A Perfect Weekend in Porto Itinerary

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Where to Stay in Porto

We are staying at the incredible Porte.arte apartment on a quiet pedestrian street in central Porto. The immediate area is peppered with modern art galleries, antique shops and restaurants. Being so central, you can walk to everywhere we mention in our weekend in Porto itinerary.

After settling in, we go grocery shopping at Pingo Doce supermarket to stock up on wine and breakfast ingredients for the next two days. We like having lazy breakfasts at home and wine whenever we feel like 🙂

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Friday in Porto

Dinner at éLeBê Baixa

Take a leisurely walk to the Baixa district, which is pretty much the downtown of Porto. You’ll pass many of Porto’s famous sights on the way, which you’ll get to explore in the following days.

We made reservations at éLeBê Baixa a few days before arriving in Porto, yet this was the only time they could give us a table. This classy place is very popular and for good reason.

éLeBê Baixa is undoubtedly one of the best places to eat in Porto. Sophisticated without being stuck up, this restaurant is an excellent place to officially start your weekend in Porto.

Definitely try the tender, grilled octopus. Jin had the bachalau with mashed potatoes, which was pretty good, too. Service was great; our waiter spoke excellent English and recommended a dry Douro white to go with our meal. After dinner, we walked back home through Porto’s picturesque streets.

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Saturday in Porto

Breakfast

We eat breakfast at home and lounge around a bit before properly getting to know Porto. If you don’t feel like self-catering, perhaps grab a pastel de nata and coffee from one of the many cafes around your accommodation.

Then, make sure you’re wearing comfortable shoes since you’ll be walking everywhere, and your camera batteries are charged before you hit the streets of Porto.

Find the Best Azulejos in Porto

Like elsewhere in Portugal, Porto has more than its fair share of stunning azulejos (traditional Portuguese tiles), which can be seen throughout the city. For a modern twist on the traditional azulejo head to Steak ‘n Shake. The whole facade is covered in 8, 000 hand-painted tiles by Portuguese artists Joana Vasconcelos.

A short walk farther will bring you to the baroque church of Igreja do Carmo. Panels of blue and white tiles cover the side of the church and are a fantastic examples of classic azulejos. Not only is it one of the best places to spot azulejos in Porto, but it’s also one of the prettiest churches in town.

Visit Livraria Lello (Harry Potter Bookshop) – Or Not

This bookshop’s massive claim to fame is that it’s said to have inspired JK Rowling when she dreamt up Hogwarts. The Harry Potter author spent 2 years living in Porto, and rumour has it that this bookstore (and other places in Scotland) inspired her to create the magical world of Hogwarts.

The Harry Potter bookstore is not difficult to find. You’ll see HORDES of people lining up outside. We couldn’t justify wasting time standing in line and paying a €4 entrance fee, so we walked straight past. If you’re a hardcore Harry Potter fan, though, I’m sure this bookshop will be your first stop in Porto.

Visit the Sao Bento Railway Station

Perhaps one of the most beautiful train stations in the world, Sao Bento is one of the top things to see in Porto. You should definitely stop by the station, even if you don’t have a train to catch. Massive panels of blue and white azulejos adorn the entrance hall of the station and depict the history of Porto through stories of royalty, battles and transportation.

Grab a Francesinha for Lunch

Porto’s signature dish, the francesinha is a sandwich like you’ve never seen before. Between two thick slices of toast, you’ll find your weekly recommended protein and calorie intake, and it’s freaking delicious.

A francesinha is any meat and carb lover’s dream. It starts off with a thick slice of toast. First, add some ham as a base. Then add some steak. But why stop there? Throw on some sausage before closing it with another slice of toast. Cover with a mountain of cheese and smother in a beer-infused tomato sauce before baking it until it’s all hot and gooey. Serve with a side of chips for dipping in the sauce. Sounds good, right?

Where to get the best francesinha in Porto? At Voltaria, of course.

Vibes & Views in Riberia

After an extended lunch and a few glasses of Douro wine or Port&Tonic, it’s time to get moving again. Explore the colourful medieval alleys winding down to the Ribeira neighbourhood. Located on the banks of the Douro river (as the name suggests), Ribiera is one of Porto’s most colourful and vibrant areas.

Ribiera is quite popular, for good reason, and it might as well be called the Porto Riviera. The joyous atmosphere along the promenade is contagious, so go with the flow and grab a drink and a spot in the sun. Enjoy the vibes from your front-row seat as you admire the Dom Louis Bridge and the port wine cellars across the river in Gaia.

Sunset from Jardin de Morro

Cross the grand Dom Louis bridge to the Gaia district on the other side of the Douro river. The masterpiece in steel was designed by a student of Eiffel. You can walk across the top or bottom level, but the views from the top level are obviously breathtaking towards both sides of the bridge.

Once across the bridge, the Jardim de Morro is the perfect place to watch the sunset and soak up the cheerful atmosphere. Grab a drink from the man selling it out of his car, sit back and enjoy the view.

Dinner at Pedro dos Frangos

Cross the Douro again on the upper level of the Dom Louis Bridge and head towards Pedro Dos Frangos for an authentic Portuguese peri peri chicken dinner. It’s a good sign when a place is popular with locals and always busy. Even a better sign is the chicken roasting on the spit over the coals as you enter.

We had half a portion of the chicken and suckling pig with damn good chips.

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Sunday in Porto

Breakfast

Like anywhere else, a weekend in Porto goes by way too fast. But we still have lots to see and do in Porto on our last day. We will spend most of today in Gaia, where we’ll indulge in Porto’s well-known fortified wines. So, after breakfast at home, let’s head out and make the most of our last day in Porto.

Art Gallery Hopping in Porto

The many small, independent art galleries around our apartment are worth a quick and quirky stop. Overall we like Porto’s vibrant art scene, and in addition to these galleries, the area has some wacky, off-the-wall street art.

Capela das Almas

The stunning Capela das Almas (Chapel of Souls), completely covered in blue and white azulejos, is the most beautiful church for us in Porto. The sheer scale and simplicity of the blue and white make it very photogenic.

Cafe Majestic

We really wanted to have a coffee and a quick bite to eat at Porto’s most famous cafe. This cafe from 1921 is considered to be one of the most beautiful in Portugal. However, that was not meant to be. Cafe Majestic is unfortunately closed on Sundays. So if you really must visit this historic cafe, better come here on another day.

Fabrica da Nata

With Cafe Majestic closed, we found this Pastel de Nata bakery factory just down the street by chance. The kitchen is on display, and you can see the process from beginning to end.

The pasteis come out of the oven bubbling and then get loaded onto little cable cars, which transport them into the cafe. A freshly baked nata goes for €1 or, if you feel like living it up, you can get a nata and a glass of port for €2.20.

Don’t like sweets or wine? (What’s wrong with you???!!!) Anyway… They also have coffee, soft drinks, sandwiches and other hot snacks.

Port Cellar Tour & Tasting in Gaia

Finally time for the good stuff! Take the funicular down to Riberia and cross the lower level of the Dom Luis I Bridge on foot. The beautiful iron bridge was designed by a student of Gustave Eiffel, with some design elements resembling the famous tower in Paris. The Dom Luis I Bridge is a famous landmark and symbol of Porto.

Vila Nova de Gaia (or just Gaia) is home to Porto’s famous port cellars. Major names you might be familiar with include Taylor’s, Sandeman, Offley and Graham’s. There are so many to choose from, but if you can’t make up your mind or don’t want to go on the cellar tour, you could also just order a glass or two at one of the many bars.

We decided to go on a cellar tour at Caves Ferreira. We chose Ferreira since it’s the only big house of port wine that has remained in Portuguese hands since its foundation in 1751. The entertaining and informative tour concludes with a tasting session.

Good Times & Day Drinking in Gaia

There is no better place to be in Porto on a weekend than Gaia. With bands playing, tons of options for food and drink and spectacular views across the river towards Riberia, we can’t think of a better place to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon. There really is a festive atmosphere here, and one can’t help but get swept away and have a good time.

We still wanted to try port from different cellars, so we dropped by a tasting room next to the Pink Market. They have different packages available for tasting, and you can also buy a few bottles to take home with you.

Best Sunset in Porto from Serra do Pillar

End your weekend in Porto on top of Serra do Pilar (Pilar Mountain). This spot is probably the best place to catch the sunset over town. Watching the golden light kiss the Dom Louis bridge, Ribiera, Gaia and river are magical. Stay until the golden yellows fade to pale blues and watch Porto light up, then wave your goodbyes to this astonishing city.

Best Things to Do in Porto Map