You have seen Ribeira, Luis I Bridge, Clérigos Tower and have tasted Porto's cholesterol bomb (Francesinha). Now let us take you beyond the tourist attractions for a taste of the real Porto with our Downtown & Bolhão Market Food Tour.
The Downtown & Bolhão Market Food Tour is the longest-running food tour in Porto and how we started as a company - it's our baby. It is a tour about present-day Porto and how it has adapted to the 21st century.
It focuses on the beating heart of the city - the Baixa area and our iconic Bolhão Market -, offering a deep dive into these two landmarks that have always been what make Porto tick. The Downtown & Bolhão Market Food Tour showcases classics, yes, but in modern settings - what the younger generation of entrepreneurs have made for themselves and the city.
Expect to taste the lesser-known flavors of Porto and the north of Portugal, and to meet the real Porto, the one that we experience every day and that most travelers rarely see (or taste). Don't expect to find famous dishes like “Francesinha” or “Pastéis de Nata”. We're all about introducing travelers to foods and wines they won't easily find on their own, like the amazing “pataniscas” (so fluffy you could nap on them) and a variety of wines beyond the famous Port wine.
Speaking of wine, this tour pays tribute to the culture of small-scale producers and includes a mini-trip into four different Portuguese wine regions without breaking a sweat (hot days excluded).
Think of it as taking a walk with a friend. You'll visit 8 unique tasting locations and, at each one, you will taste an important element of the cuisine of Porto and the North of Portugal. You will also learn about the families and the history behind each of the restaurants, cafes, and specialty food shops that you visit. In between tasting locations, you will hear about the history, architecture, and culture of the area while you walk around the charming streets of the city.
We also make a brief stop to show you the location of the old Jewish Quarter and address that community's contribution to the rise of Porto as a commercial hotspot. But if you’d like to know more about the Jewish Heritage in Porto, you should book our Private Jewish Heritage Walking Tour instead.
We know that Traditional Portuguese gastronomy can be a little difficult to navigate when it comes to the so-called special dietary requirements. With that in mind, we've designed our Downtown & Bolhão Market Food Tour in a way that allows us to accommodate most requirements so that a larger amount of travelers can participate and enjoy. We've worked diligently with our partners on this mission to bring Portuguese gastronomy into the XXI century, and we continue to search together for alternatives that are enticing, adequate, delicious, and still reflective of the local traditions.
Secure your spot today, because tickets tend to vanish faster than a plate of freshly baked pastries.
Downtown Porto & Bolhão Market tour ticket price
Adult ticket: 85€
Children under 13 years old: 45€
12 Reasons Why People Love this Food Tour in Porto
3.5 hours guided walking tour in Downtown Porto
Small group tour
A visit to 8 unique family-run tasting locations
A hand-selected tasting menu: 11 food tastings (a perfect balance of sweet and savory) and 5 beverage tastings
Great insight into Porto's food, history, architecture, and culture
A wine tasting chosen by a wine expert
A visit to the bustling Bolhão Food Market
A passionate and experienced, English-speaking, local guide
An exclusive Porto Free Guide where we point out the best places to eat, drink or visit in town
Personalized tips and recommendations for the remainder of your stay in Porto
Unique access to an online show cooking class
A charitable donation to a local NGO that helps the homeless people in Porto
Good to know
Tours run daily. Monday to Saturday at 10:00 am and 4:00 pm
All tastings listed below are included in the price
Please advise of any dietary restrictions on booking. We can accommodate some food restrictions on this Downtown & Bolhão Market Food Tour: Vegetarians, Pescatarians, No Pork, No Beef, Gluten or Dairy intolerants, No Nuts, Coriander or Cilantro intolerants, Shellfish Allergies, No alcohol
If you choose non-alcoholic options, please understand that we cannot ensure the cultural significance of the provided beverages
There is a difference between an adult fare and a child fare because we believe in the importance of family vacations and want to motivate parents to travel with teenage kids. Even though your child's ticket may cost a bit less, mini guests won't have smaller portions of food
Babies and toddlers are welcome to join in and not take part in the tastings, but their attendance must be communicated for logistics and insurance purposes
Tours are for all age groups. Make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes and prepare to stand for an hour at the Bolhão Market
Experiences happen rain or shine
Restrooms are available during the tour
The distance walked is 3 km/1.9 miles
Bring good shoes and an appetite
The tour starting point is located a short 3 min walk from Bolhão metro station (exact location provided with tickets)
Pickup not included
All our tours are run in English but we can provide Portuguese or Spanish speaking guides upon request, for closed groups. Feel free to ask us about this and more at [email protected]
Advanced purchase of tickets is required: we don't accept walk-ins
Tickets must be purchased by 8:00 pm WEST the night before
Confirmation will be received at the time of booking
If you'd like to upgrade to a Premium Drink Package, we invite you to request a Private Downtown & Bolhão Market Food Tour. Please contact us for more details at [email protected]
Peace of mind policy
Let's imagine that you are unable to make the tour. Can you have a refund? The answer is yes.
Cancellation requests submitted until 72h before the tour start will be fully refunded (minus the processing fees);
Cancellation requests submitted between 72h and 24h before the tour start will be refunded in 80% of the total purchase value (minus the processing fees);
Cancellation requests submitted 24h or less before the tour start are not eligible for any refund.
Refunds can only be processed back to the original credit or debit card used in the purchase. Processing fees: 1.5% + 0.25€ for European Union cards and 3.25% + 0.25€ for non-European Union cards.
As part of our "Peace Of Mind Policy", the first two cases listed above are eligible to be converted into Gift Cards. These are issued with the same purchase value, free of processing fees penalty, and two-year validity. They can be used and topped up for any Taste Porto product. They can be redeemed by the customer or regifted.
We've worked hard on making this a 5-star Food Tour. Secure your spot today, because tickets tend to vanish faster than a plate of freshly baked pastries.