3 Days in Porto: How to Plan a Perfect Porto Itinerary

Pro-tip: Every single local we met in Porto said something along the lines of “hey, be careful with port” – it’s super easy to drink, it’s 20% alcohol, and it’s full of sugar so the hangovers are awful. You’ve been warned. 

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How Many Days Do You Need in Porto?

For your first trip to Porto, we think three days is ideal.

We had three days, and we felt like it was the right amount of time to get a taste for what makes Porto special (and different from Lisbon, which is where we were coming from). 

You’ll need two days to take in the city’s main highlights, and an extra day to explore the nearby Douro Valley.

Being a relatively small city, it’s possible to pack all of Porto’s main attractions into a day (here’s our guide on how to do Porto in a day). But this will feel rushed. To appreciate the laid-back atmosphere of this historic city, you’ll want at least 48 hours to explore.

Then on your third day, take a day trip to the Douro Valley (we did this tour and absolutely loved it – it was legitimately a top three travel experience of our lives). The Douro Valley is a beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site close to Porto and the birthplace of port wine. 

We highly, highly recommend doing a guided tour (here’s the one we did) where you’ll get to connect with like-minded travelers and learn all about port wine, including touring a vineyard and doing a river cruise on the Douro River.

We did it for my little brother’s birthday, and after spending the next three months exploring Spain and Italy, it is STILL the #1 memory from our trip. 

First, a walking tour will help you get a feel for the city and see many of the major landmarks. You’ll also get to learn about Porto’s complex history, from the Roman and Moorish occupations to the Napoleonic invasions and Portuguese civil war. 

Plus, a tour gives you the opportunity to connect with a local and get valuable insights into the city, such as where to eat and drink, how to get around, and useful tips for seeing the main sights. 

Here are three walking tours in Porto that caught our eye. On our trip, we did this private tour – which we liked a lot – because we had a bigger group and the cost worked out for us.

• Travel Back to Porto’s Roots Tour (3 hours) – A walking tour run by a lovely local couple with a passion for Porto’s history. Carlota and João will take you to explore the oldest parts of the city and share with you their favorite hidden places, stories, and secrets of Porto. You’ll also spend some time enjoying a bica (strong Portuguese espresso coffee) in one of their favorite local cafés where they’ll share more tips and you can ask all the questions you want.
  
  
• The Other Side Hidden Porto Tour (3 hours) – Discover Porto’s major attractions and hidden gems on this half-day walking tour with a local guide. The first part of the tour focuses on Porto’s beautiful ‘azulejos’, the traditional Portuguese tiles, so don’t forget your camera for some great photo ops. The tour also includes a stop to try the best pastel de nata (custard tart) in the city.
  
  
• Be My Guest In Porto Highlights Tour (3 hours) – On this locally run tour, an expert guide will teach you about Porto’s captivating history and architecture while visiting the city’s most important historic landmarks. You’ll pass by sites including the grand Neoclassical City Hall, 12th-century Sé Cathedral, forgotten Serrana café, and the remains of the old city walls. This Porto tour is a great option for history lovers.

Try a Bifana at Conga

After a busy morning walking around the city, you’ll no doubt be hungry and ready for a well-deserved lunch. So it’s time to try your first Portuguese delicacy – the bifana.

A bifana is a traditional Portuguese sandwich consisting of a soft bread roll filled with thin slices of marinated pork and plenty of mustard and piri-piri sauce. No one is quite sure of the origins of the dish, but today the sandwich is one of the most popular fast foods in Portugal.

The bifana is made slightly differently in cafes and restaurants across the country, and there are even some regional variations.

In a traditional bifana, the pork is marinated and cooked in white wine, vinegar, garlic, paprika, and salt. While in the Porto-style bifana, beer and Port wine are added to the mix for a more tangy taste.

So where should you try a bifana in Porto? This is where the benefits of connecting with a local on a walking tour come in! Our tour guide highly recommended that we visit Conga. 

The casual eatery has been open since 1976 when the owner claims to have invented the dish.

Whether this is true or not, we don’t know. But what we can be sure of is that they cook up one of the tastiest pork sandwiches in town. And it will only set you back €2.40. But do expect a line as this is one of Porto’s most popular bifana spots.

Grab a Pastel de Nata for Dessert

If the bifana hasn’t filled you up, round off your lunch with a proper Portuguese dessert – a pastel de nata.

The pastel de nata is a traditional Portuguese egg custard tart, often dusted with cinnamon. The popular sweet pastry was created in the 18th century by Catholic monks in the Jerónimos Monastery just outside Lisbon.

At this time, nuns and monks would use egg whites to starch their clothes. The leftover egg yolks were then used to make cakes and pastries, leading to the creation of the pastel de nata.

You can find tasty pastéis de nata (that’s the plural version) in cafes all over the city. But our favorite was from the famous pastry shop Manteigaria do Porto, conveniently located just a few minutes from Conga.

Here you can watch the fresh natas being made in front of you, before treating yourself to a warm custard tart and strong coffee in preparation for the afternoon ahead.

In Lisbon, Alysha teamed up with Matt’s two brothers to do a mini taste test of the main spots for pastéis de nata. Manteigaria was the clear winner there, and we were happy to find that they also had a Porto location!

Confeitaria do Bolhão is another great spot for pastéis de nata. This historic cafe was founded in 1896 and has kept all of its traditional decor. It’s a stunning spot to sit inside (if you can get a table) and enjoy a freshly made nata.

Climb to the Top of Clérigos Tower

After lunch, it’s time to walk off the pork sandwich and pastel de nata by climbing 240 steps to the top of the Clérigos Tower.

Clérigos Tower is the imposing bell tower of the beautiful Baroque church by the same name. Built in the mid-1700s, the church and its tower are one of the most emblematic monuments in the city. 

The impressive tower stands at 249 feet (76 meters), making it the tallest of its kind in Portugal. It’s pretty difficult to miss Clérigos darting above the rooftops when wandering around Porto.

You’ll have to confront a steep and narrow spiral staircase to reach the top of the tower. But the climb is worth it for the breathtaking 360 views over the city and Douro River from above.

Clérigos Church is free to enter. It costs an additional €6 to climb the tower and visit the Clérigos Museum. The tower is extremely popular and only a certain number of guests can climb it each hour, so it’s best to book your ticket in advance.

Livraria Lello: To Visit or Not to Visit?

The next stop on this itinerary is a slightly controversial one – Livraria Lello Bookshop.

Some people love it, and some hate it. So we’ll leave it entirely up to you whether you choose to visit or not. But to help you decide, here’s what we thought.

Livraria Lello is often described as the most beautiful bookshop in the world. And it’s pretty hard to disagree. Dating back to 1881, the bookshop is famous for its lavish neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau interiors.

Its grand staircases, elaborately carved archways and columns, floor to ceiling bookshelves, and elegant stained-glass skylight are truly a sight to behold.

It was rumored that J.K. Rowling drew inspiration from Livraria Lello when she was in Porto crafting the first drafts of her now-famous books.

The author herself has since debunked this myth. But it’s certainly not difficult to imagine bumping into Hermoine Granger browsing the shelves of the historic bookshop, looking for her next potions book.

So what’s the downside? The bookshop has gained such fame in recent years that it has turned into one giant tourist attraction. 

For a start, there’s always a huge line to enter. We walked past in the morning, midday, and just before closing, and the line was the same at all hours.

You also need to pay an admission fee to go inside. And you can forget about curling up in a corner in silence with a good book. You’ll be fighting your way through countless photoshoots instead.

If you do plan on visiting Livraria Lello, you can buy your ticket in advance online for €5 (you’ll need to pick a date and time slot) or at the entrance on the day for €6. The ticket fee is taken off the price of any books that you buy. 

For what it’s worth, we saw the line around the block and decided it wasn’t worth waiting in line for a couple of hours. But, based on the pictures, it’s certainly a gorgeous space, and had there not been a long line, we would have definitely considered it (and probably done it). 

The fort-like Cathedral was constructed in the 12th century, making it one of the oldest buildings in Porto, and has been renovated several times throughout its history.

Stepping inside, you’ll see the stunning mix of Baroque, Romanesque, and Gothic architectural styles that make the church so unique.

The Cathedral is free to visit, while a ticket to its cloister costs €3. The Gothic cloister is one of the highlights of the church and definitely worth paying for. Dating back to the 14th century, it’s decorated with beautiful blue and white azulejos tiles painted depicting scenes from the Bible.

The impressive bridge was ​​designed by German architect Téophile Seyrig, a disciple of French engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel (the designer of the Eiffel Tower).

When it was completed in 1886, it was the longest spanning metal bridge in the world. Ponte Luis I was an architectural marvel of its time.

The upper level of the bridge carries a metro line and a pedestrian walkway, while the lower level is for cars and pedestrians. If you’re okay with heights, walk along the upper walkway for some fantastic views down the river and over the city skyline.

Graham’s is the port lodge we visited, and we enjoyed the tour and tasting. Graham’s dates back to the 1800s and is one of the most famous names in the industry.

When we came back from Portugal, we actually did a port tasting with friends at home in the US, and we were able to find Graham’s 10 Year Tawny at home (at Trader Joe’s, of all places). 

The reason we chose Graham’s is the fact that the lodge is set a little back from the main tourist area, so it doesn’t get the big crowds the others do.

Plus, it’s up on a hill with great views (though to our disappointment, the tastings are done inside, and the restaurant is the part that has the nice views). 

Tasting and tours are by reservation only. And for real port aficionados, don’t miss the vintage room where you can try some of their rarer ports.

There are countless other great port lodges you can visit on this side of the river. Here are a couple of others:

• Sandeman – A 200 year old port cellar with one of the most impressive and significant wine bottle collections in Europe.
  
  
• Taylor’s – Taylor’s historic cellar is home to a modern museum about the history of port and the house of Taylor’s, and can be explored on an extensive ​​audio-guided visit.
  
  
• Caves Cálem – Calém port lodge not only offers tours of their cellars and museum, but the innovative brand also has a 5D film about port wine production, fado shows, and fantastic port and food pairing sessions.

Walk Back Through Vila Nova de Gaia

After you’ve finished at Churchill’s, complete your day with a walk back through Vila Nova de Gaia. Take some time to explore the neighborhood at your own pace.

A few places you might want to stop include:

• Half Rabbit – A unique piece of modern art depicting a giant rabbit made from trash and repurposed materials. The well-known artwork is a critique of society’s wastefulness.
  
  
• 7g Roaster – If you’re in desperate need of a strong cup of coffee after all of that port, this is where you’ll find some of the best coffee in Porto.
  
  
• Casa Portuguesa do Pastel de Bacalhau – A touristy but fun fast-food spot where you can try pastel do bacalhau (traditional cod cakes) in a beautiful building while listening to live organ music. Skip the port here, there’s better to be had elsewhere.
  
  
• Espaço Porto Cruz – A five-story building on the riverfront that celebrates the history and culture of the port making industry. Each floor has interactive exhibits and games, as well as a tasting room and restaurant. But the highlight is the large rooftop terrace – the best spot in Gaia to watch the sunset over the city with a glass of port.

Located 100km east of Porto, the Douro Valley is home to the many vineyards and wineries that produce port wine. The region is an UNESCO World Heritage Site and the oldest determined (DOC) wine region in the world.

The enchanting vineyard-dotted countryside is also known for its stunning scenery, great hiking routes, and picturesque towns and villages nestled on the banks of the winding Douro River.

One of the most interesting parts of the Douro Valley is the terraced vineyards, which reminded us a lot of coffee farms in Colombia that use the mountainous landscape to their advantage. We’ve never seen that technique used in wine before, and it makes for some pretty spectacular vistas. 

We’d definitely recommend taking an organized tour to the Douro Valley. We did this tour, and it was a highlight of our entire Portugal trip (and our entire three months in Europe, to be honest).

Update for 2024: Two of Alysha’s best friends and Matt’s mom took this tour on their trips to Portugal in 2023, and loved it too!

The tour starts with a drive out to the Douro Valley, stopping at a stunning viewpoint on the way to your first winery. Here you’ll learn about the wine making process and sample some locally produced wines. 

Next, you’ll head to lunch at an old estate, where there’s no shortage of delicious food and wine. Gluten free and vegetarian options are available too. 

After visiting a second winery in the afternoon, you’ll embark on an hour-long cruise along the Douro River with a charismatic captain and plenty of porto tonico (port and tonic) cocktails. The day trip ends with a leisurely ride back to Porto.

But why choose an organized tour over visiting the Douro Valley by yourself? Well, the region is not the easiest place to visit on your own.

It is possible to reach the Douro Valley from Porto by train. A direct line runs to Pocinho, with Peso da Régua and Pinhão being two of the most popular stops.

However, once you arrive in the Douro Valley, the area isn’t particularly well-served by public transportation. Without a car to get around, you’ll only be able to explore the towns and limited surrounding areas. 

The other option is renting a car and driving to the Douro Valley yourself. The biggest downside of this method is that you’ll need a designated driver who won’t get to sample the local wine, and renting a car can be a bit of a hassle. 

You’ll also be missing out on visiting the more off-the-beaten-path vineyards and scenic viewpoints that only local guides know about. And you’ll miss connecting with both the guide, who has a wealth of knowledge about Porto and its port, and like-minded travelers who also love learning and trying new things.

Got More Time in Porto?

If you have more time in Porto, there are plenty of ways to expand on this itinerary. This could be spending more time exploring Porto itself or adding on some additional day trips.

• Palacio da Bolsa – A Neoclassical 19th-century palace built as the headquarters of Associação Comercial do Porto and used to host official state receptions and visiting representatives. The majestic palace is classified as a National Monument and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. When it’s not being used for official business, you can visit the architectural jewel of Porto on a 30 minute guided tour. 
  
  
• Mercado do Bolhão – The city’s large central market is a must-visit for foodies. Porto’s lively market hosts a variety of local traders, selling meat, seafood, fruit and vegetables, dairy products, bread, cakes, and more. You’ll also find a handful of cafes and wine bars if the food is making you a little peckish. The original market dates back to 1914, but it’s recently undergone a huge renovation and will reopen in September 2022 (it was closed when we were there, sadly). 

• Take a Porto Food Tour – Another great option for foodies in Porto is to join a local food tour. This Eat Like a Local Tour takes you to visit some of the city’s most authentic family-run restaurants and small producers to sample delicious local dishes, paired with wine, beer, and port. Or choose this Vintage Food Tour to learn about the revival of Porto’s cuisine and try fresh spins on traditional Portuguese dishes.
  
  
• Beaches to the North – Spend a day relaxing on one of the beautiful sandy beaches to the north of Porto. Praia de Matosinhos, Praia dos Ingleses, and Praia do Molhe are all reachable in around 15 minutes by car or 30 minutes on the metro and bus.
  
  
• Day Trip to Braga – Visit the oldest city in Portugal, with a rich and fascinating history that dates back to Roman times. Braga is known for its many religious buildings, ancient monuments, and beautiful gardens. There’s a direct train between Porto and Braga that takes around an hour each way, so this is an easy day trip to take on your own.
  
  
• Day Trip to Guimarães – Spend a day exploring Portugal’s former capital. The historic city center of Guimarães is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its many well-preserved medieval buildings, including a castle, palace and numerous churches. The direct train from Porto to Guimarães takes just over an hour.

Less Time in Porto?

If you have less time in Porto, here’s how we’d organize your time. 

With One Day in Porto

If you only have one day to explore Porto, we’d suggest condensing the first two days of this itinerary into one. 

Start your day with a walking tour in the morning, grab a bifana and pastel de nata for lunch, then walk across Ponte Luis I Bridge for a port tasting in Gaia. 

Depending on how leisurely you want your time in Gaia to be, you may have time to fit in another attraction in the afternoon, such as climbing the Clérigos Tower or stepping inside the cathedral.

With 2 Days in Porto

This one is easy! With two days in Porto, simply follow the first two days of this itinerary. You can always return another time to explore more of the wider Porto district. 

Getting Around Porto

Porto is a fairly small and compact city. The narrow, winding streets don’t lend themselves well to cars and taxis. 

If you choose to drive around, you’ll spend most of your time stuck in heavy traffic or attempting to navigate confusing one-way systems. Which is why we’d definitely recommend NOT trying to drive in Porto (drop your car off at a parking lot, or find a hotel with parking!). 

Your best bet for getting around Porto is by walking or taking public transport.

Exploring Porto On Foot

Porto is a great city to explore on foot. Most of the main sites and attractions are located just a short distance from each other.

You’ll also get to appreciate the sites along the way and discover charming little alleyways and backstreets that you’d miss by taking other forms of transport. Walking around the scenic streets of Porto is an experience in itself.

The only downside of walking around Porto is that it’s not the flattest city. There are many steep streets and staircases to navigate in the historic center. Make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes. And jump on public transportation if you get tired of walking.

Using Public Transportation in Porto

Porto has an extensive public transportation system operated by the Sociedade de Transportes Colectivos do Porto (STCP) that includes the metro, local buses, and trams. Public transport in Porto is extremely affordable and can get you anywhere you need to go.

• Metro – Porto’s metro system has six lines covering the city and outer suburbs. A single ride starts at €1.20. You’ll need to get an Andante card to travel on the metro.
  
  
• Buses – There are numerous public bus routes all across Porto. The buses also cover some areas on the outskirts of the city that the metro doesn’t reach. A single bus ticket costs €1.85, and you’ll need an Andante card to board. The downside of buses is that you may still end up stuck in infamous Porto traffic.
  
  
• Trams – Vintage tourist trams are a fun and unique way to get around Porto. There are three main routes – Line1, Line18, and Line22 – covering different areas of the city. At €3.50 for a single ticket, the trams are more expensive than the metro or buses. 

Find more information here about public transport in Porto.

The Andante Card

The Andante card is Porto’s public transportation card. You’ll need to purchase an Andante card for €0.60 (refundable) to use the city’s metro and buses. You can buy and top-up your card at the Porto airport and in most metro and train stations.

If you only plan to use public transport once or twice during your stay, you can top up your card and pay for single journeys. But if you’ll be using the metro and buses regularly, there is a good option for you. 

The Andante Tour Card is exclusively for tourists and gets you unlimited access to the metro and buses in all zones. The Andante Tour 1 is valid for 24 hours and costs €7, while the Andante Tour 3 is valid for 72 hours and costs €15. The benefit of the tourist Andante card is that you don’t have to worry about which zone you travel to. Worth noting that this card DOES include the airport journey!

The Porto Card (SPOILER: We Don’t Recommend It)

We’ve seen the Porto Card recommended by other travel bloggers, but when we actually did the math and lined it up with the attractions we recommend visiting, we realized that it’s not really worth getting unless you’re literally going to spend the entirety of your three days running around trying to check off every sight you get a discount on. 

Which is definitely not how we like to travel. 

But, we also recognize that not everyone has the same perspective as us, so let’s talk about what it is and why it might be useful. 

The Porto Card is an alternative to the Andante Tour Card (the one that gives you unlimited rides on public transportation).

The Porto Card gets you unlimited transport on Porto’s metro and buses, PLUS admission discounts and free entry to many of the city’s main museums, monuments, and tours. 

You can buy the Porto Card online, at the airport, or in official tourist offices around the city. 

Here are the costs: 

• 1-day Porto Card – €13 (vs. €7 for the 24 hour Andante Tour Card – you’d need to visit places that give you €6 in discounts for that 24 hour period to make it worth it)
  
  
• 2-day Porto Card – €20
  
  
• 3-day Porto Card – €25 (versus €15 for the 3 day Andante Tour Card – you’d need to visit places that give you €10 in discounts for that 72 hour period to make it worth it)
  
  
• 4-day Porto Card – €33

If you follow the itinerary as written, you’d save €3 on the Clérigos Tower and €1 on the Cathedral (if you do the cloister) with the Porto Card, for a total of €4 in savings.

Even if you added the Palacio da Bolsa to the itinerary (another €2.50 savings), it still wouldn’t be worth getting the 3-day Porto Card over the Andante Card for either one or three days. 

If you want the ability to hop on and off public transportation, go for the Andante Tour card. 

We wouldn’t recommend the Porto Card unless you were planning on doing things not included in this itinerary, such as a river cruise or some of the smaller museums that are included for free.

IMPORTANT: Even if you have an unlimited Andante Card or Porto Card, you still need to validate your card before every journey at the station machines. Not validating your card can result in a hefty fine.

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