The Clérigos Tower is the tall granite bell tower that rises above Porto’s old centre, finished in 1763 to designs by the Italian architect Nicolau Nasoni. You climb 225 steps to a 360° view over Porto, the Douro and Vila Nova de Gaia. A day ticket covers the tower, the museum and the church, and costs €10 (as of October 2026). It is open every day of the year from 9:00, with later evening opening at Easter, in summer and at Christmas. Allow about an hour.
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Tickets and tours for Clérigos Tower
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Why the Clérigos Tower matters
The tower belongs to the Brotherhood of the Clérigos (Irmandade dos Clérigos), a charitable brotherhood of clergy that still runs the whole complex. The brotherhood first built a church on the site: the project was approved in December 1731, the foundations were laid in April 1732 and the building was finished in 1749. The tower came next, built from 1754 and completed in July 1763. At the same time the brotherhood built its house and an infirmary between the church and the tower.
All of it is the work of Nicolau Nasoni, an Italian painter and architect who settled in Porto and shaped much of its Baroque look. The brotherhood describes the church as his first documented architectural project in the city. The tower is about 75 metres high, with six floors, and is still the landmark you navigate by in the old town. It stands inside the historic centre that UNESCO listed as a World Heritage Site in 1996.
What you’ll see
The church
Nasoni’s Baroque church is where most visits begin. Look for the two pipe organs, built at the same time in 1774, with consoles of marble framed by elaborate mouldings. Every day at 12:00 there is a short organ concert of about 30 minutes; on Wednesdays it is also streamed live on the tower’s Facebook page.
The museum
The brotherhood’s rooms hold its art collection: paintings, furniture, sculpture, textiles and silver and gold work, much of it by Porto goldsmiths, from the 13th to the 21st century, with most pieces from the 17th and 18th centuries. Exhibits also tell the story of the brotherhood and of Nasoni himself.
The climb and the view
The 225 steps wind up through the tower in narrow stone stairways, past the bells, to a balcony that runs right round the top. From there you see the two cities on either side of the Douro: the cathedral, the Ribeira rooftops and the bridges on one side, and the port wine lodges of Gaia across the river. The balcony is narrow, so at busy times you’ll move round it slowly with everyone else.
How to visit
Hours and prices from the official Torre dos Clérigos website, as of October 2026:
- Hours: every day, 9:00–19:00. Last entry is always 30 minutes before closing. On 24 and 31 December it closes at 14:00, and on 25 December and 1 January it opens 11:00–19:00.
- Evening opening: at Easter, in summer and at Christmas the tower stays open until 23:00. The 2026 summer season, “Clérigos by Night”, runs from 3 July to 11 October, 19:00–23:00, with last entry at 22:30.
- Day ticket (tower, museum and church): €10. Students €7 with ID. Children up to 10 free.
- Night ticket: €5, children up to 10 free (only on the special evening dates).
- Discounts and free entry: Porto Card holders get 50% off the day ticket. Visitors with a certified disability of 60% or more go free, and their companion pays half.
- Combined tickets: Clérigos + Palácio da Bolsa + MMIPO museum €25; Clérigos + Serralves €27.20.
- Booking: tickets are sold online through the official shop and at the ticket office on Rua de São Filipe de Nery.
How long to allow and when to go
Plan about an hour: 20–30 minutes in the church and museum, and the rest on the climb and at the top. Come at 9:00 or in the late afternoon to share the balcony with fewer people. Time it with the noon organ concert if you like music. On summer evenings the night ticket costs half the price and gives you the city lit up below, which is a lovely way to end a day in Porto.
Accessibility
The church and museum can be visited by people with limited mobility, according to the official site. The tower itself is stairs only. For visitors who can’t climb, there is a multisensory area that recreates the experience of the tower, and services for visitors with hearing or developmental disabilities.
Getting there
The tower is at the top of Rua dos Clérigos, in the middle of Porto’s sightseeing area. The nearest metro stops are São Bento and Aliados on the yellow line (D), and Trindade is about 15 minutes away on foot. São Bento train station is about a 10-minute walk. STCP buses 200, 300, 305, 507, 600, 601, 602 and 703 stop nearby. The streets around are steep, so arriving from Aliados or Cordoaria saves some uphill walking.
Combine it with
Livraria Lello is around the corner, so book a Lello slot just before or after the tower. Walk down past São Bento station to the cathedral, then on to the Palácio da Bolsa and the riverfront, and cross the Dom Luís I bridge to Gaia. For the rest of the city, see our Porto travel guide.
Clérigos Tower FAQ
How many steps does the Clérigos Tower have?
225, according to the brotherhood that runs it. The stairs are narrow and winding, and there is no lift.
How much does the Clérigos Tower cost?
€10 for the day ticket (tower, museum and church) as of October 2026, €7 for students and free for children up to 10. Evening tickets on special dates cost €5.
Is the Clérigos Tower open at night?
Only in season: at Easter, in summer and at Christmas it opens until 23:00. In 2026 the summer evenings run from 3 July to 11 October.
Do I need to book in advance?
It isn’t required, as there is a ticket office on site, but booking online helps on summer days and at weekends.
Who designed the Clérigos Tower?
Nicolau Nasoni, an Italian architect who worked in Porto. The tower was built between 1754 and 1763, next to the church he had designed for the Brotherhood of the Clérigos.