podtour
From the Sé to Ribeira
The walk everyone wants to do in Porto, told in half an hour and all downhill.
The Baixa: from Rua das Flores to Bolhão: audio walk in Porto
You climb through the Baixa following the streets Porto cut for itself century after century: a street with rules from 1521, a buried river, a convent turned railway station, the window where the republic was proclaimed in 1891, the hill where they opened fire, a theatre reborn from the flames and a market named after a puddle.
What this walk is about
Porto didn't stay inside its walls: every century it cut itself a new street, and almost always something had to disappear. You start on Rua das Flores, laid out in 1521 with rules for its façades, and on the river that runs buried beneath your feet. At São Bento you find out why a station bears a saint's name and whose idea it was to dress it in azulejos. In Praça da Liberdade you look for a window that no longer exists: from it the republic was proclaimed one early morning in 1891, and it was knocked down to open the avenue. You climb the hill of 31 January as the rebels climbed it, with a band playing, up to the steps from which they were fired on. In Praça da Batalha, the São João theatre tells you how the old theatre burned in 1908 and who went from judge to winner of the competition for the new one. You finish at the Majestic Café and at the Bolhão market, above another hidden stream.
- Start
- A street with rules
- Finish
- The stream beneath the market
- Who it is for
- For another visit, when you want to look beyond the familiar sights. For anyone interested in political and urban history. A walk for anyone curious about cafés and markets.
- 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
A street with rules
- 2
The river they covered over
- 3
The nuns and the first train
- 4
Portugal told in tiles
- 5
The republic that lasted a morning
- 6
The avenue that swallowed the town hall
- 7
The church that lost its convent
- 8
The hill of 31 January
- 9
Gunfire from the steps
- 10
The theatre that burned
- 11
The café that changed its name
- 12
The stream beneath the market
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.