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Our Insider’s Guide to the Best of LGBTQ+ Porto

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Portugal’s second-biggest city has a labyrinthine charm: streets snaking capriciously upwards from the shores of the Douro River, 18th- and 19th-century buildings lined up like colourful book spines, plazas popping up where the rolling landscape allows, churches and monuments capping steep hills. While Lisbon sprawls, sometimes exhausting visitors with its gorgeous but scattered neighbourhoods, Porto squashes the best of itself into a walkable, if aerobicizing, jewel box. This is a city to wander around in like you have all the time in the world, taking occasional breaks for coffee, pastéis de nata, seafood platters, francesinha sandwiches and port wines—not necessarily all at the same sitting.

Portugal ranks as one of the most LGBTQ+-friendly countries in the world, though it tends to be a little more reserved than its rainbow flag–waving neighbour, Spain. Same-sex marriage was legalized here in 2010, but conversion therapy is not yet banned, non-binary gender is not recognized nor are trans people permitted to serve in the military.

Porto, with a population of 1.3 million in its metropolitan area (about 230,000 in the city itself), is especially open and friendly. It doesn’t quite have the 24/7 all-you-can-eat sex-and-party scene of some Spanish cities, but it does have a vibrant LGBTQ+ scene that can keep your nights as full as you want them to be. Getting laid shouldn’t be a problem (Check out our Where to Party listings below).

travel lgbtq porto
The picturesque waterfront. Credit: Mana5280 on Unsplash

What Porto does do exceptionally well is understated elegance—creative public and private spaces that are fascinating and beautiful without being ostentatious. More medieval and less planned than many other European cities damaged by war and natural disaster, there’s a surprise at every turn. So many restaurants and boutiques feel deeply thought through, like they are personal expressions of a passionate proprietor. Along the pedestrianized shopping street of Rua de Santa Catarina, in the Bolhão district, a visitor gets the sense that if they wanted to buy something practical like, oh, a hair dryer, they’d have to head to the suburbs. By the standards of many other European countries, you can get a lot of cool for your euro here. 

Early in your visit, get yourself onto the upper deck of Ponte de Dom Luís I, the bridge which connects the historic city centre to the sister city of Vila Nova de Gaia. From here you can see the jumble of russet-roofed buildings, imposing grey churches and the remains of medieval walls that used to protect the city from invaders, as well as small boats and larger ships cruising on the shimmery water of the Douro.

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Finish your crossing and head to the waterfront promenade of Vila Nova de Gaia, by foot or cable car, sampling port as you wander in front of historic-but-functional wine warehouses. You can also make the easy hike up to Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar, a monastery dating back to the 1500s, for another stunning view. Your senses will be agog, but you haven’t even wandered around Porto yet.

travel lgbtq porto
Credit: Associação de Turismo do Porto e Norte, AR

Cross back into the city proper for a walk around Sé, a steep neighbourhood designated a UNESCO World Heritage Classified Zone that, with its 14th-century churches, will make you feel like you’ve gone a few hundred years back in time. Then head down again to the São Bento train station, built in the early 20th century, its interior walls covered with 20,000 azulejo tiles. Then head down farther (note the up-and-down theme) to the cool shopping street of Rua de Mouzinho da Silveira and—whoa—you’re back on the waterfront, this time in the Ribeira neighbourhood, lined with more visitor-filled restaurants, bistros and pubs.

You’ll find more trendy spots—which is to say, spots where LGBTQ+ locals congregate—on and around the streets of Rua da Galeria de Paris and Rua de Cândido dos Reis, close to the imposing main building of Universidade do Porto. General rule of thumb in Porto: the farther away from the waterfront you get, the less touristic the experience. 

What to see and do

So much of the joy of Porto is wandering around the streets and plazas of the Sé, Ribeira, Baixa, Bolhão, Cedofeita and Miragaia neighbourhoods. But there are still many attractions worth stepping inside.

Ponte de Dom Luís I. The pedestrian-and-tram bridge between Porto and the city of Vila Nova de Gaia is the perfect place for selfies and for trying to get a sense of how this maze of a city is laid out.

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Ribeira Square. Though often awash with tourists, this waterfront plaza is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has lots of places to eat and drink, and offers great views of the river and several of the bridges that cross the Douro.

Vila Nova de Gaia. There are cable cars running from the higher terrain of this sister city, which is where the port wine industry is based. The waterfront is lined with bars and bistros offering tasting menus and flights of porto wine, as well as vendors and street entertainers. Sandeman Cellars (Largo Miguel Bombarda 3, Vila Nova de Gaia), Taylor’s (Rua do Choupelo 250, Vila Nova de Gaia) and Cockburn’s (Rua Serpa Pinto 346, Vila Nova de Gaia) are probably the three biggest wine cellars for visitors.

travel lgbtq porto
A flight of port on the waterfront of Vila Nova de Gaia. Credit: Paul Gallant

São Bento train station (Praça de Almeida Garrett, Porto). With construction of the French Beaux-Arts building starting in 1900, it took 11 years to install the 20,000 blue-and-white tiles, which tell the story of Portugal’s history. But don’t just stand and stare. From here you can take a train to various cities and towns, including the Douro Line (Linha do Douro) along the river to Peso da Régua, Pinhão and Pocinho. If you’re looking for efficiency, the Estação de Campanhã (Rua de Justino Teixeira) has more connections and is where you catch the train south toward Lisbon. 

Foz do Douro (Porto). The seaside town at the mouth of the Douro River has several urban beaches of rock and sand, as well as some nice restaurants to check out. The beaches here have a shorter season than those in southern Portugal, so there is not a well-developed gay beach culture. Praia da Estela, about an hour’s drive north, is known as an unofficial nudist beach and has some gay followers.

Casa da Música (Av. da Boavista 604-610, Porto). Opened in 2005, this off-kilter geometric Rem Koolhaas building is one of Porto’s rare modern sights. The large square around it, as well as its wine bar, makes it a splendid place to hang out for an afternoon. Oh, and it’s a theatre for music, with an emphasis on classical, jazz and folk, so buy a ticket to a show and check out the interior.

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Casa da Música is as cool outside as it is inside. Credit: Paul Gallant

Livraria Lello (Rua das Carmelitas 144, Porto). We hesitated before including this bookstore because a) it’s so popular it’s a real hassle to visit—you essentially have to pre-buy something online then wait in line for what can sometimes be hours just to enter the store—and because b) it’s partly famous for its connection to JK Rowling, who allegedly drew inspiration from the store for aspects of the Harry Potter books. But to be honest, its early 20th-century exterior and interior are fantastically beautiful. If you’ve got the patience and the passion, they may very well be rewarded.

Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Serralves (Rua Dom João de Castro 210, Porto). This bright modern gallery features international and Portuguese art made since the 1960s, as well as performances and other cultural treats. Probably Portugal’s most vital contemporary art museum.

Agenda Cultural Porto. Not an attraction itself, but a comprehensive queer-inclusive resource for finding out what cultural events are happening in the city. 

Douro Valley. The Douro Valley is the oldest demarcated wine region in the world—and it’s super, super pretty. Numerous operators offer innumerable types of tours stopping at wineries and villages along the valley—various price points and durations, by bus and by boat. Because the wineries tend to be inland from the river, the bus tours, though they sound less glamorous than a cruise, can provide a deeper dive into the story of port wine. There’s also a train service that runs along the river, stopping at the picturesque towns of Peso da Régua and Pinhão, among others; travellers with more independence can use the train to tour the region. CroisiEurope Cruises is offering an “all-gay” 10-day cruise in June 2024 that includes the Douro River.

lgbtq travel porto
Try a train ride down the Douro Valley. Credit: Paul Gallant

Where to stay

Pestana Palácio do Freixo (Estrada Nacional 108, 4300-316 Campanhã , Porto). Wanna spoil yourself? Built in the 18th century by Nicolau Nasoni, one of the architects who came to define Porto’s aesthetic, this grand five-star property has stellar views of the Douro, especially from the pool deck. While the lobby, bars and restaurant are in the palace itself, most of the rooms are in a newer building. The property sits about three kilometres from the historic city centre, but there’s a regular shuttle included in the price of the room.

PortoBay Teatro (Rua Sá da Bandeira 84, Porto). Newly refurbished in 2021, this 74-room boutique hotel occupies what used to be, as you might have guessed, an old theatre. A decent price point and right in the middle of the historic city centre.

Porto Bay hotel travel lgbtq porto
Looking glam in PortoBay Teatro hotel.

YOTEL Porto (Rua de Gonçalo Cristóvão 206-216, Porto). A chain known for its small rooms, inventive design and fair price point for four-star service—they call their rooms “cabins”—this Porto edition, which opened in 2021, is the first in Iberia. 

NH Collection Porto Batalha (Praça da Batalha 62, União de Freguesias do Centro, Porto). Located in a newly renovated 18th-century palace (so many palaces to renovate in this city!), this property was once the home of a family that got rich selling wine, and then it was a post office. Indoor swimming pool and 24/7 fitness centre.

Gallery Hostel (Rua Miguel Bombarda 222, Porto). Classy for its price point, this LGBTQ+-friendly historic property has dorm rooms, apartments and a townhouse. Socializing is encouraged.

Maison Nos B&B (Rua do Doutor Barbosa de Castro 36, Porto). In the Ferreira Borges Market area (unfortunately, the market itself is permanently closed) , this LGBTQ+-friendly property mixes old and new, contemporary stylings with a 14th-century wall. Oh, and the café is cute as a button.

Where to eat

Brasão Foz Brewery (Rua de Gondarém 487, Porto). With its clean lines of light wood shelving crockery and tchotchkes, this surf-and-turf eatery mixes rustic and elegant just right. Not a bad place to taste Porto’s classic artery-clogging dish, the francesinha, where assorted meats such as roast beef, steak, ham, sausage and chicken are piled between slices of bread, then covered with melted cheese and a tomato-and-beer sauce. Technically, it’s a sandwich, but the experience is more like a meat casserole. 

Marisqueira do Porto (Rua do Campo Alegre 110, Porto). If your Portuguese fantasy is eating vast quantities of tasty seafood, then you’ve come to the right place. In business since 1976, this place is known for its generous platters of mixed seafood. 

Confeitaria Sical (Praça D. Filipa de Lencastre 29, Porto). You want a coffee, beer, pastry, ice cream, burger or francesinha at pretty much any time of the day? This modern no-fuss no-muss bistro has it all, in a very convenient location off Av. dos Aliados.

NOLA Kitchen (Praça D. Filipa de Lencastre 25, Porto). Right next door to Confeitaria Sical, this cheerful LGBTQ+-friendly spot specializes in healthy, authentic ingredients. Most of their menu items are vegan or vegetarian, but there’s chicken biológic, too.  

Café Lobito (Rua de Alexandre Herculano 396, Porto). Though the space is nicely renovated with lots of wood and nifty bistro chairs, this is old-school cafeteria-style loveliness, with fresh baked goods, sandwiches and salads that will turn you into a repeat customer. 

Callejero Tacos (Rua das Oliveiras 118, Porto). Queer-friendly and artsy (you should check out the artist-made T-shirts they have for sale), this Mexican hotspot will make you want every night to be taco night. 

Laurear (Rua da Fábrica 20, Porto). This intimate woman-owned restaurant specializes in local dishes, which, of course, means the freshest of fish. Adorable for date night. And they also operate a guesthouse where each morning, guests receive a breakfast basket of bread, croissants, jam, ham, cheese and coffee.

Where to party

Much of Porto’s LGBTQ+ nightlife is mixed in with the cool-straight nightlife east of Rua Das Oliveiras and south of Rua da Conceição. You may not see as many rainbow flags as you’d like, but take a stroll down Rua da Galeria De Paris and your gaydar will light up. It can be fun just to wander the area and see who’s doing what where. For sexual adventurers, Porto has two gay saunas and one friendly, well-organized couple-of-times-a-month ticketed sex party.

Porto Pride (July 12, 13 and 14, 2024). In 2023, concerts and community events took place in Parque Urbano da Pasteleira (Rua de Diogo Botelho, Porto) due to construction of a new metro station in downtown’s Praça do Município, where events are usually held. Keep an eye on their Instagram feed for when and where things will happen in 2024. It’s three days of parties and entertainment, topped up with a parade.

Café Lusitano (Rua de José Falcão 137, Porto). We could have as easily listed this under “Where to eat”—they have everything from shrimp tempura to ribs—but this Porto favourite, like so many spots in the city, is a little bit this, a little bit that. Though not officially “gay,” Lusitano is gay-managed, and the crowd—which might start with dinner, lean into after-dinner drinks, then break out some moves on the dancefloor—is certainly very queer. And they have drag. The high-ceilinged room is breathtaking. 

Fabrik Bar (Rua Galeria de Paris 109, Porto). Another one of Porto’s long-running “Is this a gay bar? I don’t know but there are some hot guys here kissing each other” drinking establishments. The cocktails are tasty and the crowd changes with the theme. You’re just going to have to stick your head in and investigate.

Invictus Café Bar (Rua da Conceição 80 loja 8/9, Porto). Probably Porto’s most-loved drag venue, it’s also a nice place for coffee or a casual drink. Which means: the shows can start late, but you’ll love it even more after a few beers.

Conceição 35 (Rua da Conceição 35, Porto). Pretty damn gay, but perhaps too cool for rainbow flags. The focus in this laid-back resto-bar is the music, which changes depending on who’s spinning, and the cocktails, which can be elaborate. There’s also a bar menu.

Bar of Soap (Rua do Bolhão 132, Porto). Board games, open-mic nights, performances, drag. This exceedingly queer-friendly space attracts artsy-hipster locals.

Pride Bar (Rua do Bonjardim 1121, Porto). If you’re looking for gay in your face, this Friday-Saturday-Sunday club will scratch that itch. Dancing, drag and strippers. Put on a tiara and some lipstick and blow off some steam.

Zoom Porto (Beco de Passos Manuel 40, Porto). Elegant but with an underground vibe (and go-go dancers), this large Friday-Saturday dance club advertises itself as “heterosexual friendly.” That might be less true when Zoom hosts Oh My Party! Oh My Cock!, which is more of a sausage fest. They also have a display case selling poppers, jocks and assorted sexy novelty items. 

Sauna Thermas 205 (Rua Guedes de Azevedo 203, Porto; downstairs, door 205). A recently renovated Turkish bath gives the place a fresh feel, but they have the expected sauna, steam room, dark room and video room, too. Open 2 p.m. to midnight most days, until 2 a.m. on weekends.

Sauna Camões (Rua de Camões 309, Porto). Smaller than its rival, it’s open 2:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. weeknights, 2:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Turkish bath, wet sauna, cabins, video room and lounge.

1906 Club (various locations announced the day of each event). Established in 2015 to provide gay and bi men with a safe space to express their sexuality, this not-for-profit organization books apartments in various central neighbourhoods of the city to host regular parties. Some have themes like naked or underwear. Drinks and snacks are included with admission.

Where to gear up

Kardo (Rua João das Regras 176, Porto). Porto’s main supplier of essential gay underwear, swimwear, leisurewear and fetishwear from fashion brands like Addicted, Maskulo, Andrew Christian, Barcode Berlin and the like. The store is also a pickup spot for online purchases from sexshop retailer Mr. Cock

The Portuguese Cock (Rua das Oliveiras 57, Porto). This cute boutique sells a whimsical selection of ceramics, including objets d’art and tiles, many of them naughty, like dicks dressed as Charlie Brown, Frida Kahlo or a leatherman. Gifts for your grandma and your fuckbuddy.

Livraria Aberta (Rua do Paraíso 297–299, Porto). This elegant bookstore has all sorts of delightful LGBTQ+ titles—literary, edgy, helpful, erotic and otherwise—in Portuguese and other languages including English. 

Via Catarina (Rua de Santa Catarina 312–350, Porto). It seems a shame to hit the mall when there are so many adorable boutiques to rummage through. But if you need to stop at a Flying Tiger Copenhagen, a Vodafone outlet or a grocery store with a huge wine selection, this shopping centre, right in the heart of the pedestrian shopping street Rua de Santa Catarina (think Benneton, Zara and Tezenis), will scratch that itch.

Travel tips and insights for LGBTQ2S+ travellers. In-depth travel guides and inspirational ideas for your next trip.

Pink Ticket is sent out every other week.

Travel tips and insights for LGBTQ2S+ travellers. In-depth travel guides and inspirational ideas for your next trip.

Pink Ticket is sent out every other week.

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