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Porto Itinerary: What to Do for 2 Days in Porto

Things to do in Porto, Portugal

 

There’s more than Port in Porto, Portugal! I’m sorry (not sorry) but I can’t help trying to use “port” as many times as possible in a sentence!

But actually, I fell in love with Porto, and no, not just because of all the Port wine I drank. Perched on the Douro river, this colourful and compact city had a vibe that I find hard to explain. People talk about how cool Lisbon is, and yet no one had told me how soulful this smaller version to the north could be. There may be plenty of things to do on the riverside in Lisbon, but you won’t be disappointed with the awesome things to do here either, even if you only have 2 days in Porto! From the obvious Port wine tasting sessions to the more unusual things to do in Porto, like eating a Francesinha Sandwich (more on that later), you’ll find plenty of things to fill your Porto itinerary. 

Porto doesn’t even really try, in fact, there are areas of the city that look a little more on the run down side, but they just add to its charm. It’s romantic, bohemian, historic and trendy all in one. But this humble city doesn’t force it on you, it’s just there waiting for you to walk it’s winding streets (and hills!) and find it.

Porto is known for being the home of Port wine, but don’t let that fool you into thinking that port wine tasting is the only thing you should add to your Porto itinerary. I was expecting to visit a few Port wine cellars and then relax the rest of the time, but a quick search of the must-see things in Porto and it became apparent that although the city is overshadowed by the much bigger Lisbon, it’s brimming with its own history, street art, and appetising food scene. It was no surprise to me to find out the Porto was voted as the Best European Destination of 2017!

So if you only have two days in Porto, what should you add to your itinerary? Well, here are the top things you need to add to your list!

Read More: Exploring the Port Wine Cellars & Tasting Tours of Porto

Things to do in Porto, Portugal

Visit Livraria Lello Bookstore

Livraria Lello is said to be the most beautiful bookstore in the world, which is quite a reputation to live up to! The bookstore was opened by the Lello brothers in 1906, and it’s one of the oldest in Portugal. Upon entering you’ll be immediately struck by the wooden panelling and floor to ceiling bookshelves, and of course, the large curving staircase. The whole bookstore is lit by a stained-glass skylight above. It’s at the very least the most beautiful bookstore I’ve ever been in!

And did you know the J K Rowling lived in Porto for 2 years, and rumour has it she to frequent Lello’s Bookstore? Some would even say it may have been the original inspiration behind aspects of Harry Potter, in addition to places in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Due to its popularity, it’ll now cost you €5.50 to enter Livraria Lello, and definitely book in advance if you can because the ticket line is often longer than the line into the bookstore and you don’t want to waste any of your short two days in Porto waiting in line! The entry voucher does offer you a discount if you purchase anything instore.

Things to do in Porto, Portugal

 

Things to do in Porto, Portugal

Walk Across Dom Luís I Bridge

Porto is the only city in Europe that has six bridges. Although technically, Vila Nova de Gaia, which is the city across from Porto and where all the Port wine cellars are, has six bridges too! The Maria Pia Bridge in Porto was the last project that Gustav Eiffel worked on before the Eiffel Tower, and his signature style was then also used on the Dom Luís Bridge before he pulled out of the project.

This bridge is pretty unique, in that trains pass across the straight top of the bridge, and cars across the bottom under the archway. Pedestrians can walk across both levels, and I’d highly recommend the views from the top! Unless you’re a little worried about heights…

It’s easy to fit this into your Porto itinerary because most of the top things to do in Porto are on one side, and all the Port Wine Cellars are on the other. 

Things to do in Porto, Portugal

Explore Old Town Porto

Ribeira, the old town area of Porto, runs along the Douro river and up the steep hills behind it. It holds World Heritage status and yet it’s full of abandoned and dilapidated buildings. However, this just seems to add the charm of a maze of streets, lined with colourful tiled buildings, wrought-iron balconies and washing fluttering in the breeze. You’ll find churches covered in tiles painted with blue and white murals, pop-up stores and plenty of cafes and bakeries.

You can spend a few hours wandering through the area and stopping whenever something takes your fancy.

Things to do in Porto, Portugal

Sample Portuguese Bakeries

Speaking of bakeries, I thought the ones in Porto outdid even those in Lisbon, especially on that side of the river. Trying Portuguese tarts, or Pastel de Nata as they’re known locally is a must, but the bakeries here will full of other delicious treats that I don’t even know the name of! Soft chocolate cookies, cakes, pastries, and savoury options like the famed Portuguese cod fish cakes. Writing this is actually making me sad that I can’t just pop into one of these bakeries right now!

I’d recommend starting your day at one of the bakeries!

Things to do in Porto, Portugal

Shop at Bolhão Market

Traditionally a place for farmers to sell their fruit and vegetables, you can now find everything from fishmongers and butchers, to sweet shops and bakeries, plus cafes and tourist wares. It’s located right in the centre of the city, so it’s a perfect place to pop into for a snack and a taste of Port or Douro wine, or to grab some gifts or souvenir. It’s open Monday to Friday from 7am until 5pm, and 7am until 1pm on Saturdays.

You could visit here one day of your two day Porto trip and then the below the next… 

Things to do in Porto, Portugal

Things to do in Porto, Portugal

Eat a Francesinha Sandwich

The “Little Frenchie” is a not so little sandwich originally made in Porto. It’s made with bread, ham, sausage, and beef covered cheese and drowned in a hot tomato and beer sauce. I think the phrase “heart attack on a plate” may have been invented for this sandwich! It’s said that in the 1960s the croque-monsieur and Portugal had a baby, and called it Francesinha. Now you can even get egg topped Francesinha’s and ones served with a whole plate of chips.

Every eatery has its own style of sauce for the Francesinha, and locals will usually have a favourite place based on that. We tried the recommended Cafe Santiago, and I had the classic Francesinha washed down with a Super Bock beer. I wasn’t sure what I would think of this meat-fest, but it was actually really good! Not an everyday thing mind you, but I wouldn’t say no every now and then! Although you might find the sandwich elsewhere across in Portugal, it’s a must-try in its home town of Porto.

Things to do in Porto, Portugal

Things to do in Porto, Portugal

Drink coffee at Porto cafes

Porto has some amazing cafes, especially those in the art deco style that makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. The Majestic Cafe, full of chandeliers, ornate woodwork and mirrors, often rates as one of the most beautiful in the world. It used to be the home of writers, artists, and politicians, but it fell into disrepair (like much of Porto it seems) until it was revamped in the 1990s.

Start your day in one of the cafes, or use it as an afternoon pick-me-up!

Visit the Port Wine Cellars

I’d recommend at least a half-day or even a full day for the Port Wine Cellars. To split things up a bit, you could also start things off with a half-day and then if you’re not done then return again the next day to any that you missed!

I didn’t think I would be that keen on visiting the cellars and trying the wine, but I really loved it! So much that I wrote an entire post on Port wine tasting in Porto which should guide you through the process, and hopefully convince you to give Port a go, even if you think that it’s not your thing. Even if you don’t try it, the cellars are in some amazing old buildings that are interesting to see, plus Porto Cruz have a great rooftop bar with beautiful views over Porto.

Read More: Exploring the Port Wine Cellars & Tasting Tours of Porto

Things to do in Porto, Portugal

Where to stay in Porto

During my stay in Porto I had accommodation in both the old town of Porto and across the river by the Port wine cellars. Both were really great options, but I did love the quieter feel of the Vila Nova de Gaia side, the great restaurants, and the views back across the river to Porto by day and night. If I had to recommend one side I’d probably say the Vila Nova de Gaia, the Port Wine cellar side.

We stayed in Airbnb’s both times which were beautiful! (Get credit for your first booking with Airbnb). And as always, I recommend Booking.com for good deals and private apartments.

Read More: 21 Things to Know Before You Visit Lisbon

Things to do in Porto, Portugal

I really fell in love with Porto on our trip, and I think two days in Porto is the minimum that you should have there to be able to fit in all of the highlights of the city! 

Sonja x

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Things to do in Porto, Portugal

Things to do in Porto, Portugal

48 thoughts on “Porto Itinerary: What to Do for 2 Days in Porto

  1. Delaine Dcosta says:

    I absolutely loved Porto, and your post brought back so many memories of my trip there. I think I covered all the things above in addition to the wine LOL. Btw, when we visited 2 years ago, the entry to Lello Bookstore was free 🙂

    • Migrating Miss says:

      I read it used to be free too! To be honest I didn’t mind paying because they get so so many visitors and I want them to be able to keep the place nice. Considering they must have such a big footfall and most of those people don’t buy books (I didn’t!). Haha I do think the wine is a must as well!

    • David Foster says:

      Well done on the Porto posts, we loved our trip there, a terrific place to stay is the Grand Hotel De Paris in the old part of Porto
      Includes a a great breakfast buffet.

  2. Suzanne says:

    I had no idea JK Rowling lived in Porto for 10 years! I would as well, just because of its fantastic library! If I lived there, I would go to that library every day and have a pastry afterwards. Porto sounds like my kind of city.

  3. Daisy says:

    That looks beautifull! I don’t know, but I grew reading Harry Potter. JK Rowling having lived in Porto only makes me wanna go mor,e just to see what kind of magical journey I can get myself into :’) Wine will deff help with that

  4. Samantha Sparrow says:

    I’ve recently been to Lisbon and fell in love with Portugal and the culture, so Porto really has been on my list. I love this list of things to do – I had no idea that J K Rowling lived in Porto for 10 years, and so I’d absolutely love to visit that bookshop! I always like to explore an Old Town, but truly the boats bobbing in the harbour are what makes this very beautiful.

    • Migrating Miss says:

      I fell in love with Portugal too, but Porto just really surprised me with how much I liked it and I can’t wait to go back again with my fiance sometime. The boats are replicas of the old boats that used to transport Port Wine from further up the river. It’s just a stunning city overall!

  5. Mel says:

    Wow! The Livraria Lello bookstore is gorgeous! And how interesting that JK Rowling lived there (in Porto, not the bookstore). The food looks so good– you are making me hungry. While I would still want to sample some port wine, there does seem to be a lot of additional interesting things to do.

    • Migrating Miss says:

      I’d definitely recommend trying to Port wine! I wrote a whole separate post about the tours and tasting you can do, but I really wanted to show that there’s more to Porto, which just makes it even better! 😀

  6. Gareth says:

    I must say you’ve got a real eye for a shot and while the aerial snap of the bookstore is great, your photos of food particularly impressed me. It’s a skill I’ve tried to foster on my site but unfortunately, I just can’t capture how appetising something is on camera. Oh well! Anyway, great post and I totally agree, it’s always important to take in the culture of a place beyond that of the local liquor!

  7. Jon Dunn says:

    I read your port wine tasting piece, excellent. This article has just catapulted Porto to the top of my bucket list.
    Zagreb, Budapest, Timișoara, you’ll have to wait!
    I liked what you said early on about the city having a “vibe that’s hard to explain” – I love places like that, and got the same from Zadar and Ljubljana. Not masses of photogenic monuments etc but a friendly ‘lived-in’ feel which is easy to slot in to.
    I gather Braga is an easy day trip by bus or train, too and that looks awesome.
    Great post, keep it up! 🙂

    • Migrating Miss says:

      Thanks so much! I hope you do make it to Porto, I actually want to go back again as soon as possible! I havent been to Zadar or Ljubljana but they’re both places I hope to go soon, and especially if they have that awesome feel to them as well.

  8. Alice says:

    Your pictures are so beautiful, it makes me want to book a flight right now! I’ve heard that Porto was quite the underrated destination, and I’m thinking of going this summer. This bookshop looks amazing, I would definitely go in and stay for hours! Also wine tasting doesn’t sound to be to me!!

  9. Rhiannon says:

    A few weeks ago I got kind of obsessed with JK Rowling and scoured the web for all info on her so actually did know she lived in Porto for years! Ever since discovering that it’s been on my list, and the more I research the city and read awesome posts like yours, the more I want to go for reasons beyond the Harry Potter connection!
    I actually didn’t know Porto was the home of Port wine either, although now you mention it it seems kind of obvious haha.

    • Migrating Miss says:

      Haha perfect timing then! It was like an extra bonus for me, finding out about the book shop and the Harry Potter connection. And I didn’t make the connection about Port wine either! Sometimes things are so obvious they’re not if you know what I mean haha. At least that’s my excuse…

  10. Jessica says:

    You had me at port wine, hahaha! I actually had no idea that port wine had the Porto connection. And then everything I read afterwards made me really want to visit! The Harry Potter inspiration is an added bonus 🙂 Your photography is stunning too! Cheers,
    Jessica

  11. Ivana says:

    Oh my gossshhhhh I’m DYING to go to Porto, you have no idea!! I was in the south of Portugal two years ago but I’ve yet to see Lisbon and Porto. I’m hoping I’ll make it this summer. Thank you for the awesome guide!

  12. Kathi says:

    Love this post – I’ve heard so much about Lisbon, but don’t see stuff about Porto enough. The tiled houses look amazing – I’d love for my flat to look like that on the inside 😀 Will definitely bookmark this for when I finally get to Portugal!

    • Migrating Miss says:

      Thanks!! I didn’t really know anything about it until I went, and now I just want to go back! I think it’s definitely underrated at the moment, but it probably won’t stay that way for long 😀

  13. Daniela || Ipanema travels to says:

    You took me back in time with this post! I visited Porto 23 years ago. There were no digital cameras then, no social media. I keep a few printed photos from this trip, but I see may memories are even more vivid than yhe picture I have. The colours on your photos are as bright as on my memories of Porto… Hm… it’s time to go back there.

  14. Kirstin (thetinberrytravels) says:

    The Livraria Lello Bookstore looks amazing! I think I’ve definitely added Porto to my must visit list. I love when you find a place that just has an atmosphere you can’t place that you just feel comfortable in. Sounds like you certainly found that in Porto.

  15. Kyntra Strickland says:

    Spending a day in Porto this summer! I can’t wait to visit the bookstore and try some port wine. Your photos are lovely and tips are so helpful. Thanks for sharing this great itinerary.

  16. Wading Wade says:

    Did somebody say Port? Haha I’m kidding. THAT BOOKSTORE IS BEAUTIFUL BY THE WAY. I would love to go and will definitely keep in in mind when I visit Porto. I’m truly longing for the day I get to try a Portuguese tart from Porto.

  17. Gail at Large says:

    I hate to break it to you, but JK Rowling lived in Porto for less than 2 years, not 10. Overall, it was not a happy time for her — you can read the whole sordid story at the Scotsman article linked at the bottom of this post, where I’ve summarized her time in Porto from 1991-1993.

    The information is corroborated by a timeline of JK Rowling’s life on her own website. She did have her first child in Porto with a Portuguese husband, but there are even Portuguese newspaper articles that confirm she has never returned to Portugal after leaving in 1993. As you can imagine, if her time here was more positive or even neutral she would talk about Porto, but she doesn’t at all… and that should tell you more than any article linking her to the city. Whether her daughter has visited her birth city, I don’t know. Maybe she will one day.

    I live in Porto, so I see all kinds of marketing related to JK Rowling and Harry Potter. The bookstore is beautiful and worth visiting but the Harry Potter connection is overblown, and no endorsement of a connection to Livraria Lello or even Porto comes from the author.

    • Migrating Miss says:

      Hi Gail,

      Thanks for your comment and the fact correction, I’ve now changed it to say 2 years. I did think 10 years was quite long at the time! Unfortunately I couldn’t see the Scotsman article as it didn’t seem to work any more. I think the Lello bookstore is beautiful and definitely worth visiting too, even if it didn’t have any connection at all to Harry Potter. I have no comment on whether it was a happy time for JK Rowling or not, but I still think it’s interesting she lived there nonetheless :).

      • Gail at Large says:

        Here’s the Scotsman article, by the way:

        http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/culture/books/the-jk-rowling-story-1-652114

        I should restate the “less than 2 years” to “less than three” as apparently my math is apparently suspect! I haven’t read anything JK Rowling has written so I can’t speak of how “inspired” she may or may not have been about living in Porto, but the City Tailors article I also mention uncovers the weaknesses of the other Harry Potter rumours in more detail:

        http://thecitytailors.com/en/portos-harry-potter-urban-myths/

        As much as I love Porto, I think Rowling’s imagination deserves much more credit than the city can possibly claim. Even without reading a single one of her books (I saw only the first movie), Rowling has my utmost respect for turning her life completely around from being a single mum on welfare to the success she now enjoys.

        • Migrating Miss says:

          Thanks Gail! I don’t know how much she would have been inspired either, but it’s an amazing city in my opinion anyway, even without the connection! And I’d agree with you on that last point too.

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