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Mercado do Bolhão

Mercado do Bolhão: Our most recommended tours and activities

Porto: Guided Walking Tour and Lello Bookshop

1. Porto: Guided Walking Tour and Lello Bookshop

Learn about the history of Porto as you walk along its medieval streets on a 3-hour guided tour. Discover its most important buildings, visiting monuments dating from the 12th to the 19th century. Admire the Cathedral, Clérigos Church, the São Bento railway station, Aliados Avenue, the Bolhão Market, the Carmo and Carmelitas church, the Lello bookshop and others. See the wooden rabelo boats that have been used for centuries to transport people and goods along the Douro River. Marvel at the interior of the Lello bookshop, often called the most beautiful library in the world.

Porto: 3-Hour Food Tour

2. Porto: 3-Hour Food Tour

Experience the rhythm of Porto as you explore the city's local eateries and markets on this authentic Porto food tour. Start your morning with a visit to a traditional cafe to have breakfast as the Portuguese do. Afterward, see old shops, taste their fresh products, and visit a charming market to eat Iberian ham, sardines, cheese, and wine from the Northern region of the country. Continue your culinary adventure with a local lunch and have the most typical, yet delicious dish of Porto with drinks included at a bar or restaurant loved by the inhabitants of Porto. This tour takes approximately three hours and visits five different spots, one of which where you'll have the chance to try a succulent green wine. All establishments visited are local and traditional businesses. See iconic places like Liberdade Square and the Mercado do Bolhão along the way.

Porto Half-Day Historical Tour & Port Wine Tasting

3. Porto Half-Day Historical Tour & Port Wine Tasting

Explore Porto on a half-day city tour that emphasizes the history of the area. Begin at Pena Ventosa, the birthplace of the city of Porto. Visit the cathedral, built in the 12th century, before continuing to the S. Bento train station. This station is known for its tiles representing important moments of Portugal's history and culture. Next, see the Clérigos Church. Clérigos, built by the famous architect Nasoni, is known for its Classic Renaissance style. As for the Lello, it has a Neo-Gothic facade and remarkable plaster interior. During the tour, you will be given important information regarding several streets and places in the historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Learn about Batalha Square, Santa Catarina Street, the Majestic Café, the Bolhão Market, and Aliados Avenue. Then continue to visit a few neighborhoods located by the water before heading to a Port wine cellar in Gaia. Learn how this national drink is produced, bottled, sold, and tasted, then enjoy a tasting of your own.

Secret Sites of Porto 3-Hour Walking Tour

4. Secret Sites of Porto 3-Hour Walking Tour

Get beneath the skin of Porto, Potugal’s impressive 2nd city, on a half-day walking tour that takes in the most emblematic monuments of the city center, and discovers lesser known attractions. Meet your local guide on Praça dos Leões to see the Bank of Tiles. Then, go to the stunning Igreja do Carmo (Carmelitas Church), part of a 17th-century convent with a classical façade. Stop at the Lello Bookshop, one of the most beautiful book stores in the world, before walking to the Torre dos Clérigos bell tower of the Igreja dos Clérigos. Here, you will also find an Oriental grocery store popular with locals. Get breathtaking city views from the Vitória mirador. Continue along Avenida dos Aliados towards Liberdade Square. On Avenida Santa Catarina, pause to taste a typical Portuguese custard tart in a local coffee shop. Savor the aromas of Bolhão Market, where Porto residents stock up on fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers. Next, wander over to the São Bento Railway Station, where the mosaic walls depict scenes from Portuguese history. Admire views of the Douro River and Sé Cathedral.

Porto Half-Day Tour and Wine Tasting

5. Porto Half-Day Tour and Wine Tasting

Discover one of the oldest cities in Europe on a half-day sightseeing tour of Porto, and learn its rich and diverse history, from the 4th century when Romans occupied the Iberian Peninsula, to its modern day renaissance. Start by exploring the "Bairro da Sé," to discover the heart of Porto's roots in the Ribeira. Admire the traditional architecture that earned the city status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996, and wander past historic store fronts and ancient plazas that were built over Roman ruins. After immersing yourself in Porto's history and local culture, visit one of its most famous wine cellars. Located in the historic heart of the Vila Nova de Gaia, it’s here that you can enjoy the chance to sample some of Portugal’s world renowned wines from age-old vineyards.

Porto: Food & Culture Walking Tour

6. Porto: Food & Culture Walking Tour

Porto is famous for its tascas—local taverns—and its wines. On this tour, we’ll enjoy the atmosphere of the Bolhão Market learning about the Portuguese gastronomy, visit some of Porto’s best street food stalls, and taste a big variety of regional specialties, accompanied by fine regional wines and beer. We’ll start with the market, where we'll observe where the locals source their food from and taste a few finger snacks. It will be followed by two typical Portuguese taverns, for the most traditional sandwiches and drinks, a wine cellars and something sweet at the end!

From Leixões: Private Porto Historic Center Tuk Tuk Tour

7. From Leixões: Private Porto Historic Center Tuk Tuk Tour

Discover the historic center of Porto and the surrounding area on a private tuk tuk tour from Matosinhos. Walk through Cordoaria's Garden, see the tallest granitic tower in the city, and admire the architecture of churches. Celebrate your trip with a glass of Porto wine by the Douro River. Starting your trip in Matosinhos at Leixões Port, a fishing area with golden sand beaches where you can regularly find local surfers. Spot the largest urban park in the country, Parque da Cidade before continuing along the coast to Foz. Ride along the right side of the Douro riverbank, passing under the Arrábida Bridge towards the center of Porto. Once at the city center, stop at the Cordoaria’s Garden, one of the green spaces in town, located behind Porto University. In the proximity of the garden, see the Portuguese Center of Photography, the Justice Palace, and the Santo António Hospital, then head to the Torre dos Clérigos, built in the 18th century. Climb 225 steps to take in a 360-degree perspective of the city center and surroundings. Next, make a brief stop at Livraria Lello. Built in 1906, it's a mandatory stopping point for anyone visiting Porto. Cross the Praça dos Leões, see the beautiful Carmo and Carmelitas Churches, then continue along the narrow alleys of the oldest and most iconic neighborhoods, Miragaia and Vitória. Head to the city center and pass by the most emblematic square in Porto, Praça da Liberdade, flanked by Avenida dos Aliados. Visit the most commercial area of Porto, the Bolhão area, and discover a traditional market with local products and shops of all types and for all tastes. Arrive at the busiest street in town, Rua de Santa Catarina, where you’ll find the most luxurious café in Porto, Café Majestic. Stop at the Sé do Porto Cathedral, a 12th-century building with a mix of architectural styles, dating back to the city's origins. At Sé do Porto Cathedral, see some of the historic Sé neighborhood that surrounds the cathedral. This area is the oldest in the city and remains faithful to Porto's traditions and customs. Next, visit São Bento Train Station, one of the most beautiful in Europe. Here you can appreciate the approximately 20,000 hand-painted tiles that line the interior and illustrate part of the history of Portugal. Passing by Praça do Infante, which houses the Palácio da Bolsa, the São Francisco Church, and the old Ferreira Borges Market, land in Ribeira, the last neighborhood of the 4 oldest in Porto that you’ll visit. Cross the Dom Luis I Bridge to make a brief stop at the Serra do Pilar Monastery. Round off your adventure by enjoying a glass of Port wine as you contemplate the Douro River and the City of Porto on the other bank. Experience one of the most beautiful views in Portugal before returning back to Matosinhos to end the tour.

Porto: Bolhão Market and Codfish Tasting Guided Food Tour

8. Porto: Bolhão Market and Codfish Tasting Guided Food Tour

Food Lovers, this experience is for you! It's time to get to know the essence of Porto by tasting its traditional food. We start our Food Tour in Bolhão Market so you can have an overview of where the fresh ingredients are picked and selected by the local restaurants and people who live in the city. We'll tell you the story behind one of the most beloved places of Porto - this market. You'll try regional wine, sardines, cheeses, olive oil, and smoked meats and meet the nicest people of Porto. The experience gets better by having lunch nearby and tasting the king of Portuguese Gastronomy: the Codfish. We will have three tastings of different ways of having this fish (in Portugal we say that we have more cod recipes than days in a year). Let's finish with a Pastel de Nata and Port Wine. Your heart will fall in love with Porto while the rest of your body will ask for more of these typical delicacies. Join us and have an unforgettable morning!

Porto: Portuguese Craft Beer and Food Tour

9. Porto: Portuguese Craft Beer and Food Tour

Discover the best of Porto's locally brewed beer and delicious comfort food on a guided tour. Visit: the craft pioneers of the city, the "Beer Warehouse" of Porto, and a craft beer brewpub as you taste local brews and Portuguese snack foods. Learn more about the emerging craft beer scene of Porto, as well as the history of beer in the city. Savor 11 locally-produced craft beers, ranging from stout, IPA, pale, and sour ales. To accompany the beer taste a variety of delicious Portuguese snacks and sandwiches. If you are a newbie to the world of craft beer, not to worry, as you will visit a microbrewery during the tour where you'll gain much more understanding of the craft beer process and ethos. Learn the basics of brewing and discover more about the fascinating techniques used to create unique flavors. If you are a craft beer expert, then you will feel right at home but be prepared for a couple of surprises.

Porto City Private Tour Half-Day Minivan

10. Porto City Private Tour Half-Day Minivan

After collecting at your hotel or accomodation, let's start our half-day private tour at the City Hall in Avenida dos Aliados, the place of excellence, where the people of Porto gather to celebrate special moments. Admire the famous Lello Bookstore with its magnificent staircase that connects it to the upper floor. The architecture of this bookstore inspired the Hogwarts staircase in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter book series. In the same area, you will see the Clérigos Tower with a panoramic view of the city and the Douro River, which makes the 240 steps climb worth the effort. Your local guide will lead you through the historic center of the city and introduce you to its highlights. Learn about the history of famous monuments like the S. Bento Railway Station, which has twenty thousand hand-painted tiles illustrating events in Portuguese history. Discover the commercial area of Santa Catarina, Majestic Café, and Mercado do Bolhão.  Next, find the essence of the river as you reach Ribeira, with the typical Rabelo boats and the well-known Port wine cellars. Above the river, find the unique D. Luis Bridge, 395 meters long and 8 meters wide. Its arch is considered the largest iron arch. Cross the bridge and see Vila Nova de Gaia where all the cellars are located. Lastly on this tour, visit one of the traditional ones and taste the wonderful and world famous Port wine.

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What people are saying about Mercado do Bolhão

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 388 reviews

Highly recommend a walking tour in Porto! Our guide was very friendly and super knowledgable. We learned a lot on our first day and had time to take photos and ask questions. The combo ticket for the Lello Bookshop was well worth it - no waiting in lines. Thank you so much for the experience!

Learning a city in foot gives one a different perspective than reading about it or even driving around. This tour was small enough and long enough to highlight several important places and leave the participants with enough knowledge, curiosity and energy to continue the journey in their own.

Although Melissa has only been living in Portugal for a few months, she was able to tell us a lot about the history of Porto with her professional expertise. At the end we were able to visit the famous bookshop Lello without having to queue. Perfect!

Melissa was wonderful! Take this tour when in Porto. Its so informative.

Very interesting. Guide very good and attentive Tasting very good