I am a serial planner and much to my boyfriend's amusement will take it so far that I read nearly every review on a restaurant before we go so that I know exactly which dishes are the best to order and best to avoid. We had a marvellous trip to Porto in April 2023, I will spare you of the boring details (timings, walking distance etc) and share with you our highlights from each day
We loved this hotel. It was so hip and reasonably priced. A massive bonus was the record player in the room. You can go down to the library and choose any records you'd like - a truly unique experience.
Amazing hotel, only a 30 minute walk into the centre of the city or a quick metro ride. Perfect for people looking for a buzzy, hip hotel at a reasonable price. We even got to choose our own records from the library and play them on the record player in our room.
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Day 1
Stop 1 - Mercado do Bolhao
We started our day by walking into Porto through Rua Santa Catarina down to the Chapel of Souls (where we stopped for a quick picture) but didn't quite have the artistic ability to capture the glorious building, before arriving at Mercado do Balhoa. Probably a good time to mention this trip was very much centred around eating and drinking. Joyous at the fact 2 euro wine tasting was commencing at 10am we grabbed a glass of wine and wandered around the market. Only stopping for a second, third and fourth glass of wine then picking up some ham and cheese to munch on in the sunshine. Not a bad first breakfast.
A brilliant market! We went here on our first morning at 11am there was 2 euro wine tasting, little packages of cheese and ham, and the perfect place to sit in the sunshine on the stairs. Also a beautiful walk through the main streets to get to the market.
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Stop 2 - Porto Cathedral
Full of wine and cheese we ventured through the city walking past the square and through the outdoor markets up to Porto Cathedral which sat majestically on a hill. The vibes were groovy (for a cathedral) with people playing music, dancing, singing and taking pictures of the view. Although we never entered the cathedral it was a great spot to admire the city.
Although we didn't go inside the Cathedral we did walk up the hill and admire the exteriors. The view from up here was lovely and there were many performers playing live music with people dancing. Lovely place to go and visit even just for the view.
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Stop 3 - Ribeira do Porto
From the cathedral you can choose which winding path to take down to the riverside. This is where you see the colourful houses, amazing structures built on steep hills and feel immersed in Portuguese architecture. It's also where you can take a classic Porto picture in front of many of the coloured bricks. Ribeira do Porto is a bustling riverside where people are outside drinking and jumping into the water. We spent some time sitting by the river watching the boats dock full of tourists.
We then crossed the Dom Luis bridge (which was amazing but I will mention it later on) to the Gaia side of the river which honestly we much preferred. This side was much more relaxed; full of little markets and people picnicking on the grass and wine tasting galore every 5 steps. I originally chose to go to a classic wine cellar but this plan was scrapped as the sun shone above and we decided to stay outside. We found ourselves at the WOW museum - a spectacular rooftop bar experience where you can learn all things wine. There was music, views and a fabulous wine.
Marvellous building in the wine district of Porto. Walk in for free and go for a drink in the rooftop bar, or book wine tasting and immerse yourself in all things wine.
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Stop 5 - Jardim do Morro
This was my highlight of the entire trip. Jardim do Morro is a green oasis on top of a hill where you can see both Gaia and Porto in all their glory. We walked up here with a bottle of wine / tinnies and some crisps. Music was playing and everyone was happy to soak in the final drops of sunshine before the sun slowly submerged behind the bridge.
We spent our first evening in Porto on this hill watching the sunset. With a bottle of wine and crisps in hand we walked up the hill and sat comfortably for 4 hours watching the beautiful sun set behind the Dom Luis bridge.
Gorgeous restaurant. Slightly on the pricier side for Porto but definitely worth it! The food and vibes were imbecile. Would 100% recommend for a special occasion or date night.
Best brunch we had in Porto. Food was amazing, service was quick and it was so reasonably priced. There was a queue outside but we went at 11am on a Sunday so what did we expect. Didn't take long before we were sat down scoffing delicious food on a table in the sunshine.
If you love steak this is a must in Porto. My boyfriend still talks about how this was his favourite steak ever. There are only a few tables so make sure to book in advance. Upon arrival we were given complimentary prosecco, starters and at the end of the meal there were chocolates for the table. The service is incredible and the interior is a dream. Perfect date night location.
I booked Digby for my boyfriend's birthday and it didn't disappoint! The executive menu runs from Monday-Friday at lunch time and includes 3 courses. Views from the top are marvellous!
Rosa Et Al is a trendy guesthouse and restaurant in Porto. We went for brunch and sat outside in the Garden. It was a Monday around 11am and we were the only people there which was heaven. We ordered mimosas and were free to relax anywhere in the garden while our food was prepared. Slightly more expensive than the other places we visited but it was a very relaxing experience and the food was delish.
Aduela is a bustling bar in Porto. The drinks are cheap which of course brings a crowd. Get here early evening to save a table outside and fill yourself with cheap wine, beer and cocktails
The Yeatman is a luxury hotel in Porto where the views are incredible. We went up to the rooftop bar, bought the cheapest bottle of Rose and watched a glorious sunset over Porto.
On our final day we went up to Terrace Lounge on the roof of Espaço Porto Cruz. It was our favourite drinking spot by far! Staff were super friendly and you can order cocktails by the jug. Fabulous views, music and service.
I booked the Sailing360 sunset sailing trip for my boyfriend's birthday. We were the only two on the boat and were served Prosecco and Tapas. It was a wonderful experience seeing Porto from the water as the sun went down.
