Leixoes/Porto

Porto is the city of wine and sampling at sunset, filled with Baroque beauty and colors on the banks of the Douro River. A vibrant destination, rich in history, it offers its visitors intense emotions and unforgettable memories.

From your MSC cruise ship, you can disembark at the port of Leixoes and from there you will have the opportunity to make a complete tour of the city, a unique excursion among its major architectural attractions, including Clérigos Church.
Here you can climb up the 75-meter high tower, and after getting to the top of the 240 steps, you will be rewarded with fantastic panoramic views of Porto. Another must-see of your holiday will be a visit to São Bento, considered one of the most decorative stations in Europe. Inside, in fact, the walls are adorned with beautiful terracotta-painted tiles (called azulejos) that recreate the most significant historical events of Portugal. The iron Dom Luís Bridge designed by Gustave Eiffel also deserves to be admired, as does San Francesco Church and Sé do Porto Cathedral, the religious center of the city.

An MSC Cruises excursion will then take you to Porto’s oldest and most colorful district: Ribeira. A World Heritage Site, it is a medieval area located on an impassable hill where narrow cobbled alleys and steep, narrow streets wind through a maze of dwellings with tall colorful facades overhanging the bank of the Douro River.

In Ribeira, your eyes will be filled with characteristic scenes and you will find many wine bars and restaurants to sample the local cuisine. Your MSC Cruises tour of Porto will continue with a walk through the most beautiful streets of the city center, such as Avenida dos Aliados, in memory of the Portuguese participation in the First World War, and Rua Santa Catarina, which is overlooked by beautiful buildings covered in azulejos.