Porto-Leixoes (Oporto, Portugal)

Leixoes is one of Portugal's largest seaports. The port is man-made (on Europe's Atlantic coast) and located approx 4 km (2,5 mi) north of the mouth of Douro River (close to Oporto / Porto City). Leixoes is Oporto's seaport as a sandbar prevents the city to have its own deepwater harbor waterway.

Following the COVID crisis, in 2022, Port Leixoes (locode PTLEI) had a record year for cruise shipping. A total of 112 ship calls (108,626 passengers) were handled at Porto Cruise Terminal's two facilities. For comparison, in 2019 were handled 101 ship calls. The cruise port's total gross tonnage/ship volumes in 2022 also recorded (6+ million GT tons, or +56% over 2019 and +33% over 2018). Of the 2022's 112 cruise ship calls, 22 were maiden (first-time visits) and 6 were turnarounds/roundtrips.

In 2023, the Port had booked 138 cruise ship berthings (eventually received 116) and expected ~180,000 passengers (eventually handled 148,889). Of all cruise calls, 14 were maiden and 4 were roundtrips. The passenger numbers showed a 37% growth (over 2022) and +27% (over 2018/the Port’s previous record year). Most cruise tourists were from the UK (44%), followed by the USA (23%), Germany (18%), Canada (5%), and Australia (~2%).

In 2024-H1, Porto Cruise Terminal received 71 cruise ship calls and 73,341 passengers (+27% in calls and +10% in passenger numbers over 2023-H1). In 2024, the cruise port received 152 ship calls (including 15 maiden/first-time visits and 6 turnarounds/roundtrips) and 196,000+ passengers. Reporting a record year, the numbers represented 32% increase in passengers and 31% rise in ship calls. Most tourists were from the UK (34%), followed by the USA (24%) and Germany (23%). The average ship volume/gross tonnage at Leixoes grew 28% (8,9 million GT).

Oporto is Portugal's second-largest city (after the capital Lisbon, which is also the country's principal port) and one of Iberia's largest urban areas.  The city is located on the banks of the Douro River, in the Costa Verde area - rich in history, ancient monuments, vast beaches and pine forests. The city has total area 41 km2 (16 mi2) and population around 240,000 (urban ~1,3 million, metro ~1,8 million).

From Port Leixoes, cruise ship tourists can visit Costa Verde and Braga (the country's religious capital) to see the cathedral and Bom Jesus do Monte Sanctuary. Another popular attraction is Guimeres - the ancient capital and the birthplace of Portugal's first king (Afonso I The Conqueror, 1106-1185, reign 1128-1139).

Oporto's main sights are Se do Porto (12th-century cathedral), Museu de Arte Contemporanea de Serralves (art museum containing some of Portugal's finest masterpieces), Igreja de São Francisco (Saint Francis Church/15th-century, with interior covered in 18th-century carvings), and Palacio da Bolsa (Stock Exchange with impressive Moorish hall). Tourists should try a visit inland to Costa Verde's heart to see the historic Braga and the shrine of Bom Jesus. Guimeres, the ancient capital and birthplace of Portugal's first king is also worth a visit.

Oporto's main sights include the Se do Porto (12th-century cathedral), Museu de Arte Contemporanea de Serralves (art museum containing some of Portugal's finest masterpieces), Igreja de Sao Francisco (13th-century church, with an interior covered in 18th-century carvings), and Palacio da Bolsa (Stock Exchange with impressive Moorish hall). Visitors must visit Costa Verde's heart to see the historic Braga City, Bom Jesus (Catholic shrine in Tenoes) and Guimeres (the ancient capital and birthplace of Portugal's first king Afonso Henriques).

The history of Porto City (fka Portucale) dates as far back as the 8th century BC. During the 11th century, it was presented to Henrique (Count of Portugal between 1066-1112) as the dowry of Princess Teresa. Later, it was renamed Porto and the town became a base of Portugal's shipping fleet, resulting in its maritime and wealth power.

On May 24, 2017, here was hosted the "Porto and Douro Cruise Forum" event. It brought together national and international cruise shipping industry professionals, travel agencies, auxiliary industries representatives, tour operators, as well as hotel-, restaurant- and shop owners which all benefit from Douro River cruise ship tourism.. The event was organised by "Cruises News Media Group".

For the 1st half of 2017, Port Leixoes reported a record 29% increase in cruise ship visits and 64% in cruise passengers over 2016. Between January and June 2017, the cruise port handled a total of 45 vessels (including 6 maiden calls) and 40,917 passengers. The majority of tourists were from Germany, UK, USA and Japan.

Porto-Leixoes cruise terminal