What better goal as a couple than discovering a city together?
If you are on a romantic getaway, the first thing you should do is book a romantic hotel in Porto. Then you should read this list of the most romantic things to do in Porto.
This is a personal choice but I have done all of them, so trust me. 😉 Enjoy them with your better half!
No time to read a long article? Here’s a summary
These are the most romantic things to do in Porto:
- Watch a Fado show at Ideal Clube de Fado or at Casa da Guitarra.
- Go for a Port wine tasting at Graham’s wine lodge.
- Go on a private river cruise: Top sunset river cruise in Porto, the River cruise in Porto with Wine and Tapas or the River cruise on a PRIVATE Yacht.
- Do a picnic at the Crystal Palace gardens.
- Visit the Serralves’ contemporary art Foundation: it is SUPERB 🙂
These are the most romantic things to do in Porto:
Watch a Fado show
For me, one of the most romantic things to do in Porto is actually watching a Fado show, which although not from Porto, is definitely Portuguese! My boyfriend is Belgian and once a month we go religiously to fado at Ideal Clube de Fado. It’s so good to be able to share my culture with him, and also be able to enjoy wonderful voices and guitars :’) The musicians are top notch and the place is really cool, with a super intimate decor. Guarantee your place in this activity by purchasing your ticket online for the Ideal Clube de Fado.
Another good option is the Fado show at Casa da Guitarra, which is very affordable.
If none of these options is available, make sure to read my article about the best Fado houses in Porto.
Price of Fado concerts in Porto (2024)
- On average, fado concerts (without dinner) cost around 18/20€ per person.
- Fado concerts in the Calém cellars cost 25€ per person.
Go on a private sailing tour
I thought river cruises were not for me until I tried a private one departing from Afurada, a small fishermen village just across Porto. For 2h we had the opportunity to see not only Ribeira, the picturesque riverside neighborhood of Porto but also Foz, where the river meets the ocean. In the middle of the ride we were surprised with an amazing tasting of Portuguese sausages and cheeses and a glass of Portuguese sparkling wine. We felt so relaxed and in such a private environment that we even sunbathed on the boat!
I really think this is one of the most romantic things to do in Porto, and it might even be the perfect step for that romantic proposal that you have been planning 😉
These are the best options for:
- Top sunset river cruise in Porto
- Best river cruise in Porto with Wine and Tapas
- Top river cruise on a PRIVATE Yacht
If none of them is available, make sure to read my article about the best river cruises in Porto.
Price of romantic cruises in Porto (2024)
- Generally, private boat cruises cost around 120/140€ per couple.
Go on a romantic visit to a Port wine cellar
There are plenty of Port wine cellars but when it comes to romance, none beats Calém and Graham’s.
The visit to the cellars of Calém is preceded by a small interactive museum, which I personally liked a lot – mainly due to a table where you can test your ability to identify aromas, together with your better half 🙂
If you buy the online ticket online to Calém cellars you will also be entitled to a Fado show at the end – and what’s more romantic than drinking a glass of Port wine to the sound of Portuguese guitars?
Graham’s is another great choice as it is very elegant and spacious. The tasting room has a romantic view as well and the staff is as discrete and friendly as you can imagine. Furthermore, you can enjoy dinner at Vinum, which has a very romantic view over Porto.
Price of the Port wine cellars (2024)
- Generally visits and tastings in the Port wine cellars start at 20€ per person, increasing in price as you choose tastings with higher quality wines.
- The wine tasting + Fado concert at the Calém cellar cost 25€ per person.
Do a romantic dinner at a Port wine lodge
Regular folks can organize a romantic dinner, or a Fado show, or even a visit to one of the Port wine cellars… but the more daring, those who really want to surprise their partner and elevate their game, can combine all these activities and organize a fado concert during an intimate dinner in a Port wine cellar. That’s right: Fonseca cellars had the (genius) idea of providing a truly unique and unrepeatable activity in Portugal, which is combining fado, gastronomy and wine in one of the most beautiful and iconic places in Porto: its wonderful cellars. So, don’t waste time and book your dinner with a fado concert in the Fonseca cellars.
Price of dinner with Fado concert at the Fonseca cellars (2024)
Dinner with a fado concert at the Fonseca cellars costs 130€ per couple, which I think is quite reasonable considering that it involves three activities.
Take a tram ride by riverside
This is such a lovely thing to do if you are on a romantic getaway in Porto, as in many countries there are not tram lines. In Porto we have three, and I strongly recommend you to take tram #1 by riverside, which will lead you from Ribeira (Unesco World Heritage neighborhood) all the way to Foz, by the ocean.
If you want to save some money, buy the combo ticket for the Porto tram + Hop On Hop Off Bus + Guindais Funicular, which gives you access to ALL the Porto trams for 24 hours. This combined ticket pays off immensely because if you buy each ticket individually, it is much more expensive.
Price of a romantic tram ride in Porto (2024)
- The tram ticket costs €5 per person (one way) or, if you buy a return ticket straight away, €7 per person.
Go for a romantic walk at the Crystal Palace Gardens
Walking at the Crystal Palace gardens is definitely one of the top romantic things to do in Porto!
There is nothing not to love about it: the gardens are stunning and filled with beautiful creatures such as peacocks. It has a stunning romantic view over Porto (more specifically, the Arrábida bridge). And it is free of charge!
Take my suggestion and keep going down the stairs as you’ll find plenty of romantic, hidden spots at the Crystal Palace gardens.
Price of the Crystal Palace gardens (2024)
- The entrance is free of charge.
Have a picnic at Serralves’ Park
Serralves’ contemporary art museum has a large park that was designed in such a way that there is always some tree blooming throughout the year. Moreover, it has large flat and even fields close to the lake where you can easily make a romantic picnic in Porto.
My suggestion is for you to buy sausages, cheeses and bread at one of the typical grocery shops of Porto, a bottle of wine and some glasses and go enjoy the company of your better half at Serralves’ parks. It is definitely one of the top romantic things to do in Porto!
The ticket to Serralves costs 20€ (garden + museum). You can buy the online ticket to Serralves, and this way you skip the queues, which are usually quite long!
Prices & Tickets for the Serralves Foundation (2024)
The online ticket for the Serralves Foundation costs 20€ per person and includes all of the Serralves Foundation’s buildings (including its incredible museum, designed by Siza Vieira) and its park. If you just want to visit the park, it costs €13 per person and you can buy the ticket on the spot.
Enjoy the sunset at Serra do Pilar
We say that the only good thing in Gaia is the view towards Porto, and I bet my chances that it is because of the splendid view over Luis bridge and Ribeira that you get from Serra do Pilar.
You can simply get the yellow subway line to JARDIM DO MORRO and from there it is 5min walking distance.
As it is a viewpoint there is not much to do rather enjoying the view, so I not take a bottle of wine and some glasses to give an extra romantic boost to it? 🙂
Price (2024)
- The entrance is free of charge.
Have a drink at The Yeatman Hotel bar
I am so in love with The Yeatman Hotel‘s bar that it couldn’t be missing on the top romantic things to do in Porto!
This five star hotel has a wonderful bar decorated in classical style with a magnificent view over the douro river and Ribeira. On warmer days, you can be on the large terrace on the outside.
It is quite an expensive bar but you can simply have a glass of wine or some hot tea and stay there for a couple of hours as no one will bother you.
And trust me, such a romantic view, enjoyed with the company of your better half, is definitely worth it!
The schedule is: Sun – Thu: 9h – 1h. Fridays, saturdays and holidays: 9h – 2h30.
Prices (2024)
- It depends on what you order, but don’t forget that it’s the bar of one of the most expensive hotels in the city.
Watch a concert at Casa da Música
I honestly think that going to a concert at Casa da Música is one of the top romantic things to do in Porto!
Casa da Música has a gorgeous concert room that combines baroque and contemporary architecture and the acoustic is terrific. It hosts concerts of several music styles and for different prices so I am sure you can find some that interests you. You can check Casa da Musica’s agenda.
Prices of romantic concerts at Casa da Música (2024)
It really depends on the concert you choose (and the seats, too), but I don’t remember ever paying more than 25€ per person (maximum) for a ticket for a Casa da Música’s concert.
Have brunch on a Sunday morning
Seriously: is there something non romantic about having brunch?! 🙂 I thought so! Which is why I included it on the top romantic things to do in Porto.
I have already extensively written about the best places for brunch in Porto, but the places I go the most are Rosa et Al, a lovely boutique hotel, and 7g Roasters, a specialty coffee roaster in Cais de Gaia.
If you are not really a brunch person, then you should consider going to one of the most romantic restaurants in Porto.
It really depends on the concert you choose (and the seats, too), but I don’t remember ever paying more than 25€ per person (maximum).
Price of brunch in Porto (2024)
It depends on the place you choose and what you order from the menu, but at the moment brunches in Porto range from 25€ to 40€ per person.
Walk by the Atlantic Ocean at Foz
Foz, the ocidental neighborhood of Porto, is ideal for a romantic walk. There, you’ll be surrounded by fishermen and bike riders, while you walk gently by the water front. You can stop for a drink and a Portuguese dish at Casa de Pasto da Palmeira, it is a lovely spot at Foz.
If you are not really a brunch person, then you should consider going to one of the most romantic restaurants in Porto.
Prices of a romantic walk by the ocean (2024)
- This activity is free of charge 🙂
Have a cocktail at a rooftop
There are plenty of rooftops in Porto. Some of them are quite sophisticated and located at the best luxury hotels in Porto, others are more humble and relaxed. Whatever you choose, I am sure you will find it pretty romantic.
Prices (2024)
- It depends on where you go and on what you order!
Have breakfast at Tavi (pastry shop)
Tavi is one of my favorite pastry shops in Porto and it’s not just for the bread or the sweets, it’s because it has an incredible terrace, all glassed in, right in front of the sea 🙂 The food is spectacular – from the cakes to the snacks, from the brunch to the lunch dishes, the drinks (hot but also natural juices)… everything is good, everything is fresh, and that endless view is really relaxing.
The only problem with Tavi is that it is a very popular place, always full of people, and therefore I would never say that it is an intimate or quiet place. Go early, enjoy the food and the view and then go for a walk by the oceab, which is really nice.
Prices (2024)
It depends on what you order, but Tavi, although not prohibitively expensive, is definitely more expensive than most of the pastry shops in Porto (if only because of the location, in the posh area of Foz 😛
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