São Bento Railway Station
A must-see while in Porto is the São Bento Railway Station. More than just a train station, this place is another architectural jewel, among the many others this city boasts.
Built by the Portuguese architect José Marques da Silva in 1900, the São Bento Railway Station opened to the public sixteen years later. Its construction took place on the site that once housed a Benedictine monastery, hence the name São Bento.
The architecture has a French Renaissance influence, and even though its facade is already quite impressive, its interior is what leaves visitors truly awestruck. The main hall is beautifully decorated–from the ground to the ceiling — with more than 20,000 "azulejos" (Portuguese tiles), which recount important events of the history of Portugal.
Guindais Funicular
Porto is a very steep city, so one way to save your legs from doing all the climbing is by taking a funicular. The Guindais Funicular, in particular, connects you from the Ribeira neighbourhood, situated at the quayside, to Batalha, at the top of Porto. The journey takes about 3 minutes, and it costs around €2,50. Besides being a fun way to get from one part of the city to another, you will also get beautiful views over the Dom Luís I Bridge and the Douro River.
