Visiting Porto and the Douro Valley

Porto may be one of the most underrated cities in the world. With it’s darling Old Town and riverside district, the various colorful and ornate azulejo tiled buildings, the magnificent Dom Luis bridge overlooking the scenic Douro River, and easy access to hundreds of port lodges in the district of Gaia as well as the Douro Valley…Porto really surprised us, and Kevin and I have fallen in love with the city. There’s just something wonderfully romantic and authentic about Porto. Keep reading for my comprehensive guide to visiting Porto and the Douro Valley!

Table of Contents

How Long to Stay in Porto
When to Visit Porto
Where to Stay in Porto
Where to Eat in Porto
What to See in Porto

Related Post: Lisbon Trip Diary

How Long to Stay in Porto

While Porto is not a massive city, I would definitely dedicate at least 2 full days to your visit – this will give you plenty of time to see the majority of the attractions listed in this guide, at a reasonable pace. If you’re planning on tacking on some of the suggested day trips (for example, Douro Valley or Aveiro), then I would add at least another day or two.

When to Visit Porto

Due to it’s location along the river and proximity to nearby beaches, the city of Porto has a fairly moderate climate. Generally, the best time to visit Porto is during late-spring (May/June) or early autumn (September); this is when you’ll see fewer tourists in the city and experience the most comfortable temperatures. If you’re looking to pair a visit to Porto with a trip to the Douro Valley, you may want to consider going in the fall for the harvesting season (usually the second half of September), which would offer a really unique experience!

Where to Stay in Porto

While there are plenty of hotels to choose from, I’d actually recommend staying in a local AirBnB while you’re visiting Porto. There are so many great, affordable AirBnB options in Porto! On our first trip to Porto, we stayed at this wonderful sun-filled loft in the Bolhão district. We’ve also stayed at this three-bed guesthouse, which is super spacious, clean, and affordable.

Where to Eat in Porto

Manteigaria

If you read my Lisbon Trip Diary, you’ll know that pasteis de nata (portuguese custard tarts) is one of my favorite desserts. These golden flaky tarts of custard, butter, and cinnamon are like little drops of heaven. While there are several pasteis de nata shops in Porto, my favorite pasteis de natas are from Manteigaria, and we had them (paired with a nice brew of strong coffee) everyday for breakfast while we were in Porto.

Casa Guedes

I’m just going to say it….Casa Guedes serves one of the best pork sandwiches I’ve ever had in my life. Kevin and I have been there several times, and we literally plan our visits to Porto around a pit stop here. This dinky, family-run snack bar is famous for it’s pernil de porco (pork roasted leg), which is served with toasted bread topped with ‘Serra de Estrela’ cheese (creamy sheep’s milk cheese made in the mountain region of Serra da Estrela, and also has ‘protected status’). We always round out the meal with a side of beer.

Marisqueria do Porto

Visit one of the oldest seafood restaurants in the city, Marisqueria do Porto and dine on fresh seafood platters, fish soup, and creamy seafood rice. If you’re not in the mood for seafood, the restaurant is also known for having some of the best francesinhas in the city. If you’ve never heard of, or tried a francesinha before…then definitely add this to your Portuguese food bucket list. This hearty Portuguese sandwich is basically a ham, sausage, and cheese sandwich that is slathered with melted cheese and covered in a rich spiced tomato sauce. Maybe not the most healthy of meals…but certainly an iconic sandwich worth trying out!

Churrasqueira Paraiso

Located just outside the city center is a rustic BBQ restaurant called Churrasqueira Paraiso. We visited this restaurant as I was craving meat (as one does), and also wanted to have dinner at a more local restaurant outside of the city. I could not recommend this place enough – simple grilled meats served with rice, chips, salads, and wine…it’s a great place to visit if you’re looking for a cozy, generous, and affordable meal that the locals love.

Brigadeiria do Porto

Brigadeiro is a traditional Brazilian dessert which made it’s way across the Atlantic to Portugal. These little balls are a mixture of chocolate, butter, and sweetened condensed milk…and are oh-so-delicious! Pick up one (or a box) from Brigadeiria do Porto located in the Mercado Beira Rio, to satisfy your sweet tooth and have a nice afternoon pick-me-up. There are also several great restaurants located within the Mercado Beira Rio if you’re looking for something a bit more substantial.

TIP: A lot of blogs posts and tourist books will tell you to visit the Majestic Café. While I would make a pit-stop here to check out the design (this tourist hot spot is known to be one of the city’s most beautiful cafes and where JK Rowling spent some time writing Harry Potter), I’ve heard a lot of lackluster reviews about the food.

What to See in Porto

Sao Bento Station

The Sao Bento Train Station in Porto is considered to be one of Europe’s most beautiful train stations. It’s definitely worth a stop here to admire the over 20,000 gorgeous blue azulejo ceramic tiles which depicts the history of Portugal, including major events such as the Tattle of Valdevez (1140) and the Conquest of Ceuta (1415).

Ribeira (a.k.a Porto’s Old Town)

Make sure to visit the medieval old town – Porto Ribeira. Walking through this neighborhood is like walking back in time, and we spent several hours roaming the narrow charming alleyways and perusing the local shops.

Ponte D. Luis Bridge

Head to the double decker bridge of Ponte Dom Luis which spans the River Douro between Douro and Gaia. This bridge features a pedestrian walkway, and offers some of the best views of the Porto skyline and the riverfront. Fun fact: The bridge was designed by the same Gustave Eiffel who built the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris. Walking across the Ponte Dom Luis bridge will take you into Gaia, which is a must-visit area when in Porto for the riverfront promenade and access to various port lodges (see below).

Avenida de Diogo Leite

Gaia is considered to be the central hub of the port wine industry, and the scenic riverside promenade (Avenida de Diogo Leite) offers a plethora of cute cafes and shops to peruse, and also features several classic rabelo boats for display. Along the riverbank is where barrels of wine and port were loaded and unloaded for hundreds of years. More importantly, Gaia is home to over 60 port lodges where you can take a tour of the facilities and try different types of port.

Port Tasting Tour

If you haven’t tasted port before, then you definitely have to sample some while in Portugal. This fortified sweet wine is often served with dessert; it’s typically described as rich, leathery, fruity in taste…and the alcohol really packs a punch. We’ve done multiple port tasting tours during our visits to Porto. Graham’s Port Lodge offers a really great tour where you can sample 3 different port wines (the tour through the facilities takes around 1.5 hours). We loved being able to take our port wines onto Graham’s terrace overlooking the Douro river, with some snacks for pairing. Other great options include Taylor’s Port Lodge, which is a larger port lodge with a self-guided audio tour in case you want to do-it-yourself. I’d also recommend checking out some of the smaller port lodges if you can such as Croft Port (pink port wine!) or Calem.

Clérigos Tower

Another must-visit attraction while visiting Porto is the Clérigos Tower, which is a UNESCO World heritage site and a major historical landmark. Although climbing to the top of the tower (240 steps) requires some physical effort, you’ll pass 49 bells along the way, with your final destination providing outstanding views over the city.

Palacio da Bolsa

When visiting Porto, it’s worth taking a tour of the grand Palacio de Bolsa (a.k.a. Stock Exchange Palace). Located in the Infante D. Henrique Square in the Porto Old Town, this UNESCO World Heritage site features exquisitely designed facades and rooms (architecture and interior design lovers take note!). Guided tours take place every day, and last for half-and-hour. My favorite rooms that we saw were the glass-domed Hall of Nations and the golden Arabian Hall.

Check out the different wall art

One of my favorite things about Porto are the many buildings covered with colorful azulejos. These eye-catching walls are EVERYWHERE in Porto, and you can easily go on a DIY tour to see some of the most amazing buildings in the city.

My favorite wall in Porto is from the Igreja Capela das Almas (Chapel of the Souls); this chapel is covered in blue and white tiles, and the tile work depicts scenes from the lives of saints.

I also love the Igreja do Carmo tiles; this 18th century church is considered to be one of the best examples of rococo architecture.

For some other fun wall shots, make sure to check out the tiled-walls of Steak-and-Shake (most vote for the most beautiful Steak-and-Shake in the world), as well as the graffiti half-rabbit at R. Guilherme Gomes Fernandes 42 in Gaia.

Sunset Viewpoint

There are several great sunset viewpoints scattered throughout the city, with one of the most famous ones being the Miradouro da Vitória which is located in the heart of the Old Town and provides sweeping views overlooking Gaia.

Another great sunset viewpoint option is the Miradouro Da Serra Do Pilar, which you can get to after crossing the Luis I Bridge.

Day Trip to the Douro Valley

Hands down one of the most beautiful places I’ve been….a trip to Porto is not complete without a visit to the nearby Douro Valley. The Douro Valley is the oldest demarcated wine region in the world, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. With miles and miles of terraced sun-drenched vineyards lining dramatic hillsides framing the Douro River…it really is a breathtaking scene. The N22 drive between the towns of Pinhão and Regua is also considered to be one of the world’s most beautiful drives.

We’ve been a few times and typically just rent a car in Porto for the day (the Douro Valley is about a 1.5-2 hour drive away from the city). While in the Douro Valley, you can take a 1-hour river cruise along the Douro (we booked ours through Magnifico Douro), or explore the various charming towns and villages of Pinhão, Lamego, and Regua.

And of course, you have to visit a port lodge while you are in the Douro Valley. Our favorite moments in the Douro Valley were the wine tours and picnics we had during our visits. A great option for a wine tour and picnic is Quinta de Bomfim (near the village of Pinhão; we had a whole terrace to ourselves overlooking the Upper Douro).

Another great picnic/wine tour option is Quinta da Popa.

Day Trip to Aveiro

Another great day trip option from Porto is the city of Aveiro. Aveiro is a maritime city which is crisscrossed by canals, and sometimes called the ‘Venice of Portugal’. You can take a boat tour on one of the ‘Moliceiro’ boats in the city, or try some Ovos Moles, which is a local delicacy originating from Aviero featuring heavily sugared egg yolks encased in rice paper. Apparently, the shape of the Ovos Moles are meant to honor Aveiro’s connection to the sea, and are often designed in the form of shells, fish, or whelks. While I was glad we tried the Ovos Moles while we were there, I have to admit that I found the pastries to be a little too sweet for my liking!

While in Aveiro, head to the Costa Nova neighborhood (on the lagoon side of Aveiro) and take a walk along the wooden walkway along the beach, and admire the various striped beachfront homes. Due to it’s proximity to the ocean, Aveiro is also a great place for some leisurely al-fresco dining featuring….fresh seafood!

Livraria Lello a.k.a the Harry Potter Library

I’ve included the Livraria Lello on this list because it’s featured in every tourist guide to Porto, but I’d actually recommend that you SKIP this site if you’re short on time. This bookstore deems itself the ‘most beautiful bookstore in the world’, and while it is very beautiful inside, I personally found our visit underwhelming. Due to it’s insane popularity, visits to the bookstore now require that you purchase an entry voucher which can be redeemed towards any book purchase. Even though we booked in advance, the queues to get into the Livraria Lello were insane and most people were waiting for 1-2 hours to get in. I also found the prices at the bookstore to be extremely marked-up, and the crowds unmanageable.

And there you have it, my guide to visiting Porto and the Douro Valley. After writing this, I can’t help but dream about the next time I can visit the city….and savor some warm pasteis de natas with a shot of Tawny port while I’m there!