This photogenic and charming district, right on the banks of the Douro River and just a few steps from the Luís I Bridge, is particularly attractive for its narrow streets, shady corners and dozens of outdoor restaurants and bars.
Barrio La Ribeira will be the perfect place for lunch or a romantic dinner and is a great base for exploring the whole of Porto.
Get lost in the hilly streets
Ribeira translates as 'river district' and has been intrinsically linked to the Douro River since time immemorial.
The narrow streets, filled with stone and pastel-coloured small houses, rise steeply from the river towards what is now the centre of Porto, beckoning you to explore the mysterious people's corners and wide streets full of restaurants.
The centrepiece of the district is the riverside Praça da Ribeira and the adjacent Cais da Ribeira pedestrian embankment, which offers spectacular views of Ponte Luís I and the Serra do Pilar monastery on the opposite bank.
Restaurants and nightlife
Barrio La Ribeira is the most touristy district in Porto, yet the restaurants off the main square, Praça da Ribeira, and the waterfront retain a unique charm. Count on dinner not being served until around 19:00.
The nightlife here has a great atmosphere in the darkness of the narrow streets, but it doesn't last long. Most of the restaurants and bars here close between 22:30 and 23:00, after which the Ribeira district falls completely silent.
Accommodation in the Ribeira district
If you want to experience historic Porto to the full, stay here. The district is full of small private apartments and boutique hotels. Prices are high, but if you really want to live in the UNESCO-listed centre, you won't regret it.
We recommend these accommodations:
- Oca Ribeira do Porto - modern apartments right in the heart of the action on Praça da Ribeira.
- Descobertas Boutique Hotel Porto **** - a great hotel with cosy modern rooms in a side street near the seafront and very good prices by local standards from 150 eur per night
- Porto River **** - well rated aparthotel right on the Douro riverfront overlooking Ponte Luís I.
How to get to Ribeira?
Either on foot to the centre (about a 5 minute walk up a steep hill) or to any part of Porto, there are several bus routes passing nearby and then the funicular railway running towards São Bento station has a station at the foot of the bridge.
Then you can use the following stops right in Ribeira:
- Infante - historic tram line 1, buses 403, 500, 910
- Ribeira - bus 403
What to see around
Discover all the places to see in Oporto.
