Ribeira Old Town, 2 Hours

Free Tour of the Old Town (Ribeira of Porto)

★ 4.87 / 5 2,060 reviews on GuruWalk

Free pay what you want

Run by an independent local guide on GuruWalk

Takes you to the guide's GuruWalk page, where a free place is reserved directly. Nothing is paid here, and the walk is free, pay what you want.

Duration: 2 hours
Language: English and Spanish
Meeting point: Largo Amor de Perdição
Where it walks: Sé and Old Town
Guide: Revolutours
What it costs: Free, pay what you want

Overview

The walk sets off from Largo Amor de Perdição, where the guides wait with a yellow Revolutours umbrella in front of the Portuguese Photography Center, close to the Clérigos Tower. From there the route heads down through the old neighbourhoods of the Ribeira of Porto: Miragaia, Ribeira and Barredo, along lanes that once sat inside the city walls. The tour is reserved on GuruWalk, is free to join and works on a pay what you want basis, with guests paying the guide at the end what they feel the walk was worth.

Narrow lane of tall coloured houses descending toward the Douro river

The route strings together a long list of stops, starting around Cordoaria Park and the Virtudes Viewpoint, then working past the Old English Club, Fonte das Taipas, São João Novo Palace and the Old Customs House, down towards the river at Cais de Esteva, Ribeira Square and the Barredo neighbourhood, taking in the São João Fountain and the water on the way. Along the way the guides share recommendations for the area, and urban art and Ponte das Alminhas appear among the listed stops. The full circuit takes 2 hours.

This is a walk for anyone who wants the oldest riverside part of the city explained stop by stop, in English or Spanish, without paying upfront. The historic centre and these neighbourhoods are together a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the operator describes this stretch as the lesser-known side of Porto, with panoramic views the operator says the route offers.

Itinerary

Stop	What Happens
Meet at Largo Amor de Perdição	Look for the guides with a yellow Revolutours umbrella in front of the Portuguese Photography Center, a few metres from the Clérigos Tower. The walk starts here.
Cordoaria Park area	The route begins around Cordoaria Park, Casa Oriental and Casa de Almeida Garrett, the birthplace area the operator lists among its first stops.
Virtudes Viewpoint	The walk takes in the Virtudes Viewpoint and the former Old English Club of Porto, with the panoramic views the operator highlights.
Down through the old walls	Stops include Fonte das Taipas, São João Novo Palace, the Old Customs House, the Porto tram and the Church of Saint Francis as the route descends towards the river.
Stock Exchange Palace stretch	The route passes the Stock Exchange Palace, Ferreira Borges Market and Casa do Infante, the city museum, listed as stops on the way.
Ribeira riverfront	The final stretch of listed stops runs along Cais de Esteva to Ribeira Square, the São João Fountain and the Barredo neighbourhood, with urban art and Ponte das Alminhas on the way.

What To Expect From The Tour

Two hours on foot through the old riverside neighbourhoods, starting near the Clérigos Tower and following the listed stops towards the river.

Meeting point. Arrive at Largo Amor de Perdição, in front of the Portuguese Photography Center. The guides carry a yellow Revolutours umbrella.
Pace and distance. The walk lasts 2 hours and covers the neighbourhoods of Miragaia, Ribeira and Barredo, starting near the Clérigos Tower. The route has 15 stops.
Language. The walk runs in English and Spanish according to the operator's page. Check the GuruWalk page for this walk to see which language departures are open when you book.
Payment. Booking is free and nothing is paid in advance. Guests pay the guide at the end what they think the walk was worth, which is the pay what you want model on GuruWalk.

“Great tour, good pace, length , knowledge & engagement. Very approachable host. Thank you”

Kirsty, GuruWalk review of Ribeira Old Town, 2 Hours

Photos. The operator points to panoramic views along the route, without saying exactly where they occur. The listed stops also include urban art and Ponte das Alminhas.
No pickup. There is no pickup. Every guest makes their own way to the meeting point at Campo dos Mártires da Pátria, and the walk starts from there.

Common issues. The operator does not state an accessibility policy, so anyone with mobility concerns should ask on the GuruWalk page before booking. The included and not included lists on the operator's page are empty, so check the GuruWalk page for this walk for anything beyond the guided route itself.

More Free Sights In Porto

Place	Free Or Ticketed	What Is Free	What You Still Pay For
Centro Portugues de Fotografia	Free	Free admission ('Entrada Gratuita') on the official page, in the former prison and Relacao court building.	None found.
Capela das Almas (azulejo facade)	Free	The Rua de Santa Catarina facade of 16,000 azulejos is visible from the street at no cost.	None found.
Estacao de Sao Bento (main hall)	Free	Working railway station; the azulejo hall is a public concourse.	None.

Planning The Basics

Is The Tour Really Free?

Yes. Booking is free on GuruWalk and the walk runs on a pay what you want basis. Guests pay the guide at the end whatever they think the walk was worth, and there is no fixed charge in advance.

Where Does The Tour Meet?

At Largo Amor de Perdição, Campo dos Mártires da Pátria, in front of the Portuguese Photography Center. The guides wait with a yellow Revolutours umbrella. There is no hotel pickup for this walk.

How Long Does The Tour Last?

The walk lasts 2 hours. It starts near the Clérigos Tower side of the old town and works through the listed stops towards the river.

Are Entry Fees To Monuments Included?

The operator's page does not list anything as included or excluded for this walk. It is described as a guided walking tour, so check the GuruWalk page for this walk before booking if entering any monument matters to you.

What Languages Does The Tour Run In?

The operator lists English and Spanish for this walk. The GuruWalk page for the walk shows which language departures are available when you reserve.

What Will I See On The Route?

The itinerary runs from Cordoaria Park and the Virtudes Viewpoint down through Fonte das Taipas, São João Novo Palace, the Old Customs House, the Stock Exchange Palace, Ferreira Borges Market and Casa do Infante, ending at Ribeira Square, the São João Fountain and the Barredo neighbourhood, with urban art and Ponte das Alminhas along the way.