The Palácio da Bolsa is Porto’s 19th-century stock exchange palace, built by the city’s merchants and still the home of the Porto Commercial Association. You can only see it on a guided tour of about 30 minutes (in Portuguese, English, Spanish or French). As of October 2026 a ticket is €14 for adults and €9.50 for students and seniors, and children under 12 go free. The high point is the gilded Arab Room.
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Tickets and tours for Palácio da Bolsa
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What it is and why it matters
In the 1830s, during Portugal’s civil war between liberals and absolutists, a fire destroyed the cloisters of the medieval São Francisco convent beside the river, sparing the church. In 1841 Queen Maria II gave the ruins to Porto’s merchants, whose Commercial Association had been founded in 1834, and in 1842 they began building a stock exchange on the site. The neoclassical building was designed by Joaquim da Costa Lima Júnior. The structure was finished around 1850, but decorating the rooms took until the early 20th century.
The result shows how rich and outward-looking Porto’s port wine and trading families were in the 1800s. It was one of the first buildings in the city with electric light, it has been a National Monument since 1982, and it stands inside Porto’s UNESCO World Heritage area. It is still a working building, used for receptions, conferences and official events. For the rest of the city, see our Porto travel guide.
What you’ll see on the tour
The Hall of Nations
You start in the courtyard where merchants once traded, now covered by an octagonal dome of iron and glass designed by Tomás Soller. Around it are the coats of arms of Portugal and of the countries Porto traded with, 20 in all. The light from the dome makes it the brightest room in the building.
The Noble Staircase
Built in 1868, the grand staircase is lined with sculpted busts by leading Portuguese artists of the time. Look up at the chandeliers too: the palace’s lighting is credited to the sculptor Soares dos Reis.
The formal rooms
The tour passes through the old Courtroom, where commercial disputes were judged, the General Assembly room, and the Golden Room, with period furniture and allegorical paintings.
The Arab Room
The tour ends in the room everyone comes for. Inspired by the Alhambra in Granada, the Arab Room was built between 1862 and 1880 to a design by Gustavo Adolfo Gonçalves e Sousa, and finished on 12 June 1880. Walls and arches are covered with gilded, Moorish-style stucco. It was built as a reception hall to impress visiting heads of state and dignitaries.
Tickets, hours and booking (as of October 2026)
- Visits: guided tours only, about 30 minutes, in Portuguese, English, Spanish or French. There is no free-roaming entry.
- Hours: tours from 9:00, last entry 18:30. On 24 December last entry is 13:00 and on 31 December 16:00. From November to March some services close over lunch, so check winter times when you book.
- Prices: adults €14; students and seniors €9.50 (bring ID); children under 12 free with their parents.
- Booking: online through the official Visit Porto and North booking platform, at the ticket office, or by phone (+351 223 399 013). The online platform does not sell same-day tickets, so book the day before or go early to the ticket office. Online tickets are not refundable unless the palace itself cancels.
- Closures: the palace closes for events at short notice. In autumn 2026 the booking page listed 30 September, 3 October (from 16:00), 10 October (from 16:00) and 24 October. Check the current dates before you go.
- Accessibility: a side entrance with a ramp, a lift suitable for wheelchairs and an accessible toilet.
How long to allow and when to go
The tour itself is about 30 minutes; with the queue and the ticket office, allow an hour. Each slot runs in one language, and in high season (spring, summer and weekends) English and Spanish slots sell out first, so book ahead. Mornings and weekdays are calmer. Porto’s cruise-ship days make the whole Ribeira area busier.
Getting there
The palace is on Rua Ferreira Borges, at the bottom of the hill between the Ribeira quay and Rua das Flores, beside the Infante Dom Henrique garden. It is a 10-minute downhill walk from São Bento station. Historic tram line 1 stops nearby on the riverfront at Infante. Coming back uphill, use the metro at São Bento.
Combine it with
The São Francisco church next door, the surviving part of the convent, has one of Porto’s most lavish gilded baroque interiors and is visited on a separate ticket. From there, walk along the Ribeira quay to the Dom Luís I bridge and cross to the Gaia cellars, or take the six bridges cruise from the quay. The cathedral, São Bento station and Livraria Lello are all within 15 minutes uphill.
Palácio da Bolsa FAQ
Can you visit the Palácio da Bolsa without a tour?
No. Visits are only by guided tour, about 30 minutes long, in Portuguese, English, Spanish or French.
How much does the Palácio da Bolsa cost?
As of October 2026, €14 for adults and €9.50 for students and seniors with ID. Children under 12 go free when with their parents.
Do I need to book the Palácio da Bolsa in advance?
It is wise to in high season. The official online booking does not sell same-day tickets, so book at least the day before, or go early to the ticket office for a same-day slot.
What is the Arab Room?
The palace’s grand reception hall, built between 1862 and 1880 in a Moorish Revival style inspired by the Alhambra, covered in gilded stucco. It is the last and most spectacular room on the tour.
Is the Palácio da Bolsa worth it?
If you like grand interiors and history, yes: in 30 minutes you see how Porto’s merchants displayed their wealth, ending in one of the most striking rooms in Portugal. If you only have one day, put it after the riverfront and the bridge.
Is the Palácio da Bolsa wheelchair accessible?
Yes, mostly. There is a side entrance with a ramp, a wheelchair-suitable lift and an accessible toilet. Call ahead to check the tour route.
Sources
Researched and last reviewed by TravelerCenter on 3 October 2026. Prices, hours, languages and accessibility come from the official Palácio da Bolsa website; booking rules and closure dates from the official Visit Porto and North booking platform; history from the palace and standard references. Prices, tour times and closures change, so check the official pages before you go.
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