The most beautiful churches in Porto

Whether you’re a religious person or not, visiting the churches of Porto is an excellent way of getting to know…

Sara Riobom
17 de January de 2020

Whether you’re a religious person or not, visiting the churches of Porto is an excellent way of getting to know not only the most important moments of Portuguese history, but also the evolution of architectural styles.
Therefore, I made this Top 7 most beautiful churches in Porto – I hope you like them all! 🙂

The most beautiful churches of Porto are:

Clérigos Church and Tower

Rua de São Filipe de Nery | Porto
pink marble interior clerigos church porto

Clérigos church and tower was, for many decades, the most famous monument in Porto. Its location, on an uneven street, lead the Italian architect Nicolau Nasoni to create a rather unusual church, with a single tower. This architectural eccentricity is the reason why Clérigos church and tower became so famous!
You can buy the online ticket to the Clérigos tower, and thus secure your spot to this incredible building from where you have a fabulous 360º view over the city. In my opinion it is the best view of Porto.
You should definitely take a look inside the church, as it is magnificent.
Best time to visit Clérigos church and tower: either at 11h (you can climb the tower and then watch a pipe organ concert inside the church at noon – it’s magnificent!) or at 18h (the sunset light is great to take panoramic pictures of Porto from the top of the tower).
How to get there: the Clérigos church and tower is a 10 minutes walking distance from the train & subway station São Bento. You can also take the trams 18 or 22.

São Francisco Church

Rua do Infante D. Henrique | Porto
gold leaf st francis church porto

What I truly admire in St Francis church in Porto is that it combines two architectural styles: Gothic (for instance, on the rose window on the main facade) and Baroque (for example, on the altarpiece).
During the eighteenth century the interior of the St Francis church in Porto was decorated with golden gilt wood work, making this not only one of the most beautiful churches in Porto but also one of the greatest examples of this type of Baroque decoration in Portugal.
Tickets: The ticket to visit the St Francis church in Porto costs 4,5€ and you can only buy it on the spot. You can book a guided tour by sending an email to museu@ordemsaofrancisco.pt and I HIGHLY recommend it.
How to get there: It’s extremely hard to park close by, so I recommend you to walk from the São Bento train station.

Cathedral of Porto

Terreiro da Sé | Porto

The cathedral is one of the oldest churches in Porto, dating from the twelfth century, and it harmoniously combines both Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque style. It is surrounded by narrow streets that go all the way to the Douro river, such as the famous Dark Street.
The cathedral of Porto is not only one of the best viewpoints of the city, but also a great starting point for your day, as it has a tourist center right in front of it.
Tickets: The entrance to the cathedral of Porto used to be free but these days you need to pay. Nowadays, you can buy a ticket to visit both the cathedral of Porto and the Episcopal Palace (where the bishop lives) for 5€. You can but the ticket on the spot.
How to get there: the cathedral of Porto is a 5 minutes walking distance from the São Bento train station.

Church of Lapa

Largo da Lapa, 1 | Porto
facade lapa church porto

Probably you already noticed that what drives me to monuments is not only its architectural value but the hidden stories behind them. Therefore, the church of Lapa is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful churches in Porto because on its inside you can find the heart of the honourable King Pedro IV.
You may never heard of him but he was the man who fought, during the Portuguese civil war, against his own brother Miguel, in order to have a Constitutional monarchy.
Because of the civil war, Porto was surrounded by a siege for almost two years without ever surrendering – which is why, among other things, Pedro IV decided to donate his heart to the city. Tourists rarely visit this church but they should, as it holds an important part of our history 🙂
The cemetery next door is really worth visiting, since it has plenty of there are a lot of symbols of Freemasonry hidden in the graves.
Tickets: Free entrance to the church of Lapa.
How to get there: the church of Lapa is a 10 minutes walking distance from the subway station Lapa.

Church of Santa Clara

Largo 1º de Dezembro, 3 | Porto
portuguese gold leaf santa clara church porto

The church of Santa Clara is one of those places that you feel extremely fortunate to stumble upon. Its discrete Gothic facade hides an interior extensively decorated in golden gilded wood work.
The church of Santa Clara is truly breathtaking and it surely deserves to be on this list of the most beautiful churches in Porto.
Since you’re there, take the opportunity to also visit the cathedral of Porto, because it is 5 minutes walking distant.
Tickets: Free entrance to the church of Santa Clara. The renovation work to restore this beautiful church are going to start soon, so hurry up!
How to get there: the church of Santa Clara is a 10 minutes walking distance from the São Bento train station and 2 minutes away from the cathedral of Porto.

Church of Carmelitas and Church of Carmo

Rua do Carmo | Porto
facade carmo church carmelitas church porto

It’s impossible to talk about the church of Carmelitas and the church of Carmo separately as these two churches are side by side.
They are both rather unique in style though: the Church of Carmelitas dates from the seventeenth century and has a magnificent rococo altarpiece, whereas the Church of Carmelitas, from the eighteenth century, is a great example of Baroque architecture. These are definitely some of the most beautiful churches in Porto!
Something great about these two churches is its premium location, in between the nightlife district of Porto and the trendy neighborhood of Cedofeita.
Tickets: Free entrance to both the church of Carmelitas and to the church of Carmo.
How to get there: these churches are a 10 minutes walking distance from the subway stations Aliados and São Bento. There are also several buses that stop right in front of it.

Chapel of the Souls

Rua de Santa Catarina, 428 | Porto

chapel souls porto azulejo tiles
The Chapel of Santa Catarina, better known as the Capela of the Souls, is one of the most photographed churches in Porto due to its magnificent façade, covered with tiles.
In fact this church, that dates back to the end of the eighteenth century, only began to attract the attention of passers-by when, in 1929, its facades were covered by 15947 tiles that represent the steps in the life of St Francis and St Catherine of Alexandria, who are worshiped in the chapel.
The interior of the chapel is nothing worthy of mention, but it is worth going there just to see the magnificent façades of the Capela das Almas in Porto.
How to get there: the subway station Bolhão is right across the street.

Save this article for later:

best churches porto azulejo tiles
most beautiful churches porto

Related tours

Half Day private tour in Porto (4h)
Behind-the-scenes access to Porto's well kept secrets.
From 80€ / person
Check Tour
Full Day private tour in Porto (7h)
The most exclusive wine lodge in Porto is waiting for you.
From 119€ / person
Check Tour
Private Jewish Heritage tour of Porto
Discover the hidden treasures of the Jewish history in Porto.
From 75€ / person
Check Tour
Private Wine tour in Douro Valley
Exclusive tour of family-owned wineries and hidden culinary gems.
From 135€ / person
Check Tour
River cruise and wine tour in Douro Valley
Enjoy award-winning wines, authentic Portuguese cuisine and amazing river views.
From 135€ / person
Check Tour

Related articles

The hidden facts about Porto

Interesting facts about Porto go far beyond the Lello Bookstore or the kids that jump from the Luiz I Bridge.…

Sara Riobom
27 de August de 2023
First time in Porto: things you should know

Every time I visit a new city, my first instinct is to research everything that I can about it. This…

Sara Riobom
25 de February de 2024
Traditional Portuguese carnival in Podence

When a blogger writes, he/she usually has in mind a specific target reader, and as such he/she writes about a…

Sara Riobom
2 de March de 2017
Half Day private tour in Porto (4h)
Check Tour
FECHAR