What if we took a tour of Portugal through the second largest city in the country? Of course I want to talk about Porto!
After staying there for more than 4 days, I can tell you that I liked Porto much more than its big brother Lisbon.
The reason is that The atmosphere, although festive and animated by the numerous restaurants and bars, remains a pleasant city to stroll and enjoy the small street corners.
Of course, there are a lot of tourists, but you will see that by venturing a little off the beaten path, you will have no trouble discovering nice little gems!
I recommend staying 2 full days in Porto. It is 2 days where you will have the opportunity to see the main monuments and the most popular places in the city. Of course, you can stay 1 or 2 more days depending on your pace.
For me, 4 days allowed me to discover lots of fantastic places that I would like to share with you here. Without further ado, here is my complete and detailed 2-day itinerary in Porto !
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How do I get to Porto?
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Getting to Porto from France
If you are from Paris, getting to Porto is quite easy by plane with about 2 hours 20 minutes of flight. You arrive at the airport. Francisco Sá Carneiro, located in the north of the city.
Then you can Take subway E from the airport (purple line) to the terminus Trinidade Who will take you to less than 30 min.
As for other cities in France, flights can be longer or shorter depending on the airline, and if you have to make a stopover.
Prices then vary from one city to another, but know on average that the average price is around 150€ for a return trip to Porto.
Getting to Porto from Lisbon
If you are visiting Lisbon and want to leave from this city, the most reliable and cheap means of transport is still the bus.
For a Travel time of about 3h15min, you will arrive at the Campanha bus station, located east of the city of Porto. Then you just have to take the subway to get to the city center easily.
I invite you to go to The Busbud website to book bus tickets in advance. It's simple and cheap. For a one-way trip, count only €4! Enough to save money for other expenses.
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Where to stay in Porto?
If, like me, you like the economic aspect of traveling as a solo backpacker, then hostels/guesthouses are your best friends.
And that's good news, because there are many accommodations of this type in downtown Porto! No need to find accommodation 10km from the main tourist spots.
In my opinion, the best place to stay is in The BolhĂŁo district.
The reason is that it is a good place to live: not too much noise at night, nice restaurants and a warm atmosphere day and night.
I would even say that practically all hostels are concentrated in this neighborhood, so you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing the accommodation that suits you best.
For my part, I chose Porto Spot Hostel for its small garden at the back of the hostel and its very cozy atmosphere. You can sit in the common area or on the benches in the garden to chat with other travelers.
The average price is around €20 per night, which is very good for the quality of service of the place! In addition, the staff is very nice and will give you advice and tips to make the most of your stay in Porto.
Bonus point: breakfast is included in the price, in addition to having a range of things to eat in the morning!
Otherwise, I can recommend other accommodations at the same price and highly rated:
Onefam Ribeira : small but cozy hostel with lots of events to meet other travelers.
The Central House Porto Ribeira : located in the heart of tourist areas with a very friendly setting.
The Passenger Hostel : a bit more expensive, but the setting is very friendly with breakfast included in the price!
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What to do in Porto: my step-by-step itinerary to explore the city
To start, we will take a walk in the neighborhood of BolhĂŁo, the first neighborhood you are going to visit if you stay there.
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Day 1: discover the historic center of Porto
Visit the neighborhood of BolhĂŁo
In my opinion, there are 3 major tourist spots to visit in the neighborhood that are worth a visit.
Assuming that you have chosen Porto Spot Hostel As accommodation for your stay, I advise you to go to the Capela das Almas de Santa Catarina, located less than 5 minutes away on foot.
When crossing the main street of Santa Catarina, you will have no trouble seeing it thanks to its facade covered with more than 15,000 blue azulejos. As a result, the outside is really magnificent!
Quick anecdote about this monument : these blue tiles depict the lives of Saints, including Francis of Assisi and Catherine of Alexandria, two emblematic figures of the Middle Ages.
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Then head to the Bolhao Market to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the local markets the Portuguese way.
Only 3 minutes on foot will allow you to reach the market from the Capela das Almas de Santa Catarina.
It is a large covered market and offers a variety of stalls: there are local merchants selling local food, restaurants as well as specialty stores.
To find out more, I invite you to take a look at Their official site.
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We then head to the Igreja Paroquial de Santo Ildefonso. To do this, you must take the main street Santa Catarina again, and go down the street to arrive safely.
On your way, you will find the famous Majestic Café, known for its old-fashioned setting, and which is very similar to the Bouillon Chartier that you could have in France.
Even if a lot of tourists come to have a coffee there for a break, I do not necessarily recommend going back because of the high price. I would rather have you go to the local “pastelaria”, much friendlier and much better for my taste!
Quick anecdote about this monument : It was built during the 16th century, and dedicated to Saint Ildefonso, famous for his devotion to the Virgin Mary and his theological writings.
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The neighborhood around SĂ© do Porto
Surely one of my places that I really enjoy strolling in Porto, the neighborhood around the Porto Cathedral is really beautiful that you absolutely have to do. We are leaving in the direction of this famous cathedral!
From the Igreja Paroquial de Santo Ildefonso, go down the city through a small alley (orange line), which by the way is very charming.
When you are in Porto, it is this monument that many tourists go to visit. And for good reason, we have a nice little view of the northern part of the city.
Apart from that, I think the cathedral is pretty, but it didn't catch my eye that much. I think you need to go there in person and make up your own mind.
On the other hand, I invite you to follow the small paths located below SĂ© do Porto. There are very beautiful traditional houses with superb views!
I invite you to follow this itinerary to really enjoy the descent to the docks of Porto:
If you want to rest a bit along the way with a cocktail or a refreshing drink, you can head to Orpheu Porto. It's a very cozy little tapas bar where you can sit in the open air, perfect for relaxing! For my part, I had a small glass of sparkling sangria.
At the end of the street, you will also find a very well known pasteis de nata workshop: Castro. For now, I invite you to eat these famous pastries in this chain, because they are simply better than other chains such as Manteigaria, NATA or Fabrica de Nata. A guaranteed delight!
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The neighborhood of SĂŁo Nicolau
We are now heading to another district of Porto, this time a bit more dynamic with a few climbs. So get ready to climb stairs and up fairly steep slopes! The sequel takes place at Miradouro da Vitoria.
From the Castro workshop, Allow 10 to 15 minutes of walking including the stairs to reach the heights of the city.
Once you get to the top, you will reach an observation point that in my opinion is one of the most beautiful spots in the city.
Take the opportunity to take photos and rehydrate yourself for a break after the effort!
Now, maybe it's time for you to go eat, just to fill your belly before continuing your exploration in Porto. Why not head to Taberna Santo Antonio ?
It is a small neighborhood restaurant, very friendly, and offers traditional Portuguese dishes. The prices are quite affordable, count around €15 per dish.
For my part, I took their famous “Panado Especial” or more commonly called Francesinha in Portuguese. It is the typical dish of the city to eat at least once!
For dessert, you can have their chocolate mousse which is really delicious at the same time!
Point of attention : the restaurant does not take bank cards. So bring some cash before you come.
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And if you are not that hungry and want to continue your visit, then I invite you to take the direction of the Jardins do Palacio de Cristal. It is approximately 15 minutes on foot from Taberna Santo Antonio.
The beauty of this garden can be found in Torreao do Jardim do Palácio, where you can stroll quietly along the various paths that this one offers you.
From the main entrance, simply walk all the way to the bottom until you pass the Super Bock Arena.
Take the time to take a deep breath and sit on a bench to admire the city and its river!
After this quiet little break in the garden, I suggest you come back to the heart of Porto for the rest of your exploration. We're leaving for Igreja do Carmo !
Optional point : On the Orange Road, if you haven't eaten yet, you can opt for a small Asian restaurant: TAB - TakeaBreak. The price is around €15, and you will eat very well! For my part, I had a “Japanese Curry Udon”.
Quick anecdote about this monument : The Igreja do Carmo is located next to another church: the Igreja dos Carmelitas. And what is interesting to know is that between the two churches, there is a small house of barely 1 meter long that separates them, you can see it by positioning yourself in front of the entrance, and you will see a small door!
Then, I advise you to go around the central square through the Jardim da Cordoaria.
From this garden, you will have a very beautiful view of the Torre dos Clérigos. And just behind you will have his church where you can take a quick tour.
Admission to the tower is chargeable and will cost you €10. So far, I didn't go up there, but if you are interested, you can book your tickets in advance on Get Your Guide !
Right next door, you can go and visit the Livraria Lello, a bookstore well known for its double-track staircase. Be careful though, as the queue can be long.
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Visit the Porto pier from the city center
To finish your day, we will gradually arrive at the docks of Porto, just to enjoy the sunset as well as to put your mind to end this beautiful exploration in style!
I invite you to go to Igreja de Santo Antonio dos Congregados to admire the last church of the day. For my taste, the view from the outside will be more than enough to get acquainted with this monument.
Then, take the busy street Rua das Floras. It is THE historic street in downtown Porto. You will mainly find restaurants, and a few shops. The atmosphere at the end of the day will allow you to get familiar with Portuguese urban life!
Walk to the end of the street and go straight ahead, then you will reach the green square: Praça do Infante d. Henrique.
In the vicinity of this square, you will find the Mercado Ferreira Borges as well as the Palacio da Bolsa.
If you want to discover an additional historical place, you can take a look at the Palacio de Bolsa. The entrance price is €14, and where you can book your tickets in advance on This site.
We finally end the day on the docks of Porto. Because you deserve it after hours of walking in the city! Congratulations to you because not everyone would dare to do it.
Walk a few minutes through the main street, then rush into the cul-de-sac to start your last stroll along the Douro River.
From the docks, you will have a beautiful view of the Luis II Bridge as well as a view of the other side of Porto. For the latter, I will detail all this in day 2!
For now, take advantage of the time you have left to sit on one of the benches and contemplate the landscape that awaits you, or have a drink among the many bars and restaurants there.
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Day 2: exploring the other side of Porto
After your long and quite challenging stroll yesterday, I invite you to discover the other side of Porto this time.
But before that, maybe you are a little hungry before continuing your exploration? That's good, because I had the opportunity to have eaten right next to the Bolhao market: direction My Coffee Porto. Barely 5 minutes will be enough from the inn Porto Spot Hostel.
I chose the “My Coffee Brunch” menu which costs €10.5. As you can see, it's a very well-stocked breakfast. It's simple but effective for a good start to the day!
Then, we head in the direction of Luis I Bridge, this famous iconic bridge in Porto that can be seen in the most popular images. You can reach it on foot in around 15 minutes.
In my opinion it is the best spot to have a view of the whole city as well as the Douro River. Take the opportunity to take beautiful photos and walk quietly along the bridge to admire Porto from different angles.
The train also passes by the pedestrian crossing, so be careful when looking at the other side of the bridge!
Once you reach the end, I invite you to continue on your way to Jardim do Morro.
It is a small park known for admiring the sunset from the heights. It is also a place where there are a lot of activities, just to enjoy the warm atmosphere of the area.
Continue to go around the garden to then take a slope and arrive at Miradouro da Serra do Pilar. You will have a magnificent view of the bridge and the city in the background.
Right next door is a church that is quite nice from the outside, but unfortunately closed to the public.
Now that you have taken advantage of this beautiful view of the Luis I Bridge, we leave for the quays of Porto through the nice little streets.
To do this, I invite you to go back through Jardim do Morro where you will find a small descent.
Take the opportunity to admire the view from the other side through these streets. You will see, the view is really beautiful, especially if the weather is nice! Then, after about 10 minutes of walking, you will reach the pier.
Stroll along the pier until you come across the famous Mercado Beira Rio. It is a food court where you can find different types of food, with mainly typical dishes from Portugal. The prices are quite affordable depending on what you eat, but the food is very good!
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What to do after Porto?
If you have not already done so, I recommend that you go to lisbon, its beautiful capital to discover even more things to do and visit!
In particular, I wrote a complete and detailed article on Lisbon for a 3-day itinerary on site!
Otherwise, I also invite you to visit other cities that are also very beautiful like Braga and Coimbra.
And if you want to enjoy the beach on the Atlantic coast, then you can stop by for a trip to Nazaré or Ericeira which in my opinion are two very beautiful cities with incredible beaches!
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Conclusion
I stayed in Porto for a total of 5 days, because I had the opportunity to work from home while I found my bearings in this city.
For me, 2 days will be more than enough if you are the type of person who walks for a long time to visit without spending too much on museums.
Personally, I really liked Porto even though it was a bit touristy. Its fairly small side makes it easy to take full advantage of its visits and the climate is much better than in Lisbon.
With this very complete itinerary (and way too long ahah), you will have discovered almost everything there is to visit!
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