The beauty of Porto, Portugal will remain ingrained in my memory. The sounds of music in the narrow and windy streets, the lively vibes of the Ribeira, the gorgeous azulejos adorning the building facades. We fell in love with this city so much we couldn’t leave, even despite having a car and planned day trips. We parked our car when we arrived and it didn’t leave the lot until our drive back to Lisbon.
You must not miss this city during your time in Portugal. In this guide we’ll take you through a tour of this beautiful city, highlight the sites to see, where to eat, and much more! It made the perfect ending to our northern Portugal road trip. We also included some suggestions of day trips nearby if you have more time here.
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In This Article
Where to Stay
Where to Eat
Ribeira, Sao Nicolau, Vitória, Ponte Luis I Bridge
Walking Tour: Vitória, Azulejos, Vila Nova de Gaia
Chapel of Souls, Bolhão Market, Igreja de Santo Ildefonso, Rua Santa Catarina, São Bento Station, Rua das Flores
Day Trips from Porto
A Must See City in Portugal
Our beautiful room at Mo House in Porto
Porto is full of so many great choices of where to stay. Since we stayed 3 days we decided to split our time between two different places in order to experience different areas. We also got a good idea of where we’d like to stay on a return trip.
The first few nights we booked a studio at PortoSense Ribeira, conveniently located right in the famous Ribiera, with beautiful views of the Douro river. You’ll wake up to the smells of the water and the sounds of seagulls. It was wonderful being right here where all the action was at night and we conveniently spent our nights hanging out by the riverfront. After closing the windows, the sound was almost nonexistent so our room was more quiet than expected. The room had a kitchen and even a washer, which was a nice bonus. If you want to stay in this area, it’s a perfect choice for any traveler.
The charming street view from our balcony at Mo House
The last night here we stayed at Mo House, a boutique hotel in the historical centre. With gorgeous street or river views, it’s the perfect place to wind down and relax. It’s on a charming narrow street close to many cafes, restaurants and the famous Rua das Flores. The room itself was nicely designed with french doors that opened to a balcony in both rooms. The breakfast was delicious and the entire hotel felt like the perfect mix between old and new. A great choice if you want to stay away from the busy Ribeira.
For more hotels in Porto, see here.
Grilled octopus from Taberninha do Manel
Portugal has such delicious food, it’s hard to choose where to eat. Here’s a list of where we ate, and a few other suggestions as well.
Stop by Casa Portuguesa do Pastel de Bacalhau and try their cod cakes with white port wine combo. It’s located right by the Clerigos Tower and makes the perfect on the go snack if you want to maximize your day.
Hungry Biker Cafe is a great healthy/vegan cafe option. Their avocado toast and smoothies were delicious and everything was fresh. Mercador Cafe is another great option, but the wait was quite long when we stopped by. Noshi Coffee is another great healthy cafe, with a similar menu to Hungry Biker if you can’t get a table. If you’re in a rush or looking for a budget option, the Café do Comércio has some tasty pastry options, toasties, and more.
Across the river in Vila Nova de Gaia is a restaurant right by the water called Taberninha Do Manel. Everything we tried here was delicious, especially the octopus. The view by the water was beautiful, especially watching the sunset as we dined.
One of our favorite meals in Portugal was at Taberna dos Mercadores. It’s a very small and cozy intimate space, with just a few tables. Our hotel booked the reservation for us a few days in advance. The salted cod is a must have here! Excellent service and delicious seafood.
Food and Wine Walking Tour
If you’re interested in having a guided foodie experience, this tour is a great way to learn more about the food and culture. It includes a guided tour of the old town, learn about the history of the food and the area, and also plenty of snacks and wine tastings along the way!
The gorgeous view of the Dom Luis I Bridge from across the water
Our entire time in Porto was spent walking around and exploring. We found that not making a defined plan was actually better in the end. Hidden corners and gems were discovered along the way, and not to mention it’s great exercise for all the delicious food you’ll be eating here.
Ribeira is one of the most well known places in Porto. It’s lively, has the most beautiful views, and plenty of little souvenir stands along the water. Most of the restaurants here though are overpriced and not as authentic, so we recommend walking a little further in for food. From here you can also walk across the lower level of the Dom Luis I Bridge which connects to Vila Nova de Gaia. The Funicular Dos Guindais will take you to the top of the bridge to walk across and see views from high above. You can find it at the foot of the bridge and the cost was 2.5 euros one way. On the other side is a viewpoint and perfect spot to watch the sunset.
At night this area comes alive with performers, music, and plenty of outdoor dining. Although touristy, the gorgeous river views and charming buildings make up for it. Since our hotel was right here, we stayed here to hang out until heading back to our room to sleep.
Next up we spent time in Sao Nicolau, one of four districts that’s considered a Unesco World Heritage site. It includes the Ribeira and also the streets immediately behind. We recommend walking along these side streets as they are so much quieter and bursting with charm. There are restaurants, gorgeous churches, cafes, shops and azulejos to admire as you explore.
It’s the perfect place to walk during golden hour. The sun setting over the buildings shines the most pretty rays of light over the cobblestone. There are nooks and crevices with stairways as you walk through. The perfect opportunity to capture some nice photos!
View of the Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Vitória
A few of the churches to see in this area area the Igreja Monumento de São Francisco, Igreja Paroquial de São Nicolau, and Igreja de S. João Novo. You can easily spot them while walking, we even made a custom Google map with all the spots to see. Palácio da Bolsa is also a must see while here, the interiors are just breathtaking!
The funicular by the Dom Luis I Bridge takes you to the Se district. One of the main sites to check out here is the Porto Cathedral, built in the baroque style the 12th century. Blue azulejo tiles cover the walls within the cloister. Nearby are some shops and restaurants in case you need a bite to eat.
After visiting the cathedral you must take the Barredo stairs back down to the Ribeira. They start directly behind the cathedral and the narrow and windy alleyways take you through a series of colorful houses and cozy bars. Along the way down you’ll be rewarded with some amazing views of the river.
The view outside from within the Clerigos Tower while waiting to go up
On our second day in Porto, we spent a great deal of our time in the Vitoria district. Located directly behind Sao Nicolau in the central part of the city, there’s so much to see here. Here are some of the best spots to check out during this walking tour.
This baroque beauty dates all the way back to 1735. The interior of the church definitely shows the ornate details as you’d expect in this style of architecture. Climbing the 200 steps to the top is a must, and the views are incredible. It does get quite hot inside, so try to do it on a cooler day or in the morning. Entrance for the tower is 5 euros.
One of the most famous bookshops in the world, although quite touristy. The gothic style and stunning interior even inspired JK Rowling while writing Harry Potter. You can also see the Harry Potter collection on display here. The inside has beautiful wood paneling and an elegant stairway covered with red carpeting. You can spend all day here browsing the books, and admission even gives you a discount on your purchase. The fee to get in was 5 euros. We recommend going later in the day closer to closing for a shorter line.
A gorgeous medieval church built in 1539, a true architectural wonder. After a fire caused damage in the 18th century, it was renovated and restored. There is a sculpture of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the center at the altar. We briefly stopped by to admire both the inside and outside while exploring.
These two churches are right next to each other and both feature incredible interiors. The churches were built in the 17th century in the late Baroque style. Igreja do Carmo had the blue azulejo tiles added in the 19th century which were made locally. They feature Portuguese scenes from Mount Carmel by artist Silvestre Silvestri. If you’re an architecture lover like us, then you’ll really enjoy seeing these.
The amazing view of Porto from Vila Nova de Gaia
Vila Nova de Gaia is on the other side of the river directly across from Porto. It’s filled with restaurants, shops, and port wine cellars. During a visit here you can book a wine tasting and tour at popular cellars like Cálem, Sandeman, and Graham’s. Afterwards head by the water and admire the view. Or you can ride the cable car, Teleférico de Gaia which you can access after crossing the upper level of the Dom Luis I Bridge.
Bus, River Cruise, & Port Cellar Tour
For those who need a break from walking, this tour gives you two day access to the hop-on hop-off bus. It also includes a river cruise and a guided tour of Calém Wine Cellars, such a great value!
Porto is famous for it’s stunning blue azulejos tiles all over the buildings around the city. This walking tour will feature a few landmarks covered with the tiles which are like works of art on their own. You can view these in any order you choose, as they are all fairly close to one another.
This beautiful little church is located in the Santo Ildefonso district. The building is covered with blue azulejo tiles that depict various religious scenes featuring saints. It’s quite beautiful to see both inside and out, and definitely one of the most photographed buildings in Porto.
The Bolhão Market dates all the way back to the late 1800’s and was used for trading. Now it’s a mecca of locally grown fresh produce, meats, flowers, wine, olives, and other local goodies. Since it was under construction while we were there, it was temporarily in a new location. But we’d love to go back again and visit once it’s complete. If you’re a foodie like us you’ll really enjoy it here.
Another gorgeous baroque church, this one dates all the way back to the 18th century. Over 11,000 azulejo tiles cover the facade featuring various scenes of Saint Ildefonso, hence the name of the church. The tiles were created by Jorge Colaço, the same artist of those at Sao Bento station. The church is located near Batalha Square with areas to sit and relax awhile. Cafe Santiago F is conveniently located nearby if you’re up for trying the famous Francesinha sandwich.
After heading to Bolhão Market, you can continue shopping along the Rua Santa Catarina. It’s one of the largest shopping areas within Porto, and also filled with great restaurants and cafes like the Majestic Cafe. There’s a nice mix of mainstream international shops and local boutiques. It can get quite crowded here, so keep that in mind before you visit.
The gorgeous azulejos within the walls of Sao Bento Station
Yet another beautiful site adorned with the azulejo tiles, this one has over 20,000 of them! The station itself was completed in the early 1900’s, and the tiles by painter Jorge Colaço took over 10 years to complete. The tiles show various scenes from Portuguese history. It’s another UNESCO World Heritage site, and also a National Monument of Portugal. Definitely a must to stop by and see this beauty in person.
Nearby the station is another famous shopping street called the Rua das Flores. The street name means the Road of Flowers, named after the manor homes along the street which used to be filled with beautiful blooming gardens. It now has beautiful traditional homes and plenty of shops to peruse. You will find many boutique artisan shops, souvenir shops, jewelers, cafes and restaurants, as well as street musicians while strolling along here.
If you find yourself staying in Porto longer, or just want a taste of somewhere different there are plenty of great day trip options. Coimbra, a charming medieval town, is just a little over an hour drive away. Aveiro, nicknamed the “Venice of Portugal” is a beautiful coastal city with a series of canals. While here, you can also check out the colorful houses in Costa Nova. Braga and Guimaraes are both less than an hour drive from Porto, and also close to each other. If you love ancient and historic type places, you will love both of these. Although we never ended up taking a day trip, they are definitely on our list for a future visit.
Of course a visit to the Douro Valley is a must while in Portugal. It may be a stretch to do within a day, but definitely makes a perfect weekend trip if you’re using Porto as a base. We ended up staying in Mesao Frio, and taking scenic drives stopping in Pinhao along the way.
Braga and Guimarães Full Day Tour
Braga and Guimarães are two beautiful cities to see. This full day tour includes transportation to both cities, lunch, bottled water and monument fees. A great way to see another part of the country!
Our little violinist playing for the streets of Porto!
As you can see, Porto is a gem of a place filled with rich history and gorgeous architecture. You’ll also get a taste of so many delicious local specialties. It’s truly one-of-a-kind and I’m sure you will adore this city just as much as we did.
Have you been to Porto? If so we’d love to hear about it!
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