PONTE DA ARRABIDA

Porto is known as the city of bridges and one of the top things to do in Porto Portugal is to visit the Ponte da Arrábida which is an arch bridge located over the River Douro. This bridge connects the city of Porto to Vila Nova de Gaia. The bridge was built in 1963 as a solution to the road traffic between these two cities.

The bridge has a six-lane roadway which is 82 feet wide and 170 feet above the river. The length of the river is 493 meters and the most beautiful part of the bridge is the reinforced concrete arch which is 270 meters long. This arch was also considered the largest in the world when it was completed. The arch has two parallel hollow ribs which are 8 meters wide and are connected by longitudinal and transverse bracing.

When thinking of what to do in Porto, head over to this iconic bridge and climb 213 feet to reach the top of the bridge. In 2016, the bridge opened up for pedestrians and tourists to climb up the bridge and enjoy strolling across the pathway. You can witness the spectacular views of the city and look at the cruises passing by below in the river.

Highlights

• A haven for architecture lovers, to witness the amazing engineering and architecture at the Ponte da Arrábida bridge
• The arch which is 270 meters long was once the longest in the world when it was built.
• Go on a bridge climb with your friends and climb 262 steps to reach the top of the bridge.
• Witness the 76 pillars and the large four pillars located near the main supports of the bridge and the smaller pillars located along the exterior surfaces.