ValentinaColourful, quirky houses, rooftop bars, wineries, and traditional rabelos sailing along the Douro River… this is what I picture when I think of Porto. There’s no doubt about the particular charm of this city, and the best way to truly soak it all in is with this carefully crafted 4-day Porto itinerary.
Something to bear in mind is that Porto is a city full of contrasts, where grand architecture and glossy tourist hotspots exist alongside more worn-down corners. You can still feel the presence of poverty in parts of the city, yet Porto has also rapidly risen to become Portugal’s second most-visited destination after Lisbon.
But, without further ado, let’s dive into the best things to do in town in 4 days.
Porto Itinerary: Day 1
- Vila Nova de Gaia
- Ribeira & São Bento
- Confeitaria do Bolhão
- Porto Free Walking Tour
- Dinner with Live Fado
Vila Nova de Gaia
Start your Porto adventure with a riverside stroll through Vila Nova de Gaia, famous for its wine cellars, modern vibe, and sweeping views. Although technically a separate city, it feels seamlessly connected to Porto and offers some of the best sunset spots in town.
Snap a selfie with the historic Ribeira district as your backdrop, browse the market stalls, and grab a coffee with a view of the magnificent Dom Luís I Bridge, my personal favourite in Porto.
Ribeira & São Bento
Cross over to Ribeira, the liveliest part of the city. It’s buzzing with street performers, cafés and restaurants. Meander through the cobbled lanes, then make your way to São Bento Station, one of Europe’s most beautiful train stations. Inside, you’ll find over 22,000 hand-painted azulejos, hand-painted ceramic tiles depicting iconic scenes from Portuguese history. The term azulejo comes from the Arabic word for ‘small polished stone’, and it took something like 11 years to finish painting them all.
Lunch at Confeitaria do Bolhão
From there, head to Bolhão and stop for lunch at Confeitaria do Bolhão, just opposite the market. If you’re on a diet, consider this your cheat day; the display of cakes and savoury snacks is impossible to resist. They also serve healthier meals if you wish. This is a more affordable and down-to-earth option compared to the famous (and rather pricey) Majestic Café, where a coffee will set you back €6, and that’s if you’re willing to queue.
🚇 Getting around tip: If you’re staying in Vila Nova de Gaia, hop on the metro at Jardim do Morro and get off at São Bento station — easy and quick.
Free Walking Tour of Porto
Next up? Burn off those pastries with a free Porto walking tour of Porto. We joined one of Porto Walking Tours and had a brilliant time with our guide, Felipe, who was passionate about the city’s art and history. He even sent us an email afterwards full of restaurant tips and hidden spots.
Our tour began at Fonte dos Leões, outside the university, and passed by Torre dos Clérigos and the exterior of Livraria Lello before stopping at a viewpoint perfect for panoramic shots, the Miradouro da Vitória. From there, we explored Praça da Liberdade, São Bento again, and Sé do Porto, the city’s gothic cathedral. The walk ended near Jardim do Morro, which suited us perfectly since our flat was nearby. If it’s a sunny day make sure to stay there for the sunset!
👉 Like most “free” tours, it’s donation-based: well worth a tip if you enjoyed it.
Dinner with Live Fado
Wrap up your first day with dinner at Ofado, one of Porto’s cosiest spots offering live fado music. This traditional style, born in the 19th century, is known for its emotional, nostalgic melodies, often reflecting themes of sea life, longing, and working-class struggles. Ofado is small, smart, and welcoming, with a menu of great Portuguese food and wine. The staff speak several languages and can even arrange a taxi for you at the end of the evening. Book ahead, it fills up fast.
Porto itinerary: Day 2
- Palácio da Bolsa
- Sé Cathedral
- Rua Santa Catarina & Mercado do Bolhão
- Livraria Lello
- Jardim das Oliveiras & Mirajazz Rooftop Bar
Palácio da Bolsa
Don’t miss the chance to visit Palácio da Bolsa, it’s an absolute must-see. Possibly the most beautiful palace in Porto, this stunning neoclassical building (constructed between 1842 and 1910) can only be visited on a guided tour. Unfortunately, you can’t book tickets online; instead, you’ll need to secure your tour slot in person, depending on availability. Tours are offered in several languages: French, Spanish, Portuguese, and English, and they last around 30 minutes: a little short, if you ask me, but definitely worth it. Interesting fact: Gustave Eiffel, yes, that Eiffel, once worked in one of the upstairs offices here, before designing the iconic Maria Pia iron bridge. The highlights of the palace are the glass-domed Pátio das Nações (Hall of Nations), and the jaw-droppingly ornate Salão Árabe, a ballroom decorated in intricate Moorish-style stucco, lavishly gilded with around 18kg of gold.
Sé Cathedral
After your tour, pop across the road to Mercado Ferreira Borges for a quick wander, then make your way to Sé Cathedral, which stands proudly in the heart of the city. Originally built in the 12th century, it features both Romanesque and Gothic elements, with later additions like the rose window and cloister. The cathedral also goes by several names, all paying homage to the Virgin Mary: Santa Maria do Porto, Nossa Senhora do Porto da Eterna Salvação, and Nossa Senhora da Vandoma—the latter being Porto’s patron saint.
As someone who’s seen a fair share of Gothic and Romanesque churches (some of the best, from France to the UK!), I didn’t find this one particularly striking. If you’re short on time, I’d say it’s skippable. That said, entry is very cheap, and if you do go, climbing the tower gives you beautiful views over the city and the Douro, plus you’ll see the classic blue-and-white tiles in the cloister. Just be prepared for a long, slow-moving queue.
Rua Santa Catarina & Mercado do Bolhão
After all those steps, you’ll probably be hungry. Head to Rua de Santa Catarina for a bite to eat, or better yet, check out Mercado do Bolhão, unless it’s Sunday (it’s closed then). You can take the metro to the market, or if you’re heading to Rua Santa Catarina, it’s a 12–15 minute walk via Rua da Cha from the cathedral. Rua Santa Catarina is the city’s main shopping street, full of cafés and pastelarias selling mouthwatering pastries, sandwiches and snacks.
Livraria Lello
It took some convincing for my partner, but I couldn’t not go, as a Harry Potter fan! Our guide had mentioned that mornings are usually busier, so we visited in the afternoon. You’ll need to pre-book tickets, which I thought were quite pricey. However, the ticket price is deducted if you buy a book.
Livraria Lello is an enchanting neo-Gothic building and is often cited as one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world. It’s said to have inspired J.K. Rowling’s descriptions of Flourish and Blotts and the Hogwarts Grand Staircase. Although Rowling later claimed she never visited it (or even knew it existed), I find that hard to believe: how could someone live and work in Porto and never stumble into this magical place? But anyway, let’s not get into that here.
Stepping inside feels like entering another world. Unfortunately, that magical atmosphere is dampened by the crowds: it’s so packed, you’ll struggle to get a decent photo on the iconic staircase.
Wind down at Jardim das Oliveiras & Mirajazz Rooftop Bar
If the sun’s still shining, cross over to Jardim das Oliveiras, just opposite the bookstore. It’s a lovely spot to lie on the grass beneath the olive trees and the Torre dos Clérigos, perhaps with a cocktail from the nearby bar.
If you’re into jazz, head to Mirajazz (Escadas do Caminho Novo, 11). If you’re lucky, you’ll catch some live music on their terrace overlooking the river: a perfect way to unwind.
We wrapped up our second day with dinner in a picturesque little tavern along the river in Vila Nova de Gaia.
Porto itinerary: Day 3
- Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar & Street Art
- Teleférico de Gaia
- Castro: Atelier de Pastéis de Nata
- The Casa Escondida
- Dinner by the river
Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar & Street Art
Time to slow down! I decided to take it easy today and enjoy the quieter side of Porto. While my partner was working remotely, I took the chance to wander around on my own.
I headed to the Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar, an impressive monastery perched above Vila Nova de Gaia. Although the monastery itself is closed to tourists, the panoramic view from the terrace is spectacular: definitely one of the best sunset spots in Porto.
From here, you can wander through the quirky backstreets of Vila Nova de Gaia, hunting for the Metade de Coelho (the Half Rabbit), hidden high streets and tucked-away wine cellars for wine tasting.
Is the Teleférico de Gaia Worth It?
From the monastery, you could also walk to the nearby Teleférico de Gaia (cable car). It offers a slightly different perspective over the city, but be aware: it’s a short ride, just 600 metres, and only lasts around five minutes. At €7 one-way (and it doesn’t even cross the river), I personally didn’t think it was worth it.
Sweet treat stop: Castro Atelier de Pastéis de Nata
Need a sugar fix? I’ve got just the place. Stop by Castro – Atelier de Pastéis de Nata in the Ribeira district. It’s a chic little spot with a marble-topped counter where you can watch the chefs preparing those glorious golden tarts. Honestly, these were the best pastéis de nata I had in Porto. And yes, even the espresso was excellent—spoken like a true Italian, so you can trust me on that!
A little quest to the Casa Escondida
After your snack break, either go shopping or embark on a quirky little quest to uncover one of Porto’s secrets: the Casa Escondida, the Hidden House. Thought to be one of the narrowest houses in the world (just 1.5 metres wide!), it sits between two churches near Torre dos Clérigos and Fonte dos Leões.
From the outside, it looks like one large building, but in fact, it’s two churches: Igreja do Carmo (one of Porto’s azulejo-covered churches) and Igreja dos Carmelitas, with the Hidden House squeezed right between them. Many legends surround this house: one version claims it was built to keep nuns and monks apart; others say it’s just because the churches couldn’t share the same wall, while a third version seems to be purely aesthetic, to fill the gap between the buildings. The house once housed chaplains and artists working on the church interiors.
You can enter Igreja dos Carmelitas for free, but Igreja do Carmo has an entrance fee (set to be €7 from January 2025). While you’re in the area, you might also consider visiting the Torre dos Clérigos, which offers combination tickets to nearby attractions.
Dinner by the river
If the weather’s playing nice, there’s no better way to end the day than dining by the Douro River. We chose Restaurante Muro do Bacalhau, which delivered not just amazing views of the bridge but also some truly lovely food. We shared a tagliere of local cheese and cured meats, followed by a couple of dishes paired with delicious local wine.
Porto itinerary: Day 4
- Igreja de São Francisco & Catacombs
- Francesinha & Porto Eléctrico Tram
- Jardins do Palácio de Cristal
- Dinner on The Beach
- Terrace Lounge 360º
Igreja de São Francisco & Catacombs
I love walking and exploring new cities on foot, so I decided to take a long stroll from our flat in Vila Nova de Gaia to the Igreja de São Francisco. It’s a bit of an odd one—tucked away and unassuming from the outside, with an austere, almost plain stone façade. But step inside and you’re met with a stunning surprise: one of the most opulent Baroque interiors in all of Portugal.
Nearly every surface is blanketed in intricate wood carvings and covered in gold leaf—almost 100kg of it!
The €10 entry ticket includes access to a small but beautifully curated museum of sacred art, as well as the catacombs beneath the church, once the resting place of Porto’s elite. Keep an eye out for works by Nicolau Nasoni (an Italian master who left his mark all over Porto) and local sculptor António Teixeira Lopes.
If I had one complaint, it’s that for the ticket price, they could’ve at least included a brochure or leaflet with a bit more background information.
If you can’t make it in person, there’s also a virtual tour available for the Igreja do Convento de São Francisco.
Francesinha & Porto Eléctrico Tram
Right across from the church, there’s a shaded restaurant where you can try a Francesinha, Porto’s famous sandwich.
It’s also where the charming historic tram Linha 1 stops. This and two other routes are all that remain of Porto’s original tram system. Porto introduced electric trams back in 1895, making it the first city on the Iberian Peninsula to do so. Line 1 (Infante – Passeio Alegre) runs along the northern bank of the Douro River, offering scenic views from the city centre all the way to Foz do Douro. It’s €6 one-way or €8 return, a bit pricey for the distance, but it’s a nostalgic ride after all.
Jardins do Palácio de Cristal
From the Igreja de São Francisco, you can either walk (if you’re up for a long stroll) or take the tram and hop off at the Museu do Carro Eléctrico, then continue on foot to the Jardins do Palácio de Cristal.
It’s a peaceful park with fountains, winding paths, and peacocks and chickens wandering freely. And of course, the views over the Douro are beautiful. There’s a bus stop just outside the park entrance if you want to head back into town afterwards.
Rent a Scooter and Go to the Beach
To finish off your last day in Porto, you could treat yourselves to a romantic dinner by the beach. How to get there? Well, I’m not sure it was the best way, but it was certainly the funniest! We rented electric scooters and zoomed our way across the city.
We had a Bolt scooter station near our flat by Ponte Luís I. All you need is the Bolt app to unlock and ride. Honestly, we had so much fun! My partner looked like a child, absolutely loving every minute of it! It’s quite a long ride to the beach, but a beautiful one. We followed the river all the way to the ocean, along the winding road along the river Douro and its estuary, flooding into the ocean with the breeze in our faces.
There’s a riverside pavement that runs almost all the way to the sea. I wish we’d had more time to walk it, it would’ve been a stunning route on foot too.
Dinner on The Beach
We had dinner at Praia da Luz, a sophisticated beachfront restaurant with a terrace and a large glass-fronted dining room overlooking the Atlantic. Soft lounge music played in the background. It was a bit chilly outside, but we stayed just long enough to finish our meal and watch the sun set over the ocean.
It felt like the perfect ending to our Porto trip. But I couldn’t leave without a bit of a party! So after our dinner, we headed to Terrace Lounge 360º, a beautiful rooftop cocktail bar with a stunning night-time view over Porto and the Dom Luís I Bridge, great music and delicious cocktails. The perfect way to toast our last evening in Porto.
From Praia da Luz, we took a bus back into town: there’s a stop conveniently close to the restaurant, and you can hop on Bus 900 to get to Miragaia.
I haven’t mentioned a boat trip on the Douro River, as we had one planned for our next stop, but if you’re staying longer, a river cruise to the stunning Douro Valley is another brilliant way to experience the region’s beauty.
How Many Days Do You Need to Visit Porto?
Porto, a city to savour, not to rush. Porto isn’t a place to rush through: you must embrace its true essence to appreciate it truly. Sure, it doesn’t have a Colosseum or a Louvre, and yes, you could tick off the main sights in two days. But that’s not really the point.
The charm of Porto lies in its atmosphere, in lingering strolls along the Douro, in watching the sun set from Jardim do Morro or atop the Dom Luís I Bridge. It’s sipping cocktails on a rooftop bar, scootering to the beach, and breathing in the Atlantic breeze over a seafood dinner.
So, how many days do you need to visit Porto? If you’re the kind of traveller who likes to “speed date” a city, two days might do. But four days it’s the sweet spot. In my opinion, a four-day itinerary is the perfect amount of time to get a genuine taste of Porto. You’ll see what’s worth seeing and have time to soak up the essence of the place, all without breaking the bank!
