If you’re visiting Porto, we hope you’re ready to embark on a journey to discover important historical landmarks, the best restaurants and top places to shop.
But have you thought about the most unusual things to do in Porto? Well, if you like to do things most people don’t think about when visiting Porto, you came to the right place. And, if you want to make sure to not miss anything, make sure to cover the bucket list of Porto as well!
No time to read a long article? Here’s a summary
These are the top unusual activities in Porto:
- Watch a multimedia show at the Clérigos church – it is SO cool 🙂 If that is sold out, you can also try the Porto underground multimedia show.
- For foodies: join a Pastel de Nata cooking class or join a Food tour in Porto.
- For adventure junkies: ride a Buggy on the hills of Porto, do a speedboat ride in the Douro river or join a Surf lesson in Matosinhos beach.
- If you love Portuguese tiles: join an Azulejo tiles painting workshop.
- For music lovers: Watch Fado show at a Port wine cellar.
- If you’re low on cash: Go thrifting around town or walk down the stairs of Codeçal 🙂
If you want something truly unique, then I recommend to take our Off the Beaten path private tour of Porto.
It’s a completely out of the box tour, away from the touristy area of the city but with some very interesting things you would never discover on your own. Moreover, the area where it takes place (Bonfim) is a very flat area (unlike the rest of Porto), which makes this tour perfect for people with mobility issues.
You can read what other travellers wrote about us on TripAdvisor and then send me an email to sara@portoalities.com telling me when are you traveling to Porto and how many people are traveling with you. It will be a pleasure to welcome you in Porto! 🙂
These are the top unusual things to do in Porto:
Watch a Fado show
It might seem strange that I included a Fado show on this list of the unusual things to do in Porto. But in fact, Fado is not original from Porto but from Lisbon and Coimbra, so it is not common at all that people watch Fado shows in our city.
Usually the Fado shows run during dinner, and I’ve already written about the best Fado houses in Porto. As it usually includes dinner it ends up being an expensive activity (about 30/40€ per person).
However, if you are only interested in listening to Fado, I recommend that you to buy the online ticket for the Fado show at Casa da Guitarra, which is very economical – only 15€ / person.
An even nicer way to do it is to get an online ticket for a Fado show taking place at a Port wine cellar, which is only slightly more expensive than the previous one.
Watch a multimedia show at the Clérigos church
Everyone who reads my blog knows that I LOVE the Clérigos church, as it is, in fact, the most beautiful church 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! Therefore, I am THRILLED that a multimedia show is taking place at the Clérigos Church! 🙂
It’s a lights & sounds show that plays with some of Fernando Pessoa’s most famous poems, and I must say that seeing the succession of images reflected in the Clérigos Church is one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen recently in Porto.
The show lasts half an hour (which is great because the kids don’t even have time to get bored), and there are several times available: 6pm, 6:45pm, 7:30pm, 8:15pm, 9pm and 9:45pm.
Both the Clérigos Church and Tower are always full of tourists, so I highly recommend you to buy your online ticket for the multimedia show at the Clérigos Church.
If that show is already sold out (it happens frequently!), then you can attend the Porto’s underground multimedia show which is also pretty cool, as it takes place in the dungeons by the riverside 🙂
Smart tip: arrive early to sit in the last rows of the Clérigos Church, so you don’t have to constantly look everywhere to try not to miss something great!
Ride a buggy in the hills of Porto
Recently I rode a Buggy at Porto’s hills and I had SO MUCH FUN 😀 I was a bit worried about safety but 1) the guides are very professional but 2) the equipment is new and in good conditions.
Once I got it out of my head I got into our buggy and enjoyed the ride – we crossed some rivers and some bumpy courses with holes, always enjoying the most beautiful views of the region.
We also got to see Quintandona, a picturesque village, as well as the incredible Roman ruins of Castro Mozinho.
All and all, a really well spent afternoon especially in a world pos pandemic 🙂 If you want to give it a go, just get your online ticket to the Off Road Buggy Adventure!
Cook your first Pastel de Nata!
Another interesting option (and much cheaper) is to join a Pastel de Nata cooking class, where you will learn how to cook the famous pastel de nata sweet pastry with a local that will share with you her family recipe (I know this for a fact because I am friends with the person that organises this activity 🙂
The online ticket to Pastel de nata cooking class costs around 30€ and you should get yours now!
Have lunch in a cat café, one of the top unusual activities in Porto
Avenida de Rodrigues de Freitas, 93-95 | Porto
If you’re a cat lover like me, don’t miss out on participating in one of our favourite unusual things to do in Porto. And that is visiting the Porto cat café, O Porto dos Gatos, one of the few of its kind in Europe.
The interior is calm with a dominating cat theme as one would expect.
The food is 100% vegan, but you don’t have to be vegan/vegetarian to enjoy their tasty meals. My recommendations are the vegan hot dogs, the soups and the tofu-bean salad. Also, they excel in making desserts like cakes and brownies.
The cats have their own separate room which you’re not allowed to bring food in. However, some of the cats like to roam in the outdoor area where you can sit down and eat. At O Porto dos Gatos, all the cats are up for adoption and this place accepts donations such as cat food.
How to get there: 24 de Agosto subway station is a 4 minutes walking distance.
Speedboat ride on the Douro river
If you’ve already done the traditional Six Bridges cruise or simply want something more exciting, this speedboat ride on the Douro river is a fantastic alternative. The moment the boat accelerates away from the marina, you realise this is far more fun than a typical sightseeing cruise 😀
You still get all the classic Porto views — Ribeira, Gaia, the six bridges and even the Atlantic coastline — but with a lot more adrenaline. The smaller boats also make the experience feel much more personal and entertaining than the larger tourist cruises on the river.
It’s fast, fun and genuinely memorable — the kind of activity that leaves you grinning afterwards.
Join a Surf lesson in Matosinhos
Taking a surf lesson in Matosinhos is easily one of the most fun things you can do near Porto, especially if you’ve never tried surfing before. The beach is perfect for beginners, with manageable waves and a relaxed atmosphere that makes learning feel much less intimidating.
After a quick introduction on the sand, you head straight into the Atlantic and spend the next hour trying to catch your first waves. Expect to fall a lot, laugh even more, and probably surprise yourself by eventually managing to stand up on the board.
What makes this experience even better is the location. In less than 30 minutes, you can go from Porto’s historic centre to surfing in the ocean — something very few European city breaks can offer.
Join a private tour in Porto
There are many ways to discover Porto, but one of the most unusual ones is to do a private tour. The main advantage of a private tour is clear: you will be accompanied by a professional guide – myself or one of the talented people who work with me – who will explain not only the history of Porto but also lots of fun stories about the local culture.
There are many tours in the city but our tours are exclusively private, which means that we can tailor make an itinerary that really meets your expectations and pace.
You can read what other travellers wrote about us on TripAdvisor and then send me an email to sara@portoalities.com telling me when are you traveling to Porto and how many people are traveling with you. It will be a pleasure to welcome you in Porto! 🙂
Watch a film at an independent movie theater
Rua do Almada, 412 | Porto
Cinema Trindade is my favorite place to go to for independent films as it has a great selection of movies, affordable prices and comfortable seats.
There is no popcorn (am I the only one that hates loud chewing?), and no advertisements before screenings.
The movies are in their original language with Portuguese subtitles. Therefore, you can catch many English movies in this theater, as well as a lot of European and Latin American ones.
Local tip: If you’re watching more films, get the “Tripass Card”. It costs 10€ giving you a free first ticket and 25% discount on all your future purchases. You can get the card (which is valid for a year) at Cinema Trindade and use it for Rivoli, Campo Alegre and Passos Manuel theaters.
How to get there: Trindade subway station is a 4 minutes walking distance.
Join a Food tour in Porto
One thing you’ll quickly realise when you arrive in Portugal is that we LOVE FOOD and our social life revolves around it, so the best way to dive into our culture is to join a Food tour in Porto.
As you can imagine, being a local guide I know all the places that you’ll visit on this particular food tour and, because this Food tour in Porto is organised by a friend of mine, I can assure you that you’ll be tasting authentic Portuguese food and avoid all the (numerous) food traps in Porto.
Do an Azulejos tile painting workshop, one of the top unusual activities in Porto
If you are an art lover and would like to do an unusual thing in Porto, why not do an azulejo tiles painting workshop? 🙂 Imagine a pristine white tile—an uncharted territory. But wait! Behold a collection of pre-designed replicas of traditional Porto tiles. Each whispers stories of history, culture, and craftsmanship. Will you choose one or make your own design from scratch?
As your brush dances, so do the conversations. Fellow participants become companions on this creative journey. Sip on a glass of port (because, Porto!) and let inspiration flow. The room hums with laughter, ideas, and shared passion.
Once your masterpiece is complete, venture out. Explore the local streets; return after 2 hours, and there it is: your tile, transformed, waiting to adorn your home 🙂
Visit the Tram Museum
Alameda de Basílio Teles, 51 | Porto
One of the most unusual things to do in Porto is to go visit the Tram Museum, where you’ll indeed take a trip back in time. First, you will get to see old trams and how they progressed over the years. At the same time, you’ll discover the history of each train and why they have different nicknames. There are also other vehicles besides trams, like buses and coal and fish transporters.
But the best part is that you get to enter in each train and even sit down to imagine what it felt like years ago. Kids will love this place since it’s one of the best museums in Porto for families.
There are other unusual museums you can visit in Porto such as the Serralves Contemporary art Foundation and enjoy a nice walk in its vast gardens and the World of Discoveries Interactive museum.
Climb the Arrábida bridge
Rua do Ouro, 680 | Porto
Climbing the arch of the Arrábida Bridge is one of the most unusual things to do in Porto. It is great for those who are looking for outdoor activities, but to be honest I find it too expensive for what it is (it costs almost 40€ for a short activity).
The climb takes around 30 minutes of easy climbing. At the top, you will have a Port wine served in chocolate cups while you enjoy the amazing view of the Douro river.
How to get there: take tram Line 1 and get off at your destination by stopping at Ponte Arrábida.
Walk down the Codeçal stairs, one of the top unusual activities in Porto
Travessa de Santa Clara, 193 | Porto
Climbing Escadas do Codeçal (which translates to the Codeçal stairs) is one of the most unusual things to do in Porto. When done, it offers a different viewpoint of the city.
The stairs are 270 meters long (885.827 feet), but the exact date of their existence is unknown. During medieval times, they connected Santa Clara convent to the a gate of the medieval walls of the city.
Going down, enjoy the remarkable street art, interesting architecture and the amazing view.
How to get there: São Bento subway station is a 4 minutes walking distance.
Go thrifting around town
Multiple locations
If you love finding unique or second-hand items, you should visit one of the best markets in Porto. Street markets have been around for ages. They are part of Porto’s identify, one we’re trying to keep alive today—after all, it was the city of merchants.
Attending one of those markets is one of the most unusual things to do in Porto.
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