Things to Do in Porto: Top Sights and Original 3, 5 & 7-Day Itineraries
Porto tumbles down granite hillsides to the Douro River, its houses faced with blue-and-white tiles and its bridges stacked like a set piece. It's smaller and more down-to-earth than Lisbon, with a famously hearty food culture.
Taste port wine in the cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia, eat a francesinha, ride a vintage tram to the ocean and give yourself at least one day in the vineyard terraces of the Douro Valley.
Top things to see in Porto
Ribeira
The UNESCO-listed riverside quarter of crooked houses and terraces. Best at golden hour, when the facades glow and the Gaia cellars light up across the water.
Dom Luís I Bridge
Walk the upper deck (shared with the metro) for a dizzying view, then cross back on the lower deck to reach the port lodges.
Port wine cellars in Gaia
Historic houses run tours and tastings in vaulted cellars. Combine a big name with a smaller family lodge to compare styles.
Livraria Lello and Clérigos Tower
The neo-Gothic bookshop with its red staircase sells timed tickets; nearby, climb the 240 steps of Clérigos Tower for the panorama.
São Bento station
Around 20,000 azulejo tiles tell Portugal's history in the station's entrance hall, free to visit.
Serralves
A contemporary art museum in an Art Deco villa with huge gardens and a treetop walkway.
Foz do Douro and Matosinhos
Where the river meets the Atlantic: seaside promenades, lighthouses and grilled-fish restaurants in Matosinhos.
Porto in 3 days: an original itinerary
1Day 1 · Old Porto
São Bento tiles, the Cathedral terrace, down through the alleys to Ribeira; cross the bridge for a port tasting and sunset from Jardim do Morro.
2Day 2 · Books, towers and markets
Livraria Lello early, Clérigos Tower, Carmo church's tiled facade and the restored Bolhão market. Francesinha dinner.
3Day 3 · River to ocean
Six Bridges cruise, then tram 1 along the river to Foz for a seaside walk and a fish lunch in Matosinhos. Sunset at the lighthouse.
Porto in 5 days
Follow the 3-day plan above, then add these two days:
4Day 4 · Douro Valley
A guided day among terraced vineyards: quinta tastings, lunch with a view and a short river cruise from Pinhão.
5Day 5 · Art and gardens
Serralves museum and park, then Casa da Música and the Bonfim neighbourhood's cafés and galleries.
Porto in 7 days
With a full week, keep days 1 to 5 and finish with:
6Day 6 · Guimarães and Braga
The birthplace of Portugal's medieval castle, then Braga's Bom Jesus staircase sanctuary.
7Day 7 · Aveiro and Costa Nova
Colourful moliceiro boats on Aveiro's canals and the striped houses of Costa Nova by the sea.
What to do in Porto on a weekend
Saturday: São Bento, Ribeira, the bridge and port cellars at sunset. Sunday: Livraria Lello, Clérigos, then tram 1 to Foz for a seaside lunch.
What to do in Porto in the evening
Porto evenings start with a port tonic on a terrace and dinner around 8:30 pm. Rua Galeria de Paris and the streets around it fill with bar-hoppers late at night.
For quieter moments, watch the city light up from the Gaia riverbank or catch a fado show in an intimate venue.
Porto for couples
Book a sunset Rabelo boat ride, a private tasting in a family port lodge and a night at a Douro Valley quinta among the vines.
Porto with kids
Kids enjoy the river cruise, the vintage trams, Serralves' treetop walk and the beaches of Matosinhos. Porto is steep, so a baby carrier helps.
Practical tips for Porto
Best time to visit
May–June and September–October bring warm days and harvest season in the Douro. Summer is busy; winter is mild but rainy.
Getting around
The metro links the airport to the center in about 30 minutes. Downtown is walkable but hilly; funiculars, historic trams and buses help. Trains from São Bento go to the Douro and Guimarães.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Porto?
Two to three days for the city, plus one for the Douro Valley.
Is Porto or Lisbon better?
Porto is more compact, cheaper and food-focused; Lisbon is bigger with more variety. Many visitors do both by train in about three hours.
Do you need to book Livraria Lello?
Yes, timed tickets are required and the entrance fee is deductible from a book purchase.