Immersive Experience Echoes of Writers at the Grand Hotel Paris

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

• 1

  In the heart of Porto, enter the Grand Hotel Paris, inaugurated in 1877, and travel back in time to the era of cafes, soirées, and the elegance of the Belle Époque. The route begins in the reception, next to the marble staircase, and passes through Writer's Room 017, inspired by Camilo Castelo Branco's room. Here, through a 360-degree virtual reality film, immerse yourself in the universe of Camilo, Eça de Queirós, and other figures connected to the hotel's history. The visit continues through the bar, the old telephone booth, and the breakfast room, ending in the garden. In the end, a Special Offer prolongs the memory of this trip through the Belle Époque.

  1 hour • Admission ticket included
• 2
  Cafe Majestic

  Inaugurated in 1922, Café Majestic is one of the most emblematic Belle Époque spaces in Porto. Despite the economic crisis that marked Portugal, it stood out for its exquisite decoration, furniture, and service, also evoking the spirit of the Crazy Twenties. Since its opening, it has become one of the most iconic spaces in the city and a meeting point for artists, intellectuals, politicians, and visitors, who continue to relive the elegant atmosphere of the Belle Époque there.

  20 minutes • Admission ticket not included
• 3
  Estacao de Sao Bento

  São Bento Station, in the center of Porto, is considered one of the most beautiful railway stations in the world. Designed by the Porto architect Marques da Silva and inaugurated in 1916, it occupies the site where the old Monastery of S. Bento de Avé Maria existed. Its atrium stands out with over 20 thousand tiles by Jorge Colaço, which depict episodes from Portuguese history, Northern traditions, and the evolution of transport.

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 4
  Jardins do Palacio de Cristal

  The Gardens of the Crystal Palace, inaugurated in 1865, are one of the most pleasant spaces in Porto, preserving the romantic spirit and some characteristics of the Belle Époque. With eight hectares, it stands out for exotic species, lakes, caves, winding paths, and the famous peacocks. Designed by landscape architect Émille David, the gardens surrounded the old Crystal Palace, a structure of iron and glass inspired by the Crystal Palace in London. Demolished in 1951, it gave way to the current Rosa Mota Arena, whose dome provides a 360º panoramic view of Porto and the Douro.

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 5
  Museu Nacional Soares dos Reis

  Built in the late 18th century as an aristocratic residence, the palace that today houses the Soares dos Reis National Museum was acquired in 1861 by King D. Pedro V, becoming the official residence of the royal family during their visits to Porto. In 1894, D. Carlos, a Newbie of sport and bicycles, authorized the construction of a velodrome in the palace gardens, named in honor of Queen D. Amélia. Currently, this outdoor space is part of the museum's collection, with stone pieces from old convents, chapels, fountains, and city walls.

  20 minutes • Admission ticket not included
• 6
  Avenida Dos Aliados

  This is the heart of the city! Since 1916, Avenida dos Aliados has become the political, financial, and social center of Porto, hosting institutions such as the City Council, the Bank of Portugal, and various headquarters of newspapers and companies. Created to respond to the city's growth, the avenue was initially named Allied Nations Avenue, in honor of the allied countries in World War I. Its architectural complex, of classical inspiration and marked by monumentality, culminates in the Town Hall, designed with the influence of the English urban planner Barry Parker and completed in 1957.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 7
  Mercado do Bolhao

  The Bolhão Market is one of the most emblematic and iconic spaces in Porto, marked by the movement, the fresh products, and the traditional atmosphere of its vendors. Built in 1839, it was expanded and deeply redeveloped in 1916, giving rise to the iconic building we know today. More recently, it was the target of a new regeneration intervention, which preserved its original elements, such as the tiles and the metal structures. The name Bolhão will originate from the large water bubbles that formed in the marshy grounds before the construction of the market.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 8
  Livraria Lello

  Considered one of the three most beautiful bookstores in the world, Livraria Lello is a true cathedral of knowledge, marked by the Neo-Gothic revivalist style and the spirit of the Belle Époque. Inaugurated in 1906, it stands out for its enormous stained glass and its iconic red staircase, built in cement—an innovative material at the time and one of the first uses of concrete in Portugal. Lello is the successor of Livraria Chardron, founded in 1869 and publisher of authors such as Camilo Castelo Branco and Eça de Queiroz. Its founder, the French Ernesto Chardron, was also, in 1877, one of the founding partners of the Grand Hotel Paris.

  20 minutes • Admission ticket not included

Additional info

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

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