Being famous and gaining thousands of likes and followers on Instagram is a dream goal for many influencers and Instagram users alike, and there can be big impacts from your popularity! However, to achieve success on your pages is not easy; you need to post and share your best and most importantly original pictures that belong to your niche. For travelers, for example, you need to find the right place and perhaps somewhere nobody knows. Here I am going to share 10 places you could visit to take great pictures in Porto, the second-largest city in Portugal. With an estimated population of 240 000 citizens, Porto has many impressive buildings, monuments, and churches to visit. The food and wine are delicious, the weather is nice all around the year, and even if there are a lot of tourists, the city is still enjoyable with plenty of photo opportunities, including some more hidden away.
1. Igreja de Santo Ildefonso
The Igreja de Santo Ildefonso is an eighteenth-century church in Porto located near Batalha Square. This is one of the famous sights in the city and very Instagrammable thanks to the architecture and color of this beautiful church.
2. Livraria Lello
The Lello Bookstore, also known as Livraria Lello & Irmão and Livraria Chardron, is one of the oldest bookstores in Portugal and frequently rated among the top bookstores in the world. This shop inspired Flourish and Blotts and the Hogwarts Library, as J.K. Rowling lived in Porto during the early nineties. Because of the popularity of this place you need to wait in the queue to visit, but I am sure you will find the original touch to make your pictures unique and ready to be liked on your Instagram!
3. Igreja Capela das Almas
Known as Chapel of Souls and Chapel of Santa Catarina, this beautiful church is located in the civil parish of Santo Ildefonso of Porto. The building was constructed in the XVIII century and is popular with photographers, with many posing and taking pictures from outside the beautiful building. The external walls are covered with blue-white ceramic tiles depicting episodes like the Death of Saint Francis of Assisi and the Martyrdom of Santa Catarina, created by Eduardo Leite in 1929, but you can also go inside which is lovely too.
4. Ribeira
Located in the center of the city and the heart of tourist attractions, the Ribeira district of Porto sits on the riverbank and is known for its colorful houses. You can find a lot of cafes and restaurants here, with the colorful background making this place perfect for a coffee or lunch whilst taking some vibrant pictures for your Instagram. Just find the right place, check the angle of the sun and snap away!
5. Teleférico de Gaia
If you are afraid of heights this cable car maybe isn’t for you, but if you want to snap some incredible pictures and see the amazing view of the Douro River you must try it. If you are traveling with your children, they might also love it.
6. Pérola do Bolhão
Here is an example of a nice original picture taken in front of a store. Pérola do Bolhão is a traditional grocery store located a couple of steps away from Mercado do Bolhão in downtown Porto. Because of Instagram, this place has become famous and a lot of tourists come here just to take a picture and pose in front of the store and its beautiful decorations. But don’t forget to buy something inside to respect the owner, it is a shop after all.
7. Largo da Pena Ventosa
Largo da Pena Ventosa is a small square with colorful houses, terraces and cafes. The square is popular with some influencers and photographers because is offers beauty in it the ordinary.
8. Capela do Senhor da Pedra
This place is about a 20-minute drive from the center of Porto. This seaside chapel is certainly one of the most Instagrammable places in the area which that you cannot miss. The sunset is probably the best time to get a picture as the dramatic lighting and colours are just wonderful.
9. Rua da Alfândega
Rua da Alfândega is an ordinary street in Porto with colorful houses. A nice backdrop, add something else to the picture, like a bicycle for example, and it can make you photo more interesting.
10. Joana Vasconcelos Mural
In Porto, you can find a lot of streets with amazing mural art. For example, this mural is very special, consisting of 8000 hand-painted tiles and comprising one of the largest public works, created by Joana Vasconcelos.
