The Perfect 3 Days In Porto Itinerary – Culture, Port & Food

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Porto makes for the idyllic weekend getaway, and we did exactly that – spending 3 days in Porto soaking up its charm, colour and culture. From winding cobbled streets and tiled façades to incredible food and riverside views, this city is compact enough to explore in a long weekend yet packed with things to see and do.

If you’re short on time but still want a proper taste of Portugal, Porto is a brilliant choice.

After our trip, I’ve put together this Porto itinerary to help you make the most of 3 days in Porto, whether it’s your first visit or you’re returning for more. It strikes the perfect balance between sightseeing, eating well and leaving room to simply wander and enjoy the atmosphere.

We managed to bag ourselves return flights for just £22 per person, flying from London Luton to Porto with EasyJet and back with Wizz Air, both with no checked luggage. For that price, there is absolutely nothing for me to complain about – I’d easily spend more than that over a weekend at home. With affordable flights, great value accommodation and endless things to do, Porto really proves that a European city break doesn’t have to break the bank.

Day 1 Porto Itinerary – Livraria Lello & Igreja do Carmo

We landed in Porto at around 1.30pm, having left London Luton airport at 11am. Though it felt like a waste of half a day arriving so late, it was such a lovely flight time – not having to wake up at stupid o’clock to then spend the rest of the day exhausted.

After a leisurely coffee at the airport, we took an Uber to our hotel Chic & Basic Gravity Hotel to drop off our luggage, just a small ‘under-seat carry on’ each and arrived just in time to check in. The hotel was only a short 20 minute drive away.

Mercado Porto Belo

Without a solid plan for day 1, we went out for a walk and stumbled upon a Saturday market on a roundabout a short distance away, Mercado Porto Belo – inspired by London’s Portobello market as the name might suggest. It was very adorable; stalls with beautiful vintage clothing, unusual arts and crafts, grungy accessories, artisan food and more. A really cute find.

This market only takes place on a Saturday, but we discovered there is a different one on in the same location on Sundays too. Definitely worth a mooch – we were tempted to buy a few things and would have had we not travelled with the world’s tiniest bags.

Livraria Lello

Knowing that Livraria Lello, the world’s most beautiful book store was just around the corner, we booked tickets on our phones and made the 10 minute journey there. Thankfully we had the foresight to do that as the queue outside was ridiculously long, just as we’d read it might be.

Having purchased a ticket in advance meant we walked straight in and were immediately blown away by the grand staircase and intricately designed interior.

It was possibly the most crowded book store I have ever visited, but for good reason. It is said that Livraria Lello was an inspiration for J.K. Rowling’s famous Harry Potter books but she has recently dispelled that myth.

However, for only €5 per person, it’s certainly worth a visit even if don’t care much for bookshops. One to add to your Porto itinerary for sure!

Igreja do Carmo

We spent some time wandering around Baixa and finding our bearings and couldn’t resist a quick visit to Ingreja do Carmo, the iconic church in Porto thanks to the infamous Portugese azulejo tiles that adorn it’s exterior.

To end the day, we walked to Kind Kitchen – a tiny, very highly rated vegan eatery, for good reason. Nabbing the last table for two, we had a delicious, hearty meal. You can find more of the best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Porto here.

Day 2 Porto Itinerary – Douro River Cruise & Port Wine Tasting

Day 2 was our only full day in Porto and so we wanted to make the most of it. After a lovely breakfast at The Lazy Breakfast Club just a few doors away from our hotel in Baixa, we headed to Cais da Ribeira.

Cais da Ribeira

On a sunny day, there’s no part of Porto more atmospheric than Ribeira. This bustling area located on the banks of the Douro River is famed for its multicoloured townhouses and scenic views from the river.

Douro River Cruise

We purchased tickets for the 6 Bridges Douro River Cruise and headed towards the quay to board the traditional rabello boat. This 50 minute cruise was brilliant; we saw the charming picture-perfect views of Porto’s Ribeira district, while passing many of its famous bridges and landmarks.

Once we disembarked, we headed to one of the many cafes located on the edge of the river to soak up the sun and enjoy a drink with a view. An hour went by really fast people-watching and listening to a live singer further down the quay. It felt like such a treat to be sat outdoors, al fresco in January – we were blessed with glorious 15 degree Celcius weather while we were away – a stark difference to the ice back in London!

Walking down towards the river is relatively easy, down the steep, winding cobblestone streets, however the way up is a lot more challenging as I’m sure you can imagine. Like almost everyone else around us, we were stood on a street corner waiting for an Uber to take us back to the hotel!

Vila Nova De Gaia

Arriving at the hotel, we had about an hour to grab a snack and relax before being collected by a TukTuk driver who was whisking us off to a port wine tasting in Vila Nova da Gaia (a different city on the other side of the river).

We took a scenic, historic route via TukTuk with our driver Pedro and crossed the bridge over to Gaia, where the views across the water to Porto were breathtaking. There were sellers lined all along the river selling various arts and crafts.

Port Wine Tasting In Porto

After a stroll along the river, we arrived at Sandeman for a tour of their famed wine cellars followed by port wine tasting experience. To not try some Port in Porto would be a disservice to your time here – and unsurprisingly, it is a very proud favourite on everyone’s wine lists here.

This was a fabulous way to spend a couple of hours, which naturally left us very tipsy. It didn’t stop us from heading outside to have another drink on the banks of the river while watching the sun set though. Sunsets in Porto are stunning.

Certainly a fun addition to any Porto itinerary!

Half Rabbit

We walked the very short distance to the Half Rabbit; a large sculpture made out of trash on a hidden street corner in Gaia. Not a must-see while in Porto, but certainly very interesting to see the artist’s scathing critique of society’s wastefulness.

It’s worth a visit when in Gaia, particularly if you appreciate street art.

Our TukTuk driver arrived promptly to collect us for our journey back to Baixa, where we’d booked a table for dinner at daTerra. A fantastic vegetarian and vegan buffet restaurant with a variety of dishes including vegan pastel de nata.

We had a feast, (successfully sobered up) and walked the short distance back to our hotel.

Day 3 Porto Itinerary – Mercado do Bolhão & Dom Luis I Bridge

Our last day in Porto today before flying home at 9.20pm, so we pretty much had a full day which was lovely.

Confeitaria do Bolhão

Skipping breakfast, we headed straight to Confeitaria do Bolhão in the Bolhão district, a short walk away. This stunning 120-year-old patisserie serves up Porto’s finest pastel de nata and it would be a crime not to visit – particularly given that pastries are expected for breakfast in Portugal.

We indulged in two(!) each and can confirm they were divine.

Mercado do Bolhão

Conveniently located just across the street from Confeitaria do Bolhão is the mercado do Bolhão; a famous farmer’s market where you’ll find fresh produce, meat, fish and flowers. We bought a variety of unusual fruit which you can read more about in this Best Things To Do In Porto post. After the two pastries we each consumed moments before, this is what I call balance!

Walking back to the hotel to check out and enjoy the bag of strawberries I had purchased, we weren’t hungry for lunch yet and I’d scoped out a restaurant near our hotel we planned to dine at. So we found ourselves with a couple of hours to relax – unusual for a short city break, but it was very welcome after all the walking up and down hills we’d done.

Eventually, we had a late lunch at Espécie – a great vegetarian restaurant in Baixa but our least favourite of the entire trip so far.

São Bento Train Station

Having two more sights to tick off our list before the trip came to an end, we walked down to São Bento train station – which is not your average train station. A stunning example of Portuguese architecture, their infamous azulejo (traditional painted blue and white) tiles adorn the walls at the grand entrance. Definitely a must-see. It’s a stunner!

Dom Luís I Bridge

Saving the best till last, we made our way to the famed Dom Luis I Bridge. We’d timed it to absolute perfection as the sun was beginning to set and the views from the bridge were simply magical.

This is a non-negotiable must-see that everyone must do regardless of how long you are in Porto for.

The Dom Luís I Bridge spans the River Douro between the cities of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia and the distance across it isn’t long, so it’s very achievable to walk there and back. I hadn’t realised at the time, but there is an upper and lower deck that you can cross on foot; the lower-deck level which I wasn’t aware of can be crossed by car and the upper-deck is also used by the Porto metro, so it is totally possible to walk one way and get the metro back.

The Douro Valley is renowned for its sweeping scenery and delicious Portuguese port wine so if you’ve still got time, take this full-day cruise of the Douro Valley. I’ve personally heard nothing but good things and it includes port tastings at two different spots and a traditional Portuguese lunch on the river. What more can you ask for!

Is 3 days in Porto enough?

2-3 days is the perfect amount of time to spend in Porto. Though it’s the second-largest city in Portugal, there aren’t hundreds of must-see attractions and so it’s easy to tick off the notable sights in just a day or two. Off course, you also want to factor in some time to relax and soak up the culture while you’re there too – I would say Porto is one of the most beautiful and underrated cities in Europe.

The charm of Porto isn’t measured by its number of monuments. It is a beautiful city full of quirky details, cobbled streets and architectural delights to be found all around. To enjoy Porto properly, you will want to spend more than one day there though

With two days there, you can add port tasting in Vila Nova de Gaia to your Porto itinerary and with a third day, you can take a choice of day trip – Porto has several to choose from.

You can also make the most of your time there by joining a small group tour. These tours often offer a more personal experience, allowing for a deeper immersion into local culture and traditions. Whether it’s culinary tours providing a taste of authentic Portuguese dishes or guided expeditions uncovering hidden historical gems, small group tours significantly enhance your travel experience. Moreover, these tours are usually led by knowledgeable local guides, whose insights and stories enrich your understanding and appreciation of the destinations.

See how we spent 3 days in Porto below

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