Porto is compact and can be discovered well in two or three days, with a fourth day perfect for the Douro valley or a trip into the Minho. These itineraries build on each other. It is part of the Porto guide.
Porto in one day
- Morning: start at Livraria Lello at opening time (booked) and climb the Clérigos Tower. Walk down to São Bento station for the azulejos and up to the Sé for the view (see the centre).
- Lunch: in a tasca around the Sé or the Baixa, perhaps a francesinha.
- Afternoon: walk down the stairways to the Ribeira, visit São Francisco church and cross the Dom Luís I Bridge on the lower deck to Gaia for a tour and tasting at a lodge (see the lodges).
- Sunset: take the cable car up to Jardim do Morro and walk back to the centre across the bridge's upper deck.
- Evening: dinner at the Ribeira or in the centre, then a drink around Galerias de Paris.
Porto in two days
- Morning: Bolhão market, Capela das Almas, Rua de Santa Catarina with Café Majestic, the Carmo churches.
- Lunch: at the market or in the Baixa.
- Afternoon: the six bridges cruise from the Ribeira, then tram 1 along the river to Foz.
- Sunset: on the Foz seafront, towards Felgueiras lighthouse.
- Evening: grilled fish dinner in Matosinhos.
Porto in three days
- Morning: the Serralves Foundation, with Siza's museum and the park (see museums).
- Lunch: in Boavista or at Bom Sucesso market.
- Afternoon: a guided tour of Casa da Música, then the Palácio de Cristal gardens and the Miguel Bombarda gallery quarter.
- Evening: a concert at Casa da Música or a fado house.
Porto in four days
The fourth day is for a trip (see day trips from Porto):
- The Douro valley, by train from São Bento to Pinhão or on an organised tour with quinta visits.
- Guimarães and Braga, the cradle of Portugal and the city of sanctuaries, by train or on a tour.
- Aveiro, with its canals, moliceiro boats and the striped houses of Costa Nova.
If you're in Porto on a Sunday
On Sundays many central shops close and the city is quieter. It is the ideal day for Foz, parks, Serralves and riverside walks. Many museums are open, though some close on Mondays.
Planning tips
- Book Livraria Lello, the Clérigos Tower and the lodges.
- Plan the climbs: walk down to the river and come back up by the Guindais funicular or the metro.
- Bring an umbrella even in summer.
- Use the Andante card or Andante Tour ticket (see transport).
For the full list see what to see in Porto.