Porto Modern and Contemporary Architecture Private Tour

5.0 (2 reviews) 9 hours Free cancellation Private tour

out of 5

2 reviews

5.0

Music House — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Discover the modern and contemporary architecture of Porto and its surroundings through this unique tourist experience.

In exclusive transportation with a specialized Guide, you can comfortably visit some of the most iconic buildings of the region, such as the House of Music, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Piscinas das Marés, the Casa de Tea da Boa Nova, among others.

Our guided tours are a unique and personalized experience for you to get to know the city’s best architecture and its authors, some of them world-renowned, such as the Portuguese architects Álvaro Siza, Souto de Moura and the Dutch Rem Koolhaas.

On this tour, you can explore and visit in a pleasant pace these buildings from the perspective of an architect, so that you absorb all the knowledge, beauty and uniqueness of each.

Book now and let us show you the fascinating architecture of the amazing Porto region.

If you prefer the shorter tour, check out our 4-hour Private Tour on the platform or contact us.

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At a glance

Duration: 9 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–13
Guide: Portuguese, English, Spanish
Operated by: Latours

Ages: Adults (16–85 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Private transportation
Included: Bottled water
Included: In-vehicle air conditioning: Air-conditioned vehicle

Not included

Not included: Admission fees: Museum of Serralves
Not included: Meals
Not included: Alcoholic Beverages

Itinerary

Casa da Musica

25 min Admission not included

External visit to Casa da Música, a building intended for musical events, opened in 2005. It was designed by renowned Dutch architect and urbanist Rem Koolhaas, winner of the Pritzker Prize in 2000. It quickly became a contemporary icon of the city for the novelty and formal expressiveness of its architecture, helping to place Porto on the international roadmap of culture and tourism.
Stop 2

20 min Admission not included

External visit to the two buildings of the Burgo designed by the renowned Portuguese architect Eduardo Souto de Moura, winner of the prestigious Pritzker Prize in 2011. These buildings stand out for the unusual construction process created by the architect, as well as the office tower of 70 meters, one of the highest in the city.
Museu Serralves

2 hours Admission not included

Optional visit to the Contemporary Art Museum and the Casa de Serralves which are inserted in the area of the Serralves Park, one of the most iconic places in Porto to enjoy art, architecture, culture and nature. The museum, opened in 1999, is the author of the renowned Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza Vieira, winner of the Pritzker Prize in 1992.

In addition to the excellent exhibitions, the visitor can discover the singularity of the various spaces of this magnificent architectural work.

The Casa de Serralves, which belonged to the family of a Conde, is a unique example of the Art Déco architecture of the 30s of the 20th century, having been later integrated into the park area and transformed into a museum house. It was designed by significant names of the time, such as the Portuguese architect Marques da Silva, Charles Siclis, Jacques Émile Ruhlmann, René Lalique and Edgar Brandt. Among other exhibits worth visiting, this house houses the magnificent exhibition of paintings by the famous Spanish painter Juan Miró.
Edificio Vodafone

10 min Admission not included

External visit to the bold office building of the telecommunications company designed by the Portuguese office Barbosa & Guimarães, Arquitetos, after winning an idea contest in 2006 under the motto “VODAFONE LIFE, A LIFE IN MOVEMENT”, whose phrase and architectural work reflect the attitude and philosophy of the company. The building was inaugurated in 2009.
Parque da Cidade

one hour

External visit to the Porto City Park only in case you do not want to visit the Serralves Museum.

This beautiful park is created by Portuguese landscape architect Sidónio Pardal and is the second largest urban park in the country.

In a first phase it was inaugurated in 1993, but the work was only completed in 2002. It consists of a sophisticated landscape with lakes, varied flora and fauna, including the Water Pavilion that you can visit (entry not included).

The park is integrated into the urban mesh of the city with a considerable area that extends to the maritime zone, being a rarity worldwide. It is very frequented by the local population who can enjoy a large green area for leisure or sports.
She Changes (The Anemone)

Passing by

Passage through the magnificent sculpture by American artist Janet Echelman, inaugurated in 2005 and named "She Changes", but locally known as the Anemone.
Casa da Arquitectura - Centro Portugues de Arquitectura

40 min Admission not included

Visit the Casa da Arquitectura or Centro Portuguese de Arquitectura, which is a unique non-profit association in the country created in 2007, with a cultural character dedicated to the dissemination and affirmation of architecture at national and international levels.

In 2017 it reopened in the current building and is a work of rehabilitation of the old facilities of the Real Companhia Velha by the young Portuguese architect Guilherme Machado Vaz.

If you wish, you can enjoy an exhibition in the interior usually linked to the display of projects and models of a renowned architect (entry not included).

The institution’s collection also contains Collections of renowned architects Eduardo Souto de Moura and Paulo Mendes da Rocha, both winners of the prestigious Pritzker Prize.
Piscina das Mares

20 min Admission not included

External visit to the complex of the Piscinas das Marés, which are located by the sea in the outskirts of Porto and were inaugurated in 1966. It is one of the most iconic works of the renowned Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza Vieira.
Stop 9

25 min Admission not included

External visit to Casa de Chá da Boa Nova, opened in 1963, but after rehabilitation, has been operating since 2014 as a two-star Michelin restaurant by a Portuguese chef. It is one of the most emblematic and well-known works of the renowned Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza Vieira from the beginning of his professional career, and is considered one of the best examples of Portuguese modern architecture in the twentieth century.
Stop 10

25 min

External visit to the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Porto, inaugurated in 1994, being internationally known as the "School of Porto" and also attended by students from various parts of the world. It was designed by the renowned Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza Vieira, winner of the Pritzker Prize in 1992.
Mercado Bom Sucesso

20 min

Visit to the iconic building of this ancient municipal market that stands out for its dimensions and modernist architecture, which marked an era in the city.

It was inaugurated in 1952 and designed by order of the City Council of Porto to the office Arquitetos Reunidos as a structural equipment, necessary for the urban development of this area of the city. It functioned as an important market of supply to the population and in 2011 was classified as a monument of public interest, having closed in the same year for works due to the high state of degradation. It was rehabilitated and reopened in 2013 as a commercial gallery, with restaurant and beverage spaces, offices and a hotel. The original trace was kept as much as possible but functionally adapted to the present due to the tourist and hotel growth in the city.

Although meals and drinks are not included, after the end of the tour, you can enjoy the taste spaces for snacks, tapas and drinks with a varied offer.