Oporto On Your Own

OVERVIEW

Spend hours independently exploring Oporto, a wonderfully urban metropolis at the mouth of the Rio Douro. You will be dropped off in the historical Oporto city center. UNESCO declared this quarter a World Heritage site for its rich and varied architecture that includes medieval walls, Gothic churches and Roman ruins. Wherever you wander, you will likely see the Torre dos Clérigos, which was the tallest structure in Portugal when built in 1763 as the bell tower of the adjoining Clerigos Church. The city's fortress-like cathedral - the Sé do Porto - is another landmark worth visiting. Portuguese explorer Henry the Navigator was baptized there in the late 1300s. The attractions are equally captivating along the Avenida do Aliados, a thoroughfare lined with exquisite boutiques and cafés. Many of the plazas boast statues of celebrated figures such as King Pedro IV, who was known as The Liberator.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Explore Oporto on your own and focus on the attractions that sound most interesting.
• Be dropped off in the historical Oporto City Center, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Enjoy the freedom of wandering about at your own pace with no schedule to follow.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.