Things to Do in Porto on a Rainy Day

Porto gets more rain than Lisbon or the Algarve, especially from November to March, but a wet day is a good excuse for port tastings, museums, gilded churches and long lunches. Here are the best things to do in Porto when it rains.

Quick answer: go on a port cellar tour in Gaia, visit the Palácio da Bolsa and São Francisco church, browse Livraria Lello, explore WOW’s museums, see the Soares dos Reis museum, eat at the Bolhão market, and warm up with a francesinha.

Indoor things to do

• Port cellars: tours and tastings in Gaia. See the best port cellars.
• Palácio da Bolsa: guided tours of the stock exchange and its Arab Room. See the Bolsa guide.
• Igreja de São Francisco: a gilded baroque interior and catacombs. See Porto’s churches.
• Livraria Lello: see the Lello guide.
• WOW (World of Wine): museums on wine, cork, chocolate and more.
• Museums: Soares dos Reis, Serralves’ galleries, the World of Discoveries and the Tram Museum. See Porto museums.
• Casa da Música: a guided tour or a concert. See Boavista.
• Bolhão Market: browse and eat under cover. See Porto food markets.
• Café Majestic: a Belle Époque café for coffee and cake.

Comfort food

Rainy days are made for a francesinha, a bowl of caldo verde or a long lunch in a tasca.

Tips

• Shoes: the granite pavements are very slippery when wet.
• Umbrella and rain jacket: it can be windy too.
• Book ahead: indoor sights get busier on rainy days.

More: Porto in winter, Lisbon on a rainy day and things to do in Porto.

Prices and details change, so please double-check before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us in the groups.