Best Day Trips from Porto, Portugal 🍷

Recommended Tours

1) Full day Douro Valley wine & food tour with pick up and drop off in Porto. This day is one of my favorite memories so far spent in Porto!

⭐️ Tip: If you opt for the one hour boat ride down the Douro, communicate with your tour operator in advance. Some of the boat companies (like Magnifico Douro, for example) offer an audio guide via an app that can be downloaded ahead of time (helpful if you do not have unlimited data service while traveling). Don't forget headphones!

Amarante

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One of many stops on the tour

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Sabrosa

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Régua

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Pinhão

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Douro Valley Wine Tour

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2) As soon as I saw the National Geographic video featuring the suspension bridge in Arouca, I immediately added it to my "must do" list. I was able to check it off in March 2022 when my 75 year old Dad came to visit me. We both loved it...proof that it's fun for all ages!!

Arouca

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Suspension bridge and Paiva Walkways Tour

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DIY Options

1) Self-guided Day in Pinhao

There is a 2 hour 17 minute InterRegional (IR) train from Porto that leaves at 9:20am and arrives in Pinhao at 11:37am. In my experience, these trains are hardly ever on time, so keep that in mind when making plans. I booked a timed tour and wine tasting at Quinta do Bomfim, which is a short walk from the train station. From there, I just walked around the area and across the bridge. There are other wineries close by, but I just enjoyed the slower pace to my day. I ate lunch at Writer's Place, which was sort of a hidden gem with a gorgeous view of the river from their backyard garden. They serve lunch from noon-3:30pm, so plan accordingly. You could also opt to take a one hour boat tour down the Douro from here (check www.magnificodouro.pt to book online). I caught the 6:14pm train back, and arrived in Porto at 8:30pm. Check up to date train schedules at www.cp.pt.

Don't feel intimidated by a DIY trip! It's not as difficult as it may seem at first, and a great choice if you are on a budget. 

Tip: The train goes right along the Douro for most of the journey, so choose your seat wisely! My advice is to sit on the right side (passenger side for most) to get the best views along the way. Also, try to sit close to the front of the train, near the conductor. As I mentioned, these trains tend to run behind. So if you are in one of the last carriages, it is sometimes difficult to tell where you are stopping each time. I resorted to following myself on Google maps, because I almost got off a few stops too soon!

Pinhão

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Quinta do Bonfim

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Writer's Place

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Great spot for lunch. Beautiful outdoor garden in the back that offers stunning views of the Douro!

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2) An Afternoon in Aveiro

Aveiro is another easy train ride from Porto (about and hour and 15 minutes), and can easily be enjoyed in a day. I left in the morning, spent about 5 hours exploring, and was back in Porto by sunset.

Aveiro

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Often called the "Venice of Portugal" (which I'm not sure I entirely agree with), Aveiro is a charming Portuguese town that shouldn't be missed!

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Need more inspiration?

⬇️ Check out my other Portugal guides below! ⬇️

Christie | Adventures of Cricket

Eat, Drink & Be Merry in Porto, Portugal

Over the last 2 years, I have spent three and a half months in Porto, Portugal. That's a ton of meals! 😆 I love trying new foods and restaurants, and here are some of my favorite spots in and around the historic center of Porto! Most of these places I've just found in my research over the years, some I've been lucky enough to just stumble on, and others have been suggested to me by the locals I have met along the way. But most importantly, I've actually been to every one of these places personally (some more than once!). I've tried to provide a mix of budget, moderately priced and a few splurge meals. I hope my personal recommendations can help you plan your culinary journey around Porto! What's included in this guide: 🔹9 Coffee/brunch options 🔹19 Lunch/dinner options 🔹3 Dessert options 🔹9 Bar/nightlife/cocktail options 🔹3 Food/drink related activities

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Christie | Adventures of Cricket

The Trash Art of Bordalo II

One man's trash is another man's treasure 💙 Artur Bordalo, also known as Bordalo II (pronounced Bordalo Segundo), was born in 1987 in Lisbon, Portugal. He is famous for using street garbage and discarded materials to create stunning animal sculptures. His underlying message is about excessive consumerism and waste, pollution and all types of endangered species. His works, which can be found all over the world, are referred to as "trash art." This free guide includes: 🔹52 art installations of Bordalo II in & around Portugal, broken down by region 🔹Interactive map with tagged locations (use the map icon below to toggle between the guide and full map) 🔹All but a few are found outdoors (some are in restaurants as noted), and free of charge to view! This is not an exhaustive list by any means, and not all of his pieces are permanent exhibits. But hopefully it will help you keep your eyes open for Bordalo's work while traveling around Portugal. His art pieces are really unique and I hope you enjoy spotting them in the wild as much as I do! If this guide was helpful and you'd be interested to see more like this in the future, please let me know in the comments below! Thanks for supporting my work! 🫶🏻💙

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Christie | Adventures of Cricket

Essential Guide to Porto: A mix of must-see spots and less-traveled local favorites

Porto is my favorite city in Portugal (and quite possibly my favorite city in Europe). I've spent over 3 months here in the last two years, which has given me the unique opportunity to fully experience all Porto has to offer. But I also know what it's like to only have two or three days to try to see & do it all, and why I have created this guide for you. I've highlighted all the best spots, and added in some local favorites, to help you maximize your time in this incredibly vibrant city! Rather than have a rigid, scheduled checklist of places, I've tried to group locations together that would make sense if walking around the city. If you start the day where I've suggested, you'll have many options along the way from start to finish. Use the map icon to toggle between the guide and the map, or use the directions tab in each location description to link you to directly to Google maps. This guide includes: 🔹Suggested sites and activities for 3 days in Porto, thoughtfully & geographically grouped together to help maximize your time in the city. 🔹A mix of the "typical" spots to see, as well as some less-traveled places to add something different & unique to your experience. 🔹Tips and insights given are from my own personal experiences from spending over 3 months in this amazing city. This is not just a generic laundry list of an itinerary! And obviously you'll take lunch, wine (!!) and dinner breaks along the way. I didn't include restaurant options here, as I have an entire guide on just food! You will definitely want to check it out, so I'll link it below! ⬇️

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Itinerary

Happy travels!

Make sure to follow me ➡️ @adventures.of.cricket on Instagram. I'd love to connect with you and see pictures from your travels!