Best Instagram spots in Porto

I must be the professional blogger who pays less attention to such an important social media platform as Instagram. But…

Sara Riobom
17 de June de 2019

I must be the professional blogger who pays less attention to such an important social media platform as Instagram. But I totally get that you are on vacation and want to create some perfect memories of your trip, which is why I made a list of the best Instagram spots in Porto (and how to get there).

Because I am a lousy photographer, I used the photos of some Instagrammers that I follow to inspire you. Enjoy!

Let’s discover the best instagram spots in Porto!

Stock Exchange Palace (Palácio da Bolsa)

Rua Ferreira Borges | Porto
stock exchange palace atrium instagram porto
© goncalo_saraiva27

The Stock Exchange Palace is not only one of our most famous buildings but also one of the best Instagram spots in Porto. Usually people go there to take a picture of the famous Arab room, but I honestly prefer the atrium, as it has a stunning glass skylight (the largest in the city, in fact).

As it is one of the most popular monuments in Porto and you can only get inside the building with a guided tour, I recommend you to buy the online ticket to the Stock Exchange Palace (Palácio da Bolsa).

How to get there: the train station São Bento is a 10 minutes walking distance.

Largo de São Domingos

sao domingos church instagram spot porto
© marianamachado___

To get to this Instagram spot in Porto, simply go down Rua das Flores, one of the most iconic streets in the city, and at the end of it you’ll find a tiny square with a beautiful church called Igreja de São Domingos. Make sure you frame it as well!

How to get there: the train station São Bento is a 10 minutes walking distance.

Casa da Música

Avenida da Boavista, 604-610 | Porto
casa musica rooftop instagram shot porto
© marianamachado___

Casa da Música is a great instagram spot in Porto whatever angle you photograph it from BUT I particularly like to photograph it from its rooftop – doesn’t the floor look amazing?!

How to get there: the subway station Casa da Música is a 5 minutes walking distance.

The stairs at the bottom of Rua 31 de Janeiro

31 janeiro street staircase porto
© marianamachado___

Another great Instagram spot in Porto is the magnificent (and highly underrated) staircase right next to São Bento train station. To get there, you can either use the secondary exit of the train station (right next to the lockers) or simply get down Rua 31 de Janeiro – the staircase is on your left hand side.

How to get there: the train station São Bento is across the street.

São Bento train station

Praça de Almeida Garrett | Porto
sao bento train station platform porto
© goncalo_saraiva27

It is particularly hard to take a decent picture of São Bento train station because it is always, well, packed.

Therefore my recommendation is to enter the station itself (don’t simply stay in the atrium, because that is where everyone else is!) and go all the way to the end of the trains’ platforms. From there you can take a shot like this amazing picture!

How to get there: this is literally INSIDE the train station 🙂

Cathedral of Porto

Terreiro da Sé | Porto
dom pedro pitoes sidewalk porto cathedral
© Joanavaz_

The cathedral is of itself one of the best Instagram spots in Porto but there is an angle that I particularly love: the perfect framing that you get when taking the picture from Calçada Dom Pedro Pitões. It is right in front of the cathedral of Porto, it is impossible to miss it!

How to get there: the subway station São Bento is a 5 minutes walking distance.

Miradouro da Rua das Aldas

rua das aldas viewpoint instagram porto
© Maracujaroxo

If you continue down Calçada Dom Pedro Pitões you will reach a viewpoint called Miradouro da Rua das Aldas, one of the best viewpoints in the city.

It is one of the best Instagram spots in Porto because from there you can photograph the last Jewish neighbourhood of Porto (which you can see on the picture above) as well as the beautiful Igreja dos Grilos.

How to get there: the subway station São Bento is a 5 minutes walking distance.

The façade of Igreja do Carmo

Rua do Carmo | Porto
azulejo tiles igreja do carmo façade porto
© Alison__wu

You cannot possibly visit Porto without taking a decent picture of our famous azulejo tiles. That picture cannot be taken inside São Bento train station, #Iamsorrytobreakthenews (ok, maybe I am not so bad at this social media stuff!).

The best way to photograph azulejo tiles in Porto is to choose the façade of a church. I highly recommend you to try the façade of Igreja do Carmo or Capela das Almas because they are both stunning.

How to get there: the train station São Bento is a 5 minutes walking distance.

Luiz I bridge (upper deck)

sunset luiz i bridge instagram spot porto
© Maracujaroxo

I don’t think even I could mess up a photo taken at the upper deck of Luiz I bridge. The effect is particularly stunning when you take the picture during sunset hours.

How to get there: the train station São Bento is a 10 minutes walking distance.

Jardim do Morro

Avenida da República | Vila Nova de Gaia
view from morro garden gaia
© goncalo_saraiva27

We say that the only good thing from Gaia, the city across the Douro river, is the view towards Porto. This photo might explain better than words why we say that!

How to get there: the subway station Jardim do Morro is across the street.

Clérigos Tower

Rua de São Filipe de Nery | Porto
clerigos tower seen from lello bookshop
© goncalo_saraiva27

There are a gazzilion ways of photographing the famous Clérigos tower but my favourite framing is the one you can see on the picture above.
To take it, just go to Lello bookstore. Face its façade, then turn around et voilà! You’re at one of the best Instagram spots in Porto.

Another great option is to go to the front of the Clérigos tower and take this picture:

clerigos tower front view
© barnadrift

How to get there: the train station São Bento is a 5 minutes walking distance.

Capela do Senhor da Pedra

Alameda do Sr. da Pedra | Vila Nova de Gaia
senhor da pedra chapel gaia
© goncalo_saraiva27

Another great spot in Gaia (ok, maybe they have a couple of things worth visiting :P) is the famous Capela do Senhor da Pedra. It is a tiny chapel built in the middle of the beach. It is simply stunning.

How to get there: take the train to Miramar – you should get it at São Bento train station.

Ribeira

rabelo boat luiz i bridge ribeira porto
© catiaribeiros

Ribeira is the most popular neighbourhood in the city so even though it is one of the best Instagram spots in Porto, it is also extremely hard to get a decent picture there (as in, not packed with total strangers).

The trick is to get close enough to the water so that you can frame Luiz I bridge and one or two traditional rabelo boats without massive cruises. But please be careful, we don’t want any of those strange stories of people who put themselves in danger for the sake of Instagram!

How to get there: the train station São Bento is a 10 minutes walking distance.

Farol de Felgueiras

 Jardim do Passeio Alegre | Porto

felgueira lighthouse foz porto
My all time favourite Instagram spot in Foz neighborhood in Porto is the famous Felgueiras’ lighthouse, which has been featured on National Geographic.

Now, a word of caution. Don’t go all nuts trying to photograph this place during a storm or when the weather is unstable. Plenty of people have already fallen from here and trust me, if you make it alive from that foolishness you will regret it the rest of your life.

How to get there: take the #tram 1 or the bus 500.

Viaduct Cais das Pedras

view from cais das pedras viaduct porto
© viveroporto

A really underrated place that I absolutely adore is the viaduct of Cais das Pedras, a discreet viaduct that helps to relieve the traffic at Ribeira area. From there you get a decent picture of Serra do Pilar, the white monastery that you see on the picture above.

How to get there: take the #tram 1 or the bus 500.

Port wine cellars

Cais de Gaia | Vila Nova de Gaia
cockburns port wine cellars
© cockburns_port

Maybe it is my passion for wine speaking here but coming to Porto and not having an Instagram picture of the Port wine lodges is like going to the Vatican and not photographing the Pope (hmm thinking about it, I have been to the Vatican twice and never got to photograph him. This is a stupid analogy. Nevermind!).

All of them are magical but Cockburn’s is particularly impressive.

How to get there: I like to take Gaia’s cable car from Jardim do Morro to Cais de Gaia. You can also walk from Ribeira.

Save this article for later:

best instagram spots porto casa musica pinterest
best instagram spots in porto pinterest

Related tours

Half Day private tour in Porto (4h)
Behind-the-scenes access to Porto's well kept secrets.
From 89€ / person
Check Tour
Full Day private tour in Porto (7h)
The most exclusive wine lodge in Porto is waiting for you.
From 145€ / person
Check Tour
Private Jewish Heritage tour of Porto
Discover the hidden treasures of the Jewish history in Porto.
From 89€ / person
Check Tour
Private Wine tour in Douro Valley
Exclusive tour of family-owned wineries and hidden culinary gems.
From 160€ / person
Check Tour
River cruise and wine tour in Douro Valley
Enjoy award-winning wines, authentic Portuguese cuisine and amazing river views.
From 165€ / person
Check Tour

Related articles

10 Best Fine Dining Restaurants in Porto

Now that you have booked your flight to Porto and arranged your stay at one of the best luxury hotels…

Sara Riobom
30 de September de 2023
15 fun activities in Porto for families with kids

Travel agencies and magazines keep bragging Porto for its nightlife but the city is a great destination for families with…

Sara Riobom
15 de February de 2024
Where to watch football in Porto?

This article was originally published for Euro 2016 when everyone was wondering about the best bars, cafes and restaurants in…

Sara Riobom
13 de June de 2016
Half Day private tour in Porto (4h)
Check Tour
FECHAR