The first port of call on our Celebrity Apex adventure was the charming city of Porto.
What can you do with a day when visiting on a cruise?
We found Porto is best explored in a day via Gaia cable car → Dom Luís I Bridge → riverside → return by Uber. Cost: ~ €20 per person
A short walk or complementary shuttle bus from the ship gets you to the sea front with a seemingly endless beach to take a stroll on.
As this was our second time in Porto, we ventured out to the city on our own, taking a 25 minute Uber ride to the Gaia cable car. By pre-booking the tickets before our departure, this allowed us to skip the line and venture up to the Dom Luís I Bridge. A return ticket in 2026 costs €10 per adult.
After a short journey we were at the top and ready to take in the views from the Dom Luís I Bridge, across the Douro river. After stopping for all important photos it was time to venture across the bridge, stopping briefly to take in the views and allow the trains to pass!
Once we’d crossed the bridge it was a short downhill walk into the main square to view the Camara Municipal do Porto (City Hall) and snap the Porto sign.
Dodging the tram traffic we headed back towards the bridge but detoured to the Sé do Porto and behind here you can see across the river and count the port distilleries in the distance. At that point we decided not use our return trip on the cable car, opting to descend down the steep steps where we would be back down by the riverside.
However, Porto threw up a lovely distraction for us as we stumbled across a quaint bar called ‘Art and Wine’. The owner kindly explained the different types of port that we could try and we opted for a Tawny port.
After taking our time enjoying the surroundings it was time to carry on our adventure down the steps to the riverside to take in the views from a different perspective.
After a quick time check it was time to start plotting our way back to the ship again taking an Uber which was slightly cheaper as we were the right side of the river this time and dropped us at our starting point back at the beach. We did notice Uber’s and taxi’s heading into the terminal too but we wanted to enjoy a stroll along the prom before heading back onboard to enjoy the stunning Celebrity Apex as we set sail for Lisbon.
FAQ – Porto independent excursion
How do you get from the Porto cruise port to the city centre?
It’s a short walk or a complimentary shuttle from the port to the seafront. From there, an Uber to the Gaia cable car takes about 25 minutes.
Do you need to book the Gaia cable car in advance?
It’s recommended. We pre-booked online to skip the line. A return ticket costs €10 per adult (2026 price).
Is the Gaia cable car worth it in Porto?
Yes. It’s a quick way up to Dom Luís I Bridge with views over the Douro river, and you can walk back down via the steps instead of using the return trip.
Where’s a good spot for a port wine tasting near the Dom Luís I Bridge?
Art and Wine, a small bar near the riverside on the Gaia side, offers tastings — we tried a Tawny port.
| Transport | Time | Cost (€) |
|---|---|---|
| Uber from port to Gaia cable car | 25 minutes | 11 |
| Return Uber to port | 25 minutes | 9 |
| Cable car (Teleférico de Gaia) | 10 minutes | 10 return per adult |
| Total (per adult) | — | 15 |
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