Churches, gardens and the train station in central Porto

Departure from Liberdade Square, an ideal central location as it offers easy access to public transport and is the heart of Porto.

(S/E) Walk down Praça da Liberdade to the main road and turn right. Turn left onto Largo dos Loios and turn slightly left to reach Rua de Tràs on the right. Continue to Campo dos Martires da Patri and turn right. Walk up and turn right onto the path that leads to the Clerics' Church via Rua da Assunçao.

(1) Enjoy the Clock Tower (Torre dos Clérigos). You can climb this iconic 75-metre tower for an exceptional panoramic view of Porto. Thenretrace your steps along Rua da Assunção and head towards Rua de São Filipe de Nery. Follow the avenue on the left and turn right onto Rua do Dr Ferreira da Silva. Then turn left onto Praça de Parada Leitao to go around the University of Porto.

You can visit the Museu de História Natural e da Ciência da Universidade do Porto (Porto University Museum of Natural History and Science). Then continue around the building to return to Rua do Dr Ferreira da Silva, cross over to Rua das Carmelitas.

Take the time to stroll through the Lello Bookshop, famous for inspiring J.K. Rowling to write Harry Potter. Return to Rua do Dr Ferreira da Silva and continue until you turn left onto Praça de Gomes Texeira. This street then leads to Rua do Carmo, which you should follow until the intersection. Turn left onto Rua Professor Vicente José de Carvalho.

(2) Walk along the Cordoaria garden. It is also possible to stroll through it. Continue along the road towards the cathedral.

(3) Take the time to visit the cathedral, then take Rua Tareija Vaz de Altaro to reach Avenida Dom Afonso Henriques. Walk up the avenue.

(4) Sao Bento station is on the left. Take the time to admire the azulejos that adorn the building, true works of art that trace the history of Portugal. Then, return to Dom Afonso Henriques Avenue and continue until the second intersection on the right, Rua de 31 Janeiro. Continue along this street.

(5) The walk leads to the Igreja Paroquial de Santo Ildefonso (Church of Saint Ildefonso). This remarkable religious building is located on Praça da Batalha, in the heart of Porto. It replaces an old medieval chapel known as "Santo Alifon" which was in ruins. Once you have finished your visit, take Rua de Santa Catarina to the intersection. Turn left onto Rua de Passos Manuel and then left again ontoRua de Sà da Bandeira. After a few metres, take Rua de Sampaio Bruno to reach Praça da Liberdadde (S/E).

It is necessary to prepare for the walk in order to fully enjoy all it has to offer. To do so, remember to:

• Comfortable shoes are essential (significant elevation gain)

• Reservations are required for the Lello bookshop and recommended for the Clérigos Tower

• Cash is necessary: many establishments do not accept cards

The city of Porto is safe, but beware of pickpockets in tourist areas.

Also, bread, olives and water are not free in restaurants (local tradition).

In the immediate vicinity of this walk, several iconic sites enrich the heritage experience in the heart of Porto.

The Capela das Almas, located on Santa Catarina Street, stands out for its façade covered with more than 15,000 blue and white azulejos depicting major religious scenes.

Nearby, the Café Majestic is a remarkable example of Porto's Art Nouveau style and the Belle Époque atmosphere of the early 20th century.

In the cathedral district, the Museum of Stained Glass, the only museum in Iberia exclusively dedicated to this art form, offers a unique insight into glasswork.

Heading down towards the Ribeira district, the Palácio da Bolsa dazzles with its opulent salons, notably the sumptuous Arab Room inspired by the Alhambra, while the Igreja São Francisco impresses with its Baroque gold ornamentation.

Near São Bento station, the Mercado do Bolhão, which you can find out all about on the Bonjour Porto website, perpetuates the authenticity of a historic popular market, offering regional products and local specialities.