Porto is the second city in Portugal and always tries to be away from the shadow of Lisbon. Porto is a pretty small city, which makes the city perfect for a city trip or a couple of days on a round trip in Portugal. The city is divided by Porto on the northern side, with most of the sights, and Vila Nova de Gaia on the southern side of the Douro River, where all the port houses are located. Enjoy reading about the highlights of the great city of Porto!

Admire the beautiful Sao Bento station

This may be one of the most beautiful train stations in the world. This is the perfect place to arrive in the great city of Porto. The blue tiles (azulejos) are very pretty and worth admiring for a bit. The hall can get crowded with both travellers and tourists. You cannot hope for a better start to your trip to Porto.

Price: Free

Tourist occurrence: High

How much time needed: 15 minutes

Find the Monumento Almeida Garrett 

The Monumento Almeida Garrett to enjoy the beauty of the building. The Monumento Almeida Garrett is the city hall of Porto. You may not enter the building, but it is a nice stop. It was built in 1954 by Salvador Barata Feyo. This won't be the highlight of your trip, but it is a fun stop for a moment.

Price: Free (as you cannot enter)

Tourist occurrence: Very low

How much time needed: 5 minutes

Enjoy the view from Torre dos Clérigos

The Clérigos Tower is a great lookout over the city of Porto. You have a 360° view of the city, and there is information provided about what you see, and they compare the Clérigos tower with other high towers in the world (Clérigos being pretty small in comparison). During the walk, you will be doing before and after entering the lookout. You will visit a stunning church and may be lucky to see a great exhibition (when I was there, it was about the Carnation Revolution). I came very early, so there was no line, but it may be nice to book in advance. 

Price: €8 (or reduced €5)

Tourist occurrence: High

How much time needed: 45 minutes

See the Igreja de Carmen & Carmelitas & hidden house at once

The Igreja de Carmen & Carmelitas & hidden house are two churches, and in between the two is the hidden house, as the Vatican did not allow two churches to be next to each other. On the outside, there are azulejos on the Carmen church. You can enter them both, but Carmen also visits the hidden house (not very special besides the story), a small view outside, and some tombs. 

Price: Carmen & Hidden House together are €5, while Carmelitas is free (a bit less impressive). 

Tourist occurrence: Medium

How much time needed: 20-30 minutes for all 3 in total.

Miradouro da Vitoria

This miradouro (which is a viewpoint in Porto) shows a view, that is a bit lower than, for example, the Clérigos Tower, but that also makes it very interesting. It is just above the houses, and you can see sights pretty close. This is probably my favorite miradouro of the city of Porto.

Price: Free

Tourist occurrence: Medium

How much time needed: 10 minutes

Be surprised at Praça do Infante D Henrique

I came unexpectedly to Praça do Infante D. Henrique, and I was surprised by its beauty. The statue, the grass, the palace, and the houses make this a fantastic square to walk around. Do not expect to be here for a long time, but it is very pleasant. There are also some good sights nearby.

Price: Free

Tourist occurrence: Medium

How much time needed: 10 minutes

Be amazed in Palácio da Bolsa 

This palace is very stunning. Unfortunately, I did not go in as you needed a compulsory guided tour, and I was not feeling it. The palace is located on Praça do Infante D. Henrique, which is stunning. The outside is very pretty, but I cannot really talk about the inside. You can book tickets in advance as well; otherwise, expect a queue. 

Price: €12,50 and reduced €7,50

Tourist occurrence: High

How much time needed: I don't know.

Have a lovely stroll through the city

Porto is famous for its hills, which may be tough to walk around, but for me, they were great. Wandering through the alleys, hills, bridges, and other fantastic streets makes it a fantastic way of seeing the city. It can be very convenient to walk 15 minutes in one random direction and find yourself in a very local neighborhood. 

Find the beauty of Igreja de Sao Francisco

The Igreja de Sao Francisco is a beautiful church, divided into two parts. In the first part, you find a church (see picture above), tombs, and a palace-like area where you can see some beautiful rooms. After this side, you can move outside and head to the impressive golden part. Do not throw your ticket away, because you need it here as well. Walk to this side and be amazed. From the outside, it is not the most impressive, but overall, this is great.

Price: €10 and reduced €7

Tourist occurrence: Medium

How much time needed: 30 minutes

Enjoy the waterside at Cais da Ribeira

One of the most classic sights in Porto is Cais da Ribeira on the waterfront. The beautiful houses with their restaurants, the higher levels, and the lovely square next to the water overlooking the port wine area of Vila Nova de Gaia make this a wonderful neighborhood. It is touristy, but a visit is absolutely worth having a good look at. There are some good alleys in the area as well. 

Price: Free

Tourist occurrence: High

How much time needed: 1 hour

Eat a Franchesina

A franchesina is a traditional dish from the city of Porto. It is a very heavy dish with a lot of meat on bread with an egg on top, covered in melted cheese. It may be a good idea to share the dish with someone. I really enjoyed a franchesina, but it may not be for everyone. For me, it should be perfect as a hangover meal. 

Walk besides of the Douro river

A lot of people are taking a boat tour, but personally, I prefer walking, so I walked a couple of bridges, and it was very pleasant. There are some interesting views. I walked for around 20 minutes one way and 20 minutes back. I like it because you can do it at your own pace, and it is free!

Enjoy a craft beer

A nice thing to do in a different city is try some nice craft beer. I really enjoy the beers, and often the craft beer bars are in different parts of town away from tourists, which brings you to different parts of town. A view good bars are:

• Catraio craft beer shop - A lovely bar with a nice deck to have a nice drink
• Letraria downtown - A classic craft beer bar with some nice food

• Cervejaria do Carmo - Next to Igreja do Carmen & Carmelitas. No flights possible, but great place

• Armazem da Cerveja - A very funny place with good beer options

Price: Depending on the drinks, but relatively cheap in comparison to European prices.

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: Depending on your thirst

Walk over the Ponte Luis I Bridge

The Ponte Luis I Bridge is a sight impossible to miss on a trip to Porto. The bridge connects Porto with Vila Nova de Gaia, and if you want to visit both sides of the city (which you absolutely should), it is almost impossible not to use this bridge. The bridge was designed by one of the students of Eiffel. There are two levels that you can walk on. You can walk on the lower side, which is easier as you can walk from Cais da Ribeira to the port houses. On this level, there is also regular traffic. On the upper deck, you have the most beautiful views of the city (see picture below). On this level, there are trams getting through. Maybe it is a good idea to walk on the low level one way and on the way back at the upper level.

Price: Free

Tourist occurrence: Medium

How much time needed: Around 30 minutes by admiring the bridge from a distance and visit the bridge on both levels. 

Grab some food at the Mercado Beira rio

The Mercado Beira Rio is a fantastic place to have some different food and drinks from around the world. It is on the side of Vila Nova da Gaia and absolutely worth a visit. It can be busy, but you can also sit outside, which is a bit more quiet. Seating can be an issue, but there will be a spot soon. 

Price: Free

Tourist occurrence: High

How much time needed: 30 minutes

Visit the port houses of Porto

Port wine is the most famous drink from Porto, and it is mostly distributed in Porto. The port wines are made in the nearby Douro Valley, and the vineyards have port houses in the city of Porto. On Vila Nova de Gaia, there are many of them, and it is pretty easy to visit a couple. There will be a tour that shows barrels and provides information on port vines, and at the end, there will be a tasting of often three different port wines. You can book the houses in advance, which I recommend, or go to port houses and plan a tour (which is also pretty easy). I went to the famous and big Calem (at least €19 for tour and tasting) and to the more authentic Ferreira (at least €21 for tour and tasting). Both were great, and I recommend going to two houses and seeing the difference. Visiting port houses in Vala Nova de Gaia is a must-do experience in Porto.

Price: Mostly around €20-25 for a tour and tasting.

Tourist occurrence: High

How much time needed: 1 hour for a tour and tasting.

Walk the obscure Rua Escura and Rua Bainharia

Formerly known as a street for prostitutes and drug addicts, these streets are now very scenic and give you a great insight into the raw streets of Porto. Although these streets are still the most sketchy in the city centre, I felt completely safe by myself, and I enjoyed the narrow streets and high houses.

Price: Free

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: 5-10 minutes

Find the oldest church of Porto: Igreja de Sao Martinho de Cedofeita

If you want to see some old churches without any tourists, check out the Igreja de Sao Martinho de Cedofeita. The oldest church in Porto may not be the most impressive, but standing next to a building built in 1087 is. You will be by yourself, which makes it even more special. However, don't go here if you don't have enough time to visit Porto.

Price: Free

Tourist occurrence: Very Low

How much time needed: 5-10 minutes

See the great monument Monumento aos Herois da Guerra Peninsular

Monumento aos Herois da Guerra Peninsular is an impressive monument far from the city centre. The monument stands for the Portuguese victory over the French. It is very high, and you can perfectly walk around it. Casa da Música is very close, and you can combine the sights easily. 

Price: Free

Tourist occurrence: Very Low

How much time needed: 5-10 minutes

Look at the weird architecture of Casa da Música

To be honest, I have not been in the building or to a concert, but Casa da Música is a surprising building in Porto and a good place to check out, especially if you are visiting Monumento aos Herois da Guerra Peninsular, which is very close. The building was created by Rem Koolhaas, a Dutch architect. 

Price: Free

Tourist occurrence: Very Low

How much time needed: 5-10 minutes

Be surprised at Igreja de Lapa

I was literally just walking back from the sights above towards the city centre, when I saw this beautiful church, and I was instantly amazed by its beauty. I don't know if you can get in (I could not, but it was late), but the architecture is stunning and worth checking out. There are not a lot of different sights nearby. 

Price: Free (to stand outside, I don't know for the rest)

Tourist occurrence: Very Low

How much time needed: 5-10 minutes

Enjoy the prettiest book store Livraria Lello

The legend says that J. K. Rowling was inspired by Harry Potter here, but that is not true. The book store could be used in the wizard's books and movies because it is absolutely beautiful. It is small, but very much worth a visit. Book in advance, as this is one of the most popular sights in Porto. It can get extremely crowded, which is a shame, and that makes it not a must-do for me. 

Price: €8 (as a voucher, so if you buy a book, the entrance price will be put of the amount of the book).

Tourist occurrence: Very High

How much time needed: 20-30 minutes

Find the prettiest McDonald's in the world

This can be fun for some people, but it was absolutely not my favorite. This McDonald's is a bit nicer than most others, but besides an eagle, some nice windows, and chandeliers, there is not much different. Don't bother to make a big distance for it, but if you pass it, it can be fun for a moment. You don't have to buy something to walk in, and with the great Portuguese food in the city, I don't recommend eating here at all.

Price: Free, as you don't buy anything.

Tourist occurrence: High

How much time needed: 2 minutes

See the mighty Sé de Lisboa

Sé de Lisboa is absolutely one of my favorite things to see in Lisbon, as there are so many azulejos on both levels with some good extra rooms, like churches and more. Another highlight is the top, where you have a great view over the city of Porto. There will be a line to get in, but for me it was 5 minutes, and inside it is big, so not too busy. 

Price: €3

Tourist occurrence: High

How much time needed: 30 minutes

Enjoy the view of Miradouro de Igreja de Sao Lorenzo

Miradouro de Igreja de Sao Lorenzo is another Miradouro that gives great views of the city of Porto. The viewpoint is between buildings, and it is pretty low as you are just watching over the roofs of the city. I came across here by coincidence, and I had a good time with a nice beer and some good views. 

Price: Free

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: 10 minutes

Find more azulejos at Igreja de Santa Ildefonso

The Igreja de Santa Ildefonso is a great church to see from the outside. I did not go in as I was pretty churched out and I had to pay money, and for me, it was ok. However, seeing azulejos is a treasure, and this church is one of the best places in Porto to do so. This may not be the most important sight, but having a look doesn't hurt at all.

Price: A couple of euros (I cannot remember)

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: 10 minutes

Enjoy some pastries in Majestic Café

Majestic Café is probably one of the prettiest places in Porto. They serve fantastic pastries and other food, but the highlight is the fantastic atmosphere. This is a classy place where you can dress normally. The prices are higher than in other restaurants, but the atmosphere is unique. 

Price: Free to enter, but the prices overal are pretty high)

Tourist occurrence: High

How much time needed: 1 hour (there may be a line)

Explore more azulejos at the Chapel of Souls

The Chapel of Souls is another treasure with many azulejos, and here they are even brighter than most of the others. It is great to see all the stories in the azulejos, and it is worth checking it out for a bit when being here and heading inside for a moment, but it is not a must-do with more building with azulejos. 

Price: Free

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: 15 minutes

Try some food at Mercado Bolhao

Mercado Bolhao is my favorite market that I saw in Porto. You can walk around and have some food, or you can buy flowers or food to cook at home. There are several restaurants above as well. When I was there, I was lucky enough to have some stalls that sold craft beer. I love to walk around markets, so I liked this one as well. 

Price: Free

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: 30 minutes - 1 hour

Have a day trip to the Douro Valley

The Douro Valley has many wineries that make wines and port wines, and it is fantastic to visit. It is advisable to do at least two tastings and enjoy a nice boat ride in between the wine fields. The views are absolutely stunning, and this makes it worth going on a busy day trip from Porto. I loved this day trip a lot, and it is perfect in combination with Porto, where you can see the port wine houses in Vila Nova de Gaia.

Tourist occurrence: Medium

How to get here: It is 3 hours by public transport from Porto. A touristic tour from Porto may be convenient, but also a bit less of an experience.

How much time needed: 1 Full day of stay a night. 

Have a day trip to Aveiro

From Porto, you can go to one of the cutest cities in Portugal, Aveiro. Aveiro is a lovely town with some beautiful canals. Although there are not as many canals as in Amsterdam or Venice, the canals are very picturesque and worth visiting. You can take a boat ride to have the best views of the city. Besides, there is a very nice fish market, and you have to try the sweet eggs, ovos moles. This is a great way to spend a couple of hours.

Tourist occurrence: Medium

How to get here: It is 40 minutes by train from Porto. 

How much time needed: 3-4 hours would be sufficient.

Things I have not done, but could be interesting

I think that I covered the most of the city's highlights, so at the moment I cannot think about sights that you have to do. You can do a boat tour or go to more port houses.

Final thoughts

Porto is a cute city, with many places to visit extremely close to each other. In 2 days, you can see most of the great sights, excluding the day trips. The city is perfect for a weekend trip, but it is also perfect for a longer trip through Portugal as there are many things to see. To learn more about Portugal, check out: