There’s one week each year when Porto opens its doors to special activities. From September 18 to 27, the European Heritage Days take place—an initiative of the Council of Europe and the European Commission —whose theme for 2026 is “Revive, Resist, Reinvent.”
An anatomy museum with century-old exhibits, a themed tour of the artistic heritage of the F.C. Porto Museum (you can find more information on this page), and a 19th-century irrigation fountain: these are some of the activities already confirmed in Porto, complete with dates, times, and capacity limits.
An anatomy museum, a fountain, and the footprint of the Dragon
Anatomy Museum of the University of Porto’s School of Medicine (Wednesday, the 23rd, at 2:00 p.m.)
The origins of this museum date back to 1825, the year the Royal School of Surgery of Porto was founded. The guided tour highlights anatomical specimens, paintings, and drawings—some over a century old—and reservations, with priority booking, are limited to 15 participants per hour.
Artistic Footprint of the Dragon, FC Porto Museum (Wednesday, the 23rd):
According to the official website, the tour—led by the FC Porto Museum’s Educational Department—integrates the club’s world into this year’s edition of the Days, offering a fresh perspective on the “Dragão” universe: that of the artistic heritage surrounding the complex. According to the same source, participation is limited to holders of a Tour FC Porto ticket; the event has capacity limits, and advance registration is recommended.
Fonte Filipe (Sunday, the 20th, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.):
One of the most unusual tours on the list: an exploration of the city’s water heritage, centered on the irrigation and milling system of this historic fountain, as part of Águas do Porto’s program on Parque das Águas and the city’s historic fountains.
U.Porto’s “Treasures” in the Spotlight
These activities are part of the official program for the event at the University of Porto and in collaboration with other local organizations. Check the website for participation requirements before you go, as some may require prior registration:
- U.Porto Rector’s Office — Wednesday, the 23rd, at 5:30 p.m.: guided tour “The University and the City: Memory, Resistance, and Reinvention,” in the year marking the 30th anniversary of Porto’s designation as a World Heritage Site;
- U.Porto Rectory (arcades) — Tuesday, the 22nd, at 5 p.m.: a guided tour led by sculptor Hélder de Carvalho of the exhibition “Faces, Words, and the City”;
- Porto Planetarium —Wednesday, the 23rd, at 3 p.m.: “From the Sun to the Stars: The Legacy of Astronomy in Time Measurement” session, free admission;
- U.Porto Botanical Garden — Tuesday, the 22nd, at 10 a.m.: “Hands in the Soil” gardening activity, for adults and families;
- Natural History and Science Museum — Tuesday, the 22nd, at 3 p.m.: guided tour of the “Maravilhário” exhibition;
- Natural History and Science Museum — Friday, the 25th, at 2 p.m.: “Herborizing” workshop, featuring plants collected in the 1950s and 1960s;
- Marques da Silva Foundation — Friday, the 18th, at 6 p.m.: presentation of the book “A Escrita do Porto: os Anos do Inquérito” (The Writing of Porto: The Years of the Inquiry), with author Eduardo Fernandes;
- Marques da Silva Foundation —throughout the entire festival: the exhibitions “Marques da Silva: Portrait of an Architect” (permanent), “What If?…” and “Frontispice / Precipice” (temporary).
Registration: spaces are limited
The complete schedule, with filters by day, municipality, and free activities, is available on the Cultural Heritage portal.
Tours with limited capacity sell out quickly —the one at the Anatomy Museum, with only 15 spots per hour, is one of the most competitive.
In general, always check the official website of each organization for schedules, participation requirements, and registration details, as the program is subject to change.
Editor’s Note: Article corrected and/or updated at 4:56 p.m. on September 15, 2026
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