Ribeira

The UNESCO-listed historic heart of Porto along the Douro, with colorful tiled old houses, riverside restaurants and the six-bridges cruise pier. It is the city's most lively neighborhood.

Ribeira (meaning 'riverbank') is the heart of Porto's medieval old town. From the Cais da Ribeira quay by the river, a maze of narrow lanes and steps climbs the hillside, and sections of the 14th-century city walls still stand. The rows of tall, narrow houses along the riverfront, covered in colorful tiles and hung with laundry, are Porto's most famous postcard view. In the middle of Praça da Ribeira stands the modern sculpture 'The Cube' and a statue of São João. The restaurants around the square have outdoor seating facing the river and bridges. Prices run high, but the atmosphere is hard to beat. Local specialties include grilled sardines, cod dishes and Tripas à moda do Porto (Porto-style tripe), best washed down with a glass of local green wine (vinho verde). Several companies run six-bridges river cruises along the Douro from the riverside (about 50 minutes, €15–20), passing under Porto's six bridges. It is the best way to see the old town from the water. On the hillside, worth a visit are the Palácio da Bolsa (Stock Exchange Palace), whose Arab Room is dazzlingly gilded (guided tour about €12), and the neighboring Church of São Francisco, whose interior is covered in hundreds of kilograms of gilded wood carving (about €10). Rua das Flores, beside the Church of Our Lady, is the prettiest pedestrian street, lined with cafés and artisan shops. It is a 10-minute walk from São Bento station down to the river. The old town's steps are steep and awkward with luggage, and the stone pavements are slippery in winter. The restaurant streets and riverside bars are lively in the evenings and especially crowded on summer weekends, so book ahead.

Ribeira

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