River cruise
Season: Year-roundSix Bridges river cruise
- Sail under all six of Porto’s bridges
- Views of Ribeira and the Gaia port lodges
About the bridge
The Dom Luís I Bridge opened in 1886 and was designed by the Belgian engineer Théophile Seyrig, who had worked with Gustave Eiffel. Its great iron arch spans the Douro between Porto’s old town and Vila Nova de Gaia, and it is part of the city’s UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Two decks, two experiences
The upper deck
High above the river, the upper deck carries metro line D and a wide walkway on each side. The views over Ribeira, the river and the Gaia port lodges are spectacular, especially at sunset. Reach it from the Batalha area near the cathedral, or from Jardim do Morro on the Gaia side.
The lower deck
The lower deck links the Ribeira quay with the Gaia riverside and carries cars and pedestrians. It is the quickest way to walk from Ribeira to the port cellars.
Tips
- Metro trains share the upper deck with pedestrians. Stay on the walkway and keep away from the tracks.
- It can be very windy up top. Hold on to hats and phones.
- For the classic view of the bridge itself, walk up to Jardim do Morro or the Serra do Pilar monastery in Gaia.
- The Guindais funicular links Ribeira with Batalha, near the Porto end of the upper deck.
