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São Bento – Sé Cathedral (17) - go through Rua Mouzinho da Silveira or through Rua das Flores – Ferreira Borges Market (11) – Palácio da Bolsa (the Stock Exchange Palace) (20) – São Francisco Church (21) – Casa do Infante (the House of the Prince) (18) - Centro de Congressos Alfândega do Porto (Port Customs Congress Centre) (22)

The São Bento Train Station (19) is in the heart of the city and it is the ideal place to start a tour. Built at the beginning of the 20th century, it is worth entering the atrium to admire the great panels of blue and white tiles, showing episodes from the History of Portugal, created by Jorge Colaço, an important Portuguese ceramic artist. Wheelchair users or those with difficulties in mobility can use the ramp at the side entrance to enter the station which has wide interior spaces without any obstacles.

Leaving the station and continuing to the left, go up the street to the Cathedral (17). Owing to the steep incline of the road, this is a route that is only partially accessible, which renders independent access impossible. Although there is a lot of space inside the Cathedral, to enter it you have to go up some stairs, making it inaccessible. Moving around inside is made difficult because of steps. Access to the upper floors is also difficult for the same reason, which limits the accessibility of this monument. The Terreiro da Sé Square, where the pillory of the city is located, is an important vantage point overlooking the ancient manor house and the river, from the Old Town, classified a World Heritage Site together with the Ponte Luís I (Luis I Bridge) and the Serra do Pilar Monastery, at the edge of Vila Nova de Gaia.

We recommend returning to São Bento, via the river, along Rua das Flores or by Rua de Mouzinho da Silveira. These streets are parallel arterial roads with paved areas in good condition and continuous regular surfaces, although there are a few places which are in need of attention. On Rua das Flores there are a few uneven spots of 3 to 4 cm, and the latter has a slight but steady incline for several metres, which makes moving along them difficult. Continuing along Rua Ferreira Borges, you can’t miss the iron structure of the Market (11), built in the 19th century. This ancient market is currently transformed into a space for cultural entertainment. On the left, there is a ramp to enter the market which has wide spaces with no obstacles. The balcony has a beautiful view of the garden and the ancient buildings which continue until the river. On the right, two unmissable monuments are the Palácio da Bolsa (the Stock Exchange Palace) and the São Francisco Church.

The Palácio da Bolsa (20) was built in the 19th century as the headquarters for the Commercial Association of Porto, which reflects the importance of this activity in the city’s history. Inside, the highlight of the Palace is the magnificent Arab Room, decorated in a Moorish style. It is spacious inside, without obstacles and with signs written in Braille. However, the slope of the street and the stairs to enter the building make access difficult. Once this initial obstacle has been overcome, you can arrange guided tours and activities for people with special requirements.

A little further down, the Igreja de São Francisco (São Francisco Church) (21) was built in the 14th century in gothic style and enriched with exuberant Baroque decoration in gilded wood in the style of the 18th century, reflecting the wealth of the country and of the city during this period. The steps at the entrance are an obstacle to accessibility, as well as the steps in the interior, making visits quite difficult for wheelchair users. However, you can arrange guided tours and activities for people with special requirements in advance, notably in sign language.

The visit continues along Rua do Infante D. Henrique to the Praça da Ribeira where you can visit the Casa do Infante (House of the Prince) (18). It was in 1394 in this house, one of the oldest in the city, that the great Portuguese explorer Henry the Navigator was born. The house belonged to the Portuguese Crown, and until the 19th century, was the Mint and the Customs house, where the authorities responsible for the inspection of all commerce on the river Douro were housed.

Photo: Ribeira ©Waterlily

The Praça da Ribeira marks the entrance into one of the best known and most photographed places - the Ribeira. This long walk along the river bank is an area full of restaurants and terraces, which necessitates greater care and constant changes in direction, particularly because there are no guardrails or tactile paving to prevent falls. In this area, we advise visitors to be careful and to take precautionary measures to avoid dangerous situations.

Returning to the Rua Infante D. Henrique, it is possible to follow the course of the river towards the mouth of the Douro (Foz do Douro), and to make the last visit of this tour, to the Porto Customs building in which a conference centre and the Museu dos Transportes e Comunicações (Museum of the Transport and Communication) (22) are housed. Perfectly accessible and with information set out in Braille, it has automobile models and miniatures for tactile exploration.

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São Bento Station (19) - Avenida dos Aliados (9) – Rivoli Theatre (12) – Bolhão Market (13) – Rua de Santa Catarina (14) – Majestic Café (10) – São João National Theatre (15) – Luís I Bridge (16) – Serra do Pilar - Port wine Caves in Vila Nova de Gaia or go down to the Riverbank (Ribeira) by the Funicular dos Guindais

After visiting the São Bento Station, we recommend going up the Avenida dos Aliados (9) which, although it is accessible with lowered footpaths, has a slight incline near the top where the emblematic Town Council building (Câmara Municipal) and the tourist office are located. On this large avenue, many of the city’s large public events take place, such as the Feast of St John the Baptist (Festas de São João) held in June, or the New Year celebrations. In the surrounding area, the route should be treated with some caution owing to irregularities in some of the paving exposed to greater wear and tear.



In the middle of the Avenida dos Aliados, the accessible tour continues along Rua Dr. Magalhães Lemos, passing by the Teatro Rivoli (the Rivoli Theatre) (12), one of the most important show venues in Porto, which is accessible to people with special requirements. The following attraction is the traditional Mercado do Bolhão (Bolhão Market) (13) in the heart of the city’s shopping area. Inside, there are narrow spaces, but wheelchairs users can move around. Then, you come to Santa Catarina (14), a key pedestrianised street for those who want to shop. There, you will find shops of the most popular brands as well as the 100 year-old Café Majestic (Majestic Café) (10), at No. 112. Linked to the history of Porto and decorated in the Parisian style of the 1920s, it was the meeting place for politicians, writers and intellectuals. There is a step at the entrance to negotiate, but inside, you can move around easily because of the wide spaces, with chairs and tables the only obstacles to consider. Outside, the terrace provides facilities for people with reduced mobility. 


Photo: Rua de Santa Catarina © Waterlily

Continuing along Rua de Santa Catarina, you enter the Praça da Batalha (Batalha Square), where the Teatro Nacional de São João (São João National Theatre (15) is located.

Very close by, it is possible to go onto the upper deck of the Ponte Luís I (Luis I Bridge) (16) from which you have one of the best views of the Douro Valley, and to cross over to the side of Vila Nova de Gaia, going up to the Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar (Serra do Pilar Monastery). It is worth visiting the church, with its circular design, as well as the Renaissance Cloister, which is also circular. Above all, it is best appreciated as a vantage point.

To go down to the river bank where the Caves do Vinho do Porto (the Porto Wine Cellars) are located, the Gaia cable car (Teleférico de Gaia) is a good way to travel if you do not have an adapted vehicle, since the descent has to be made via very hilly streets or steps. Take the opportunity to visit the cellars where the world famous Port wine is aged, learn a little about its history or simply do some winetasting in one of the terraces near the river.

Alternatively, if you have not visited the Ribeira, you can return via the Ponte Luís I, in the direction of Porto and go down in the Funicular dos Guindais next to the river. 

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São Bento Station - Clérigos Tower and Church (7) – the Portuguese Centre for Photography (6) – the Cordoaria Gardens (5) – Lello Bookshop (8) – Rectory of the University of Porto (4) – Carmo and Carmelitas Churches (3) – the Soares dos Reis Museum (2) – the Gardens of the Crystal Palace (1) 

We recommend a third tour from São Bento Station which starts at the iconic Torre dos Clérigos (Clérigos Tower) (7). After walking up the street, you will come to this genuine Baroque masterpiece, built by the architect Nicolau Nasoni in the middle of the 18th century, one of many great works he left behind in the north of Portugal.

The great attraction is ascending 75 metres to the top of the tower for a unique panoramic view of Porto. Access into the Church is guaranteed via ramps and there is a lift to the 4th floor where, in real time and through touch screens, you can have a view from the top of the tower, enabling people with special requirements to have a fully immersive experience.

Further along from the Torre is the historical building of the Cadeia da Relação, a former prison which is nowadays the Centro Português de Fotografia (the Portuguese Centre for Photography) (6). Entry is by ramp and movement inside is facilitated by wide spaces, without any obstacles. There are lifts to the upper floors. Opposite, the pleasant Jardim da Cordoaria (Cordoaria Gardens) (5) could be an ideal place for a break before continuing the tour.

Moving around the imposing building that is the Rectory of the University of Porto, there is still time to stop at the amazing Livraria Lello (Lello Bookshop) (8), with its unusual white neo-gothic facade and original wooden steps which became known as the inspiration for the author of the Harry Potter stories.

Continuing along Rua das Carmelitas, you come to the square where the Igrejas do Carmo e das Carmelitas (Carmo and Carmelitas Churches) (3) are located. Although they appear to be one building, they are in fact two baroque monuments where the contrast between stone carvings and the tiled panels in blue and white in the facade will catch your attention. Inside, there are wide spaces allowing free movement after negotiating the stairs at the entrance. 

Photo: Museu Nacional de Soares dos Reis, Porto

The accessible tour continues along Rua Dr. Tiago de Almeida until Rua D. Manuel II, where you come across the Museu Nacional de Soares dos Reis (Soares dos Reis National Museum) (2), housed in an ancient palace which has ramp access, a reception specially prepared for attending to wheelchair users, and internal movement facilitated by wide spaces without obstacles. Access to the upper floors is by lift and there are tactile experiences available for the exhibition. Collections of Portuguese paintings and sculptures of the 19th and 20th centuries are the most significant works, featuring the works of Porto painter, Soares dos Reis, after whom the museum is named. It also has a collection of Portuguese stoneware from the period between the 17th and 19th centuries, as well as collections of oriental pieces and jewellery.

The tour ends at the Jardins do Palácio de Cristal (Gardens of the Crystal Palace) (1) which are accessible. It is a leisure space that is highly prized in the city.  Its name comes from the great glass and iron structure, built in the 19th century and surrounded by a large garden, an avenue lined by linden trees and a small wooded area. At strategic points in the garden, there are small vantage points which allow you to enjoy the view of the city and of the river.

Travelcards
Andante Line
The Andante travelcard allows tourists to travel in all buses, trains and metros in the city of Porto. This is a card that you can top up with the cost of trips or, alternatively, you can buy the Andante Tour ticket, valid for 24, 48 or 72 hours. 
www.linhandante.com

Porto Card
The Porto Card allows tourists to enjoy various discounts at different monuments and tourist attractions, as well as on transport companies of the city. The cost varies according to the kind of card the tourist wishes to use.

Bus
The STCP Company has buses that have been adapted for people with reduced mobility, equipped with access ramps for people with special requirements, platform lifts, wide interior spaces, reserved places for people with reduced mobility, audible and luminous indicators, and Braille stop buttons.
STCP Company - www.stcp.pt/pt/viajar

Trains
One of the entrance points into Porto is the São Bento Train Station that has a side entrance for people with reduced mobility. Inside, the spaces are quite wide, thereby allowing comfortable movement. There is a Disabled Toilet for people with reduced mobility, near the platform area. The ticket counter has a waiting line, prioritising people with special requirements, with a lowered customer service area.
Most train stations have specific places for people with reduced mobility, with access platforms to the interior, wide internal spaces, and audible and luminous alerts throughout the journey, identifying various stops on the way.

CP-Comboios de Portugal (the Portuguese Train Service), offers a centralised Integrated Mobility Service (SIM - Serviço Integrado de Mobilidade), available by telephone (+351) 707 210 746 (707 210 SIM), 24 hours a day for 365 days a year, for both information and services. This service will enable passengers with special requirements to get information on accessibility on trains and at stations, assistance embarking, during the journey and disembarking, among other services. 
For more information, go to  www.cp.pt 

Metro
The Porto Metro is fully adapted for people with reduced mobility, equipped with access ramps and places reserved for people with reduced mobility, and audible and luminous informative indicators. You need to be aware of the small gaps between the platform and the train when stepping in and off the train, which could be a hindrance.
The E line, Violet, of the Porto Metro, provides a direct link to the city centre from the Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport.
To travel on the Porto Metro, tourists need to purchase an Andante Travelcard, as for other trips.
Metro do Porto - www.metrodoporto.pt 

Taxis
Several Taxi operators have vehicles that have been fully adapted, which enable passengers to travel comfortably and independently.
Raditaxis - www.raditaxis.pt 
Taxi Guimarães – 224 835 982
Táxis Pinheiro - www.taxispinheiro.pt 

Funicular Dos Guindais
The Funicular Dos Guindais is fully adapted to accommodate people with reduced mobility, with ramps and lifts, audible and luminous alerts and information available in Braille. Funicular stations are fully adapted, with a level entrance into the building, wide spaces inside, a level entrance platform into the funicular, and audible alerts indicating the closing of doors.
It is the best way to travel between Ribeira and Batalha for people with reduced mobility as the route by road would pose great difficulty for them owing to the steep slope of the streets.
Ribeira Funicular Station - Av. Gustave Eiffel
Batalha Funicular Station - Rua Augusto Rosa
www.metrodoporto.pt