Porto is the epitome of picture-perfect European cities. If you are visiting Portugal, you must visit Porto for at least a couple of days to experience the grandeur of the city. Incidentally, in this post you will find out how we spent 2 memorable days enjoying the best of Porto. In case you are visiting Porto for a weekend, this is the perfect itinerary.
Portugal is one of those countries that you see in Postcards and cannot decide if it is real or not. Truthfully, it is one of the prettiest countries I have ever visited with the most amazing landscapes.
We spent 9 days in Portugal. During our trip, we travelled from the northern part to the southern part of the country. Since it was our first visit to the country we decided to touch all the main cities. Incidentally, our first stop was Porto.
Porto is located on the north-western coast of Portugal with some amazing beaches. Also, the city is defined by its lavish riverside (Ribeira). In addition, it hosts some of the most beautifully carved cobblestoned alleyways, intricately made buildings with lavish baroque architecture, unique bridges and of course, its famous port wine. You could lose your way inside the city and end up with a smile on your face. Best of all, it has some wonderful restaurants and shopping streets that are always vibrant with tourists and locals alike.
Best time to visit
Porto is a city that you can visit any time of the year. Luckily, it is not as touristic as the other cities of Portugal.
Summers are usually very hot and not very pleasant for long walks. However, the rest of the year is pretty comfortable to explore the city.
Getting there
Porto has an international airport with connecting flights from Lisbon and the rest of the world. In fact, it is very well connected. Fortunately, there are inexpensive Airport buses and taxis that take you into the city. You could book your bus from here.
There are also local buses that take longer but are cheaper. However, the best option is the train which leaves every 20 minutes from the Airport to the city centre.
Porto in 2 Days
Day 1 - First impression of Porto
Matosinhos Beach
We reached Porto early in the morning and still had some time to check-in. So, we decided to grab some breakfast at a beach called Matosinhos Beach. Luckily, it was quite near the Airport. So, as soon as we got out, we took a cab that cost us 8 Euros.
Luckily, it dropped us right by the beach. Oh boy! What a great beach it was and to think it was not on our list of sights to visit. After that, we enjoyed a lovely breakfast by the beach and spent the entire morning there.
Matosinhos Beach was a widespread beach where many kids and families were relaxing and taking a dip in the bright blue waters. After this, we took a long walk which took us through some picture-perfect places like Anémona and Forte de São Francisco Xavier.
Streets of Porto
Finally, we took a bus and went to the city centre and checked in to our Airbnb. In the evening, we headed out to one of the narrow alleys in our neighbourhood. The streets were bustling with colours and people. Next, we visited the Rua de Santa Catarina which is a famous shopping street full of branded stores as well as stores by local designers and artists. We made sure to buy ourselves some souvenirs in case we could not come back.
In the evening, we wanted to try out this famous sandwich called Francesinha at a famous place called Café Santiago. However, when we reached, we saw a long queue outside. Luckily, there were plenty of other restaurants selling the same sandwich, so we decided to try another place. In fact, it was a very tasty dish that tasted very little like a sandwich but yummy all the same.
Finally, we headed back to our Airbnb as we ended the first of our 2 days in Porto.
Day 2 - Walking Tour of Porto
Igreja de Carmo
We decided to take a walking tour of Porto on this day. Of course, we had already planned our route and it seemed to be promising and scenic. In the morning, we headed out and had some breakfast at a café before heading out to our first stop Igreja de Carmo. Incidentally, the church was very old, decorated with the minute and spectacular blue tiles on its wall.
Livrario Lello
After this, we pointed our Google Maps to Livrario Lello. Incidentally, it is speculated that this is where J.K. Rowling got her inspiration to write Harry Potter. Naturally, tourists flock this place. However, we decided to skip the entry and took a picture from outside. Please note, there is an entry ticket which is available at a café in the corner of the same street.
Clerigos tower, Liberdado square, Sao Bento Railway Station and Porto Cathedral
Next, we made our way to the Clerigos tower. In fact, this is one of the oldest and grandest structures in Porto. It can be seen from almost anywhere in the city.
After this, we made our way to the famous Porto Cathedral. It is a grand and beautiful structure intricately designed with Gothic sculptures. In addition, it is the oldest and most famous cathedral in Porto and a must-visit.
Porto Ribeira and Douro Valley
Finally, we walked towards the much awaited Ribeira and decided to grab some drinks and lunch at one of the riverside restaurants. After we reached the Ribeira, the views were stunning. We relaxed at an outdoor restaurant to enjoy the views while eating.
After a sumptuous lunch, we wanted to cross one of the many bridges of Porto, the Dom Luis. This bridge was built by Gustave Eiffel, the maker of the Eiffel Tower and is one of a kind. As a matter of fact, this bridge has 2 levels and stretches across the Douro river creating an extraordinary structure.
After we crossed the bridge, we reached a viewpoint and a cable car station. We wanted to enjoy the sunset from the cable car. Unfortunately, we arrived a bit later than its opening times. Therefore, we decided to enjoy the sunset from the viewpoint instead. You would never forget the views from here.
To end the day, we took a tram back and grabbed some dinner to have at our Airbnb. Thus, ended our short trip enjoying Porto in 2 days and it was enough to get a flavour of the city. The next day, we were off to Lisbon on an early train.
What to eat
You could have all your meals outside because food is inexpensive and very tasty in Porto.
Where to stay
Porto is a very big city and public transport is good but not the best. I would suggest you to stay inside the city centre and walk to the major sites.
Activities and Budget
Must Do
- Watch a sunset by the river.
- Try one of the port wines from a local shop.
Unique Experience
- Visit the Sao Bento railway station.
- Try the Francesinha sandwich.
Budget
Stay- 50-80 Euros per night
Food- 30 Euros for a meal with drinks for 2
Other expenses- 20-30 Euros excluding souvenirs
You can customize your trip according to your choice because Porto is inexpensive compared to other cities in Europe.
