What to do in Porto in 3 days

Welcome to the port wine country! Porto is often compared with Lisbon but unfairly, given how different each of the cities are, with their own distinct character. While Lisbon has more tourist attractions, amazing nightlife, beautiful viewpoints over the large expanse of the city, a lot of bars, cafes, restaurants and a vibrant scene, Porto is more cultural, with an old-world charm, laidback, unique, and memorable. The city is entirely walkable, so you don’t need a public transportation card to cover Porto in 3 days.

Porto is the gateway to the Douro Valley region and while most people just choose to take a cruise on the Douro River starting in Porto, I recommend spending 2 days entirely in soaking in the vibe of the city and sparing the last day for a road-trip to Douro Valley. Also, Potterheads are going to love this city, thanks to the many spots that were inspirations for JK Rowling while she was working on the beloved series.

Recommended place to stay in Porto: Oporto City View, Trindade

Day 1: Self-guided walking tour of Porto

Let’s start the self-guided walking tour of Porto by exploring the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ribeira district, known for its colorful houses, narrow streets, and traditional atmosphere. The riverside neighbourhood is the liveliest place in the city, with several riverside restaurants buzzing with people, street performers, traditional typical Portuguese dishes, and lots of port wine. Just walking along the quay or sitting at one of the eateries is an experience. As you walk on the riverside, you’ll come across sights such as Church of São Francisco, the most representative gothic monument of Porto. You can enter the church for a quick tour at a price of 7.50€ or simply enjoy the architecture from the outside. Another monument you’ll come across is the Palácio da Bolsa.

Continue walking towards Miradouro da Vitória (be prepared for an uphill climb), one of the best (and free) viewpoints in Porto. The view over the Ribeira from here is magical, you can see the Dom Luis bridge, the Se Cathedral and Bishop's Palace all stand out above the patchwork of terracotta roofs below. From here, continue towards Livraria Lello, disputedly known to be one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world, and J.K Rowling’s inspiration to Hogwarts library. Whether that’s true or not is a mystery, nevertheless, the architecture and the grandeur of the bookstore deserves a visit for sure. The marvelous stairway and the wooden walls are very exquisite, and weather you’re a reader or not, you’ll love how Instagrammable this place is! There’s always a queue to enter this bookstore so make sure to book your ticket (no, the entry is not free) beforehand online to ease your visit.

Right outside Livraria Lello, you will find several patio cafes where you can grab a quick drink or bite on a hot day, before you proceed on your self-guided walking tour of the city. One of the things you’ll notice while walking in Porto are the azulejo (blue and white ceramic) facades. While these aren’t uncommon to find, certain specific buildings are worth looking for, if you wish to see more of these colorful facades. From Livraria Lello, walk towards São Bento Train Station, known for its striking Renaissance architecture. Not only does the façade stand to impress but also the interiors - walls and ceilings covered with 22 thousand azulejos. Continue walking towards Rua de Santa Catarina, a pedestrian walkway for shopping, home to some of the high-end brands and expensive but gorgeous cafes. Right before you enter the street, you will see yet another 18^th century monument famous for its azulejo façade, Church of Saint Ildefonso.

On Rua de Santa Catarina, one of the most photographed places is Café Majestic, famous art nouveau cafe. While the menu is overpriced, it comes with a majestic (true to its name) façade as well as interior. Don’t be surprised if you see several people standing outside only to take some Instagrammable shots.

You’re not too far from Mercado do Bolhão, a traditional Portuguese fruit and vegetable market, a historic icon of Porto. The Beaux Arts-style building is home to traditional fresh produce stalls, tinned fish shops, cheesemongers, and coffee shops, with a variety of gastronomic offerings.

End your day with a sumptuous meal at Bulha Bolhao. You will cross yet another early 20th century monument on your way here, with magnificent blue-and-white tiles, called the Chapel of Souls. End your day in this charming neighborhood before heading back to your accommodation for the night.

Also visiting The Algarve? Read here How to make the most of The Algarve in 2 days.

Day 2: Self-guided walking tour of Gaia and Foz do Douro

Start your second day of Porto in 3 days self-guided tour by visiting one of the grandest monuments of the city, Sé do Porto cathedral. Located in the upper part of the city, the best part of this monument is the views it offers over the city, from a vantage point. While the architecture of the structure itself is quite grand, the square where the cathedral sits steals the show. The cathedral is free to enter.

From the cathedral, take one of the narrow cobbled-stone lanes or stairs down to the river, from where you’ll cross the iconic Luís I Bridge. The double decker bridge allows cars on the lower level and Porto’s metro on the upper level to cross the Douro River. You may choose to walk on either level, on pedestrian paths located on both, and cross over from the historic center of the city to the wine-making region of Gaia. What stands out about this side of the Douro River is the aerial gondola called Teleférico de Gaia. If the idea of fine views over the Douro and Porto excites you, then hop on this short, five-minute journey that runs between the southern end of the Ponte de Dom Luís I and the riverside.

One thing you won’t miss while crossing over from Porto to Gaia is the building with the signs showing Caves Cálem. While it seemed like a tourist trap to us (we preferred visiting the wine cellars in Douro Valley instead), many people speak highly of this experience while visiting Porto in 3 days. The ticket allows you to visit the massive cellars with a guided tour, taste some of their exquisite port wine and learn about how they’re made, and also experience a Fado show (a traditional musician Portuguese experience). We spent the rest of the day exploring Cais de Gaia, the riverside walkway that offered beautiful views of Porto from the other side, and lined with several cafes and restaurants, sipping on port wine, and enjoying the vibe.

Foz do Douro

If you have extra time and wish to head out of Gaia, one of the things to do is explore Foz do Douro, a quiet, laidback sea-front neighbourhood of Porto. Not very popular amongst the tourists but a favourite amongst the locals, this area is a stark contrast to the crowded and buzzing city center. You could stroll along the coast (Avenida do Brasil), lined with fashionable bars and trendy restaurants, or simply spend some calm time at one of the small beaches such as Praia da Luz. Catch the sunset from Pérgola da Foz, a seaside board walk that stretches all the way from the Praia da Luz north to the Castelo do Queijo. What a beautiful way to end the day!

Visiting the Azores Islands in Portugal? Click here to read The Perfect 3 days in Azores Islands.

Day 3: Day trip to Douro Valley

If you’re doing Porto in 3 days, it’s well worth sparing 1 day for Douro Valley. But if you can, try to spend some more time (an overnight stay in one of the wineries is highly recommended) in this wine region. While you can get to Douro Valley both by train and boat from Porto, I suggest renting a car and driving to allow you the flexibility to take several pitstops to enjoy the gorgeous views along the drive. By road, Douro Valley is only about 1.5 hours from Porto.

Start your day by visiting one of the ‘Quintas’ or wineries. You may visit more than one, but I recommend keeping aside 3-4 hours to visit one in detail rather than hopping from one to another. When I say in detail, what I mean is, take a guided tour to their cellars or even the vineyards, taste some of the best wines they have to offer, learn more about pairing them with foods, and just sit on the terrace with a view of the stunning landscapes of green and golden slopes of the vineyards, with the Douro River running through them.

You will be spoiled for choice when it comes to wineries offering all the above experiences in Douro Valley. The one we chose (and were very happy with the choice) was Quinta do Pôpa, a family-run winery known for its high-quality port wines and table wines. They also have a beautiful property and offer tours and tastings of their wines (in several languages) and a visit to the winery is a great way to get a sense of the traditional wine-making practices of the region. Their terrace offers an excellent view of the valley and if you’re short on time, you could just experience the Flight Tastings with a plate of cheeses, regional sausages, olive oil and olives, homemade sweets, marmalade, and regional bread.

If you wish to winery-hop, some other popular wineries in the area are Quinta de La Rosa and Quinta do Noval. If you’re short on time and only planning to spend the one day, then head towards Pinhão, the capital of Douro Valley, a tiny laidback town with calm, relaxed village vibes and a handful of restaurants, mini-markets, bakeries, cafes, and places to stay.

Note, if you’re at outside of the usual meal hours, most restaurants will be closed. Make sure to grab a bite before the lunch hours are over or you’re likely going to have to buy a sandwich as the mini mart or grocery store.

Pinhão

Why I recommend you visit Pinhão is to take a short 1 or 2-hour river boat trip along the Douro River. As you drive from the wineries towards Pinhao train station, you will cross a bridge over the river and take an immediate left to the starting point of all the boat trips. There are several different companies that operate these trips. The boat trip includes an audio guide that can be accessed from your phone and costs as less as €10 per person (no food or drinks included but you can buy your own and bring them onboard). The views of the wine estates along the river are undeniably spectacular and while you can enjoy similar views as you drive through as well, there’s a very different type of fun in gliding along the river on a laidback cruise.

If you can spend the night in Douro Valley, at either one of the wineries or a lesser expensive accommodation in Pinhao, then do so and you can even enjoy some amazing hikes the next morning. However, If you’re short on time, then return to Porto for the night.