podtour
From the Sé to Ribeira
The walk everyone wants to do in Porto, told in half an hour and all downhill.
The Douro and its bridges: from the Ribeira to Gaia: audio walk in Porto
You walk across the Douro on the Dom Luís I Bridge and hear what it has cost to cross it: the bridge of boats of 1809, the suspension bridge that's no longer there, a barber who guided Wellesley, the Serra under bombardment, the first Englishmen in the wine trade, the day the wine ran down to the river, and a castle with a legend.
What this walk is about
For Porto, the other bank has always been a problem. You start on the Ribeira quayside, by the candles of the Alminhas, where in 1809 a bridge of boats sank under a crowd. You carry on past the city wall, the two pillars of a bridge that no longer exists, a funicular that stood idle for a century and the iron arch that replaced them. On the other side, in Gaia, you look up at the round monastery of the Serra: from there an army was helped across the river, and there a year of bombardment was endured. You finish among the wine cellars. There you'll find out how the first Englishmen arrived in the wine trade and how some of them hid gold under the wine in their casks; then comes the Company that ruled the wine, the day in 1833 when wine ran in streams down to the Douro, and the castle of Gaia that Porto pulled down, with its legend of kings and abductions told as a legend.
- Start
- The bridge overwhelmed by a fleeing crowd
- Finish
- Ramiro, the queen and the legend of Gaia
- Who it is for
- For Anyone. For people who want to cross to Gaia and the wine cellars. A choice for families with teenagers.
- Languages
- Spanish and British English
- Underfoot
- The walk is mostly 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 bridge overwhelmed by a fleeing crowd
- 2
The city wall facing the river
- 3
Two pillars holding up nothing
- 4
The funicular that slept for a century
- 5
A bridge with two levels
- 6
The barber who opened up the Douro
- 7
The monastery that held out
- 8
The first English wine merchants
- 9
The wine company and the branch over the door
- 10
Rivers of purple wine
- 11
The castle Porto crossed over to demolish
- 12
Ramiro, the queen and the legend of Gaia
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.
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A little welcome gift
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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.