A Weekend in Porto, Portugal

Planning a weekend in Porto? Our guide to 48 hours in Porto uncovers the best things to do, the best cafes and restaurants and the nicest places to stay. Make the most of your northern Portuguese city break!

Before we arrived in Porto, we had an amazing weekend in Coimbra and Lisbon. From there, we headed north through Portugal to Porto. These three Portuguese cities are each unique and magical in their own way. Porto feels heartier, friendlier and more wholesome.

Wrapping itself around the city, the Douro river hugs onto the edges of Porto. Further down the river lies the Douro valley wine region. This alone makes Porto the perfect Portuguese city break for wine aficionados. The city is only small, making it ideal for weekend breaks.

48 Hours in Porto, Portugal

Day 1 — Arrive in Porto and Relax at the Ribiera

Late Afternoon and Early Evening, 5PM — Start your weekend in Porto by heading down to Porto’s famous riverfront, the Ribiera. Porto’s sprawling riverfront area, is studded with eateries and wine bars. Many locals and tourists come to pass the evening’s golden hour. Make your way here to soak up the atmosphere — and sample a glass of local wine from the Douro valley. Walk across the Dom Luís I Bridge when the sun starts to set and watch the city be kissed by the golden glow.

Dinner at Taberna Folias de Baco, 8PM — We preferred to eat away from the riverfront to avoid tourist-trap restaurants and fishy menus. Walk up from the river to Rua dos Caldeireiros, the street with Porto’s best tabernas. Porto’s tabernas are small eateries where you can sample traditional Portuguese cuisine and wine, and oh my are they nice. If you ask us, no weekend in Porto is complete without dinner at a taberna.

We recommend Taberna Folias de Baco, towards the top of Rua dos Caldeireiros, for both meat-eaters and vegetarians like us. The set menu is €24 total for 2 people and a bottle of wine here ranges from €10-20 (we had a delicious dark and spicy red for €14). Expect local cheeses, olives, bread and olive oil, and tapas. All their produce is from small, local producers.

Day 2 — Explore Porto

Breakfast at Manna Porto, 9AM — Start your first morning in Porto with a good breakfast. West of the Câmara Municipal do Porto (town hall and clocktower) is our favourite neighbourhood in Porto, strewn with the best cafes in the city. Our top brunch choice is Manna Porto, set back in a polished blue-brick building. Step in the doorway and you’ll be warmly greeted by their friendly staff. Enjoy a speciality coffee served in a ceramic mug and tuck into a brunch of sweet toast, salty toast or acorn flour pancakes.

Head to the back of the café to brunch in their beautiful black-framed conservatory. If you have more time in Porto and are so inclined, they also run yoga classes here. The calming vinyasa flow classes are run by Kim, the most wonderful yoga teacher we’ve ever had. Beginners are welcome, so don’t worry if you’re new to yoga.

‘Salty toast’ at Manna Porto (it’s not really salty but savoury!)

Livraria Lello, 10:30AM — The Lello Bookstore draws a daily crowd as it’s listed amongst the top bookstores in the world. Inside is a red-carpeted forked staircase. Livraria Lello’s magical interior is said to have inspired J.K. Rowling’s Hogwart’s library in Harry Potter.

Clerigos Tower, Cordoaria’s Garden and Surroundings, 11AM — Opposite Livraria Lello is Clerigos Tower. Climb this 76m-high baroque bell tower triangular for views over Porto. Behind here is Cordoaria’s Garden, a triangular grassy area flanked by more of Porto’s architectural gems. These include the beautiful blue and white tiled churches Igreja do Carmo and Igreja dos Carmelitas. The Natural History Museum is also located here.

São Bento Station, 12:30PM — Make your way down to Porto’s main street to see São Bento Station. You can walk or jump on the #22 tram to get here. I know, a train station making the top things to do in Porto list, but trust us — this one’s beautiful. Inside this 19th-century railway station, you’ll find ornate azulejo tile work across the walls. You don’t need to buy a ticket; just peek your head inside the door.

Francesinha for Lunch or Lunch at daTerra Baixa, 1PM— Francesinha is Porto’s (in)famous sandwich. It’s a gut-busting extravaganza of bread, steak, sausage and ham, drowned in melted cheese and tomato and beer sauce. Highly talked about vegetarian versions can be eaten at Lado B Cafe, but personally I didn’t rate these sandwiches and would avoid (sorry, Porto).

If you’re like me and the francesinha doesn’t get your taste buds tingling, then stop by daTerra instead. The Baixa branch of this vegetarian buffet chain is just down from Sao Bento Station. There’s an all-you-can-eat option or get a takeaway box for a better price and eat down by the river.

Cycle Down the Douro River, 2:30PM — The best thing to do in Porto is spend time by the river. Rent a bike from Vieguini Bike Rentals, conveniently located on the road by the river. The friendly team here will help you plan out your cycling route and their rental prices are very reasonable. You can follow the river west on the same side to reach Porto’s rocky beaches.

Dinner at Esporão No Porto, 8PM — For a romantic weekend in Porto, scrub up nicely for an evening meal at Esporão No Porto. The restaurant belongs to the brilliant Esporão wine producers. Food here is a seasonal, delicate and delightful twist on traditional Portuguese cuisine. What’s really to write home about though is the wine. Don’t miss my favourite, their organic Esporão Colheita red wine.

Day 3 — Discover Vila Nova de Gaia

Breakfast at O Porto Bakery, 9AM — This well-loved bakery is a favourite amongst locals for it’s early 7AM opening times and cheaply priced pastéis de nata and sandwiches. Make sure you get in early for egg custard tarts, as they’re always fresh and warm first thing in the morning.

Pastel de nata (egg custard tarts)

Palacio da Bolsa, 10AM — Palacio da Bolsa (the stock exchange palace) is a Neoclassical landmark in Porto. You’ll need to reserve a guided tour to visit, which lasts just 30 minutes. Otherwise you can admire the palace from the outside whilst soaking up the surroundings of Porto’s historical centre.

Monastery of Serra do Pilar and the Teleférico de Gaia, 11AM — Next stop for our weekend in Porto is the monastery, a rotund white building set on a hilltop overlooking the river. The monastery has a unique round church and cloister. Entry is €2 and free on Sundays. Come out of the monastery and take the Teleférico de Gaia cable car down to the Vila Nova de Gaia side of the river.

Lunch at Mercado Beira-Rio, 12PM — Behind the cable car station is Mercado Beira-Rio. The small but grand terracotta building houses a food market. Inside the market you’ll find a variety of food, beer, wine and port vendors. It’s the perfect spot for a flute of port wine and a bite to eat. If you’re vegetarian, there’s another branch of daTerra in here. You can grab a €5 lunch box to eat in the cobbled courtyard street outside the back of the market.

Vila Nova de Gaia and Visit a Port House, 1PM — Stroll along the riverside and wheedle your way through the backstreets to find Porto’s famous Port Wine Houses. Here you can visit cellars lined with barrels of port wine and sample some tasty ports. If port isn’t your tipple of choice, there are plenty of wine bars this side of the river too. For those who don’t drink, there’s the 7G Coffee Roasters for a darker brew this side of the river.

Dinner at Kind Kitchen, 7PM — Our favourite restaurant in Porto was the lovely Kind Kitchen. This vegetarian and vegan kitchen serves up vegan world cuisine that’s very welcome after a lot of bread and cheese. Their menu features burgers, burritos and healthy bowls. Luke was addicted to their Beyond Meat burger, whilst I thought their Thai bowl was the bomb. Nice wines and really affordable prices.

More Time in Porto? Explore the Douro Valley

If you have more than a weekend in Porto, explore the Douro Valley. The Douro Valley can’t successfully be squeezed into 48 hours in Porto. If you’re driving, a day visit means you can’t relax and enjoy sampling the region’s wines (which is the whole reason for visiting the vineyards after all!)

We were fortunate to have 3 days to visit the Douro Valley. We rented a scooter from Vieguini in Porto and followed the winding N108 road along the river. It was a 4-hour drive by scooter, but would be quicker by car. We love the wind in our hair and being on scooter back though, so we’ve no regrets! We stayed right in the vineyards at the wonderful Quinta do Fojo. Run by the welcoming Elisabete, who’ll take care of you as soon as you step through her door.

Douro Valley wine region near Porto

Where To Stay in Porto

There are so many nice apartments in Porto that you’ll be spoilt for choice. Our apartment in Porto was the one with the green balcony to the right of this church. We loved the look of this centrally located apartment and this beautiful historic apartment too.

Getting Around Porto

Porto is a small city, especially compared to Lisbon, and is easy to get around. The city is mostly walkable and there is a tram system for longer journeys around the city. A Porto card is available and allows access to public transport (excluding the trams). However, given the city is so small, we wouldn’t say you need one.

Getting To and From Porto

By Air — Porto is the biggest city in northern Portugal and there are regular flights between European destinations. If you’re in Europe already, then you’ll be able to book a flight via a budget airline. From London, flights to and from Porto are direct. Check flights to Porto on Skyscanner to find the best deals.

By Train — If you’re already in Portugal, you can travel to and from Porto by train. If you’re visiting Lisbon, Coimbra, Faro or Braga then you can take a high-speed train to Porto and these services run daily. There are slower intercity trains between Lisbon and Porto, but we’d recommend avoiding these as they can take a long time.

Trying to decide between visiting Lisbon or Porto?

Read our Lisbon or Porto guide to find out which city you’re likely to love the most.