our hearths ever since we’ve started out in the portwine business. From 2013 we actually started selling Churchill’s portwines, before any other brand. During our visit to https://www.drinkchurchills.com/en/visit/the-lodge/ we got a great tour and found many new interesting information. Nowadays there is also a Bar - 1982 and the cellars have gotten an upgrade on the outside walls: A huge graffiti Mural painting.
Hidden Gem nr 6: The Other Ponte Luis
Because most tourist fly into Porto and they stay a weekend or mid-week, they don’t check what on the other side of the Ponte Luis 1 iron bridge (by the same architect as the Eifel tower was made - Eifel).
Yes ofcourse, the ponte Luis 1 is the eye-catcher of the Porto city and cannot be missed when visiting this beautiful city, but it’s worth walking around a bit further into the douro rivier, that is east, and find the second iron bridge, called the Ponte Dona Maria Pia. This burdge isn’t accesable by foot as its a train bridge, connecting the old rail roads between lisbon and porto, and has been out of order since 1991.
But when you go to walk on the Ponte Infante Dom Henrique, you will find a really beautiful view from above the bridge, especially when the sun has set.
Hidden Gem nr 7: Church on the beach
Now this is a photography spot you don’t want to mis. First enjoy yourself on the beaches of Senhor da Pedra. After a nice day there, seeing high waves crashing on the Vila nova de Gaia shores, you can whitness a stunning sunset. There aren’t that many visitors so you probably share the whole beach with maybe a handful of other guests, especially photographers.
Why? Well look at this picture. It’s very unique to find an active church/capella that people still go to and have messes, and the sun will just line-up perfectly to capture stunning skyscapes, landscapes and seascapes pictures. I bet you want to impress your Instagram friends and show them this unique place and bragg about it? :)
Hidden Gem nr 8: Beaches of Praia da Costa Nova
For this you either need to take a train/bus or have a car ready to visit as it’s a bit outside the porto region, but nevertheless this is a spot you definitly have to visit and isn’t marketed in most tourist-advertisment when visiting Porto.
The beaches here in portugal are very quiet. That means most people have some outdoor/vacation home but because portugal is poor and the density of the population very low, you will have a lot of space on most beaches in Portugal. Here as well - although the houses have a very unique style and are famous for that, you still won’t see masses of people flocking together so space is in ambundance. But just look at those cute houses, and the dunes around them. This you won’t find anywhere else in Portugal.
Hidden Gem nr 9:
What’s next? How about some incredible views over the gardens of the Torreão do Jardim do Paláci.
It’s views are from out of a dream. You feel like stepping both back in time as stepping into a magical garden from out a fantasy book. Take a bottle of portwine during the sunsets, and be ready to get blown away by amazing colors in both the sky and the garden.
The best view over the Douro river
This garden is just magical. You can find here a view all the way to the Atlantic Ocean.
Last one - but not the least! Here goes nr 10:
Fresh seafood market down at the
Mercado Municipal de Matosinhos
Whenever you are in need of fresh Fish, fresh Vegetables and other incredible fresh and typical Portugees products, you will find it here.
