Porto Cruise Port (Leixoes): A Day in Porto from the Ship

Cruise ships calling at Porto dock at Leixões, in the seaside town of Matosinhos, just north of the city. It’s easy to reach Porto’s old town for the day, or to stay close to the port for a seafood feast. Here’s how to plan your day.

Quick answer: the Leixões Cruise Terminal is in Matosinhos, about 10km from central Porto. Reach the city by metro (line A from Matosinhos), taxi or Uber, or a shuttle if your cruise line offers one. In Porto, see Ribeira, the Dom Luís I Bridge, the port lodges in Gaia and the Clérigos Tower. See Porto shore excursions.

Getting into Porto

• Metro: line A (blue) runs from Matosinhos into the centre (Trindade, then on to Campanhã). From the terminal, it’s a short walk or ride to the nearest stop. Allow 30 to 40 minutes. See Porto public transport.
• Taxi or Uber: around 20 minutes to the centre outside rush hour.
• Cruise shuttle: some lines run a shuttle bus to the city.
• Tour pick-up: many shore excursions collect at the terminal.

A day in Porto

1. São Bento station and its famous azulejos.
2. The cathedral and the lanes down to Ribeira.
3. Cross the Dom Luís I Bridge to Gaia for a port wine tasting. See the port wine guide.
4. The Clérigos Tower and Livraria Lello, if time allows (book Lello ahead).

For more, see Porto in one day.

Or stay in Matosinhos

Matosinhos is famous for its grilled-fish restaurants, with fish cooked on charcoal grills in the street. There’s also a long sandy beach. See what to eat in Porto.

Douro Valley from the ship?

The Douro wine country is about 1.5 to 2 hours away by road. It only works on a long port day with an organised excursion that guarantees your return. See Douro tours.

Tips

• Allow time to get back: traffic on the way to Matosinhos can be slow.
• Shoes: Porto is very hilly.
• Weather: bring a light rain jacket outside summer.

More: the best Porto tours and Lisbon’s cruise port.

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