Teleférico De Gaia (cable Car)

The Teleférico de Gaia is a short cable car that links the upper level of Vila Nova de Gaia with the riverfront quay, and it gives a quick and easy way to see the Douro and the old centre of Porto from above. The upper station is at the Jardim do Morro, a hillside park beside the upper deck of the Dom Luís I Bridge, close to the Serra do Pilar monastery and a metro stop, and the lower station is on the Cais de Gaia, among the Port wine lodges. The ride covers a distance of several hundred metres, descends sixty metres or so, and takes only a few minutes.

The point of the ride is the view. As the cabin glides above the slope, the whole of the Ribeira and the historic centre of Porto, across the river, comes into sight: the stacked, colourful houses, the cathedral, the Clérigos tower, and the red roofs rising up the hill. Below runs the double-deck iron bridge, with trams on the top level and traffic below, and the quay with its rabelo boats. Looking down on the rows of Port lodges, with their names painted on the roofs, gives an unusual perspective on the wine trade that shaped the area. The effect is strongest at sunset, when the light turns golden and the city glows, and in clear weather the Atlantic is visible in the distance.

The cable car is a practical link as well as a sight. The steep slope between the upper and lower parts of Gaia is tiring to walk, and many visitors use the ride one way and walk the other, or use it to avoid the climb back from a day of wine tasting at the cellars below. Tickets are sold for single trips and returns, and various passes exist, so check the current fares and times on the day. Queues can form in summer, and the service may be suspended in strong wind, so bear in mind that weather can affect operation.

The lower station is next to several of the best-known Port cellars, such as Calem, which offers a tour and tasting, and the quay has cafés and restaurants, making it easy to turn the ride into an afternoon. The Jardim do Morro above is a good place to watch the sunset and also has views over the bridge.

It suits families, couples, photographers, and anyone who wants to see Porto from above without a climb.