Stroll along the Douro Rivergo port tasting at the wine cellars in Gaiavisit the most beautiful bookstore in the worldand watch the sunset from the Dom Luís I Bridge. These all top the list of the best things to do in Portobut there are also beautiful churches to visitnew foods to tryand neighborhoods to explore.
Tim and I LOVED Porto. Tasting port wine at the ancient wine cellarssampling the street foodsstrolling along the Douro Riverand visiting several breathtaking churches were our favorite experiences.
We spent four busy days in Portowhich is reflected in this list. While hereTim and I visited the main attractionsand we also discovered several hidden gemslike the gilded Santa Clara Churchsome amazing wine lodgesplus a few budget-friendly restaurants. We quickly learned that Porto is best savored from its viewpointsits street foodand local wines.
Overallwe list 30 things to do in Porto. This guide begins with the top 10 things to do in Portoideal for those planning a quick visit to the city (1 to 2 days). We then provide additional activities for those with more time.
October 2025 Update: Added weather graphs and additional travel planning informationincluding links to 12and 3-day itineraries for Porto.
A Quick Porto Geography Lesson
Portosometimes also called Oportois the second largest city in Portugal. This city is famous for its port wineone of Portugal’s largest exports.
The Douro River runs through the Porto Metropolitan Area.
On the north side of the river sits Porto. This is where you will find many of the churchescathedralsand museumsas well as the majority of the hotels and restaurantsand the train station. The historic center of Porto is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Vila Nova de Gaia, or simply Gaiasits south of the Douro River. Gaia is home to the wine cellars where port wine is stored and aged. If you are visiting Porto with the main reason of sampling the port wineyou’ll spend most of your time in Gaia.
PortoPortugal
10 Best Things to Do in Porto
This list starts with the very best things to do in Porto. These are the essential experiences to haveparticularly if it is your first visit to Porto.
1. Visit the Wine Cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia
Let’s get started with the #1 thing to do in Porto and the reason why Porto is so famous.
Located in Vila Nova de Gaia (Gaia) are a cluster of wine cellars (sometimes also referred to as caves). These large warehouse-like buildings sit in the hills of Gaia. This is where port wine is stored and agedbefore being exported around the world.
There is a long list of wine cellars to visit in Porto. The most popular and touristy of the bunch include Taylor’sSandemanGraham’sand Cálem. These cellars offer frequent tours throughout the daysome as quickrelatively inexpensive group tours to more expensive small group or private tours. They also have a convenient location along the waterfront.
And then there are the smallerlesser-known wine cellars. On this list are NiepoortCockburn’sKopkeBurmester, and Barros. These wine cellars produce amazing port wine.
Wine barrels at Niepoort
Port tasting at Sandeman
How to Visit the Wine Cellars in Gaia
RESERVATIONS FOR THE WINE CELLARS: To visit many of the wine cellarsyou will need to make a reservation in advance. Wine cellars offer guided tours and tastingsand these can take 30 minutes to several hoursdepending on the cellar and the experience you choose to do. If you want to spend one day in Gaiayou can visit three wine cellarsbreaking up the day with lunch.
DO YOU NEED TO TAKE A TOUR? Some wine cellars can only be visited on a tour (these are usually the smallerless touristy wine cellars) and at othersyou can show up and just do a tasting.
If you aren’t into portvisiting one or two of the more popular wine cellars for a tastingsuch as Sandeman and Taylor’smay be sufficient for you. But if you want to learn more about portstep inside the cooldark wine cellars and see the massiveancient oak barrelsand do a tastinga tour is definitely worth it.
OUR #1 RECOMMENDATION: Our favorite experience was at Niepoort, where we had a semi-private tour of the cellar and tasted 8 different wines and ports.
In our guide to the Best Wine Cellars in Portowe go more in-depth into planning a visit to Gaiawhere we list the top wine cellars to visitour favoritesand how to plan your time.
Wine Cellars in Porto: Port Tasting in Vila Nova de Gaia
Best wine cellars to visit in Portowith recommendations on how to plan your day.2. Stroll Across the Dom Luís I Bridge
The Dom Luís I Bridgealso called the Luís I Bridge and Ponte de Dom Luís Iis a double-decker bridge that spans the Douro River. It connects Porto with Gaia.
The view from the top level of the bridge is spectacular and not to be missed. It’s also one of the best sunset spots in Porto.
Dom Luís I Bridgephoto taken from Miradouro da Serra do Pilar (mentioned next)
This bridge was constructed in 1886 and at that timeit was the longest type of this bridge in the world.
There are two levels to the bridge:
- The upper deck is open to pedestrians and the metro trains. For the best viewswalk across the upper deck. The metro trains frequently cross the bridgebut there is a designated pedestrian area. Keep an eye out for the train if you cross the bridge to take photos.
- The lower deck is open to pedestrianscycliststaxisand public transport. You can walk across the lower deckbut the views aren’t nearly as good as those from the upper deck.
Upper level of the Dom Luís I Bridge
The view from the Dom Luís I Bridge
How to Get on the Upper Level of the Bridge
If you happen to be at river level in Portoyou can either walk up a long series of steps to get to the upper leveltake the Lada elevatoror ride the Funicular dos Guindas. Once in Gaiaenjoy the amazing views looking back to Portoand you can walk about 10 minutes to Miradouro da Serra do Pilar (mentioned next)stroll the hilly streets to the wine housesor ride the Gaia Cable Car to the riverfront.
3. Miradouro da Serra do Pilar
This is our favorite viewpoint in Porto.
This panoramic viewpoint is located in Gaianear the Luís I bridge and Mosteiro da Serra do Pilara monastery that dates back to the 1500s.
It’s free to visitopen all dayand from here you get one of the best views of PortoGaiaand the Douro River. Our photos below were taken middaywhich is a great time for photography (sunset would be wonderful as well).
The view from Miradouro da Serra do Pilar
Mosteiro do Pilar
How to Get to Miradouro da Serra do Pilar
Getting here isn’t obvious. If you crossed the Dom Luís I Bridgeyou will walk down Avenue da Republicaturn leftand immediately walk up Rampa do Infante Santo. It’s an uphill walk on this street to get to the viewpoint.
From the Luís I Bridgeit is almost a 1 km walk that takes about 12 minutesa little shorter if you start at the Jardim do Morro metro station.
4. Stroll Along the Gaia Riverfront
If you read other guides to Portothe Ribeira waterfront (the promenade on the Porto side of the river) is what is usually highlighted. Howeverwe think that the Gaia riverfront is more interesting.
Not only do you get gorgeous views of Portobut this promenade is lined with wine cellarswhere you can stop in for a tastinga Porto tonicor do a little shopping.
Mid to late afternoon is the best time to do this walkwhich works perfectly if you plan to tour a wine cellar or two in Gaia after lunch.
The view from the Gaia promenade
5. Livraria Lelloaka the Most Beautiful Bookstore in the World
This gorgeous bookstore is a must-do on a visit to Porto. It attracts an insane number of visitors and we saw the longest lines here than at any other place in Porto.
This bookstore is relatively smallbut it has a long history and is famous for its whimsical architectureiconic staircaseand stained-glass ceiling.
Livraria Lello
To enter the bookstoreyou must have a ticket. It’s best to make your reservation in advanceand you will schedule a time slot.
Tickets for Livraria Lello
There are three ticket types: a standard ticket (the silver voucher)the gold ticket (standard entry plus a reserved book)and the platinum ticket. The platinum ticket is by far the most expensive ticket option but you enter through a priority lineplus you get access to the Gemma Room.
If you have a silver or gold ticketeven with a time slot entryyou could wait in line for up to 15 minutes to enter the bookstore. If you have a platinum ticketyou enter right at your allotted timewithout waiting in line for the standard ticket.
The bookstore opens at 9 am. If you choose the silver or gold ticket optionit’s a good idea to get here earlybecause the line starts forming before 8:30 am. If you really want to be one of the first to enter the storethen the platinum ticket is the best option (but it is very pricey).
IS THE PLATINUM TICKET WORTH IT? When we visited Livraria Lellowe were the first ones inside(this was before the ticketing system changed). Nowyou’ll need a Platinum ticket (about €50) for that privilegewhich feels like a lot to pay just to take a few photos.
On the official websiteget hourspricingand purchase your tickets in advance. A visit here lasts about 30 minutesonce you are inside of the bookstore.
6. Visit the Porto Cathedral
The Porto Cathedralalso called Sé do Portois the largestgrandest church in Portoand one of the oldest. It dates back to the 12th centuryalthough over the years the cathedral has been gradually enlarged and decorated.
Porto Cathedral (photo taken from Igreja de São Lourenço)
On a visit herethere are several things to see and do. It’s free to enter the cathedral but the cloister and terrace have a small fee. The cathedral is open every day with the exception of Christmas and Easter.
Things to do inside of the cathedral:
- Admire the baroque altarpiece covered in gold leaf.
- Stroll around the cloister and see the intricate Azujelo Murala mural made of blue and white tiles.
- Climb the tower for views of the cloister and panoramic views of Porto from the roof of the cathedral.
Azujelo Mural
Cloister of the Porto Cathedral
View from the Porto Cathedral
7. Try Porto’s Street Foods
It seems as if each Portuguese city has its token pastry or signature dish. Porto has several to tryeach a savorycalorie-laden sandwich or meat dish.
Here is a list of foods to try and where you can get them.
Francesinha: This is Porto’s most famous street food. A francesinha is Porto’s version of a croque-monsieur. This sandwich is filled with hamsteaksausageand cheese and covered with a spicy sauce. There are several different versions (some contain prawnsshrimpor mushrooms). It was created at A Regaleira (this is where we tried it) but other recommended restaurants include Yuko and Café Santiago.
Francesinha
Cachorrinhos: This is a grilledslightly spicy hot dog. Enjoy it with Super Bock beer. This was our favorite Porto street food that we tried. The best place to go is Gazela.
Cachorrinho
Sandes de Pernil com Queijo da Serra: This is a roasted pork sandwich with melted sheep cheese. We tried it at Casa Guedesa crowded restaurant with a small rooftop terrace.
Prego com Queijo de Serra: This is a steak sandwich with melted sheep cheese. Try it at Venham Mais 5 restaurant.
Frango Assado: This roasted chicken dish is best enjoyed with a glass of vinho verde. Try it at Pedro dos Frangos.
8. The Majestic Café
This is arguably one of the most beautiful cafes in Portugal. It is located on Rua da Santa Catarina.
This Art Nouveau café opened in 1921 and was designed to look like a café in Paris. Originallyit catered to elite members of society but now it is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Porto.
The Majestic Café is open from 9 am to 11 pm Monday through Saturday. They serve breakfastlunchand dinner. This is a busy place but we had no problem getting a table right at opening time. We were impressed with their friendly and speedy service.
On the official websiteyou can make a reservation in advance and see their menu.
9. Church of Santa Clara
This is one of Porto’s hidden gems.
If you want to visit a church with an astonishing display of gold leaf decorating its intricately adorned navedon’t miss the Church of Santa Clara (Igreja de Santa Clara).
Church of Santa Clara
This is a lesser-known and underrated church in Portobut it amazed both me and Tim.
Insidethe nave is covered with gold leafeven more than we saw in some other largermore famous churches in Porto. This church is unique in that there are a lot of large windows and the afternoon sun really brightens up this church. Make sure you climb the stairs to the second level where you can look over the nave from the choir room.
We shared this visit with just a handful of people.
VISITING THE CHURCH: The Church of Santa Clara is just a 3-minute walk from the Porto Cathedral. There is a small fee to enter.
Church of Santa Clara
10. Enjoy the View from Torre dos Clérigos
Torre dos Clérigos is a 75-meter tower that is attached to Clérigos Church. Climbing this tower for 360° views is one of the best things to do in Porto.
To reach the top of the toweryou will climb 240 steps and from hereyou can see the Douro RiverGaiaand famous Porto landmarks such as the Porto Cathedral.
View from the Clérigos Tower
Another view from Clérigos Tower
It’s also worth visiting the inside of Clérigos Churchwhich is free to do. Againyou can see another ornately decorated nave and walk the hallways on the second level of the church for stunning views of the nave.
Inside Clérigos Church
This is an extremely popular thing to do and you can save yourself a lot of time by booking a time slot in advance. On the official websiteyou can get hours and purchase your tickets in advancewhich can save you an hour or longer during peak season. If tickets are sold outyou can also purchase them on GetYourGuide.
Go Deeper: More Things to Do in Porto
Up next are 20 additional things to do in Porto. Some of these experiences impressed us so much that it was hard not to include them in our top 10. We’ve rated each one from 1 to 5 stars: 5 stars are must-seesand 1 star means it’s good to be aware of.
11. The São Bento Railway Station
Our Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Quick to visit and one of the best places in Porto to see azulejos. Plusit’s free!
The São Bento Railway Stationalso called Porto São Bentois the main train station in Porto. It is famous for the blue tiles that cover the walls of the entrance hall (approximately 20,000 azulejo tiles!). It is free to visit.
São Bento Railway Station
12. The Chapel of Souls (Capela das Almas)
Our Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The outside of this chapel is covered with azulejos and well worth the short walk up from the Majestic Cafe.
Located on Rua de Santa Catarinathe exterior of this small church is covered with blue and white tiles. You can step inside for a quick visit but it’s the outside that amazed us.
13. Rua de Santa Catarina
Our Rating: ⭐️⭐️ This famous pedestrian street is nicebut not an absolutely must-see. Howeverthe Majestic Cafe and the Chapel of Souls are located on this streetso there’s a good chance you’ll be here at some point.
Rua de Santa Catarina is one of Porto’s famous pedestrian shopping streets. This long street runs through Portobut the best part is from the Church of Saint Ildefonso (in the south) to Rua da Firmeza (in the north).
It only takes about 10 minutes to walk this streetlonger if you go shopping or visit a few notable sitestwo of which are mentioned next.
14. Church of Saint Ildefonso
Our Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Againthis is well worth it to see the blue and white tiles that cover the outside of the church.
This church makes our list for its beautiful blue tiles that adorn its façadewhich depict the scenes from the life of Saint Ildefonso. It is located near Batalha Squareon Rua de Santa Catarina.
Our photo was taken in the morning. Midday and afternoon would be a better time to photograph this churchso it’s not backlit.
Church of Saint Ildefonso
15. St. Lawrence Church (Igreja de São Lourenço)
Our Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This was unexpectedly amazingoffering great city views and very few crowds.
This highly underrated church is well worth your time.
The views from the towers of this church are stunning and this church is overlooked by many visitorsso there are far fewer people here than some of the other churches in Porto. Plusit’s just a 3-minute walk from the Porto Cathedral so it’s easy to get to.
Igreja de São Lourenço sits in front of the Porto Cathedral. To get here from the cathedralcross the parking lot in front of the cathedraltake in the view from Miradouro da Rua das Aldasand take the steps down to the next parking lot. Igreja de São Lourenço will be on your left (you can’t miss it).
Igreja de São Lourenço
There is a small fee to entercash only. Climb the spiral staircase to the top of the tower and from here you get amazing views of Porto. As you walk the upper terrace to the second toweryou get a sweet view of the Porto Cathedral. These rival the views from the Porto Cathedral and when we did thisthere were just two other people.
The view from Igreja de São Lourenço
Inside of Igreja de São Lourenço
The inside of this church is not as impressive as the Porto Cathedralbut it’s still worth itas it’s quiettranquiland a great spot to sit and relax for a few minutesaway from the crowds.
16. Stroll Along the Ribeira Promenade
Our Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This scenic walk is a must-do. It didn’t make our Top 10since we like the walk along the Gaia promenade a little bit more.
Cais da Ribeira is the promenade that runs along the Douro River in Porto. It’s a shortincredibly scenic walkdotted with bars and restaurants. You’ll gaze across the Douro River to Gaia. It is definitely a must-do at least once on a visit to Porto.
17. Cruise the Douro River
Our Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Cruising the Douro River is one of the most popular things to do in Porto.
In about an houryou can cruise the Douro Riverpast six of the city’s famous bridgesincluding Dom Luís Ithe Dona Maria Pia Bridgeand Ponte de Infante. It’s a great way to see the riverfronts of both Porto and Gaia.
This cruise with Living Tours gets very good reviews and is one of the cheapest 6 Bridges Cruises available. Or cruise the Douro River at sunset on this party boat.
18. Gaia Cable Car
Our Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Great way to eliminate a hill climbor a lot of walkingwith aerial views of the city.
Running from riverfront of Gaia to Jardim do Morro is a cable car. The upper station is located near the Dom Luís I bridge and Jardim do Morro and runs parallel to the Douro River to the lower station next to the river (the Cais de Gaia station).
It is a scenic way to get between these two points. If you start at the Cais de Gaia stationit will take you up to the level of the bridgesaving you a hefty uphill walk.
For hours and pricingvisit the official website.
Gaia Cable Car
19. WOW – The World of Wine
Our Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The museums are interesting and very well doneplus you can do chocolate and port tastings and have a cocktail with a view of the city.
WOW is a cultural district in Gaia. It’s relatively newis home to several museumsrestaurantsshopsand wine cellarsand with so much to doyou could easily spend a full day here. Visiting a museum may not be high on your to do list in Gaiabut they have several unique museums which might interest you (and your kidsif you are traveling as a family).
On the list of museums are The Chocolate StoryWine Experience (learn about Portugal’s wine regions and your visit ends with a wine tasting…how’s that for fun museum!)Planet Cork (everything you need to know about cork and its potential uses in the modern world)Porto Across the Agesthe Bridge Collection, and Pink Palace (a museum dedicated to rosé wine).
Inside the Wine Experience museum
At WOWyou can also attend wine schoolhave a cocktail at the Angel’s Share wine bar and enjoy the view over Portotaste port at Taylor’s or Fonsecaor dine at one of the restaurants.
Tasting port at Taylor’s
For the full list of things to dohourspricingand to purchase your tickets in advancevisit the official website. You can also purchase your museum tickets onsite at the visitor center which is next to the Chocolate Museum.
20. Take a Food Tour
Our Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ One of the best things to do in Porto is to take a food tour with an experienced guide.
This 3-hour morning tour includes breakfast and lunchwhere you taste Porto’s sweet and savory delicacies.
On this 3-hour walking tour of the old towntry pastriescheeseand sausageplus a wine tasting.
If you prefer a private touron this tour you will sample food from the north part of Portugalincluding a wine tasting.
Porto Food Tours
21. Liberdade Square (Liberty Square)
Our Rating: ⭐️⭐️
This large square is just a short walk from the Sao Bento Railway Station. Sitting in the center of the square is the Monument to King Peter IV. During our visitthis area was undergoing a massive restoration projectso it was completely surrounded by fencing. Howeverwhen it reopensit should be a beautiful sight to see.
22. Letras do Porto
Our Rating: ⭐️⭐️ Worth it for those who like the idea of having their photo taken with the Porto sign; otherwiseit’s not worth the walk to get here.
From Liberdade Squarewalk up Avenue dos Aliados to take a photo with the Porto sign.
23 & 24. Igreja do Carmo & Igreja dos Carmelitas
Our Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½ Seeing Igreja do Carmo from the outside is the highlight (it is an iconic sight in Porto). The interiors of the churches are beautifulbut the rooftop view is skippable.
Sitting on Rua Carma is what looks to be one massive church. Howeverit is two smaller churches separated by Casa Escondida (the ‘hidden house’).
Igreja do Carmobuilt in the 18th century for Carmelite monkssits on the right and is adorned with beautiful blue tiles on its exterior.
Igreja dos Carmelitasbuilt in the 17th century for Carmelite nunssits on the left.
The narrow1-meter-wide house separates these two churches. There are several theories as to why this house was builtand the most popular theory is that it was to keep the nuns and monks separated.
Igreja das Carmelitasthe Hidden Houseand Igreja do Carmo
Igreja do Carmo
Igreja do Carmo
At Igreja do Carmothere is a small fee to enter the church (cash only when we did this). There are multiple places to visit with your ticket.
The first thing you will see is the ornately decorated nave and altarwhich is covered with gold leaf.
Thenyou can enter the hidden house. You will walk up two flights of stairs to see several rooms decorated with antique furnishings. We didn’t find it to be all that exciting and it was quite crowded during our visit.
The hidden house
Nextyou will enter the catacombsfollowed by the Crucifix Galleryan elevated viewpoint of the naveand then the option to walk onto the rooftop. The view from the rooftop is just OK. I waited in the human traffic jam to climb the steps to the highest pointwhich overall wasn’t worth it in my opinionbut you can judge by our photos below. Our visit to Igreja do Carmo took about 30 minutes.
Viewpoint of the nave
On the rooftop of Igreja do Carmo
View from the highest point of the rooftop
Igreja das Carmelitas
This church is much quicker to visit. It’s also free. Step inside to admire the golden altarpiece and the small museum.
Igreja das Carmelitas
25. Go Shopping on Rua das Flores
Our Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ We walked this street a lotmorningmiddayand evening. It’s almost always busywith its shops and restaurants. This is a great place to go shopping for souvenirs.
Rua das Flores is a pedestrian shopping street that runs through the old town of Porto. It starts near São Bento Railway Station and runs southwest for about 400 meters. This street is lined with small shopscafesand restaurants.
Rua das Flores
26. Bolsa Palace
Our Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ The rooms are gorgeousbut to see themyou will have to take a tourand scheduling it can be tricky to work into an itinerary.
Bolsa Palacealso called the Stock Exchange Palacewas built in the 19th centuryalthough it took until 1910 for the interior to be completed. Highlights include the Arab Room and the Hall of Nations.
The Arab Room | SvetlanaSF/shutterstock.com
This is another busy spot to visitso to skip the ticket linepurchase your ticket online in advance on the official website. To visit Bolsa Palaceyou will take a 30-minute guided tour.
27. The Church of São Francisco
Our Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Seeing the gold leaf adorning the interior of the old church is breathtaking.
Sitting next to Bolsa Palace is the amazing Church of São Francisco (the Church of Saint Francis).
On a visit hereyou will visit the old church and the new churchand the catacombs. There is a small fee to enter.
The new church is worth a quick peekbut it is not nearly as picturesque as the other churches mentioned earlier on this list.
Inside the new church
The catacombswhich is where the Franciscan monks and wealthy families in Porto are buriedare interesting and quick to visit. Don’t miss seeing the bones in the ossuary in the glass floor.
The catacombs
The old church
The old church is amazing. Most of the naves are covered in gold leaf. Unfortunatelyphotos are not allowed in the old churchso you’ll have to wait and see it with your own eyes. It’s definitely worth it.
28. Miradouro da Vitória
Our Rating: ⭐️⭐️ This is a popular viewpoint and we think it is so-so (we like the views from the cathedrals and riverfront better).
For an elevated view over the old town of Porto to the Douro River and Gaiaclimb the steps to Miradouro da Vitória. This viewpoint is free to visit and located near Rua das Flores.
Miradouro da Vitória
29. Museu Serralves
Our Rating: ⭐️⭐️ The gardens and villa look amazing but since it is located outside of Portoit is only worth it for those with a lot of time in the city (3 or more days).
Museu Serralves is a modern art museum that is located in the western part of Portoa bit far from the old town. Howeverthe gardens that surround the museum and Casa de Serralvesan Art Deco villaare the true highlights of a visit here. Even with four days in Portowe never made it out this waybut it gets great reviews for its garden. Learn more on the official website.
30. Walk a Portion of the Camino de Santiago
The Camino de Santiago is a famous pilgrimage route to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in GaliciaSpain. There are multiple routes in Europe.
One of the shortest routes starts in Porto and travels north to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela240 km away. This route starts at the Porto Cathedral and heads north out of the city.
Learn more here.
Best of Porto: On a Map
How to Use This Map: Click the tab in the top left corner of the map to see a list of the points of interest and to turn layers on/off. Click the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest.
To take this map with youclick the star next to the title of the map which adds it to your Google account. Nextwithin your Google Maps appselect ‘Saved’ and then select ‘Maps’. This map title will now appear in your list.
Best Things to Do in Porto with Kids
Here are a few things that kids will love…cable car ridesclimbing the towers for a view of the citya visit to a bookstore that looks like it is straight out of a fairytaleand even a few museums geared towards kids.
- Visit Livraria Lello
- Cruise the Douro River
- Climb Torre dos Clérigos for views over Porto
- Dine at the Majestic Café
- Climb the tower of St. Lawrence Church
- Walk across Luís I Bridge
- Ride the Gaia Cable Car
- Visit a museum or two at WOW
- Stroll along the Douro River
- Try Porto’s street foods
The view from the Porto Cathedral
How Much Time Do You Need in Porto?
Plan on spending a minimum of two days in Porto. This gives you just enough time to tour the famous landmarkschurchesand cathedrals in the old town plus visit a wine cellar or two in Gaia.
If you are a wine aficionado1 to 2 days in Vila Nova de Gaia to visit the wine cellars is a very memorable experience.
There are also many hidden gems in Portoand having three or more days gives you enough time to go off the beaten track.
A third or fourth day in Porto allows you to day trip to the Douro Valley, Bragaand Guimarães. For those with an abundance of timeyou could easily spend five or more days in Porto.
We spent four days in Portousing one of these days to day trip to Braga and Guimarães. From Portowe traveled to the Douro Valley and spent three days here.
When is the Best Time to Visit Porto?
Porto can be visited all year. Spring and summer are the best times to visitwhen the weather is pleasant but crowds are manageable. Summer is the hottestbusiest time to visit Porto. Our visit was at the end of September. Porto still felt busybut it was warm and sunny every day we were here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can’t you miss in Porto?
Must-see sights in Porto include Cais da Ribeira (the promenade that runs along the Douro River in Porto)the wine houses in Gaia (port tasting is an essential experience to have in Porto)the Porto Cathedralthe Dom Luís I Bridgeand Livraria Lello.
If you could only do one thing in Portowhat would it be?
Touring the wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia was our favorite thing to do in Porto. Howeverwalking along the riverfront and enjoying views of Porto from the Dom Luís I Bridge are also a big highlights.
Is Porto worth it?
Absolutely! With its wine cellarsviewpoints along the Douro Riverlong list of amazing places to visit in the historic old townrestaurantsstreet foodsand port winePorto is one of best places to visit in Portugaleven on the fastest itineraries.
What is the best way to spend one day in Porto?
There are several different ways to plan your timedepending on your interests. Would you rather spend your time visiting Porto’s historical sightstasting port in the wine cellars in Gaiaor simply strolling through the city center and along the Douro River? In our One Day in Porto Itinerary, get suggestions on how to plan your timebased on your interests.
What tickets should I buy in advance?
To avoid waiting in lineswe recommend buying tickets in advance for Livraria LelloTorre dos Clérigosand Bolsa Palace. Advance reservations should also be made for tours of the wine lodges in Gaia.
Plan Your Trip to Porto
In this guidewe covered the top experiences in Portofrom iconic landmarks to hidden gems. For recommendations on where to eatwhere to stayand helpful tipsdon’t miss our article How to Plan Your First Trip to Porto.
If you have any questions about the best things to do in Portoor if you want to share your favorite experienceslet us know in the comment section below.
More Information for Your Trip to Portugal
We have TONS more information about Portugal in our Portugal Travel Guide, including LisbonSintraPortothe Algarvethe Douro Valleyand Madeira.
How to Plan Your First Trip to Porto: Where to StayEat & Play
The city of Porto is renowned for its UNESCO-listed historic centerazulejo-adorned churchesand colorful pedestrian streets and promenades. On a visit to Portoyou can explore this city’s historical and cultural treasuresimmerse yourself in the port wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaiaor sample savory Portuguese dishes (or do all three!). If […]
Douro Valley Day Trip from Porto: By Tour and Self-Guided
Taking a Douro Valley day trip from Porto is one of the most popular ways visit the Douro wine region. The Douro Valley sits to the east of Porto and it takes roughly an hour and a half to get here. This historic wine region produces port wine and table wines. With its terraced hillsides […]
Wine Cellars in Porto: Port Tasting in Vila Nova de Gaia
One of the best things to do in Porto is to taste port wine. Located across the Douro River from Portoin an area called Vila Nova de Gaia (or simply Gaia)sit the wine cellars where port wine is stored and aged. In this guidewe list the best wine cellars in Porto to […]
Things to Do in Braga & Bom Jesus do Monte: Tips for Your First Visit
Visit the oldest cathedral in Portugalclimb the steps of Bom Jesus do Montestroll along the pedestrian streets and through colorful gardensand take a photo with the brilliantly blue Braga sign…these are all things to do in BragaPortugal. Braga makes a great day trip destination from Porto and can easily be combined […]
14 Wonderful Things to Do in GuimarãesPortugal
Guimarães is a small town located in northern Portugalnot far from Porto and Braga. This town is famous for its historic city centerwhich is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Touring the palacestrolling the picturesque streetsand riding the gondola to Penha Park top the list of things to do in […]
Two Weeks in Portugal Itinerary: With & Without a Car
There is a lot you can see and do with two weeks in Portugal. Spend a few days seeing the sights in Lisbonday trip to Sintra to visit Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleirataste port wine in Portovisit the wineries in the Douro Valleyexplore a few of Portugal’s charming townsand […]
8 Wineries to Visit in the Douro ValleyPortugal
Sipping on wine and port while overlooking the Douro River is the #1 thing to do on a visit to the Douro Valley. In this guidewe list 8 wineries to visit in the Douro Valley. We spent four memorable days in the Douro Valleyusing this time to visit a few wineriesindulge in […]
25 Best Places to Visit in Portugal: Charming Towns & Historic Cities
Portugal is a delight to explorewith its bustlingcosmopolitan citiesits picturesque coastal townsits hilltop villageswine regionsbeachescastlesand long list of historic landmarks. Whether you are drawn to the serene landscapes of the countrysidethe bustling big citiesor the quaint beachfront townsthis guide will take you through best […]
Aveiro: Best Things to Do in the ‘Venice of Portugal’
Aveiro is a small coastal city in central Portugal. It is known as “the Portuguese Venice” for its canals and waterwayssimilar to those in VeniceItaly. The top experiences in Aveiro include taking a boat tour through the canalsstrolling through the city centerindulging in local pastriesand venturing beyond the city center […]
14 Things to Do in NazaréPortugal: Big Waves & Beach Caves
Nazaré is a small fishing town surrounded by a long stretch of sandy beaches. This city has a longrich historybut in recent years it is growing in popularity because of its enormous waves. During the winter monthsthe largest surfable waves in the world crash on Nazaré’s shoremaking this a surfing mecca. […]
Portugal Travel Guide: How to Plan a Trip to Portugal
Portugal Travel Guide Nestled along the sun-drenched Iberian PeninsulaPortugal is home to historic cities and photogenic townsrolling hills covered with vines and cork treesand some of the most beautiful beaches in Europe. Start your journey in Lisbonwandering the narrow streets in Alfamavisiting the iconic Belém Towerand day tripping to […]
Algarve Bucket List: 20 Epic Things to Do in the AlgarvePortugal
Marvel at Benagil Cavewalk the breathtaking Seven Hanging Valleys Traildine on seafood fresh from the oceanexplore charming fishing villagesexplore the coastline by boatand relax on some of the most picturesque beaches in Europe…these all make the best things to do in the Algarve list. The Algarve is one of the […]
CoimbraPortugal: Top Things to Do + Walking Tour of the City
Coimbra is one of the largest cities in Portugal and it is famous for its universityits churchesand ancient Roman buildings. Visiting the University of Coimbra is the top experience to have herebut touring the churchesthe botanical gardenand seeing the Roman aqueduct all make the list of things to do in […]
One Day in Porto: Best of Porto in 24 Hours
If you have one day in Portothere are a few ways you can plan your time. When deciding what to dothe biggest question to answer is would you rather spend your time visiting Porto’s historical sightstasting port in the wine cellars in Gaiaor simply strolling through the city center and along […]
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