podtour
The Douro and its bridges: from the Ribeira to Gaia
For Porto, the other bank has always been a problem.
From the Sé to Ribeira: audio walk in Porto
Walk down from the Cathedral to the river in eleven stops: twenty cities beneath your feet, a banner that cost a man his life, a riot over wine, a bishop who went off to watch, the Barredo after the 1974 revolution, the flood of 1909 and the merchants who built themselves a palace.
See the walkFree route
What this walk is about
The walk everyone wants to do in Porto, told in half an hour and all downhill. You start behind the Cathedral, where a dig found twenty layers of city in three metres. In its square you'll hear how Porto chose its side at knifepoint in 1383, why that great terrace dates from 1940, and what happened when the city shouted "Death to the Company!". From the Bishop's Palace you'll go down the steps of the Barredo, a living neighbourhood where, after the 1974 revolution, ten people could be crammed into a single room, to Ribeira, where the river came into people's homes. You finish among the merchants: the customs house named after a prince, the English club paid for with wine, the convent that burned and the palace the merchants built on its ruins.
- Start
- Twenty layers in three metres
- Finish
- The merchants who traded in the street
- Who it is for
- A good starting point for your first visit. For anyone who wants the essentials in a short time. You can also enjoy it as a family.
- Languages
- Spanish and British English
- Underfoot
- The walk has slopes or changes in level. The route notes mention stairs or steps on the walk or its approaches.
The route, stop by stop
An outline of the walk. The full stories are in the app.
Loading the map…
Open a marker to see its page. Use two fingers to move the map on mobile.
- 1
Twenty layers in three metres
- 2
The flag nobody wanted to carry
- 3
A square opened by demolition
- 4
The revolt against the wine company
- 5
The bishop's last window
- 6
Ten people in one room
- 7
When the river comes into the house
- 8
The customs house that kept a name
- 9
The club paid for in wine
- 10
The fire at the convent
- 11
The merchants who traded in the street
Walking directions are based on mapped pedestrian routes. Check local access and signs; the route is not an accessibility guarantee. Times are approximate.
Porto, before you go
Tiled façades, steps and pauses with the Douro in view: Porto is made for measured walks. Group nearby places together; the map draws much easier lines than your legs will find.
More walks nearby
Good to know
What is Podtour?
An app for self-guided audio walks. Choose a city and a route, then listen to the stories behind its streets. You decide when to start and when to stop.
When can I download the app?
Podtour is coming to iOS and Android. There is no confirmed launch date yet. Join the waitlist and we will let you know when it is ready.
Does Podtour include attraction tickets?
No. Street walks and monument audio tours do not include admission tickets, transport or a guide accompanying you.
Can I listen without an internet connection?
Download the audio in the app before heading out, then listen offline. Loading the online base map and calculating a new route from your location require a connection.
What languages are included?
Every route includes Spanish and British English. The English version is adapted for English-speaking travellers, rather than translated word for word.
How do I get a whole city for free?
Join the waitlist, choose a city and confirm your email address. When the app launches, we will email you with access details. No card is required. You can also try one free route in every city.
Can I buy for myself or for a group?
Yes. Your own access is included and you can choose 0–5 guests: up to 6 people including you. Each guest saves up to €0.50 on a walk, €1 on a pack or €2 on a whole city compared with buying separately. The counter shows the total before you confirm one payment.
How do I share, and when must guests accept?
After paying, share your purchase’s invitation link. Each guest opens it in Podtour and accepts their place on their own iPhone or Android phone. They must redeem it within 30 days of purchase. Unclaimed places then expire and cannot be recovered or renewed. Access accepted in time is kept. Opening the link does not use a place; one account takes just one place, and no more people can join once all places are taken.
Can I add guests after buying?
No. Choose all your guests before confirming the first purchase. Afterwards you can share the places you paid for, but you cannot increase their number or restart the 30-day deadline.
Your first city,
on Podtour.
Join the waitlist. When we launch, your chosen city is yours to explore.
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A little welcome gift
Your first city,
on Podtour.
Join the waitlist and get one whole city free when Podtour launches. You choose where.
Podtour manages your launch request with your consent. You can withdraw it and exercise your rights as explained in our privacy policy. Privacy details.
One city per person. All its Podtour routes in Spanish and English. Available at launch. Offer details.