I was due to fly back from Lisbon Sunday night but decided on a whim to head to Porto for 3 days. And I’m so glad I had the chance to discover the magic of Porto, Portugal’s second biggest city.
Porto highlights
I started off the trip in a classic Steph manner- on a walking tour. There are loads of options to choose from, all with good reviews, depending on what time suits. I went with Take Porto as I needed a later tour- it starts at 3pm at the Placa da Liberdade, and runs for 3 hours. We visited all the main areas/ sights and they give you loads of tips. 💯 would recommend.
Livraria Lello
This is the book shop that inspired JK Rowling for the moving stairs in Hogwarts during her 3 years in Portugal. Named one of the most beautiful book shops in the world, it’s a must visit. The best time to visit is after lunch, not in the morning when queues can be 2 hours long! There’s a €5 entrance fee which can be redeemed against any book bought.
Ribeira
The waterfront area. Ribeira reminds me of Venice and Lisbon mixed into one. It’s a great place to chill and have a cheap glass of wine, or catch a river cruise (if I’m honest, I didn’t think the cruise was worth it, a €3 water taxi across the river would afford the same views, unless you’re a bridge afficionado. The cruise is €15 and you’ll need to pick up a ticket at least 30mins in advance as it’s popular).
São Bento
A converted nunnery and now a train station, São Bento is adorned in classic Portuguese white and blue tiles inside, illustrating the history of Porto and the evolution of trains. Seriously worth a visit (preferably before 8am to avoid crowds, but it’s still 😍)
Mirodouro da Vittoria
This is a great lookout point overlooking the whole city, just in front of the cathedral.
Serra da Pilar Monastery
This gets my vote for best sunset view overlooking Porto and the Douro river. Cross the Dom Luis bridge to get here or get the Teleférica de Gaia cable car up (€6 one way, €9 return) for spectacular views. Bring a cardigan as it gets windy and temps drop post-sunset.
Mercado
Mercado Beira Rio is a food market the far side of the river (opposite the cable car station), much like TimeOut market in Lisbon, it’s a big food hall with various cheap options from Portuguese classics to sushi and vegetarian stalls, and of course beer, wine and cocktails galore. I had sushi and wakame salad for €6👌🏻 View on Google Maps.
Palácio da Bolsa
Palácio da Bolsa or the Stock Exchange Palace is one of the most ornate and beautiful buildings I’ve ever set foot in. It was designed to demonstrate Portugal’s wealth- one of the rooms is decorated with 200kilos of gold. Don’t miss it, but be aware that tickets must be purchased in advance (you have to pop in and see what time slot is available and as far as I can see there’s no pre-booking online, unless it’s part of a tour package). It’s €9- tours are mandatory and offered in a variety of languages.
The rooftop terrace atop Porto Cruz is a cool spot for a sunset drink- there’s a wine tasting experience offered in the main building too.
Majestic Cafe
Considered to be one of the most beautiful cafés in the world, this historic coffee house is decorated with rich colours and extravagant curves – an amazing example of Art Nouveau architecture. Grab a coffee and a Pasteis de Nata, or treat yourself to brunch (prices are moderate).
Handy tips
At zebra crossings in Porto, press the green button- many traffic lights give priority to pedestrians.
If your battery is running low, Starbucks have ample usb and plug points if you need to recharge!
Eats
Aside from the places mentioned above, here’s a list of places and things to eat recommended by our wonderful guide Gianfranco with Take Porto Walking Tours:
- Best places to try the Francesinhas (Portuguese pork and cheese toasty, smothered in tomato sauce): Lado B, Cafe Santiago, Cervejaria Brasão Aliados (Rua Ramalho Ortigão 28) (both regular and vegetarian Francesinhas).
- Cod fish: Papa Vinhos (opposite the “Alfandega”/ Customs), Terra Nova (Cais da Ribeira 34) and Arcos dos Loios (rua dos Caldeireiros)
- Sea food and Fish: Varanda da Barra (in front of Casa da Juventude da Foz/ bus nº504), Restaurants beside Matosinhos Market (bus 500)
For sweet tooths:
- 100% Gluten free Portuguse sweets: Boca de Leao (In Póvoa de Varzim.)
- Best Pasteis de Nata (custard tarts) in town: A Manteigaria (beside Bolhao market)
- Best almendrados (typical almond cookies): Confeitaria Presa Doce ( Campo 24 de Agosto 209)
Drinks to try:
- Porto Tonic (At any bar)
- Favaito (a glas of Favaios, another tipical wine)
- Port wine – try both the white and red (tawny and ruby) varieties 🙂
Where to stay
I booked a hotel near Trinidade metro station. It was within walking distance of tourist attractions but not close enough to pop back for a rest. I would recommend somewhere a bit closer to the river. I booked on booking.com but AirBnB has loads of options too. Plenty of hostels to choose from if you’re on a budget.
Getting to Porto
The train from Lisbon costs €24.50/30.50 and takes roughly 3hours. They run every 30 mins and tickets can be bought online up to 15mins before departure (it’s the same price if you buy at the station, but queues can be long).
I flew back from Porto with Ryanair. The airport is only 12km outside of Porto, and very accessible by taxi (€11). You can easily get to the airport or to the city centre by metro. Line E (Purple) runs every 20 or 30 minutes, depending on the time and day of the week.
Getting around Porto
The tram, metro, bus and ferry systems in Porto work very smoothly. Buy a rechargeable andante card if you plan to use it. I walked mostly everywhere (15km a day🤔) but took the metro twice and on to the airport, and the bus once.
Google maps lists all the bus options, buses are a cheap and fast option if your feet can’t take any more hills. I took the no. 900 bus up from Ribeira to Trindade on the last day, saving me a 30min hike- but if you’re staying more central, it probably won’t be necessary.
Itinerary
As always, sharing my full itinerary here if you want to plan a trip. Feel free to reach out with any questions or comment below💛
Gallery of memories
