Pretty Porto, Portugal 3+ Day Itinerary🏺
Where to Stay
Porto is a very walkable city, and our short-term rental near Avenida dos Aliados offered a nice, central location for exploring the city. Many visitors opt to stay near the Riberia as well.
Prices can vary depending on the season, and there is a wide range of accommodations to suit individual budgets and preferences.
Make sure to book early for summer, especially if your visit coincides with regional festivals such as Nos Primavera Sound (May or June), Festa de São João (late June), and Porto Wine Fest (July). Here are a few hotel options to consider:
Travel Itineraries
Make the most of 3+ days in Porto and beyond!
💠 Day 1: Start by exploring Porto city highlights.
💠 Day 2: Choose your own adventure to experience more.
💠 Day 3: Venture across the Douro River to Villa Nova de Gaia, the hub of the Port wine industry!
💠 Options to "add on": There's plenty more to explore as well as day trips to nearby towns!
Itinerary Details
Day 1: Porto City Highlights
📍 Start the day by climbing to the top of Torre dos Clérigos (Clerigos Tower). Enjoy the 360-degree views of the city and then grab a refreshment at nearby BASE Porto open-air beer garden.
📍 Continue walking toward Igreja do Carmo and Igreja dos Carmelitas – two churches separated by a very narrow (1 meter wide) house that was inhabited until the 1980s.
📍 Visit the the Sé Cathedral (Porto Cathedral), a National Monument and important religious edifice in the city. It is free to enter the cathedral, and you can also visit the beautiful cloisters for a nominal fee (€3).
📍 Head over to the São Bento Railway Station (not the Metro station) and visit what has been described as one of the most beautiful train stations in the world. Its walls and ceilings are covered with 22,000 painted azulejos tiles depicting Portuguese history
📍 Head to Ribera Square and a view of the Dom Luis Bridge! Proceed downhill via R. de Mouzinho da Silveira or the pedestrian R. das Flores. Once at the bottom, enjoy souvenir shopping and/or a meal with a view of the Douro River and Dom Luis I bridge.
Day 2: Choose Your Own Adventure!
📍 Visit the Bolsa Palace (Palácio da Bolsa), a former stock exchange turned Chamber of Commerce. Built in the neoclassical style, it is a beautiful building located in the Infante D. Henrique Square in the historical center of Porto, designated World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
📍 Experience a guided tour to learn more about Porto. We saw guides offering free tours daily – look for the brightly-colored umbrellas on the plaza at Avenida dos Aliados around 10:30 or 11am - make sure to tip them for their time and efforts!
📍 Another possibility is a short day-cruise on the Douro River. Several companies offer Six Bridges River Cruise experiences, with options like sailing on a replica of a Portuguese Rabela wooden cargo boat or cruising with a fisherman, as well as sunset or daytime sailboat cruise, private tours, etc.
📍 Learn more about Porto and Portugal’s food culture! Several companies offer food tours to include:
Day 3: Villa Nova de Gaia
You can plan ahead by reserving a tour at one of the Port wine houses located across the Douro River from Porto in the separate town of Villa Nova de Gaia. Tours typically last about 20 minutes, followed by several tastings of Port wine.
There are many Port lodges to choose from; however, there are only two that remain wholly Portuguese-owned: Porto Augusto’s and Quintao dos Corvos.
We opted for Augusto’s (~ €15) and had a wonderful tour of the small, family-run operation with our guide Sonja. In addition to the included tastings, you can upgrade to sample older varieties such as the richer and more complex 20 Year Old Tawny. Also, if you make a purchase, you get a partial refund of your tour payment.
To get from Porto to Villa Nova de Gaia on the other side of the river, you can walk or take the Porto Metro across the Dom Luis Bridge. Note that there are two levels of the bridge – the upper level for the Metro and pedestrians, and the lower level for vehicles and pedestrians.
If you cross on the upper level, you will arrive at Jardim do Morro park, with the circular Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar (Monastery of Serra do Pilar) located nearby. It is worth the stroll up to the former monastery if time permits.
Otherwise, you can walk down to the lower level through the park or take the easier and scenic Teleférico de Gaia down to the riverfront lower level (7€ each one-way).
Another option to get across to Villa Nova de Gaia is the Douro River Taxi. It is a quick trip that offers a lovely view from the water of the Dom Luis I bridge, Porto, and Gaia (€3.5 one-way payable onboard).
✳ There are plenty of restaurants and shops to enjoy in Villa Nova de Gaia. You might stop at one of the many restaurants and sip a Porto Tonico made with white Port, tonic, orange peel, cinnamon, and mint garnish.
✳ For a quirky experience, visit the touristy and very cheesy (both literally and figuratively) Pastel de Bacalhau. Sample bacalhau codfish cake with serra cheese filling along with a glass of port with an organ player and chandeliers and all-over red décor.
✳ During the summer months, vendors and buskers line the promenade in Villa Nova de Gaia, which adds to the lively atmosphere of the town.
Wrap up your visit to Villa Nova de Gaia by enjoying the sunset over pretty Porto from several viewpoints! I took the photo above from the Dom Luis I bridge.
This is a popular activity in the warmer summer months, so plan to arrive early to secure your spot! Optimal locations include Jardim do Morro, the Serra do Pilar viewpoint at the Monastery, or the upper level of the Dom Luis I bridge.
Optional "add ons":
There's plenty more to explore as well as day trips to nearby towns!
💠Douro Valley Wine Region
For wine lovers or anyone looking for an enjoyable trip out to the vineyards, a full-day trip to the Douro Valley may be just the ticket!
We did a full-day Douro Valley Wine Tour that included transportation, lunch, river cruise in the wine town of Pinhão, and the opportunity to taste wine at two wine estates. We really enjoyed the experience and learned a lot about this beautiful UNESCO-listed wine region!
💠Day at the Beach
There are several options to choose from for a relaxing beach day!
Matosinhos Beach
Take the bus, Metro, or drive out to family-friendly Matosinhos beach! About a 30-minute ride, it is a large beach with a boardwalk and a nice place for a picnic.
We also saw the nearby She Changes project by American artist Janet Echelman floating over the Cidade Salvador Plaza.
Foz do Douro Beach Area
For a slightly more upscale beach experience, head out to the Foz do Douro seafront area offers eclectic restaurants serving global and Portuguese food as well as the Mercado da Foz local market offering fruits, vegetables, florists, and casual eateries as well as seasonal concerts.
Numerous beaches line the area, including Ingleses Beach for sunbathing/swimming and Praia de Gondarém with its rocky shoreline.
The Pérgola da Foz overlooks the massive rock outcroppings of Praia do Molhe with its massive rock outcroppings.
Picturesque Miradouro da Praia do Homem do Leme viewpoint is lovely as well.
Nature Reserve Douro Estuary
For a little more active beach outing, we rented bikes from Porto Rent-a-Bike for only ~€15 for the full-day rate (must provide ID along with a 50€ refundable deposit).
We crossed the lower level of the Dom Luis I bridge and rode west on the Gaia side of the river.
The route was initially on the road for about 3km , and after making our way through a neighborhood area, we continued another 1km until we reached the Nature Reserve Douro Estuary where we picked up the red marked bike path.
Continue riding for as long or as little as you like along the flat bike path – a very pleasant ride with a well-marked route, beaches, and eateries along the way.
We stopped in at A Mar – Café Bar at Praia de Lavadores beach for drinks and oysters as advertised on their sign board. Very friendly service at the little café long the bike trail overlooking the ocean. While our Portuguese was limited and our server didn’t speak English, she did her best to explain the origins of the Vinho Verde wine we ordered, as well as the special seaweed that topped our oysters to complement the briny flavor – delicious!
Day Trips to Nearby Towns
Consider visiting one or more of the following towns to add to your travel experience in the region!
Where to Eat
Here's a list of my favorite and unique places to eat and drink - enjoy!
Thanks so much for visiting! I hope you found the itineraries and suggestions to be helpful! 😊
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