Serra do Pilar Monastery stands across the Douro river, just to the left when you cross the iconic Dom Luis bridge. It's visible from almost everywhere in Porto standing dramatically on top of the cliff. Portugal has many monasteries which are absolutely stunning, however this is not the case with this one. This one is one of those which is better from outside than inside. There's a small fee of 2 Euros to enter it, but after seeing others it is pretty underwhelming and in need of restoration. Contrary to that the views of Porto town across are the absolute best.

A must visit place in your visit to Porto. We took the cable car from the other end and landed near it. Then walked up to see the gorgeous views of the bridge, river and Porto. We loved it so much that we visited again the next day to watch sunset. The garden view as you walk up is also lovely. And the place gets lighted up at night. The monastery as such was closed when we went but the views were well worth the trek up the incline. There is also a metro station nearby. And lots of places to eat nearby.

Don’t visit: despite the name and what you likely expect, the visit does NOT include the church itself, only the cloister (a picture will show you most of what there is to see - it’s circular) and a video (not even about the cloister but other places in Portugal, and o l’y in Portuguese). Climb up for the nice view, but avoid the “monastery” itself.

Monastery was closed when I arrive but the views from up there is well worth the long walk uphill. Maybe comeback in the evening to take pictures of sundown.

A beautiful monastery at the highest point above the hill garden. For the most gorgeous views of the city and the Bridge. There is 180 degrees view of the city. Recommended at and after sunset for the best clicks.

Real great views from here especially during sunset + you get music especially from the park across the street 🎸

Very nice Monastery The Monastery of Serra do Pilar is a former monastery located in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal, on the opposite side of the Douro River from Porto. The monastery is situated on an outcrop overlooking the Dom Luís I Bridge and the historic centre of Porto.

The ticket is 2€ but the church is closed is really nice but you can see everything in 10 minutes maximum.

I recommend to visit this place during night time. Lights around create beatiful scenery and you also have great view on the bridge and old town.

Good view on Porto There is available 2 options - museum and church.Ticket to the museum costs 2 euro, but museum is not interesting. There nothing to see. You can see the church only at certain time. Ticket costs 4 euro.

Honestly, do not go inside the monastery since there's literally nothing to see. However, I would definitely go there to enjoy the view of the city from outside the monastery. The view is incredible, especially at night!

During Napoleon first invasion of Portugal, in 1809, the monastery was occupied by Wellington troops, to prepare the attack of the Portuguese troops to Porto, at the time occupied by the French army. Later, during the city siege, between 1832 and 1833, it was the only spot outside the city that the Liberal army managed to maintain, to help the siege population of the city. Once the war ended, the building had to be rebuilt, given its poor state of preservation, created by the constant attacks it sustained. Today, the Monastery of Serra do Pilar is part of the Oporto and Gaia Historic Centre, listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.- source Porto Liberal

Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar. Schönes Bauwerk über der Stadt. Ein toller Ausblick auf das Valley. Sonnenuntergänge werden hier gerne beobachtet. Der Platz füllt sich rasend schnell. Sehr gut. Daumen hoch. 👍🏼 hat es ja

Good panoramic view of Porto & Gaia. Came in with an Uber from Porto, took 7 mins to Gaia.

The monastery itself is temporarily closed but the outdoor area is free to access. And it has one of the most amazing views of Porto and a beautiful sunset. I visited on a Saturday eve, but it was still relatively empty and not many tourists. So spent an hour enjoying the sunset view😍 Must visit!

(Translated by Google) Excellent place to photograph the sunset and for those who want to have a wide view of the city of Porto. (Original) Excelente local para fotografar o pôr do sol e para quem quiser ter uma vista ampla para a cidade do Porto.

Best view of Porto, on day time or on night time, not very crowded. When the weather good is, you can sit on the grass and chill. Loved that place

We paid to come on the tour, which was only four people. Really didn't seem too popular, but could have just been the day. The whole area was build in the 1500s, and the tour guide pointed out how interesting it is for that era that the cloister was build in a circle shape. There is an active military base on behind, using up most of the area. We actually had someone from the military escort our tour group up to the roof of the dome. It was a spectacular view of the city from up there, and I would recommend it for the quietness.

(Translated by Google) The Serra do Pilar Monastery is located on an elevation with the same name, in Gaia, where you can enjoy a beautiful panorama of the Luís I Bridge and the Historic Center of Porto. The Monastery belonged to the Order of Friars of Saint Augustine and dates from the year 1538. The set incorporated successive changes during its long period of construction, having already been inaugurated in the course of the 17th century. It is a significant example of classical architecture, with a predominance Renaissance and Mannerist styles. It should be noted the circular design of the Church and the Cloister, both with the same dimension. Today it is a religious, cultural and military space. It is a National Monument and is also part of the World Heritage of UNESCO. (Original) O Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar está situado numa elevação com o mesmo nome, em Gaia , donde se desfruta um belo panorama sobre a Ponte Luís I e o Centro Histórico do Porto. O Mosteiro pertenceu à Ordem dos Frades de Santo Agostinho e data do ano de 1538. O conjunto incorporou sucessivas alterações durante o seu longo período de construção , tendo sido inaugurado já no decurso do século XVII. É um significativo exemplar da arquitectura clássica, com predominância dos estilos Renascentista e Maneirista. É de salientar o desenho circular da Igreja e do Claustro , ambos com a mesma dimensão. Actualmente é um espaço religioso, cultural e militar. É Monumento Nacional e integra também o Património Mundial da Unesco.

The Views of Porto and Ponte Luiz I are amazing. The Monasterio itself is essentially closed except for a small section. However, the Views from the terrace are worth a visit

beautiful city

(Translated by Google) A unique place where we can enjoy a view over its big cities, after a visit to the monastery of Serra do Pilar. (Original) Um local ímpar aonde podemos desfrutar de uma Vista sobre suas grandes cidades, depois de uma visita ao mosteiro da Serra do Pilar.

Nice location and views, it has a bit of a hill to climb to get there. In all honestly I've no idea what it is, but it's only €2 to enter and there's not much inside or explanation. Probably 5 mins of your time to have a quick look around. I should have probably Googled it!

Once you cross the bridge from Porto to Gaia make sure you visite this historical and beautiful monastery, the view from there is also breathtaking.

Be aware this is currently closed to visits. The patio is open and is great for photos both in front of the monastery and over the river. There are also tuk tuks and ice cream vendors available at the top. If you’re looking for a great view of the river, I would recommend this spot and then walk under the cable car down to the river.

(Translated by Google) Superb view of the Ribeira and the Douro, especially the sunset (Original) Superbe vue de la Ribeira et du Douro, notamment le coucher du soleil

Well worth taking the guided tour to see inside the church and climb to the top (103 steps)

Unique building structure and apparently this is also one of the UNESCO sites. In the evening it looks nice from the outside

Awesome aerial view of the Luis Bridge. Wait for the train and take a photo that looks like it’s been taken by a drone. Great view of Porto as well. Beautiful view by day, enchanting view at night.

Climb 350m from Light rail station to see Porto beautiful view.

Fantastic place to visit in Porto. Monastery is closed to public, but it situated on top of the hill and the are great views from viewpoint. It is very popular tourist attraction. Metro station is JARDIM DO MORRO, line D. Must visit place in Porto.

The church is currently closed so it's really only the great view from the square in front of it that makes the visit worth it - I recommend going at sunset Until they reopen properly don't bother paying 2 euros for a 2 minute stroll around the cloister. BEWARE that there is absolutely no information on the website that the church is currently closed so you'll have to make the trek up to the monastery to find out the current situation!

Good place to visit when in Porto. Evening lighting are amazing. Very accessible via metro.

The view from the top of the hill is amazing. Worth a climb up even though you don’t plan to visit the monastery.

Very beautiful place so visit, especially during sunset. Awesome view there too.

Beautiful sight and vantage point. Worth the climb!

We could not visit the monastery itself but this location provides stunning views of Porto, riverwalk areas. If you are lucky, you can also see stunning sunsets. A lot of people gather here and the park across to view the sunsets.

Nice place, full of history, good to wait for the sunset. Check the videons on my youtube channel @avhdrones: https://youtu.be/3Hw1DUWschs?si=_RfubDLF4O7m7Keo

You can no longer visit the inside of the monastery (you can pay 2€ to watch a movie and a court, not worth it), the view is still nice from up there.

Beautiful place! We’ve been here at night, it’s amazing!

(Translated by Google) Inserted in the area classified since December 1996 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar, symbol of Gaia, preserves an interesting church and the cloister, with a circular plan, unique in Portugal. The church, also characterized by a circular shape, is a replica of the church of Santa Maria della Rotonda (Pantheon), in Rome, with a hemispherical vault. It was built in 1538 by the masters Diogo de Castilho and João de Ruão for the Regular Canons of Sant’Agostino. It took 72 years to complete, due to the lack of money of the canons and the political situation of the time: the kingdom of Portugal had in fact been conquered by neighboring Spain and the place renamed with the name of a Spanish saint, Nossa Senhora do Pilar. In 1832, during the siege of Porto, the military value of the place became evident and the convent was transformed into an improvised fortress. It became an army barracks at the beginning of the twentieth century and today houses the Serra do Pilar Artillery Regiment. Inside, some carved and gilded wooden altars stand out, with Solomonic columns, and eighteenth-century polychrome wooden sculptures, including those of Sant’Eulalia, Santa Apollonia and Sant’Agostino. In front of the church there is a magnificent viewpoint over the city of Porto and the Douro river. (Original) Inserito nell’area classificata dal dicembre 1996 Patrimonio Mondiale dell’UNESCO, il Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar, simbolo di Gaia, conserva un’interessante chiesa e il chiostro, a pianta circolare, esemplare unico in Portogallo. La chiesa, caratterizzata anch’essa da una forma circolare, è una replica della chiesa di Santa Maria della Rotonda (Pantheon), a Roma, con volta semisferica. Fu costruita nel 1538 dai mastri Diogo de Castilho e João de Ruão per i Canonici Regolari di Sant’Agostino. Ci vollero 72 anni perché fosse conclusa, a causa della mancanza di denaro dei canonici e alla situazione politica dell’epoca: il regno del Portogallo era stato infatti conquistato dalla vicina Spagna e il luogo ribattezzato con il nome di una santa spagnola, Nossa Senhora do Pilar. Nel 1832, durante l’Assedio di Porto, il valore militare del luogo divenne evidente e il convento fu trasformato in fortezza improvvisata. Divenuto caserma dell’esercito all’inizio del Novecento, oggi accoglie il Reggimento di Artiglieria della Serra do Pilar. All’interno, spiccano alcune ancone di legno intagliato e dorato, con colonne salomoniche, e le sculture di legno policromo settecentesche, tra cui quelle di Sant’Eulalia, Santa Apollonia e Sant’Agostino. Di fronte alla chiesa si apre un magnifico belvedere sulla città di Porto e sul fiume Douro.

I would highly recommend for the amazing night view over Douro River

(Translated by Google) The bridge and the river can be seen at a glance and the night view is amazing. (Original) 다리랑 강이 한눈에 보이고 야경이 짱입니다

Not worth the 2€ entry fee today as there was very little to see. An impressive building from the outside and would like to have seen much more inside.

(Translated by Google) Beautiful views over Porto (Original) Piękne widoki na Porto

(Translated by Google) The views are very nice but you can only visit the cloister and it costs 2 euros. It was nothing special. (Original) Las vistas son muy bonitas pero sólo se puede visitar el claustro y cuesta 2 euros.No fue nada especial.

Such a beautiful place

(Translated by Google) The monastery is very beautiful, but the one that is worth climbing to the top is the best view of the banks of the Duero River, the Don Luis I bridge and the Barrio de la Ribera. An unmissable place of your visit to Porto (Original) El monasterio es muy bonito, pero la que vale la pena subir hasta la cima es la mejor vista de los margenes del Río Duero, el puente Don Luis I y el Barrio de la Ribera. Un lugar imperdible de tu visita a Oporto

(Translated by Google) Spectacular structure in its beauty. Too bad you can not enter. The building belongs to the army. Why does Portugal need an army? Who are its enemies? Amazing view from above, at night the building is bright and looks even more spectacular than daylight. (Original) מבנה מרהיב ביופיו. חבל שאי אפשר להיכנס. המבנה שייך לצבא. למה פורטוגל צריכה צבא ?, מי האוייבים שלה ?. נוף מדהים מלמעלה, בלילה המבנה מואר ונראה מרהיב עוד יותר מבאור יום.

(Translated by Google) Nice view .. (Original) Bela Vista ..

(Translated by Google) Worthy of being visited and with a lot of history ... (Original) Digno de ser visitado e com muito história...

(Translated by Google) Fabulous (Original) Fabuloso

(Translated by Google) The best view of the river on the Porto side and Vila Nova de Gaia. The Douro River embraces both banks. View under the D. Luís Bridge. An inspiring view of the city! (Original) A melhor vista da ribeira do lado do Porto e de Vila Nova de Gaia. O Rio Douro abraça ambas as margens. Vista sob a Ponte D. Luís. Uma visão da cidade inspiradora!

(Translated by Google) Exceptional viewpoint, literally. (Original) Excepcional miradouro, literalmente.

(Translated by Google) Gorgeous!!! (Original) Lindo!!!

(Translated by Google) Wonderful view (Original) Vista maravilhosa 😊

A must-visit place in Porto. We easy to get there by subway, great view a nice places to hang out

Nice Views Looks fantastic lit up at night.

A 4 euro complete tour takes you to church and the balcony on the top.

We went there at 5:45pm,.closing time is 6:30pm, but the area is closed except. cloister, so it's a bit less interesting. Since it is an active military area, there's more vsit restriction than other places, so better go earlier. there was a video for Northern Portugal sightseeing and heritage places, FYI.

Was a monastery but now some part are used for military purposes. Entrance fee is 2€ but there's nothing much to see. Just think of the 2€ as a donation for them to manage / maintain the place. The positive side is: the view from the monastery, overlooking Luis Bridge, it's beautiful!

Fantastic place with an amazing view over the city and the river banks. Truly a must see place while visiting Porto/Gaia.

(Translated by Google) Imposing and full of history! From here, the views are fantastic, but as the photo proves, it's also beautiful to be seen from afar! [ENG] Imposing and full of history! From here, the views are fantastic, but as the photo proves, it is also beautiful to be seen from afar! (Original) Imponente e cheio de história! Do local as vistas são fantásticas, mas como comprova a foto, também é bonito de ser ver de longe! [ENG] Imposing and full of history! From here, the views are fantastic, but as the photo proves, it is also beautiful to be seen from afar!

(Translated by Google) It's worth the visit! Lots of embedded history! (Original) Vale a pena a visita! Muita história embarcada!

🌟💫

(Translated by Google) It is really nice to see the Moro Park and walk around at sunset. (Original) 모로공원있다가 해질 때 쯤에 슬슬 걸어가다 보이는 풍경도 정말 좋은데 올라가서 보는 풍경도 정말 이뻐요.

(Translated by Google) Essential visit, the views are the best in the city of Porto. You can see all of Porto, the Douro river, the Luis 1 bridge and other bridges. (Original) Visita imprescindible, las vistas son las mejores de la ciudad de oporto. Se ve todo oporto, el rio douro, el puente Luis 1 y demas puentes.

(Translated by Google) One of the most stunning views of a wonderful city. (Original) Uma das mais deslumbrantes vistas para a uma cidade maravilhosa.

(Translated by Google) It is a place with an incredible view (Original) É um sítio com uma vista incrível

(Translated by Google) The website said it was open, we walked there for nothing! The view from the bridge is more beautiful than from the monastery. (Original) No site dizia estar aberto, andamos até lá a toa! A vista da ponte é mais bonita do que a do mosteiro.

(Translated by Google) Best photo spot on the old town of Porto. (Original) Bester Fotospot auf die Altstadt von Porto.

The best view from Porto

(Translated by Google) It's prettier to see at night (Original) 밤에보아야 더 이쁘다

(Translated by Google) Super view of the city and the river! Here you can take the best photos of Porto. The view is unbelievable! (Original) Super vyhlídka na město a řeku! Tady si pořídite ty nejhezčí fotky z Porta. Výhled je neskutečný!

(Translated by Google) I recommend the effort to climb, it's worth it! (Original) Recomendo o esforço de subir, vale a pena!

(Translated by Google) Fraud. The € 2 admission ticket only covers the cloisters, which takes a minute to walk around. No entry not only to the monastery, which is a military base, but also to the church itself. Compared to the monasteries of Tomar and Alcobaca, a great example of how to waste a potentially great tourist attraction. The question is how big is Portugal's army and what war is it fought, that the army must occupy a monument in the city center. Overall disappointment like Porto. (Original) Oszustwo. Bilet wstępu za 2 euro obejmuje tylko krużganki, których obejście zajmuje minutę. Brak wstępu nie tylko do klasztoru, który jest bazą wojskową, ale i samego kościoła. W porównaniu z klasztorami w Tomar i Alcobaca znakomity przykład jak zmarnować potencjalnie świetną atrakcję turystyczną. Pytanie jak wielką armię ma Portugalia i jaką wojnę toczy, że wojsko musi zajmować zabytek w centrum miasta. Ogólnie rozczarowanie jak całe Porto.

(Translated by Google) Very beautiful view over the city of Porto and the Luís I Bridge. You have to go up there on foot. You can't go by car. (Original) Vista muito linda para a cidade do Porto e para a Ponte Luís I. Tem que se subir até lá a pé. Não se pode ir de carro.

(Translated by Google) Beautiful view of the city. (Original) Linda vista da cidade.

(Translated by Google) Beautiful architectural work but not much to see (Original) Belle œuvre architecturale mais pas grand chose a voir

(Translated by Google) The best view of the city of Porto. (Original) A melhor vista para a cidade do Porto.