11 Perfect Things to Do in Porto at Night [Whether You Drink or Not!]
Lisbon may have the name recognition, but Porto? Porto has the traditional Portuguese charm: crawling up the hills on either side of the bank of the Douro River, jam-packed with colorful houses on the Porto side and Port wine cellars on the Vila Nova de Gaia side (technically two cities, but with the Dom Luis I Bridge connecting both, it doesn’t feel that way.
In all honesty, in some ways, I think Porto is even more charming than Lisbon, with its beautiful bridges across the Douro, more traditional azulejos and storefronts, and its many stunning miradouros.
| ⌛ Planning your trip to Porto at the last minute? Here are my quick picks on what to do & where to stay! 🍷 Top Porto Night Experiences: 1. Cálem Port Cellar Tour with Wine Tasting & Fado Show 2. Sunset Sailboat Cruise on the Douro 3. Guided Evening Tuk Tuk Tour of the Historical Center 🏨 Best Porto Hotels: 1. Hospes Infante de Sagres (Small Luxury Hotel of the World member) 2. Laurear Guesthouse (cozy mid-range boutique hotel) 3. Zero Box Lodge (funky budget hotel with capsule concept) ✈️ Flying in? Book an airport transfer with Welcome Pickups — they’ll greet you at the airport, help with bags, & bring you into the city, all pre-booked! |
But Porto’s charm doesn’t set with the sun: if you’re looking for fun things to do in Porto at night, you’re in the right place.
Here are my top picks for an evening or night in Porto!
The Best of Porto at Night: 13 Top Things to Do
Discover the lively Cais da Ribeira.
This is the heart of Porto’s old town, and it’s where everyone ends up after dark: that riverside location can’t really be beat.
As the golden light falls on the city, the pastel buildings feel straight out of a Wes Anderson film, and the Douro glitters right in front of you. Filled with street musicians, terrace bars, and sunset views — it’s touristy, sure, but it’s also genuinely charming.
💡My tip: Grab wine and petiscos at Wine Quay Bar, or try Terra Nova for something more substantial. And don’t leave before snapping a photo of the bridge lit up at night — it’s one of Porto’s best views!
Have a traditional Francesinha for dinner.
Francesinha is Porto’s most traditional meal, but be warned, it’s not for the faint of heart.
That said, it’s definitely a late-night rite of passage (and the accompanying heartburn). It’s messy, meat-heavy, and drowned in a spicy beer sauce. You probably only need to try it once — but you should try it once.
💡Where to Go: Brasão is my go-to (bonus: they do a vegetarian version!). Another choice is Lado B Café, a music-themed restaurant which also has both meat and veggie options.
Watch the sunset from Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar.
The word miradouro in Portuguese cities almost has legendary status. Follow any sign leading you to a miradouro and you will find an epic view that will have you furiously snapping away photos.
One of my favorite miradouro spots at sunset? You’ll have to (technically) leave Porto for it — but don’t worry, it’s as easy as crossing a bridge. Cross over the Douro River by bridge to Vila Nova de Gaia (Porto’s sister city) for one of the best sunset spots in the city. Just cross the Dom Luis I Bridge and turn right on the uphill street.
From the terrace of Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar, a 15th-century monastery, you can see all of Porto glowing in the late light, including the Douro River, the Dom Luis I Bridge, and all those candy-colored houses. Bring a drink, find a spot, and just soak it those nearly-360-degree views of the city.
You won’t be the only one with this idea, sorry, so expect to find a crowd there just before sunset. However, the area is pretty big, so you’ll manage to find a spot.
Enjoy a Port wine tasting.
No trip to Porto is complete without tasting its world-famous Port wine, and while I’d strongly suggest you making a day trip to explore the port-production region, the Douro Valley, having a port tasting at night is another fantastic way to spend an evening in Porto if you’re limited on time, such as if you’re visiting on a 2-day weekend break.
The majority of the famous Port wine cellars are just across the river from Porto in Vila Nova de Gaia, some offering tours and others just offering tasting. The famous names are Caves Cálem, Taylor’s Port, Caves Ferreira, Quinta do Noval, and Sandeman. But there are also specific tours you can book if you prefer a more guided experience; I’ll recommend a few below.
You can book an experience like this Cálem Cellar Tour with a fado show or this Graham’s Port Tasting with Pairing and Tour, which offers tastings perfectly paired with chocolate, cheese, and pasteis de nata, the traditional custard tarts of Portugal.
Watch the sunset from one of the miradouros.
I’ve already mentioned one of Porto’s most famous miradouros, but there are so many more that are a lot less crowded but no less beautiful. But of course, keep in mind: every miradouro is in the upper part of the city, so they’ll all involve some uphill walks.
Here are a few of my favorite miradouros where you can catch an epic sunset in Porto.
- Close to Porto’s cathedral, check out Miradouro da Rua das Aldas
- There’s an epic scenic view from Miradouro da Vitória, one of the most popular viewpoints in Porto.
- If you want to avoid the crowds, head to Jardim dos Sentimentos and check out the view from Miradouro da Ponte da Arrábida.
Sail on a Douro River sunset cruise.
If, on the other hand, you’re tired of walking up and downhill and just want to enjoy a chill evening in Porto, consider joining a sunset or evening Douro River cruise.
If you’re feeling like you’d rather skip the hills (Porto will challenge your pedometer, that’s for sure!) but still want to experience the beauty of the river at sunset, then take a Douro River cruise. You’ll pass by Porto from the water in a more relaxed way, and the views from river-level are still absolutely stunning.
You can either opt for a shared or private experience (both are incredible, but obviously, private is more romantic and special). Most cruises will even give you a drink to enjoy (Port, anyone?) while you sail past the famous sights of the city, including the Dom Luis I Bridge.
Party all night in the heart of Porto.
Although Lisbon definitely has a lot more nightlife, Porto has a vibrant enough scene too, especially in the area close to Porto University.
In particular, you’ll find that Rua da Galeria de Paris and Rua de Cândido dos Reis are buzzing with life from the late afternoon all the way until sunrise. Whether you want to enjoy a beer in a chill atmosphere or plan on dancing all night long, you’ll find a spot that’s just right.
Some of the most popular clubs here are Plano B, Moreclub, and Lust Porto. If you prefer to relax and have a drink in a more laidback, elegant setting, try The Gin House, The Royal Cocktail Club, or Casa do Livro for excellent cocktails without deafening crowds.
Enjoy a night tuk-tuk tour.
A unique way of exploring the city in the evening is on a tuk-tuk tour. While you can find them any time of day, a tuk-tuk by night is way more unique.
This Guided Historical Center Tuk Tuk Tour lasts around two hours, during which your guide will drive you around the charming streets of Porto while telling you stories about the city.
You can choose between a sunset and a night tour (there’s day options too, but this is a post all about Porto at night, after all).
The sunset tour is a more romantic option and will allow you to enjoy gorgeous city views as the day gives way to night; note the tour minimum of two people, by the way.
Listen to an intimate fado concert.
Although fado was born in Lisbon, on the streets of the charming Alfama neighborhood, the music genre is now popular all over Portugal. Listening to a fado concert is a lovely way to spend a night in Porto and immerse yourself in a historic part of Portuguese art and culture.
This intimate fado concert experience offers a few different concert options, including a meet-and-greet. Every day, you can listen to traditional fado music, while on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings, they play tributes to historic fado musicians, focusing on different themes.
On top of listening to the concert, you can learn all about the tradition of Fado while enjoying a glass of Port wine — the most iconic Portuguese duo! You can also pair a fado concert with a short tour of Porto’s historical center and a traditional dinner.
This 3-hour Porto night tour with fado show & dinner includes a tour of the Ribeira district and a Portuguese dinner with a fado show in a local restaurant.
Experience a gastronomy tour.
There are some fun ways to drink your way around the city in a reasonable way. This Petiscos Crawl is one such option, allowing you to experience traditional food and drinks in local restaurants with a group of people, in a far more laid-back setting (while still enjoying some local drinks).
The culinary tour focuses on sampling different petiscos, which are Portuguese appetizers similar to Spanish tapas, paired with local wines. You’ll also pass by Porto landmarks along the way (say hello to Clérigos Tower and Livraria Lello, along with others).
Ty dishes like codfish and Portuguese sausages while drinking Portuguese wine classics like Port and Vinho Verde (a slightly efferverscent white wine that goes perfectly with savory food).
Visit a museum dedicated to rosé wine.
WOW is a complex of museums in Vila Nova de Gaia, including unique spots like The Chocolate Story or Planet Cork.
For wine lovers, Pink Palace is one of the most recent additions to the WOW museums, dedicated entirely to rosé wine.If you like the color pink, this museum is made for you!
Not only do you get to sample five lovely rosé wines on your visit, but you’ll also find several highly Instagrammable rooms, from a pool of pink balls to a pink Cadillac. This eccentric museum is a great way to spend a fun evening (or a cold winter day in Porto).
On Fridays and Saturdays, the museum stays open until 10 PM, while it closes at 7 PM the other days. Book your tickets on the WOW website and get ready to visit this quirky pink palace.
Roxana is a Romanian-born freelance travel writer who has lived in Italy for over 15 years. She has a Master’s in Journalism and a Bachelor’s in Film Studies, and she studied at Università degli Studi di Roma Tre. Besides her native Romania, Roxana has lived in Rome, Lisbon, and Berlin, and she has traveled through much of Europe in search of hidden gems, history, and culture.
