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Porto is an incredible city with loads to see and do, so if you’re spending three days here, it helps to have a bit of a plan.
After a recent trip to the city, this is the three-day Porto itinerary we’d recommend for a first visit, with a mix of the main sights and a few of our favourite spots. It’s a fairly relaxed itinerary, with time to wander, enjoy the viewpoints and, of course, try plenty of port along the way!
Three Days in Porto: Itinerary Overview
A quick note: Opening days and times of attractions are always subject to change, so double-check before your visit.
Day One
Walking tour
Mercado do Bolhão
Chapel of Souls
Ribeira
Six Bridges River Cruise
Fado show
Day Two
Porto Cathedral
Palácio da Bolsa
Dom Luís I Bridge
Vila Nova de Gaia
World of Wine
Porto wine tasting
Jardim do Morro
Day Three
Douro Valley Day Trip
Porto Three-Day Itinerary Map
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Porto Three-Day Itinerary: Day One
Morning
Breakfast
Start your day with coffee and a pastry or two. We enjoyed Confeitaria do Bolhão, which is the oldest pastry shop in the city (founded in 1896!) and has a ton of sweet and savoury options. It used to be the place where rich people from Porto would have breakfast before going to Bolhão market, which we’ll be visiting a bit later.
You’re spoiled for choice for good breakfast spots in Porto, but here are a few to get you started (for location, see the map):
Free Walking Tour
Get a first feel for Porto on a free walking tour led by a local. They’ll guide you through the historic streets, show you some of the sights, share folk stories, and give tips on where to eat and drink. Along the way, you might even get to try a tasty dessert from a secret spot (seriously, take them up on it, it’s so good!). The tour can last up to 3 hours, and covers the eastern part of the city centre, finishing at the riverfront.
We took our tour with Porto Walkers. They offer a few tours, but the one we chose was the Classical Free Walking Tour. Their tours start at 9:30 am or 10:45 am, and they ask that you reserve a spot in advance.
Admission: Free (although companies offer paid tours)
Duration: 2.5-3 hours (again, it varies by tour)
Afternoon
Lunch at Mercado do Bolhão
You might not want to leave the beautiful Ribeira waterfront just yet, but you’ll be back later.
For lunch, head to Mercado do Bolhão, Porto’s oldest and most famous market. Wander the bustling stalls and grab small bites from different vendors. Pair it with a fresh juice or a glass of Vinho Verde (green wine), a delicious Portuguese wine that’s light, fruity and just a little bit fizzy.
Duration: 1-2 hours
Chapel of Souls
Just a three-minute walk from Bolhão Market is the 18th-century Capela das Almas (AKA Chapel of Souls), completely covered in blue and white azulejo tiles. It’s well worth a short detour!
Duration: 15 minutes
Explore the Ribeira neighbourhood
Spend the rest of your afternoon exploring the colourful Ribeira neighbourhood. You’ll have had a taste of it during the walking tour, but make time to wander at your own pace and see what you find. The area is full of character, with it’s tall historic buildings, colourful tiles, tiny balconies and street art. It might not be pristine or polished, but that’s all part of the charm.
Make sure you stop by Praça da Ribeira, one of the oldest parts of the city and historically the heart of Porto’s river trade. Today it’s a lively square right on the Douro, with cafés, street performers, and a view over the river.
Duration: Spend as little or as long exploring as time/interest/feet allow.
Six Bridges River Cruise
The view from the boat as you cruise along the river. It’s very relaxing!
Enjoy seeing the colourful buildings of Porto from another perspective
By now you might be flagging a bit, and a Six Bridges river cruise is the perfect excuse to sit down for an hour. You’ll cruise along the Douro, enjoy the views, listen to the audio guide, and probably wave manically at every boat that passes you, as is tourist boat law.
It’s usually a couple of euros cheaper to take the cruise from the Gaia side rather than the Ribeira side, so it’s up to you whether that saving is worth crossing the bridge for.
You can also book smaller boat trips, including sunset cruises or ones with wine tasting. They’re a bit more expensive and usually start further down the river, but they did look like a really nice alternative.
Price: €20
Duration: 50 minutes
Evening
Fancy a Cocktail Break?
If you fancy an early evening drink, then we enjoyed Curioso Cocktail bar. They created very interesting signature cocktails with friendly service, and when we were around 6 pm, they had a happy hour on. I’ve added a few other places we enjoyed a drink to the map.
Evening Fado Show
That evening, go to a traditional Fado show. Fado is a style of Portuguese music that’s all about emotion and storytelling. It’s a big part of Portugal’s national identity, so in Porto you’ll find loads of places offering performances, from classic fado houses to dinner shows.
Price: From €10+, depending on the type of show you choose
Duration: Many shows last around 1 hour, although options such as dinner shows last longer.
Dinner
Seafood rice at Geometric
You can try multiple “small” plates at À Bolina
Marinated tuna at The Wine Club
If you don’t go for a dinner show and are looking for somewhere to eat, a good tip is to check The Fork. You can often find really big discounts, sometimes up to 50%. One night we had bread with dips, clams in white wine, a seafood risotto, and cheesecake for dessert, all for under 60 euros for two people.
Here are a few restaurants we enjoyed for dinner:
- Wine Club Restaurant & Wine Bar: Cosy setting, friendly service and great selection of wines. I loved the croquettes and marinated tuna.
- Geométrico: A modern restaurant known for its creative take on Portuguese flavours. This is where we managed to snag 50% off!
- À Bolina: A laid-back restaurant serving traditional homemade Portuguese dishes, with a relaxed atmosphere and small plates that make it easy to try a few things.
Porto Three-Day Itinerary: Day Two
morning
Pastel De Nata — The Breakfast Of Champions
For breakfast, grab yourself a pastel de nata or two. These little Portuguese custard tarts are dangerously good. They started in Lisbon, but you’ll find them in bakeries all over Porto. And I think a good rule in life is if there is pastel de nata, you eat it.
A couple of places where we had some of our favourite pastel de nata:
Porto Cathedral
If you went on a walking tour yesterday, you probably saw the fortress-like Porto Cathedral from the outside, but I’d recommend returning this morning to see it from the inside.
The highlight for us was the Gothic cloister, covered in blue-and-white Portuguese tiles depicting religious scenes. You can also get some great views over Porto from the tower.
If you can make it for the 9 am opening (I know, I’m sorry), you’ll be able to enjoy the cloisters without the crowds! The early morning light is also perfect for taking pics of the gorgeous tiles.
Admission: €3.00
Duration: 1-1.5 hours
Palácio da Bolsa
Take a 30-minute tour of Palácio da Bolsa, originally built in the 1800s as Porto’s stock exchange. You’ll be shown around some amazing rooms, with the Arab Room being particularly impressive.
Even if you book online, you don’t get a set time slot. You still need to go to the ticket office to find out the next available tour. We didn’t book ahead, went within an hour of opening, and didn’t have to wait long for the next English tour. If you have a bit of time to wait like we did, you could pass some time by heading around the corner to watch the historic trams and view a couple of nearby churches.
Admission (including tour): €14.00
Duration: 30 minutes
Afternoon
Try a Porto Classic for Lunch
Before this afternoon’s activities, I’d recommend a good, filling lunch. And filling is definitely one way to describe the Francesinha, one of Porto’s most famous dishes.
This is a gloriously over-the-top beast of a sandwich layered with meat, melted cheese and a rich beer-based sauce. It usually comes with chips and sometimes even an egg on top. Some places do vegetarian versions too.
If that sounds a bit much, then try a cachorrinho instead. This is Porto’s take on a hot dog: small, crispy, cheesy, and finished with a spicy sauce. Still far from healthy, but another Porto favourite that isn’t quite as intense as a Francesinha.
Here are a few places we often saw recommended for trying a Francesinha, as well as the ones we tried ourselves:
- Café Santiago (we tried this one)
- Como em Casa (and this one)
- Lado B Café
- O Afonso
Cross Dom Luís I Bridge
For one of the best views in Porto, walk across the top level of Dom Luís I Bridge, just watch out for the metro! This iconic double-decker bridge was designed by a pupil of Gustave Eiffel (no points for guessing what he’s famous for). The views over the Douro River and the colourful Ribeira district are fantastic, and it’s a great spot for photos.
Vila Nova de Gaia
Once you’ve crossed the bridge, you’ve actually left Porto and entered Vila Nova de Gaia, the area directly opposite the city and home to the famous port wine cellars.
Spend some time wandering around Gaia, especially along the waterfront. It’s a lovely area with a relaxed feel, street musicians, market stalls, and the cable car gliding overhead. Keep an eye out for the large rabbit sculpture made from recycled materials, too. If you’ve read our Madeira itinerary, it’s by the same artist who created the seal mural.
World of Wine
Gaia is also home to the World of Wine complex, which has several museums dedicated to wine, chocolate, cork, and regional history. We chose a combination ticket that included Taylor’s Port Lodge and a tasting, plus entry to one museum of our choice. The staff recommended the Wine Experience, so that’s what we went for. It’s very interactive, walking you through how wine is made, and there’s even a short tasting demonstration at the end.
Port Wine Tasting
While in Gaia, if you enjoy a tipple, then I’d definitely suggest trying the Port.
If you book the World of Wine combo ticket, follow your museum visit with a tour and tasting at Taylor’s Port Lodge. It’s self-guided, so you can explore at your own pace before sampling a white, a tawny and a vintage in the beautiful garden.
WoW & Taylor’s Lodge Combination Ticket: From €33.00
Duration: 3.5 hours (1.5 hours at the Wine Experience; 2 hours for Taylor’s tour & tasting)
If you don’t fancy the combination ticket, then there are loads of well-reviewed lodge tours and tastings to choose from:
- Graham’s Port Lodge Tour with Premium Wine Tastings – Join a guided tour of Graham’s elegant 1890 Port Lodge to discover the story of Port wine, followed by a premium tasting paired with chocolate, cheese, and delicious Pastel de Nata.
- Graham’s Port Lodge Tour with Vintage Room Wine Tasting – Alternatively, you can book the same tour with the tasting taking place in their cosy Vintage Room.
- Cockburn’s Port Lodge Tour and Tasting – Explore the largest Port cellar in Vila Nova de Gaia on a guided tour, then enjoy a premium tasting. You’ll also see the only working cooperage in the area, where barrels are still made and repaired right in front of you.
- Quevedo Port Wine Tasting Only (with Cheese Pairing) – Ideal if you want a relaxed tasting without the cellar visit. In an old cooperage, you’ll sip three special Ports paired with Portuguese cheeses, with a friendly guide to walk you through it.
- Taylor’s Self-Guided Tour with Tasting – Taylor’s but without the World of Wine museum entry. Go at your own pace with a self-guided tour and audio guide, followed by a tasting in a beautiful garden. Perfect if you prefer to be independent rather than join a group.
Evening
Jardim do Morro
End your day at Jardim do Morro, just a short walk from Dom Luis 1 Bridge. It’s my favourite viewpoint in Porto, with a fantastic view across the Douro towards Ribeira and the colourful buildings climbing up the hillside.
In the evening, the atmosphere here is usually really lively. You’ll often find someone playing music, groups of friends and family gathering on the grass, and people settling in to watch the sunset. There are often a few vendors selling drinks and snacks, although bringing your own is never a bad idea.
Even if you don’t want to stay until sunset, it’s still a really nice place to spend a bit of time at any point in the day.
Admission: Free
Duration: As long as you like!
Porto Three-Day Itinerary: Day Three
Full Day Activity
Douro Valley Day Trip
For your third day, I’d really recommend heading out to the Douro Valley. It was definitely one of the highlights of our trip! However, if you’d rather stay local, you could easily spend another day exploring Porto itself. Check out our post on 30 things to do in Porto for more ideas.
The Douro Valley is Portugal’s most famous wine region. We chose to visit as part of a guided tour that included transport, a boat trip, visits to family-run wineries, a tasty lunch and, of course, wine tasting.
Once we arrived, our day began with a one-hour private river cruise on a small boat, followed by visits to two wineries. We were taken behind the scenes, strolled through the vineyards, and later relaxed by the pool with incredible views across the valley.
There were 11 different wines to try throughout the day, from the boat trip through to the final winery, and you could sample as much or as little as you liked.
While the trip was informative, it struck a really nice balance between learning and simply enjoying the moment. It felt just as much about soaking up the surroundings as it did about tasting the wine.
Is 3 Days in Porto Enough?
For most visitors, three days in Porto is a great amount of time. It’s enough to see some of the main sights like the cathedral and the Ribeira district, wander the colourful streets, enjoy a port wine tasting across the river in Gaia, and even fit in a day trip to the beautiful Douro Valley.
If you prefer to take things at a slower pace or want to spend more time exploring the surrounding areas, then four days would be even better. In fact, on our September trip, we spent around a week there without getting bored! But I do think with a bit of planning, three days is still plenty of time to experience the highlights of Porto.
Where to Stay in Porto
These are some of the best areas to stay on your first trip to Porto:
Baixa
- Very central, meaning you’re close to many of the main sights.
- Huge choice of bars and restaurants, so a good option if you enjoy nightlife.
- However, there is quite a bit of traffic around here and it can be noisy at night.
Ribeira
- Arguably the most charming part of the city, with colourful historic buildings and beautiful river views.
- Still close to many of the main attractions.
- However, it’s one of the busiest parts of Porto for tourists and accommodation here tends to be more expensive. Restaurants along the river can be pricey too.
Cedofeita
- A laid-back, creative neighbourhood with plenty of cafes, shops and art galleries.
- Great choice of local restaurants and bars without the heavy tourist crowds.
- While you won’t be quite as central as Baixa, it’s still within easy walking distance of the historic centre (around 10–20 minutes).
Bomfim
- A quieter, more residential neighbourhood with a more local feel.
- Known as an up-and-coming area with lots of good cafés, bars and restaurants.
- Like Cedofeita, it’s a little further from the main sights, but still close to the city centre.
Miragaia
- A historic riverside neighbourhood just west of Ribeira, with colourful houses and lovely views over the Douro.
- Feels a little quieter and more local than Ribeira while still being close to many of the main sights.
- However, accommodation options are more limited here, and you’ll likely need to walk a bit further for the biggest concentration of restaurants and bars.
Vila Nova de Gaia
- Worth considering if visiting the port wine lodges is high on your list, as this is where most of the famous cellars are located.
- You’ll also get some fantastic views back across the river towards Porto, especially around sunset.
- However, if most of the sights you want to visit are in Porto itself, staying on this side of the river may feel less convenient.
Accommodation (where we stayed)
Tripas-Coração // A clean apartment with facilities like air-conditioning, a kitchenette and a washing machine. We loved the spacious terrace and seating area. The location was fantastic too, just a short walk from the busy centre, which made it really convenient for getting around but still quiet at night. Rated Superb (9.4/10) on booking.com
How to Get To and Around Porto
The easiest way to get from Porto Airport to the city centre is by metro. Line E runs directly to Trindade, where you can connect to the rest of the metro network.
Most places in the centre are easily walkable, but for anything further out, you can use the metro or buses. To use public transport, you’ll need an Andante card, which is a rechargeable travel card you can buy from the vending machines in any metro station, including at the airport.
Just remember to tap your card at the yellow machines before each journey. You’ll need one card per person, and don’t throw it away after your trip because you can top it up and reuse it.
