Our family’s Carnival Legend cruise to Spain, Portugal, and France in the summer of 2024 was one for the memory books. Nine days of sunshine, great food, and waking up in a new destination each morning. One of those ports — Porto, Portugal — ended up being both memorable and educational. Not everything went as we expected, but that’s what makes travel interesting!

We docked at Porto Leixões Cruise Port, roughly 3 km (2 miles) from downtown Porto. The setting was beautiful, the skies were blue, and the city’s terracotta rooftops glowed in the morning sun.

Weather in Porto in Mid-June

If you’re cruising to northern Portugal in mid-June, be prepared for some truly perfect travel weather. Expect daytime highs between 23–26°C (73–79°F), cooler evenings around 16°C (60°F), and plenty of sunshine. The breeze rolling in from the Atlantic keeps the heat comfortable, especially along the riverfront.

Our June day in Porto was gorgeous — bright blue skies, warm sunshine, and ideal conditions for exploring.

Arriving in Porto Leixões

The Carnival Legend cleared passengers around 9:00 a.m., and by 9:30 our family of four (including two teenagers) was stepping onto our tour bus for the City Tour and Port Tasting excursion. The bus was parked right next to the ship — easy and organized.Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.

Stop #1: Douro River Lookout & Calém Port Tasting

Our first stop was a quick photo moment overlooking the Douro River and Porto’s famous bridges. The view was stunning — colorful hillside buildings, boats drifting along the river, and the iconic Dom Luís I Bridge connecting Porto to Vila Nova de Gaia.

Then we headed to Calém, one of Porto’s well-known Port wine cellars. The tasting tables were set with two Port samples per adult, a ruby and a tawny. Since our teens were underage, the Calém attendant thoughtfully changed their glasses to orange juice. Click here for an alternative experience.

The tasting itself was delicious… but rushed. We had maybe 10 minutes before being ushered through the gift shop and back onto the bus. A few guests managed to make purchases — my wife included, grabbing a special Port for us to open on our 25th wedding anniversary — but overall, the experience felt too quick to enjoy.

For more information on a tour of Calém click here.

Stop #2: Clérigos Church & Tower

Next, we headed into the city center to visit the famous Clérigos Church and Tower. The baroque design is stunning, and the skip-the-line access included in our excursion saved us from waiting in an incredibly long queue.

The interior was gorgeous, but again, time was limited. We had roughly 20–25 minutes to explore — just enough to look around but not enough to fully take in the details or climb the tower.

For more information on a tour of the Clérigos Church and Tower click here.

Stop #3: Palácio da Bolsa (Exchange Building)

Our third and final major stop was the Palácio da Bolsa, one of Porto’s most beautiful and historic buildings. The guided portion here was excellent — we spent nearly one full hour learning about the palace’s architecture, ornate rooms, and Portugal’s trading history.

The grand entrance to **Palácio da Bolsa**

The Arab Room, in particular, was jaw-dropping.

One of the court rooms of **Palácio da Bolsa**

Once the visit ended, we expected a bit of free time to explore Porto, but instead we returned directly to the ship — a full 2–2.5 hours before all-aboard.

For more information on a tour of Palácio da Bolsa click here.

The Early Return — and Some Frustrations

Arriving back at the ship so early left us feeling like we’d missed out on experiencing Porto properly. Several guests asked to leave the group and explore independently — and looking back, we wish we’d done the same.

Between the rushing, the early morning Port tasting, and our teens being charged full adult fares despite not being able to participate, the excursion simply didn’t deliver what we had hoped for.

Still, every travel hiccup teaches you something, and Porto has absolutely earned a return trip from us — on our own schedule next time.

What We’d Do Differently Next Time

If we visit Porto again by cruise ship, here’s how we’d make the most of our day:

1. Take a Hop-On Hop-Off Bus

This is the option we wish we had taken. Multiple companies operate Hop-On Hop-Off buses from Porto’s city center, and they’re perfect for cruise visitors. You can see major highlights at your own pace — Ribeira, Clérigos, Foz beach area, Vila Nova de Gaia, Port houses, and more — without feeling rushed or tied to a strict schedule.

For more information on Hop-On Hop-Off buses click here.

2. Explore Porto Independently

A taxi or Uber from the cruise port to downtown costs very little and takes only about 10 minutes. From there, everything is walkable or easily reachable on transit.

3. Enjoy a Relaxed Lunch Along the Ribeira

The Ribeira riverfront is one of the most beautiful places in Portugal. We’d grab a table overlooking the Douro, enjoy fresh seafood or a Francesinha sandwich, and simply take in the scenery.

4. Visit Port Houses on Our Own Schedule

Instead of a rushed group tasting, we would personally visit one or two Port cellars — Calém, Taylor’s, Sandeman, or Graham’s. Going independently gives you time to enjoy the tour, ask questions, and savor the tasting properly.

5. Skip Clérigos Unless It’s on Your Must-See List

It’s beautiful, but also crowded, and similar to many other cathedrals in Spain and Portugal. If time is limited, there are better ways to enjoy the city.

Top 3 Additional Things to Do in Porto for Cruise Visitors

If you’re planning your own adventure from the cruise terminal, here are three fantastic options:

1. Walk Across the Dom Luís I Bridge

The views from this double-level bridge are spectacular. Walk from Porto to Vila Nova de Gaia and straight into the Port wine district.

2. Visit Livraria Lello

Often ranked as one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world, Livraria Lello is a must for book lovers and architecture fans. Buy tickets online to skip the line.

For more information on Livraria Lello click here.

3. Visit the FC Port Museum

For all of those Futbol Hooligans out there, a fun expense bringing you closer to the pitch.

For more information on FC Port Museum click here.

Final Thoughts

Our Carnival Legend Porto excursion may have been rushed, but the city itself? Porto is the kind of place best explored slowly — on foot, with a glass of Port in hand, and without watching the clock.

And when we finally open that bottle of Calém Port on our 25th wedding anniversary, I know we’ll smile remembering this perfectly imperfect day in Portugal — the good, the chaotic, and everything in between.

Porto, Portugal — A Sip (and a Rush!) on Our Carnival Legend Adventure

Contact Us

Follow Us