Ribeira

Why visit

For centuries Ribeira was Porto’s working waterfront, where boats unloaded goods and barrels of port. Today its narrow lanes and riverside quay are part of the Historic Centre of Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, and the place most visitors fall in love with the city.

What to see

• The Cais da Ribeira, the riverside quay lined with cafés and restaurants
• Praça da Ribeira, the small square at the heart of the quarter
• The steep lanes and stairways behind the riverfront, with washing hung between the houses
• Rabelo boats on the river, the flat-bottomed boats once used to bring port down from the Douro Valley
• The lower deck of the Dom Luís I Bridge, a short walk upriver

Tips

• Restaurants right on the quay are the most expensive. The streets just behind are often better value.
• Late afternoon light falls straight onto the house fronts, which is the best time for photos.
• Ribeira is hilly and cobbled. Wear comfortable shoes, and use the Guindais funicular to climb back up to Batalha.
• Six Bridges cruises leave from the quay throughout the day.