Porto Cathedral (Sé do Porto), on the Terreiro da Sé, dominates the old town from its hilltop: a 12th-century Romanesque fortress-church, altered over the centuries, with a Gothic cloister covered in blue and white azulejos. Entry to the church is free; the cloister, chapter house and terrace are visited with a ticket costing about €3. Allow an hour for the church, the cloister and the view. From the forecourt you can see the Douro, the Dom Luís I Bridge and Vila Nova de Gaia: it is one of the finest free panoramas in the city.
Highlights
The Gothic cloister and its azulejos
The 14th-century galleries are lined with large blue and white azulejo panels from the 18th century, illustrating the life of the Virgin and Ovid's Metamorphoses. A baroque staircase leads to the upper floor, from where you see the courtyard and the rooftops.
The view from the forecourt
From the Terreiro da Sé, the eye takes in the Douro, the Dom Luís I Bridge, the Serra do Pilar and the Gaia wine lodges. Next to it, the stone pillory is a reminder that the square was once a place of justice.
The Romanesque church and its chapels
The narrow nave with its barrel vaults keeps the austere spirit of the medieval fortress; the Blessed Sacrament chapel at the high altar is an example of baroque silverwork. In the baptistery, Prince Henry the Navigator is said to have been baptised.
Opening hours and prices
Church: free entry. Cloister, chapter house (Casa do Cabido) and terrace: about €3; free for young children. The tower is a separate ticket. Hours vary with the season (see below) and the cathedral closes on Christmas Day and Easter Sunday.
Practical info
Tips
- Combined tickets and guided tours are sold online by resellers at higher prices than at the ticket desk; the basic ticket is enough for the church and cloister. Services take priority over visitors: the church may be closed during ceremonies. The way up from the Ribeira to the cathedral is steep: take the Escadinhas da Sé on the way up rather than down. Prices checked in October 2026. Combine with São Bento station, five minutes on foot, and the Ribeira. Also read: Porto in one day.
How to get there
Terreiro da Sé, 4050-573 Porto. 5 minutes on foot from São Bento station (metro, line D); the climb from the Ribeira is steep but short.
Opening hours
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