podtour
From the Sé to Ribeira
The walk everyone wants to do in Porto, told in half an hour and all downhill.
Myths and Mysteries of Porto: audio walk in Porto
Twelve stops between the old Jewish quarter and the Carmo, sorting what people say from what actually happened: a bricked-up niche, the prison where Camilo wrote his novel, the gallows tree, the Clérigos crypt, the bookshop Rowling never set foot in, and the house hidden between two churches.
What this walk is about
Porto is full of stories that everybody repeats. This walk takes a closer look at them. You start in the old Olival Jewish quarter, at a house where a researcher saw the ark of a synagogue, and at the monastery that, according to the myth, buried it. You go down to the Taipas church, which says it holds, among others, people drowned when the bridge of boats went down. Then comes the prison built by Pombal's cousin after a riot, where Camilo Castelo Branco, behind bars, wrote his most wept-over love story. In the Cordoaria you meet the gallows tree that probably never hanged anyone; at the Clérigos, the plot of land named after the executed, and the architect who worked for nothing and ended up in a nameless crypt. You finish with the Lello staircase and what Rowling said, a fountain with lions that was really a pipe, and the house hidden between the two Carmo churches. Every myth, with its birthday.
- Start
- The bricked-up niche
- Finish
- The hidden house
- Who it is for
- For anyone who likes mysteries and legends told well. A walk for readers and Harry Potter fans.
- Languages
- Spanish and British English
- Underfoot
- The walk has slopes or changes in level.
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
The bricked-up niche
- 2
The synagogue that wasn't underneath
- 3
The church that prayed for the drowned
- 4
Camilo in the Malta room
- 5
The prison born of a riot
- 6
The tree that never hanged anyone
- 7
The courtyard of the condemned
- 8
The architect without a grave
- 9
The bookshop Rowling never visited
- 10
Winged lions and a water pipe
- 11
Two churches joined by a rooftop passage
- 12
The hidden house
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.
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One city per person. All its Podtour routes in Spanish and English. Available at launch. Offer details.