Secrets Walk, English Only

Discover Porto's Secrets: The Ultimate Free Walking Tour.

★ 4.75 / 5 785 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 30 minutes
Language: English
Meeting point: Lion Fountain, Praça de Gomes Teixeira
Where it walks: Clérigos and University
Guide: Hi Porto Walking Tours
What it costs: Free, pay what you want

Overview

This English-language walk sets out from the Lion Fountain by the Clérigos Tower, in front of the University, and spends 2.5 hours on Porto's historical center. It is free to join on GuruWalk, pay what you want at the end. The guide works through a route of 12 stops, and the first three published are the Igreja do Carmo, the Livraria Lello bookshop and the Jardim da Cordoaria.

Azulejo tiled interior wall of a station concourse in Porto

The framing is the story of how the city took shape, from the Age of Discoveries and Prince Henry the Navigator, born here, through the 18th century, when the Douro Valley became a demarcated wine region and Porto turned into the heart of the Port Wine trade. The operator's page promises history, architecture, local traditions and gastronomy together, aiming to explain the city rather than only point at it.

Because the tour runs only in English and keeps a single meeting point in the Clérigos and University area, it suits travellers who want a longer, explained walk in one language. Note that the operator requires a minimum of four participants, and groups over six people pay a fixed price of 12,00 euros per person rather than the pay what you want model.

Itinerary

Stop	What Happens
Meet at the Lion Fountain	The meeting point is the Fonte dos Leões in front of Porto's University, by the Clérigos Tower. Look for the guide with a white umbrella.
Igreja do Carmo	The first stop on the published route, one of the two Carmo and Carmelitas churches listed among the tour highlights.
Livraria Lello	The bookshop is the second of the three stops the operator publishes before the rest of the route.
Jardim da Cordoaria	The garden is the third published stop, closing out the three the operator shows in advance.
Further stops to the river	The operator's page continues with the Clérigo Tower, the Antiga Cadeia da Relação, the Vitória viewpoint, Avenida dos Aliados and Porto City Hall, São Bento station, the Cathedral and the bridge over the Douro, among other stops it does not itemise.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points from the operator's own page are worth knowing before you reserve a place.

Meeting point. There is no pickup. Everyone gathers at the Lion Fountain, Fonte dos Leões, in front of Porto's University by the Clérigos Tower, and the guide carries a white umbrella. Arrive ready to start the walk from there.
Language and duration. The walk runs in English only and lasts 2.5 hours. Plan the rest of your day around a walk of that length.
Group rules. The operator requires a minimum of four participants for the walk to go ahead. Groups over six people are charged a fixed price of 12,00 euros per person, so larger parties should expect that rather than the pay what you want arrangement.

“Excellent information/detail - he was a great storyteller. We really appreciated visiting the local stores and the great explanations.”

Susan, GuruWalk review of Secrets Walk, English Only

Costs on the day. The operator's page does not publish an included or not included list for this walk. If you plan to enter any paid attraction on the route, check its own terms separately before you go.
What to bring. The operator's page does not specify items to bring. Comfortable shoes and water for a walk of this length are the sensible baseline.

Common issues. The operator's own conditions are the main practical limit: the walk needs at least four participants to run, which means low numbers can stop it going ahead. Larger groups over six people are not on the free model at all, paying a fixed 12,00 euros per person instead. The route covers 12 stops across the historical center, so the day is a long one on foot. No pickup is offered; everyone makes their own way to the Lion Fountain.

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?

Booking is free and the walk is pay what you want: guests pay the guide what they think the walk was worth at the end. One exception applies, as groups over six people pay a fixed price of 12,00 euros per person.

Where Does The Tour Meet?

At the Lion Fountain, Fonte dos Leões, in front of Porto's University by the Clérigos Tower. The guide holds a white umbrella. There is no hotel pickup.

How Long Is The Walk And In What Language?

It lasts 2.5 hours and runs in English only. Travellers who need another language should look at other GuruWalk walks in Porto that list it.

Are Entry Fees To The Bookshop Or Tower Included?

The operator's page does not publish an included or not included list for this walk. Check the walk's GuruWalk page for what the price covers before you reserve, and treat any paid attraction on the route as your own arrangement.

Can The Tour Be Cancelled?

The operator requires a minimum of four participants, so the walk can fail to run when numbers are low. Check the walk's GuruWalk page for the current terms before you reserve.

Is It Suitable For Children Or Limited Mobility?

The operator's page does not state any age or mobility guidance. It covers 12 stops across the historical center over 2.5 hours, so judge that distance and terrain against your own needs.