The Best Instagram Spots in Porto, Portugal

You may have noticed more and more photos of blue and white tiled buildings popping up on your Instagram feed. That’s because Porto, Portugal, is one of Europe’s most beautiful and Instagrammable cities. From its blue tiled churches, to its riverside views, there are beautiful corners to explore all across the city of Porto. So keep reading to discover the best Instagram spots in Porto, Portugal!

Also, if you’re looking for Instagram spots in other cities like Paris, NYC, London, Las Vegas, Chicago, Miami and Scottsdale, I’ve got you covered.

Okay, let’s explore the most Instagrammable places in Porto, Portugal! I’ve included a helpful map towards the end of this post so that you can easily find all of these Instagram spots in Porto.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click a link and make a purchase, I will receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

1. Igreja do Carmo

You’ve probably seen this blue tiled wall all over your Instagram feed. It’s on the side of one of Porto’s most famous churches, the 18th century Igreja do Carmo.

The blue and white tiles you’ll see here and all around Porto are called azulejos and are a traditional type of Portuguese tile. Many of the best Instagram spots in Porto, Portugal, are covered in these beautiful, eye-catching tiles.

The Igreja do Carmo is fascinating because it sits next to another church called Igreja dos Carmelitas. The two churches are separated by a 1 meter wide house. Apparently the house was built to keep the monks and the nuns from the two churches separated.

Location:  R. do Carmo, 4050-164 Porto, Portugal.

Photography Tip: You’ll see me say this over and over in this post, but bring a wide angle lens. I recommend carrying a wide angle lens with you for your entire time in Porto. A wide angle lens is going to help you capture the facades of Porto’s Instagrammable blue and white tiled buildings.

2. Igreja de Santo Ildefonso

The Igreja de Santo Ildefonso is another ornate 18th century church covered in beautiful azulejos and it’s definitely one of the best Instagram spots in Porto, Portugal.

Address: R. de Santo Ildefonso 11, 4000-542 Porto, Portugal

Photography Tip: This is anther Instagram spot in Porto where you’re going to want a wide angle lens. This church faces a public square so your photographer can step back a bit (unlike most of the other churches which face narrow streets). But, a wide angle lens is still going to best to help you capture this spot.

Also, if you’re planning to be in your photo, try posing both sitting down on the steps and standing up and see which you like better. I personally preferred my sitting down photos.

3. Steak n Shake Tiled Wall

Can you believe this Instagrammable place in Porto is on the side of a burger joint? Head to Porto’s Steak n Shake restaurant, walk to the side of the building and you’ll find this colorful tiled wall by artist Joana Vasconcelos.

Address: Praça de Guilherme Gomes Fernandes 67, 4050-159 Porto, Portugal

Photography Tip: Bring a wide angle lens – do I sound like a broken record yet, haha?

4. Livraria Lello

Livraria Lello is a stunning bookstore that’s been open for business since 1906. Many consider it to be one of the great bookstores of the world. It’s also one of the most Instagrammable places in Porto, Portugal.

This beautiful and ornate bookshop is said to have inspired J.K. Rowling’s descriptions of Hogwarts. Rowling wrote portions of the Harry Potter series in Porto, and it’s easy to see how this beautiful bookstore could have inspired her.

Due to its popularity, Livraria Lello charges a small admission fee for entry. You can buy a voucher to enter the shop for 5 Euros on the bookstore’s website. The price of the voucher can be applied towards any purchase you make during your visit.

Location: R. das Carmelitas 144, 4050-161 Porto, Portugal.

Photography Tip: Line up before the bookstore opens, so that you have a decent chance of getting a photo without too many people in it. Also, bring a wide angle lens (I know, I know, I’m a broken record).

5. São Bento Railway Station

Porto is such a beautiful city, its train station is even a work of art. The interior of the São Bento railway station is covered in beautiful azulejo tiles. Even if you don’t need to catch a train, it’s worth a visit to check out this stunning interior.

Location: Praça de Almeida Garrett, 4000-069 Porto, Portugal.

Photography Tip: Bring your lens that has the widest possible aperture so that you can let in the most light possible. Otherwise your photos will turn out dark and/or grainy. I didn’t bring the right lens and was a bit disappointed in the quality of my photos from here.

Also, be patient. This is a train station which means there will be crowds of people when the trains are coming and leaving the station. You may have to wait for a break in foot traffic to get a photo without other people in it.

6. Dom Luís I Bridge View at Sunset

Porto’s most famous bridge is the Dom Luís I Bridge on the Douro River. There are so many beautiful places to catch a view of the Dom Luís I Bridge and I highly recommend watching the sunset over the bridge at least once during your trip.

It feels like the whole city pauses to watch the sunset each evening, and it’s truly a magical experience on a clear evening.

Address: This Instagram spot in Porto, Portugal, is a bit hard to find and during my trip to Porto in April 2019, it was part of an active construction site. We had no idea until we got there. We had just heard that this part of the city was a popular sunset viewpoint.

Finding this Instagrammable Place in Porto

As of 2019, the best way to get here was to aim to visit the Claustros do Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar. But don’t go up to the monastery. Walk around the monastery towards towards the water and find the construction site that’s around R. do Casino da Ponte (check out my handy map at the end of this post!).

When we arrived, we asked permission to enter the construction site to watch the sunset. The workers said it was totally fine. It seemed to be open to the public because we saw a lot of other people gathering, picnicking and taking photos in the area.

Exiting this Instagram Spot in Porto After Sunset

I did have a bit of a panic attack after the sunset because I thought we had gotten locked in. We entered through a large gate that was unlocked before the sunset. When the construction workers finished up for the day, they locked that large gate to keep the machinery safely inside the construction site.

I initially didn’t realize that there was a second narrower gate that remains unlocked after sunset. That gate was slightly downhill from where we came in.

So, don’t panic if the big exit is locked when you’re ready to leave! There is a way out – you have to walk back in a bit and find the other path out that is slightly downhill that leads out to an exit.

Once the construction project here is complete, I’m not sure whether this spot will still be open to the public. Be sure to ask so that you don’t get in trouble for trespassing. I’m a total rule follower, guys!

Photography Tip: This Instagrammable place in Porto is fairly hard to find, so give yourself some time to arrive and find a spot to sit before sunset.

Also, please find a place that you can capture a photo without doing anything risky. There are a lot of little rocks and ledges in this area where you can take photos. But, they don’t have guard rails. So, make sure a place looks and feels safe before posing for a photo. It’s never worth risking your safety just to get a cool photo.

7. Porto Cathedral Staircase

The city of Porto is beautiful from above! To catch a view of the city’s classic orange tiled rooftops, walk up the staircase to Porto cathedral. You can see the tall bell tower of the Torre dos Clérigo (a church) in the distance.

Address: Terreiro da Sé, 4050-573 Porto, Portugal.

Photography Tip: Wear a bright or contrasting color so that you stand out against the view of neutral colored tiles.

8. Colorful Buildings in Old Town Porto

Porto’s old town is full of brightly colored buildings and colorful tiles. Take some time to get lost in the city’s old center and don’t forget to look up and admire the beautiful buildings.

Address: Porto’s Instagrammable old town is called Ribeira – just pop that into Google maps and start exploring! The coordinates in the map I share at the end of the post won’t lead you to the exact spot pictured but will take you into the heart of the old neighborhood so you can explore.

Photography Tip: The narrow streets may be shaded/in the shadows while you’re exploring the area. Make sure to check your camera and adjust your settings so that your photos are properly exposed. You may need to bump your ISO up a bit.

9. Passeio das Fontainhas / The Fontainhas Walk

You catch another great view of the Dom Luis I Bridge from a small street called Passeio das Fontainhas. The bridge is framed by the city’s orange tiled rooftops.

Address: This Instagram spot in Porto, Portugal, is on a small street called Passeio das Fontainhas. You can walk down the street to figure out where your perfect photo spot is.

Photography Tip: You can either take a photo from the street level, or have your photographer stand at the street level while you step down onto this staircase.

10. Chapel Almas de Santa Catarina / Chapel of Souls

This church is definitely one of the best Instagram spots in Porto, Portugal. I mean, look at all of those azulejos! Although the church was built in the 18th century, it wasn’t covered in the blue and white azulejo tiles until 1929.

Address: Rua de Santa Catarina 428, 4000-124 Porto, Portugal

Photography Tip: Although I took a photo standing directly in front of the church, in hindsight I think a more interesting angle would have been to take a photo at the corner of the church. Then, you would see both the tiled front and the tiled side of the church.

11. A Perola do Bolhão / The Pearl of Bolhão

A Perola do Bolhão, aka The Pearl of Bolhão, is a traditional Portuguese grocery story. Head inside and check out the selection of cheese, dried fruit wine and other treats. Or, just swing by to see the shop’s colorful exterior.

Address: R. Formosa 279, 4000-252 Porto, Portugal

12. Capela do Senhor da Pedra

Although it’s technically not in Porto, this chapel by the beach is too beautiful to leave off this list. If you’re looking for a unique and Instagrammable day trip from Porto, head to Capela do Senhor da Pedra.

Address: Alameda do Sr. da Pedra, 4410 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal.

This is outside the city of Porto so you’ll have to scroll out on the handy map I’ve included below to see where this spot is located – it’s a bit south of Porto.

Photography Tip: Come here late afternoon for golden hour. At midday, the light will be very bright and the chapel will look bleached out against the sand and sea.

Here’s a handy map that includes all of the best Instagram spots in Porto that I’ve included in this post:

Where to Stay in Porto, Portugal

If you’re traveling to Porto to check out its most Instagrammable places, you’ll also need somewhere to stay!

AirBnbs are a great and affordable option for staying in Porto. I found AirBnbs in the city to cost less than hotel rooms and many of them are very centrally located. You can click here to get $30 off your first AirBnb stay!

I rented this adorable AirBnb that was just a few minutes away from the river and close to great cafes. It also has a cute little outdoor area where you can eat your breakfast each morning.

Although I haven’t stayed at any of these properties, these AirBnbs also look like great options and are centrally located:

• This penthouse duplex has a stunning outdoor terrace
• I love the mix of modern and boho decor in this Porto apartment
• The yellow accents in this charming apartment are so cheerful!
• This cheerful apartment has beautiful natural light.

If a hotel is more your style, here are the centrally located hotels I considered before booking on AirBnb. They all look like great options:

• Torel 1884 Suites and Apartments has incredibly stylish rooms. It’s the opposite of a cookie cutter hotel!
• The Artist Porto Hotel & Bistro has colorful and inviting common spaces.
• The House Ribeira Porto Hotel has sleek modern rooms.
• Hotel Infante Sagres is a luxurious historic hotel. It’s classic European chic!

That wraps up my list of the best Instagram spots in Porto Portugal. Did I miss one your favorites? Let me know in the comments!

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