Dom Luís I Bridge: Crossing the Douro and the Best Viewpoints
The Dom Luís I Bridge (Ponte Luís I) is the symbol of Porto: a great iron arch with a 172-metre span, opened in 1886, linking the Ribeira with Vila Nova de Gaia. You can cross it on foot, free of charge, day or night, on two levels: the lower deck, close to the river, and the upper deck, far higher up, shared by pedestrians and the metro. The crossing takes ten minutes, but it is easy to spend an hour here for the views: from the upper deck over the rooftops of the Ribeira, from the lower deck over the quays and the rabelo boats. The bridge was designed by Théophile Seyrig, a former partner of Gustave Eiffel.
Highlights
The upper deck
Pedestrians walk on the pavements on either side of the metro track (line D), which passes just a few metres away. From here you take in the whole old town: the cathedral, the Clérigos Tower and the orange roofs of the Ribeira. Keep children by the hand: the pavements are narrow and trains run often.
The lower deck and the quays
At river level, a pavement runs alongside the road used by cars and buses. It is the simplest route between the Ribeira and the Gaia quays, and the best viewpoint over the row of colourful Ribeira houses, when the sun lights them in the morning and late afternoon.
The two ends
On the Gaia side, the Jardim do Morro and the Serra do Pilar monastery offer the classic view of the bridge and the city (see the Jardim do Morro and the Serra do Pilar monastery). On the Porto side, a staircase links the upper deck to the cathedral district.
Prices
Walking across the bridge is free on both decks, with no booking. The metro that uses the upper deck is paid with an Andante ticket (see getting around Porto).
Practical info
Tips
- To reach the upper deck without effort, take the metro, or the Gaia cable car to the Jardim do Morro (Gaia cable car); on foot, the staircase from the cathedral is steep. The lower deck is the safest if you are afraid of heights or have a pushchair. Do not lean over the railings for a selfie: the metro passes very close. In the evening the bridge is lit up and the sunset over the Douro draws crowds to the upper deck. In the Ribeira, see also the Ribeira of Porto and Porto Cathedral.
How to get there
The bridge links the Ribeira (Porto side) and the quays of Vila Nova de Gaia. Metro: São Bento station (line D) on the Porto side, Jardim do Morro station on the Gaia side. On foot, allow 10 minutes from São Bento station to the lower deck via the Ribeira.
Opening hours
Our guides that feature it
Nearby
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