# A Sunday in Porto: Clérigos Tower, the Ribeira by Boat and a Cellar in Gaia You climb the Clérigos Tower, walk down to the Ribeira, see the six bridges from a rabelo boat and finish with three ports in a Gaia cellar. Two hours from Pontevedra. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/portugal/porto-and-douro/itineraries/clerigos-tower-ribeira-and-gaia · Revisado: 2026-11-12 ## El día - 08:00 · Salida: 2 h by car (along the AP-9, Tui and the A3, about 2 h; in Portugal it is an hour earlier) - 09:30 · Climbing the Clérigos Tower (Portuguese time; opens at 9:00; €10; 1 h) - 14 min on foot - 10:45 · The Ribeira and the Luís I Bridge on foot (from the Sé to the Ribeira and to Gaia along the lower deck; 1 h 15) - 7 min on foot - 12:00 · Six bridges cruise from Gaia or the Ribeira (rabelo boat every 30 min; from €18; 50 min) · Cruzeiros Douro, From €18 adult from Gaia - 11 min on foot - 13:30 · Cantinho do Avillez (Cantinho do Avillez · Portuguese signature cuisine · €€€ · open every day from 12:30) · Cantinho do Avillez, €€€ - 15 min on foot - 15:30 · Taylor's port wine cellars in Gaia (visit with audioguide and three wines; 1 h 30) · Taylor's Port - 17:30 · Vuelta (In Pontevedra around 20:30, Spanish time) Porto is two hours from Pontevedra along the motorway through Tui and Valença, just right for a Sunday there and back if you set off early. The plan works from the top down: you start at the Clérigos Tower, the highest view in the centre, walk down to the Ribeira, the district of narrow, colourful houses beside the Douro, and see the river from a rabelo boat. You have lunch between São Bento and the Ribeira and finish on the other side, in a cellar in Vila Nova de Gaia, with three ports. ## The day, hour by hour 8:00 · Departure. From Pontevedra, take the AP-9 to Vigo, the A-55 to Tui and, in Portugal, the A3 to Porto. Portuguese motorways have electronic tolls: register your number plate or carry a Via-T device. Put your watch back an hour and leave the car in a pay car park in the centre, near the Tower. 9:30 · Clérigos Tower. Nicolau Nasoni's Baroque tower, dating from 1763. You climb a stone spiral staircase that narrows as you gain height, and at the top you have the red rooftops, the cathedral and the Douro with the Luís I Bridge. It is open daily from 9:00 to 19:00. The ticket, €10, includes the church and the museum. 10:45 · The Ribeira and the Luís I Bridge. Walk down from the Sé esplanade through the district's streets and steps to the Cais da Ribeira, past terraces and tiled façades. Cross to Gaia on the lower deck of the bridge, just a few metres above the water. 12:00 · Six Bridges cruise. Fifty minutes by rabelo boat under the city's six bridges, with departures every half hour from Gaia or the Ribeira. From €18 for an adult from Gaia and €20 from the Ribeira; children, €9 and €10. 13:30 · Lunch at Cantinho do Avillez. Go back to the Porto side of the river. Chef José Avillez's informal restaurant is on Rua Mouzinho da Silveira, the street that runs down from São Bento to the Ribeira, and it is open every day from 12:30 to 23:00 with no afternoon break. 15:30 · Taylor's cellars. Cross to Gaia again and climb the hill to the cellar at the top. The visit is self-guided, with an audioguide on your phone in Spanish: bring headphones. You walk through the halls of casks and at the end taste a Chip Dry, an LBV and a 10-year-old tawny. The cellar is open daily from 10:00 to 18:15. 17:30 · Heading back. If you have time, return to Porto along the upper deck of the bridge, next to the metro: it is the view of the day. You are back in Pontevedra around half past eight, Spanish time. If you have been tasting, let someone else drive. ## What to order at Cantinho do Avillez The red duck curry with rice and the marinated scallops with avocado cream and Alentejo bread crumbs. For dessert, the tocino de céu with raspberry sorbet. At midday it has a set menu and an à la carte menu. If you would rather have something quick and cheap, Casa Guedes, on Praça dos Poveiros, serves its roast pork sandwich every day, Sundays too, with no reservations. ## With children or in the rain With children, the boat is what they remember, and under-10s do not pay at the Clérigos Tower. If it rains, the boats still sail and the tower and the cellar are under cover: the only thing you lose is the view of the bridge at sunset. If you want to see the Livraria Lello, the bookshop with the red staircase, buy the timed voucher on its website for first thing. ## Cómo llegar ### By car AP-9, A-55 and A3, about two hours from Pontevedra, with electronic tolls in Portugal. In central Porto, it is best to park and get around on foot. ### Without a car The CP Celta train runs daily from Vigo to Porto Campanhã. From Pontevedra there is a train to Vigo. Check the Sunday timetables: returning the same day is possible, but tight. ## Consejos ### Change the time when you cross Portugal is an hour behind. The times in the plan are Portuguese. ### Watch out for the hills The Ribeira is down by the river and Gaia climbs steeply. Wear comfortable shoes; in Gaia, the cable car saves you the climb. ### If there is a tasting, someone stays sober It is three port wines, stronger than a table wine, and you still have two hours of driving. ## Cuándo no ir Midsummer's Eve, 23 to 24 June, unless you are going on purpose: the Ribeira is packed to the rafters and the cellar closes at 15:00 on the 23rd. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### How long does it take from Pontevedra? About two hours along the AP-9 and the A3. From Ourense, two and a half hours. ### Are the sights open on Sundays? Yes. The tower, the boat, Taylor's cellar and Cantinho do Avillez are all open every day. ### How much does the Six Bridges cruise cost? From €18 for an adult from Gaia and €20 from the Ribeira. Children pay €9 or €10 and under-3s go free. ### Is the Taylor's visit guided? No: it is self-guided with an audioguide on your phone, in Spanish among other languages. At the end three wines are included in the tasting. ### Can it be done without a car? Yes, with the Celta train from Vigo to Porto Campanhã, but the day is tight for getting back. If you go without a car, it is better to stay a night.