Yes — it's under a five-minute walk, just off Rua de Santa Catarina where the hotel is located.
Discover Authentic Porto: A Local Travel Guide by Mercure
At Mercure, we believe you shouldn't need a guidebook to feel like you belong somewhere. That's the idea behind Discover Local: since 1973, every Mercure hotel has been built around its neighbourhood, not just dropped into it — from the décor on the walls to the flavours on the menu. Step into any Mercure and our teams are on hand with the kind of tips you won't find in a guidebook: the market stall locals queue for, the bar where nobody speaks English, the walk that skips the crowds. They live here. They know. Discover Local isn't a generic city guide — it's a short, honest list of the restaurants, markets and neighbourhoods our own hotel teams actually recommend to guests, updated as the city changes around us. Below, you'll find our picks for Porto, an interactive map to help you find your way, and answers to the questions travellers ask us most. So — where will Discover Local take you?
Our map pins local favourites such as A Pérola do Bolhão, the Leça tidal pools and Rua de Miguel Bombarda.
Top 5 Things to Do in Porto
Mercado do Bolhão
Recently restored, the market's wrought-iron roof and multi-level stalls sell fish, cheese, flowers, and produce from families who've run the same counters for generations. Go before 1pm on a weekday if you want to eat at one of the small food counters without a wait — locals take their lunch hour seriously here.
Café Santiago's francesinha
A short walk from the market, this is where locals send you when you ask about the city's signature sandwich — layered meats under melted cheese and a beer-and-tomato sauce that takes all day to make. Order it with a fried egg on top and go hungry; it's not a light lunch.
Rua de Santa Catarina
Porto's main shopping street runs past Capela das Almas, a church façade covered floor to roof in blue-and-white azulejo tiles depicting the life of St. Francis — one of the most photographed walls in the city, and easy to walk past without noticing if you're not looking up.
Manteigaria
Right by the market on Rua de Alexandre Braga, this is a pastel de nata counter where you can watch the tarts come out of the oven and eat them warm with a bica, Porto's short espresso. No seating to speak of, just a counter — that's the point.
Ribeira riverfront
The old riverside district is steep, colorful, and full of small family-run shops selling ceramics, cork goods, and embroidery rather than souvenirs. Walk the waterfront at golden hour when the Dom Luís I bridge and the port wine lodges across the river in Vila Nova de Gaia catch the light.
Explore Porto's Best Local Spots with Our Interactive Map
What's on the map in Porto
We've mapped local spots around Porto, from azulejo churches to Siza's tidal pools.
Architecture & art
Capela das Almas (Santa Catarina)
Clad in 1929 with blue-and-white azulejos by Eduardo Leite, telling the stories of St Francis and St Catherine, this 18th-century chapel is one of Porto's loveliest. Free entry – step inside too.
Rua de Santa Catarina · Chapel · Perfect for azulejos
Leça tidal pools (Piscinas de Marés)
Designed by Álvaro Siza Vieira and opened in 1966, pools that melt into the rocks of Leça da Palmeira. A National Monument, open 15 June to 15 September. Architecture you can swim in.
Leça da Palmeira · Tidal pools · Made for architecture and swimming
Rua de Miguel Bombarda
In Cedofeita, 667 metres of galleries, record shops, design studios and restaurants – including the eclectic Rota do Chá tearoom. Wander in and out.
Cedofeita · Arts street · Great for galleries
Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar
Portugal's only monastery built on a perfectly circular plan, a 16th-century World Heritage site looking over the Douro from Gaia.
Vila Nova de Gaia · Monastery · Perfect for views
Museu Romântico
A late-18th-century mansion by the Crystal Palace gardens, preserving the bourgeois style of the Romantic era.
Massarelos · House museum · Ideal for history
Jardim do Morro
A Gaia garden with panoramic views of Porto, the river and the Dom Luís I bridge – the classic sunset spot. Bring a bottle of something local.
Vila Nova de Gaia · Viewpoint · Made for sunset
Fontainhas viewpoint
Views of the Douro and Porto's bridges from Passeio das Fontainhas.
Fontainhas · Viewpoint · Perfect for photos
Estádio do Dragão
Home of FC Porto: a 50,000-seat stadium, with tours of the dressing rooms and the trophy cabinet.
Campanhã · Stadium · Great for football fans
Parque da Cidade
One of Porto's largest green spaces, just metres from the sea. Picnic, then dip your toes in the Atlantic.
Foz · Park · Perfect for a picnic
Food & drink
A Pérola do Bolhão
Open since 1917 behind an Art Nouveau façade near the Bolhão market: regional cheeses, wines, charcuterie and sweets. Stock up.
Baixa · Grocery shop · Made for local produce
Nortada brewery
A Porto craft brewery that ages some of its beers in 50-year-old wine barrels, with a brewpub and restaurant. Book a tour online.
Baixa · Brewery · Perfect for craft beer
Cham'ps da Baixa Bistrô
A 1950s-style bistro on Rua de Sá da Bandeira: brunch, Portuguese dishes, cocktails, sangria and champagne, with a terrace.
Baixa · Bistro · Great for brunch and bubbles
Rabelo boat trip
See the city from the Douro aboard a rabelo, the traditional boat that once carried Port wine downriver.
Ribeira · Boat trip · Perfect for first-time visitors
Francesinha and tripas à moda do Porto
Two Porto essentials: the francesinha, a sandwich like no other, and the medieval-rooted tripe stew. Brave enough for both?
Porto · Local dishes · Made for food lovers
Guidalense
A family-feel local restaurant with sweeping views over the river and the lower town.
Restaurant · Ideal for views
Rua Galeria de Paris
The epicentre of Porto's nightlife: bars, live music and street art.
Baixa · Nightlife · Great for a night out
World of Wines (WOW)
A cultural quarter in Gaia with six museums, twelve restaurants and daily tastings. Saúde!
Vila Nova de Gaia · Wine museum · Perfect for wine lovers
FAQ
Aim for noon sharp or after 2:30pm — the 1pm Portuguese lunch rush fills counters like Café Santiago fast.
About a 20-minute walk downhill, or a short taxi ride if you'd rather save your legs for the walk back up.
Seawater pools designed by Álvaro Siza Vieira in 1966 at Leça da Palmeira, open in summer.
The Capela das Almas, covered in blue-and-white azulejos, is a favourite; entry is free.
At A Pérola do Bolhão, an Art Nouveau grocery opened in 1917 near the Bolhão market.
Where to Sleep in Porto
See Mercure hotels in Porto, all within reach of these picks.