2 Days in Porto – The Ultimate Itinerary for First Timers

If you’re planning on spending 2 days in Porto, then keep reading!

Our first introduction to Portugal was a 2 days in Porto that launched a 10 day road trip around the country. We absolutely loved our time in Porto and would return in a heartbeat. For a big city, it sure has a small town feel, much like Lisbon. The people and culture are so warm and generous. When coupled with the stunning beauty of the architecture and the city’s history, Porto is an ideal place to visit.

Porto sits in the northwest of Portugal, where the Douro River joins the Atlantic Ocean. It’s a city of hills that kind of cascade down to the river. As a person from hilly San Francisco, I can say that the hills are intense!

Porto is among Europe’s oldest cities and has maintained its medieval alleyways, Baroque churches, historic port wine cellars, and its famous hand painted blue tile facades. Porto is called the Invicta, or the Undefeated City, because of  its resistance to invasion, and has maintained its authentic Portuguese culture for over 2000 years.

Check out this map of all the highlights on your 3 Days in Porto visit.

A 2 Days in Porto Itinerary

Porto photos look too beautiful to be real, and yet when I arrived, I realized it’s even better in person. This itinerary covers the must-see sites while making sure you don’t miss the stuff that makes Porto unforgettable.

Here’s a Little Summary of Porto Neighborhoods

Before we dive in, here’s a quick summary of the city’s neighborhoods, so you have a little idea of where you’re headed. 

• The Historic Center is the UNESCO World Heritage area which includes the Ribeira riverside, the São Bento Station, and the Sé Cathedral. (I found that it was often referred to interchangeably with Ribeira, so – a bit confusing.)
• Ribeira is the district along the riverfront with very colorful buildings, narrow streets, outdoor restaurants, and views of the river and famous Dom Luis I Bridge. We stayed here on a historic, pedestrian-only street in a restored 18th century boutique hotel Pousada Do Porto Rua Das Flores.
• Baixa is considered the downtown area which sits just above the Ribeira neighborhoods. This area is pretty central to most of the main sites and the São Bento train station.
• Vila Nova de Gaia is the city across the river, accessed by the Dom Luis I Bridge. It’s a separate city, but is basically considered part of Porto. This is where all the Port Wine cellars are and the lively riverside restaurants, boat launches, and tram are.
• Bonfim and Santo Ildefonso are residential neighborhoods east of Ribeira, also with beautiful tiled church facades. People say this is worth wandering in, if you have time.
• Foz do Douro is the upscale area of Porto, where the river meets the ocean. Known for impressive mansions, the beach, and great restaurants. Also worth the wander if you have time. 

➡️ Book This Top Rated Porto Walking Tour Here!

Day 1 of Your 2 Days in Porto: Walking Tour of the Historic Center & Ribeira

We try to book a walking tour (preferably a “free” one) whenever we get to a new city. That way, a local expert highlights the most of the significant sites along with the historic fun facts, and some hidden gems. Tours usually meet near the Aliados Avenue and run two to three hours. Tours typically cover the historic center and the attractions I mention below.

If you are doing a DIY tour, then the following order will help. The whole route runs roughly 3 to 4 kilometers depending on how much you wander. Comfortable shoes are non-negotiable!

Day 1 Breakfast
Molete Bread & Breakfast Saint Lazarus
418, Av. de Rodrigues de Freitas 
Freshly baked bread, pastries, and great eggs and coffee.

Walking Tour – Starting at Largo Amor de Perdição

Look for the following 14 sites and more on your Porto Walking Tour.

1. Centro Português de Fotografia (The Portuguese Center of Photography)

📍Campo dos Mártires da Pátria 
In this square which honors one of Portugal’s most beloved writers, Camilo Castelo Branco, is the Portuguese Center of Photography. The building was the former 18th-century House of Correction and Prison.

2. Tribunal da Relação do Porto ( The Courthouse)

📍Palácio da Justiça, Campo dos Mártires da Pátria
At the center of the Judicial square is the courthouse directly adjacent to the former prison.

3. Jardim da Cordoaria (Cordoaria Park)

📍Campo dos Mártires da Pátria
This is the lush and historic garden that borders the prison. Definitely worth a pop in if you have time.

4. Praça de Gomes Teixeira (Fountain of the Lions)

📍Praça de Gomes Teixeira
The Lion Fountain stands in the square where the University of Porto stands. The University building houses a marble floor and beautiful staircase. Famous Fountain of the Lions was initially created to begin the water supply into the city in the 1880’s.

5. Torre dos Clerigos (Clerigos Tower)

📍R. de São Filipe de Nery
Tickets 7 – 10 euros
Porto’s iconic Clerigos Tower is 75 meters tall and was designed by Italian architect Nicolau Nasoni in 1763 as the bell tower for the Brotherhood of the Clerics’ church. At the time it was the tallest building in Portugal.

You can climb the 225 narrow steps to the observation level at the top (we did not do this!) to get a 360-degree panoramic view of Porto. Book your time slot in advance – the staircase is very narrow and the queue can be long. The attached church and museum are worth visiting as well.

6. Iglesia ( Igreja) do Carmo (The Carmelitas Churches)

📍Rua do Carmo, Porto
Daily 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM; Saturdays close at 7PM Admission is Free
These are the two Gothic churches right next to each other separated by the narrowest house in Porto, just over a meter wide, built to separate the two religious orders who occupied each church.

The Igreja do Carmo is the one you’ll really want to look at, because its entire exterior side wall is covered in one of the most spectacular azulejo tile panels in Porto created in 1912 by Silvestre Silvestri. Absolutely one of the best photo ops in the city!

The interior of the Carmo church is ornate Baroque and worth stepping inside briefly. The Carmelitas church next door is older (17th century) and has a simpler, quieter feel.

We paid the small fee to climb up into the narrowest house and onto the roof walk for some views. Honestly, you could pass on this part! I felt a little nervous up there.

7. Livraria Lello

📍Rua das Carmelitas 144
Daily 9AM to 7:30 PM
Tickets: Silver, 10 euros (deductible from book purchase). Gold, 15.95 euros (includes a book).
A few minutes’ walk from the Carmo churches is Livraria Lello, one of the oldest book stores in the world. It is quite gorgeous with hand carved wood, towering book shelves, stained glass skylight, and the famous red staircase that is said to have inspired J.K. Rowling. (She denies this, but come on… she lived in Porto while writing her first HP book…)

OK, so “visiting here “Is it Worth it?” is up for debate. As you approach, you’lll see the very long queue to enter. We had purchased our timed tickets in advance, and thus moved pretty quickly inside when we arrived. The issue is that it was so crawling with people, that it was ridiculous. I would have been sad to miss it, because it’s very special, but if you hate crowds, then just look at some pictures instead!

You must have a timed ticket to enter. Book HERE in advance online, especially in peak season, to avoid long waits. Go early in the morning or late afternoon for thinner crowds.

8. Miradouro da Vitória (Vitória Viewpoint)

📍R. de São Bento da Vitória 11
As you head down the hill, you’ll find that this viewpoint gives you your first real look over the rooftops toward the river and the Dom Luis I Bridge below.

9. Judiaria do Olival (Jewish Quarter)

📍Rua de Santa Ana
The Jews of the 14th century were forced to live in this quarter inside the city walls. While this medieval area has long since been repurposed, you can still see elements of that time and walking tours can offer the historic backdrop for the neighborhood.

➡️ Book This Top Rated Historic Walking Tour in Porto

10. Sé Cathedral (Porto Cathedral)

📍Terreiro da Sé
Daily 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM Tickets €3
Se Catedral do Porto, built in the 12th century, is one of the oldest monuments in Porto. It’s a Romanesque fortress looking church that has been renovated and added to over the centuries.

The interior is quite magnificent with three naves, a vaulted ceiling, and the famous 17th-century silver altarpiece. For a small fee you can visit the Gothic cloister to see beautiful azulejo panels and a staircase leading to another great view. 

11. Igreja de Santo Ildefonso (Church of Saint Ildefonso) 

📍Praça da Batalha s/n
Daily 9AM – 5:30/6:30
The Igreja de Santo Ildefonso built in 1739, is a Baroque style church designed by the Italian artist Nicolau Nasoni. This is another great photo op because of the stunning façade with azulejo tilework from 1932.

12. Estacao de Sao Bento (São Bento Railway Station)

📍Praca Almeida Garrett
Daily 5AM to 1AM
I can’t stress enough how seeing this in photos in no way compares to seeing it in person. While it was crowded with tourists, and some of the tiles were covered in a mesh to protect them, it was still one of those memorable, breathtaking moments of the trip.

The station was built on the site of an old Benedictine convent (São Bento de Ave-Maria) that burned down in 1783. Construction began in 1900 under architect Jose Marques da Silva, and the train station opened in 1916. The exterior is in the French Beaux-Arts in style, but the inside is the real deal.

The main hall is covered, floor to ceiling, in approximately 20,000 hand-painted azulejo tiles, all made between 1905 and 1916 by artist Jorge Colaco. Colaco is known as the father of the azulejo revival in Portugal, and this was his masterpiece. The tile murals tell the story of Portugal from battles, conquests, and the evolution of Portuguese life.

13. Avenida dos Aliados & Câmara Municipal do Porto (City Hall / Main Square)

📍Avenida dos Aliados
Avenida dos Aliados is one of Porto’s main avenues that houses many historic buildings. Porto’s city hall is a significant Neoclassical building built in 1955 with a huge clock tower, surrounded by famous statues around the square.

14. Cais da Ribeira (Ribeira Square)

📍 Cais da Ribeira
The whole Ribeira district has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it was the commercial center of Porto for centuries. The traditional flat-bottomed wooden rabelo boats, used to carry barrels of port wine down from the Douro Valley. You’ll see how this medieval part of the city has barely changed. The buildings are super close together with narrow alleyways and  stone paved streets. The homes are all painted in oranges and reds and look out on the Duoro River and Vila Nova de Gaia.

➡️ Book A Day Trip to the Douro Valley Here!

Day 1 Dinner
Taberno do Largo
Lgo de S. Domingos 69
traditional Portuguese food. Our favorite dinner in Porto! We went twice!

Day 2 of 2 Days in Porto – The Castle, Tram 28, Miradouras, & Azulejos

Day 2 is a day to explore the market, see a few more monuments, and end the day across the river in Gaia for the moment you came to Porto for – a wine tasting that you’ll still be talking about a year from now. Here are 5 options for your Day 2 Itinerary in Porto.

Breakfast Option
Epoca Porto
R. do Rosário 22
A uniques spot with special, seasonal menus and lovely decor.

➡️ Book This Fun Tile Painting Workshop Here!

1. Mercado do Bolhao (Bolhao Market)

📍Rua Formosa 322
M – F 8AM – 8PM, Sat until 6PM
The Mercado do Bolhao, since 1914, is the largest market Porto’s Baixa district. It went through a large renovation and reopened in 2022. Fun fact, the name comes from “bolha,” which means bubble, because there was a natural spring here.Plan on having breakfast here first thing in the morning, before 10 AM, when the vendors are still setting up and the energy is at its most authentic. Over 70 vendors sell their wares here, from fish, meat, produce, cheese, wine, flowers, and souvenirs.

2. Palacio da Bolsa (Stock Exchange Palace)

📍Rua Ferreira Borges
Daily 9 AM to 6:30 PM
14 euros adults; 9.50 euros students and seniors; children under 12 free
Palacio da Bolsa is near the Ribeira waterfront and next to the Igreja de Sao Francisco. Built in 1842 on the site of a burned down convent,is a grand palace with a central hall, an iron-and-glass dome and painted ceiling. Each room is more elaborate leading to the Arab Room (Salao Arabe). This Moorish designed space took 18 years to build and has gold-painted arabesques, intricate stucco work, and colored glass covering every surface of the ceiling and walls. 

3. Rua de Santa Catarina (Santa Catarina Street)

📍Rua de Santa Catarina
Santa Catarina is Porto’s most famous shopping street. Some of the buildings along this street are covered in beautiful azulejo tile facades, which makes walking down this street pretty different than any other European high end shopping street. The tiled facades on many of the buildings have some of the best tile work in the city, in styles ranging from geometric Moorish patterns to figurative narrative panels. 

4. Ponte Dom Luis I (Dom Luis I Bridge)

📍Ponte Luiz I, accessible from Ribeira on the Porto side
This bridge is the iconic symbol of Porto. It’s a double-deck, iron arch bridge that connects Porto to Vila Nova de Gaia.  The bridge was completed in 1886 by Theophile Seyrig, who had studied under Gustave Eiffel. Yes, of the tower). At the time, it was the longest iron arch bridge in the world.

The upper deck carries a Metro train as well as pedestrians, so be careful as you are gawking at the views. The lower deck is for cars and pedestrians as well. We walked over on top and returned on the lower deck. I recommend that so you get both experiences and sets of views.

5. Niepoort Wine Tasting

📍Rua Candido dos Reis 670, Vila Nova de Gaia
Niepoort Caves, Vila Nova de Gaia were recommended to us by a very close friend and professional wine tour guide. What a great tip!!! It was not easy to get to by foot and we would have been better with an Uber, but we were treated like royalty when we arrived, albeit late, exhausted, and hot.

There are many wine cellars to choose from in Gaia, but my recommendation is definitely Niepoort. Niepoort is a family business that has been producing port wine since 1842. it is on Rua Candido dos Reis in Gaia, off the main tourist strip, and the experience is intimate and genuinely educational. Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made through their website.

More Time for More Adventures?

You have more options for Day 2, or if you can stay in this beautiful city longer! These are some fun excursions that take you to parts of Porto you might not otherwise see.

Teleferico de Gaia (Gaia Cable Car)

While you’re on the Gaia side of the river after your wine tasting, you might want to add the cable car to the adventure. The Teleferico de Gaia has been running since 2011 and connects the Gaia waterfront promenade, right alongside the port wine cellars, up to the hilltop near the Serra do Pilar Monastery, which is above the upper deck of the Dom Luis I Bridge. The whole ride only covers about 600 meters and takes about five minutes, but the views from up there are worth it.

Access the cable car from:
The lower station on Avenida Ramos Pinto, next to the wine cellars.
The upper station next to the Jardim do Morro metro stop which is a short walk from the upper pedestrian walkway of the Dom Luis I Bridge.
Round trip: 10 euros adults, 5 children. – Book tickets online in advance.
Hours are 10AM – 6PM in winter, to 7PM in spring, to 8PM in summer.

Tram 1 Ride by the Water

Consider riding the historic Tram 1 from the Infante stop on the Porto waterfront (right in front of the Igreja de Sao Francisco) all the way out to Foz do Douro. Tram 1 is Porto’s only surviving heritage tram line, that runs along the Douro River to where the river meets the Atlantic Ocean. The whole ride takes about 20 minutes, and the tram is quaint and slow. When you get off at the Passeio Alegre stop, you’ll be at the edge of the upscale seaside neighborhood of Foz, where you can walk the riverfront promenade toward the lighthouse at dusk.

Tram 1 Departs from: Infante stop, in front of Igreja de Sao Francisco, Ribeira
Hours: Regular service throughout the day; check STCP for current schedules
Admission: Standard STCP fare (use your Andante card or purchase on board)

Rabelo Boat Ride on the Douro

Several companies run these boat tours from the Ribeira waterfront.Some tours include a port wine tasting on board, 

Departs from: Cais da Ribeira, Porto
Duration: Approximately one hour
Admission: Around 15 to 20 euros per person for a shared cruise

Day 2 Dinner
Bota & Bria
R. do Comércio do Porto
A cozy restaurant with Portuguese & Mediterranean tapas. And who doesn’t love tapas?1

Or head to Foz do Douro. Walk out to Foz do Douro at sunset, near the Felgueiras Lighthouse where the Douro meets the Atlantic. Word is that the light here at sunset is magical.

Best Photo Spots in Porto

For photographers or anyone who just wants to bring home great images, here are the spots I’d prioritize:

• Miradouro da Vitoria is a small viewpoint above Ribeira with a direct line of sight to the Dom Luis I Bridge and the tiled rooftops of the old city. Less crowded than the bridge itself, and the framing is better.
• Serra do Pilar Monastery (Gaia side) offers the iconic panoramic view of Porto from the Gaia hilltop, directly above the upper deck of the Dom Luis I Bridge. This is the classic postcard shot of Porto, with the bridge in the foreground and the historic center rising up the hillside behind it.
• Terreiro da Se (the square in front of the Porto Cathedral) gives you ground-level views over the rooftops toward the river with the Clerigos Tower visible in the background.
• Looking back toward Porto from the Ribeira waterfront with the Dom Luis I Bridge above you and the colorful stacked buildings of Ribeira on either side is one of the most instantly recognizable views in Europe.
• The tiled exterior wall of Igreja do Carmo (visited on Day 1) is one of the best close-up tile photography subjects in Porto.

➡️ Book This Top Rated Porto Fado and Wine Tasting Now!

Where to Stay in Porto

➡️ Affordable Choice
Hotel Tipografia do Conto is a highly rated and affordable hotel in an excellent location.

➡️ Mid Range Choice
Pousada Porto Rua das Flores is a very beautiful hotel in a great location. We stayed here and loved the room, the service,. and especially the location.

➡️ Luxury Choice
Porto Bay Flores is a very beautiful, luxury hotel in a fabulous location.

Porto Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

When is the Best Time to Visit Porto?

• We visited in September and had beautiful weather in Porto but a little rain in the Duoro Valley.
• April – June and September – October are said to offer the best combination of good weather, reasonable prices, and manageable crowd levels.
• July – August is beautiful but significantly more crowded, and more expensive.

Is 2 or 3 days enough time in Porto?

3 days is better than 2! But 2 will give you a great first visit. You’ll cover the major highlights and get a real feel for the city. If you can stay longer, you’ll have time for day trips to the Douro Valley or the beach towns north of Porto.

What food is Porto famous for?

A word about food! Order Bacalhau (salted cod, prepared in a million different ways), try the Francesinha, Porto’s iconic sandwich of cured meats and cheese under a spiced tomato and beer sauce.

Do I need to book tickets in advance?

Yes, you do for a few things:

• Livraria Lello where timed entry tickets are necessary and sell out quickly.
• Palacio da Bolsa, arrive early and book on the spot or in advance online.
• Clerigos Tower can be walked up to, but it’s worth booking in advance in summer.
• The Niepoort wine tasting requires a reservation. Everything else on this list is walk-in or free.

Now you’re all set with the Best 2 Days in Porto Itinerary.

In a nutshell…

Porto is one of those cities that really stuck with me in the best possible way. Two days gave us enough time to hit the highlights, taste the wine, see the tiles, and wander the riverfront.

I do wish we had had a little longer to wander and explore a bit more. Porto has a slower vibe and you’ll want to really take your time to absorb, take photos, and find the hidden medieval alleyways.

Porto is an ancient city, both beautiful and authentically Portuguese. Visit Porto, get lost, driving the wine, eat the pastries, climb to the views, and cross the bridge. I understood immediately why people keep coming back.

xx,
Carrie