PortoOctober 2, 2025October 2, 2025 By Pieter Janssen

Street art in Porto

Street Art in Porto: A City Painted in Colors
Walking through Porto, you’ll quickly notice that creativity spills onto the streets. Walls, doors, corners, and even abandoned houses become open-air canvases. From large-scale works like those of Brazilian-Japanese artist Mura to something as simple and charming as a painted cat, the city’s street art is always evolving—transforming Porto into a living gallery.

Where to Find Street Art in Porto
The artworks are scattered across the city, often in unexpected places. The best way to discover them is simply to wander with your eyes wide open—look up, down, and even behind you. Some murals are so well hidden that you might walk past them countless times before noticing. (It took me over a year to spot the giant cat tucked between two buildings!)

Exploring Porto’s street art is like going on a treasure hunt—enjoy the surprises along the way and, most importantly, have fun!

PortoSeptember 30, 2025October 1, 2025 By Pieter Janssen

The best parks in Porto

There are many parks in Porto. Some of them are quite big and you can spend a lot of time there. I want to mention a few that I like most. If you are traveling with children there is one you should not miss.

Parque de São Roque

Looking for a park that’s perfect for young kids? Look no further, as this is the one. Just 800 metres west of Dragao Stadium, this is a very quiet suburban gem featuring woodland trails, an Art Nouveau grotto, a labyrinth and some swings and slides. Perfect for some peace and quiet and certainly perfect for children. They will love the labyrinth.

Parque Oriental da Cidade do Porto

East of Dragão Stadium lies a great area for running and cycling. From only about 150 metres north of the Douro River, the paths extend for roughly 4 kilometres straight north—completely uninterrupted. And unlike much of Porto, the terrain here is flat!

Parque da Cidade do Porto

Its name may sound similar to the first park, but the experience is completely different. Bordering Matosinhos to the south, it invites you to explore a maze of winding paths—perfect for long walks or runs into all directions. Serious runners can extend their exercise (without traffic interruptions) for another 3 kilometres via the coastal road and go south to Foz. Or even on to the centre of Porto, another 5 kilometres, all flat.

Locals like to play volleyball – on the northeast side – , have picknicks or just go on a stroll.

Do a sweaty workout, and finish your day with a plunge into the adjacent ocean.

Parque Infantil da Quinta do Covelo

Stroll the shady paths, and when the little ones need more action, head to the family area—complete with slides, tunnels, bridges, swings and sand areas. It will keep kids of various ages entertained.

Jardins do Palácio de Cristal

This park combines peaceful garden walks with stunning views. On its southern edge, you’ll overlook the Douro River, while the Superbock Arena offers an even higher perspective from its rooftop—if you’re willing to splurge on a ticket. Afterwards, grab a drink downstairs and enjoy it outdoors, whether basking in the sunshine or relaxing in the shade.

More to follow!

PortoSeptember 29, 2025September 30, 2025 By Pieter Janssen

Things to Do in Porto – Porto Bucket List: Sights, Secrets & Surprises

Pieter Janssen

Looking for the best things to do in Porto? This bucket list of sights, secrets, and surprises will help you.

Porto is a city I’ve come to know with curiosity and an abnormal dose of wanderlust. According to Strava (just in case: an app that shows all recorded routes), there are almost no streets I haven’t been. Walking through its cobbled streets, I’ve found peaceful gardens, stunning murals, lively markets, and breathtaking viewpoints that never get old. So which things to do in Porto? I made a list for you.

All of the places on this list I’ve experienced myself (except for one) and can truly vouch for — they’re the ones that made me slow down, look around, and fall in love with the city. However, there is one I haven’t yet set foot in (the crowds and the queues alone made me turn away!), but it is such an icon of Porto that excluding it would feel like cheating you of the full picture. Eh, yes, it is Livraria Lello.

So, what follows are the must-sees that define Porto for so many travelers. Whether you’re here for a weekend or a week, you’ll find the city’s spirit in its tiled churches, riverside strolls, buzzing markets, and even in a few quieter corners where only locals go. So here they are, the best things in Porto.

Monastery of Serra do Pilar

This is the master of all views. From here you have a 270 degree view over both Porto and Gaia, with the river in the middle. It’s an excellent spot for sunset admirers. In case you expect to be thirsty, bring some drinks, as there are no facilities.

Construction began in 1538 and finished in 1672. Although it was built to house Augustinian monks, the monastery played a key strategic role during various battles.

The Half Rabbit

This is a work of art, made by Bordalo II (Artur Bordalo). It is entirely made from trash, scrap metal, and recycled materials collected locally (Bordalo II’s signature style).

If you pay closer attention you will see one side of the sculpture is colourful, while the other is painted in grayscale. It symbolises the contrast between waste and nature.

Largo da Pena Ventosa

This is a place you would not want to miss. A nice little peaceful square, surrounded by colourful buildings. There are two little cafes, one of which also serves food. It is my favourite spot to sit down, enjoy a drink, while observing people passing by.

Ribeira

Stroll through the lively colourful district of Ribeira along the Douro river. It may seem very touristy, but often you will find yourself alone. There are many narrow alleys which will lead you up or down, depending on your route. If you are up for it, you can go all the way up to Porto Cathedral (Sé). Or down of course, which is what I would do

Dom Luís I Bridge

This double-deck arch bridge connects Porto to Vila Nova de Gaia. Needless to say, the views on the top deck are breathtaking. Watch out for the metro though. Very frequently trains come from both directions.

Porto Cathedral (Sé)

This is a spot easy to get to. Take the southern exit of Sao Bento metro station and head for the cathedral, which will be on your right. There are views on the river and the city.

Clérigos Tower

Completed in 1763, The Clérigos Tower is a Baroque bell tower in the historic center of Porto, and one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. It was originally built as the bell tower for the Clérigos Church, used to call parishioners to service and mark the time.

For sweeping cityscape views, climb the 220 steps of this Baroque bell tower — well worth the effort. Whether it is also worth the money is up to you. Admission is 8 euros (2024 price).

Murals / street art

Porto has quite a lot of street art, with fantastic murals There are some real gems. The best ones are quite spread out, and when you’re just walking around you need a bit of luck finding them. They can be anywhere. If you’re on a mission, check out https://streetartmap.com/porto for a few samples with clues regarding locations.

Soon there will be a page dedicated to street art.

São Bento Station

São Bento is not just an ordinary train station. It’s a masterpiece of tile art. Over 20,000 azulejo tiles, crafted between 1905 and 1916 by renowned artist Jorge Colaço, line the main hall. These beautiful blue-and-white narrate pivotal moments in Portuguese history. Gaze closely at the tiles to really experience it.

It attracts quite a few tour groups, so if photography is your main reason to be here you must visit early in the morning. Having mentioned photography, it depends on the type of photography you are interested in. Personally I want it to be as busy as possible..

Jardim do Morro

Jardim do Morro is Porto’s go-to sunset stage. As the sun drops, locals and travelers spread out across the grassy slopes with picnic blankets, vinho verde, and the occasional guitar. All eyes turn west as the skyline and the Dom Luís I Bridge glow in golden light. With each passing minute the crowd thickens, until the sun finally slips behind the horizon—or vanishes into the clouds.

Usually there are live bands and all sorts of artists. Satisfaction guaranteed!

Bolhão Market (Mercado do Bolhão)

Housed in a majestic 19th-century neoclassical building completed in 1914, Bolhão Market is all charm and bustle. Its open-air courtyard is ringed by two levels of galleries, each lined with vibrant stalls. From fresh fish, meats, cheeses, fruit, and vegetables to wine, port, and local delicacies—you’ll find it all here. A few tables and chairs are scattered around, perfect for watching people and enjoying your market haul on the spot.

Capela das Almas (Chapel of Souls)

If you can stand all the selfie-taking people, this is a beautiful building covered entirely in blue tiles, (azulejos, the Portuguese word for painted ceramic tiles) depicting the lives of saints.

It is just a cobbled stone’s throw from Bolhão Market.

Livraria Lello

Often hailed as one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world, Livraria Lello feels like something out of a fantasy novel. Reportedly, as I haven’t visited it myself—mainly because of the long queues and the crowds inside. It’s impossible not to mention, given its immense popularity.

It is recommended to book tickets in advance. Pick your date and time slot. Once you’re there, join the queue which shows your time slot. https://www.livrarialello.pt/

No photo, as I haven’t been there and so I haven’t taken one.

More to follow!

BitsApril 10, 2023October 2, 2025 By Pieter Janssen

Lines

Images explained - Little stories about making decisions

Lines

You have probably heard it many times. Lines. Leading lines. Lines in a photo lead the attention of the viewer towards something. This is how the eyes work. They want to be guided. Next time you see something interesting, check if anything in the surrounding area leads towards that treasure. And then frame it.

This is somewhere downtown Hoi An (Vietnam) in a quiet alley. The lines of the wall immediately suck you deeper into the image. When I first saw them there was nothing else. The lines lead me to the window. Or an empty exit/entrance. That works. It could be considered as the end or a beginning.

On an other day when I was there a woman suddenly appeared and immediately I captured her. Now all attention leads to her.

Lines are everywhere. This one is beautifully curved. Or should I say “was”. It is gone forever thanks to ongoing construction works.

Photography is not just a matter of aiming your camera and pressing the button. For collecting memories this is perfectly alright. But if you want to decide what exactly ends up in your photo and how, you have to spend some more time and make decisions.

What is it what you want? Are there any distractions or irrelevant parts you definitely don’t want in your image? Do you want to be creative by changing your aperture or shutter speed? Or even move the camera (or just the lens) while pressing the shutter, to add a certain effect? What is the best moment to press the button?

This is a series of images where I explain what it is what I wanted and how I executed my plans.

These are things I talk about on my photography tours. If this appeal to you, check out the tours.

Lines

Images explained – Little stories about making decisions Lines You have probably heard it many times. Lines. Leading…

BitsApril 10, 2023October 3, 2025 By Pieter Janssen

Depth

Images explained – Little stories about making decisions Depth When there are multiple people in a scene it…

BitsApril 10, 2023October 3, 2025 By Pieter Janssen

Sunsets

Images explained – Little stories about making decisions Sunsets It is always very tempting to capture the beautiful…

BitsApril 10, 2023October 3, 2025 By Pieter Janssen

Juxtaposition

Images explained – Little stories about making decisions Juxtaposition Closely related to looking and including something else in…

BitsApril 9, 2023October 3, 2025 By Pieter Janssen

Panning

Images explained – Little stories about making decisions Panning One of the easier techniques to create a different…

BitsApril 9, 2023October 3, 2025 By Pieter Janssen

Details

Images explained – Little stories about making decisions Details Often it is better not to shoot the entire…

BitsApril 10, 2023October 3, 2025 By Pieter Janssen

Depth

Images explained - Little stories about making decisions

Depth

When there are multiple people in a scene it doesn’t mean they all need to be sharp. With a shallow depth of field you can decide who is the subject/most important person. You do this by choosing a low aperture number.

Here I really did not have a choice about who to choose, as there is only one woman who is clearly visible and properly lit. So I focused on her and as a result the other two are blurry. It is all about her. The two others provide depth. They don’t need to be sharp to play a role. Together they form a triangle. And then there are the diagonal lines to provide further depth.

This is a series of images where I explain what it is what I wanted and how I executed my plans.

These are things I talk about on my photography tours. If this appeal to you, check out the tours.