When I was tasked with writing a travel guide for Porto, I thought of wine, cobblestone, Harry Potter, and adventure. And if any of those interest you, I’d recommend you check out this city in northern Portugal!
What to Do
The Popular Stuff
- 6 Bridges Tour: A 50-minute tour on the Douro River that follows the path of Portuguese wine merchants. You’ll be sailing on the traditional “Rabello” boats. Buy tickets here
- Bridges walk: From any major neighborhood you can reach one of the famous bridges. The most famous is the double-decker Dom Luis I, connecting the Ribeira neighborhood with the wine lodges of Vila Nova de Gaia.
- Port Tasting: Portugal’s most famous wine gets its name from this city. We recommend walking over the bridge to Vila Nova de Gaia and having your choice of tastings at any time of the day :)
Cultural Experiences
- Livraria Lello: Any travel guide for Porto has to mention this place! You must buy tickets online to enter, and the difference in price is taken out when you buy something. This is the official site for tickets. Also get the ice cream next door.
- Harry Potter Tour: The idea that JK Rowling took inspiration from Porto is more than a fan theory- she actually lived here! If you’re a lover of the series check out the spots that inspired the author. You can buy tickets ahead of time here.
Outdoor Adventures
- Arouca Geopark: Arouca is just an hour from Porto and this adventure park includes the Aguieires waterfall and trekking in Paiva Gorge. In 2021 it became home to the world’s longest suspension bridge too (516 meters, or 1,692 feet long)! Stay in Arouca or take a day trip. Tickets include a few options: hiking Paiva Gorge (no bridge), a hike + walk over the bridge, or hike+bridge with a traditional boat tour.
What to Eat (and Drink!)
- Port wine: Because it’s Portugal’s wine, and specifically Porto’s wine! And because it’s everywhere here.
- Francesinha: This is a Porto specialty. A sandwich that you need a spoon or fork to eat with, this has layers of meat and cheese and is topped with a tomato sauce. It’s often served with fries.
Where to Stay
- Baixa: The downtown location means you can walk anywhere and are in the middle of the city’s best night life! Porto’s main cathedral and Livraria Lello are here. The downside is that it can get noisy.
- Cedofeita: This is unofficially Porto’s Arts district, with a great museum and lots of art studios. It’s walking distance to the center of action but quieter. If you’re looking for a nice guesthouse start here.
- Ribiera: This whole area is a UNESCO world heritage site! It’s right along the river and includes the Dom Luis I bridge.
- Vila Nova de Gaia: Ok, this is technically outside Porto, but its ridiculous amount of port wine lodges makes it worth considering! It’s connected to Porto via the Dom Lius I bridge. You’ll also get great views of the city from here.
We always recommend Hotelscombined for finding where to stay. They guarantee best prices and even let you filter out big hotels for a more authentic stay in a locally-run house.
What to Pack
Your packing list would be similar to that for Lisbon:
- Light layers for the Mediterranean weather.
- A jacket for cooler winter months
- Sunblock (in summertime)
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- A good walking backpack. You don’t a heavy-duty hiking backpack; a small one-day pack is perfect.
- Good walking shoes. Again, not for major hikes, but have a good pair of sneakers.
- A rainjacket, especially if you visit between November and March
Of course you’ll need outdoor sport clothes if you hike in Arouca. Bring everything in the above list plus these:
- Solid hiking shoes
- A sturdy backpack instead of a smaller daypack
- Large water bottle and snacks
- Basic first aid kit if not going with a guide
- Comfortable clothes that you can walk for hours in
What to Buy
There are fortunately not too many tacky tourist shops in Porto. For an authentic Porto gift or souvenir, look around the Art District of Cedofeita or buy a book at Livraria Lello like we did!
And of course there’s always Port wine :)
Transportation
How to Get to Porto
Most visitors by train come from Lisbon (a 4 hour-is ride depending on service) and it’s also only a 2.5 hour trip from Vigo in Galicia, Spain.
If you’re road tripping, take highway A1 from the south or E1/A28 from the north. (I recommend the A28 since you’ll see the coastline!). And make sure you understand Portugal’s toll system too!
Finally, Porto has an international airport that connects it to the rest of Portugal and Europe. It’s a 55 minute flight from Lisbon.
Getting Around Porto
Much like Lisbon, Porto is SUPER walkable! It’s actually smaller than the capital and still offers great weather for being outside.
Unfortunately, Porto’s metro doesn’t make it to most tourist spots. You can take the trams (trolleys), but they are just as much for the experience as a mode of transportation.
There is a bus system too, but we really recommend just walking or in worst-case scenarios, taking a taxi.
One very mentionable exception is for visiting Vila Nova de Gaia. If you don’t want to walk over, a 1.85 EUR bus ticket will take you from Porto to the doorstep of de Gaia’s best wine lodges. The buses operate from 6am to 1 am.
When to Visit Porto (Including Weather)
Really, you can visit Porto all year. Just be prepared for cool days and cold nights from November until March, and expect warm days and evenings from June until September.
The only other thing to consider is the rain. While in July Porto averages 5 days with rain, the winter months of December and January have an average of 18 rainy days.
Note: 50 F = 10 C; 70 F = 21 C
Conclusion
Porto’s another great city that you can explore on foot. We reached the Cathedral, Livraria Lello, Dom Luis I Bridge, and Vila Nova de Gaia all on foot in just one day.
Plus, nearby are the world’s longest suspension bridge and Paiva Gorge in Arouca. So you can get your culture and adventure on even if you’re short on time!
