Porto is the second-largest city in Portugal and also one of the most colorful, with its vibrant buildings, laid-back vibes, and lines and lines of awesome restaurants, wine shops, and bistros waiting for you to explore. So much so, in fact, that the city is considered to be the culinary capital of the country.
Within this guide, you will find all the information you need to plan a trip to Porto, from a 2-day itinerary to a complete list of the best things to do, and so much more. Without further ado, here is the ultimate 2-day itinerary for Porto for solo travelers.
Porto Things to Do Map
Quick Summary
| ♥️ Must Visit: | Luís I Bridge |
|---|---|
| 🥘 Place to Eat: | Matosinhos |
| 🛌 Place to Stay: | ibis Porto Centro Mercado Bolhao |
| 🌤️ When to visit: | Jun - Aug |
Tips: Consider the Porto Card if you plan to visit several included attractions. Versions with transport include unlimited travel on the Andante network, while the card also provides free entry or discounts at selected museums, monuments, tours, restaurants, and other attractions.
13 Best Things to Do in Porto for 2 days
1. Have Portuguese Pastries for Breakfast
- 📍 Location: A Loja dos Pastéis de Chaves [Map Link]
- ⚡ Pete's Take: "Portuguese pastries are legendary, so you have to try some! I personally like going to Loja dos Pastéis de Chaves for some puff pastries!"
Portugal is famous for its amazing variety of pastries, and Porto is an amazing place to try them out with a ton of options from salty to sweet, and more. There are a bunch of great pastry places you can check out in Porto, but my favorite is A Loja dos Pastéis de Chaves.
Their famous puff pastries come in both salty and sweet flavors. I would recommend trying the original veal flavor or chocolate if you are into sweet pastries.
If you are into egg tarts more, you should also check out Nata Lisboa, a small bakery known for their sweet custard tarts. With a good cup of coffee and delicious pastries for breakfast, you are now ready to explore Porto!
- Gallery Hostel Porto (Budget)
- ibis Porto Centro Mercado Bolhao (Mid-Range) 👍 Top Pick
- Porto River (High-End)
- Complete Douro Valley Wine Tour with Lunch, Wine Tastings and River Cruise (10 hours)
- Authentic Douro Wine Tour Including Lunch and River Cruise (9 to 10 hours)
- Wine Venture and Boat Trip in Douro Valley (10 hours)
Where to Stay in Porto?
2. Check out Livraria Lello
- 📍 Location: Livraria Lello [Map Link]
- 🕐 Opening Hours: 9 AM - 7:30 PM daily
- 💰 Entry Fees: 10 EUR for the standard Silver Ticket-Voucher, redeemable toward a book
- ⚡ Pete's Take: "This is one of the most beautiful bookstores you will see, so don't miss it."
Livraria Lello is probably one of the most iconic and historic bookstores in the world. The place is known not only for its extensive collection of books but also for its impressive architecture and beauty, which has attracted people from all over the world.
You will often hear Livraria Lello linked to Harry Potter because J.K. Rowling lived in Porto in the early 1990s, but Rowling has said she never visited the bookstore while living in the city. So, enjoy it for its beautiful architecture and history rather than as a confirmed inspiration for Hogwarts.
Harry Potter connection or not, the bookstore is still worth seeing for its ornate neo-Gothic interior, sweeping crimson staircase, stained-glass ceiling, and rows of wooden bookshelves.
The place does get pretty crowded during the day, so I highly recommend you check it out in the morning after breakfast. Livraria Lello is currently open from 9 AM to 7:30 PM daily. The standard Silver Ticket-Voucher costs 10 EUR, and its value can be redeemed toward the purchase of a book. If you love Harry Potter as much as I do, you might still enjoy a Harry Potter-themed walking tour around Porto, just keep in mind that the bookstore connection itself is not confirmed.
3. Visit the Clérigos Church
- 📍 Location: Clérigos Church [Map Link]
- 🕐 Opening Hours: 9 AM - 7 PM daily; extended to 11 PM during Easter, summer, and the Christmas season
- 💰 Entry Fees: 10 EUR for the daytime Tower + Museum ticket
- ⚡ Pete's Take: "A nice little church where you can climb the tower for a beautiful view of the surroundings."
Located not too far from Livraria Lello, you will find Clérigos Church, another great tourist attraction to check out. The church is known for its impressive Baroque architectural style and a 75-meter high bell tower that has become the symbol of Porto.
You can climb up the tower to get an incredible panoramic view of the city from above. The standard daytime Tower + Museum ticket currently costs 10 EUR, with visits from 9 AM to 7 PM daily. During Easter, summer, and the Christmas season, evening tower visits are also available until 11 PM. Clérigos also hosts immersive multimedia concerts and special events, so check the current program if you want to combine your visit with a show; you can check ticket options here.
4. Admire the Portuguese Craftsmanship at Porto Sao Bento Train Station
- 📍 Location: Porto Sao Bento train station [Map Link]
- ⚡ Pete's Take: "This is probably one of the prettiest you will ever see. The tilework the Portuguese are famous for is absolutely incredible here."
Probably one of the prettiest train stations out there, the Porto Sao Bento train station is a 19th-century main train station of the city, and it is best known for its elaborate azulejo tilework located in the main vestibule.
The walls around the arrival hall are decorated with approximately 20,000 azulejo tiles, dating back to 1905. All of these tiles form beautiful murals on three sides of the building's walls, showcasing the rich history and incredible craftsmanship of the Portuguese.
If you like this kind of tilework, you should also check out Igreja do Carmo, a beautiful Catholic church adorned with azulejo tilework on its exterior.
5. Try Francesinhas at Café Santiago F
Photo by Filipe Fortes
- 📍 Location: Café Santiago F [Map Link]
- 🕐 Opening Hours: 12 PM - 10:45 PM
- ⚡ Pete's Take: "This was much better than I expected. It certainly tastes better than it looks!"
Café Santiago F is a family-run café in Porto that has become one of the most popular places to try out the famous sandwich in Porto, francesinhas.
The place is always packed with people at all hours, but if you get there right when they open at 12 PM, you should not have to wait very long to get seats and try out their delicious sandwiches.
The Francesinhas here are amazing and definitely worth the wait. With their multi-layered meats and sausages combined with the secret orange sauce (one might call it the "Moist Maker" 😉), with just one bite, you will know why the place is always packed with people. The cafe is open from 12 PM to 10:45 PM every day except Mondays.
6. Enjoy the View of Porto from Miradouro da Vitoria
- 📍 Location: Miradouro da Vitoria [Map Link]
- ⚡ Pete's Take: "You can get a pretty nice view of Porto from here."
After lunch, you can make your way to Miradouro da Vitoria, an incredible scenic overlook offering picturesque views of the city's iconic orange roofs, bridges, and the Duoro river below.
The viewpoint is located not too far from the Clérigos Church. You can stroll down the small alleyway of the city until you approach an opening with a view of the Port below and all the Wine Cellar hillside signs across the river. Definitely worth a visit as we make our way across Porto.
7. Visit the Bolsa Palace
- 📍 Location: Bolsa Palace [Map Link]
- 🕐 Opening Hours: 9 AM - 6:30 PM
- 💰 Entry Fees: 14 EUR
- ⚡ Pete's Take: "Walking around this place felt more like a palace than what it actually is: a stock exchange building."
If you have time to spare, I would recommend taking a guided tour around Bolsa Palace, a former stock exchange building located inside a huge 19th-century building with lavishly decorated rooms waiting for you to explore. Visits are mandatory guided tours and currently take around 30 minutes.
To be honest, it felt more like I was walking in a palace or something than a stock exchange building. The palace is currently open from 9 AM to 6:30 PM, and a standard ticket costs 14 EUR. Visits are guided, with the tour language assigned according to availability. You can book a guided tour here.
8. Stroll along the River at Ribeira do Porto
- 📍 Location: Ribeira do Porto [Map Link]
- ⚡ Pete's Take: "I like strolling along the riverside walk. You can get a really nice view of the colorful houses lining up across the river from here."
After Bolsa Palace, you can make your way down to Ribeira do Porto, a beautiful riverside promenade where you can admire the beauty of the river and the colorful buildings of Porto.
There are also many restaurants and cafes along the river where you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the view with a glass of wine. Definitely, it is a great place to take a break before we continue on our journey across Porto.
That said, if you are looking for restaurants to try some local seafood dishes, I would recommend skipping this area and going to Matosinhos instead. It will be cheaper and fresher up there.
9. Visit the Porto Cathedral
- 📍 Location: Porto Cathedral [Map Link]
- 🕐 Opening Hours: 9 AM - 6:30 PM in summer; 9 AM - 5:30 PM in winter
- 💰 Entry Fees: 4 EUR for the Cathedral + Cloisters + Museum + Tower
- ⚡ Pete's Take: "It's free to enter, which is always nice. You can get a pretty nice view from up there, too."
Porto Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church located in the historical center of Porto, and it is one of the oldest and most well-known churches in the city.
With its fortress-like exterior, stunning Romanesque facade, and nave with a little touch of Gothic style on the inside, the church is a great place to stop by before we make our way across the river. Its location on top of a hill also offers another great spot for a panoramic view of the city.
The cathedral complex is currently open from 9 AM to 6:30 PM in summer and from 9 AM to 5:30 PM in winter, closing on Christmas and Easter. A 4 EUR ticket covers the Cathedral, cloisters, museum, and tower. It is definitely one of the best things to do in Porto, so be sure to check it out while you are here.
10. Walk Across the Luís I Bridge
- 📍 Location: Luís I Bridge [Map Link]
- ⚡ Pete's Take: "For the best viewpoint in Porto, I have to give it to this one. Go for the top level, as I found the view to be better than the lower level."
Now that we are done with the northern side of the river, it is time for us to cross to the other side and explore what it has to offer. You can cross the river via Luís I Bridge and enjoy the view as you make your way across.
You can walk on either the top level or the bottom level of the bridge. You can walk on both levels (one way up, one way down), but I found the view from the top to be way more interesting. You will have a panoramic view of both sides of the river, as well as the beautiful details of the city from above that you might have missed if you go to the lower level.
11. Try Port Wine at Marginal de Gaia
- 📍 Location: Marginal de Gaia [Map Link]
- ⚡ Pete's Take: "Porto is big on wine, so you have to at least try some of it."
Porto is famous for its fortified wine, and along the Douro River, at Marginal de Gaia, located on the southern side of the city, you will find plenty of wine shops and wine cellars to choose from.
You can simply find nice bistros around the area, sit, and enjoy the unique texture of sweet Porto wine. At night, you can also join a tour of the cellar, enjoy live Fado shows, and indulge in wine-tasting for the rest of the night.
12. Eat Fresh Seafood at Matosinhos
- 📍 Location: Matosinhos [Map Link]
- 💰 Cost: Seafood prices vary by restaurant and what you order
- ⚡ Pete's Take: "This is a nice little restaurant I found that serves some really delicious seafood. It's a bit out of town, though, but you can easily reach it via metro."
For the second day in Porto, I highly recommend that you take the metro northwest and visit Matosinhos, a coastal city known for its fresh seafood dishes and an abundance of seafood restaurants where you can indulge yourself.
The city is only about a 30-minute metro ride away from Porto. You can take the metro to Brito Capelo metro station and walk towards the coast, where you will find plenty of seafood places to eat (even on Sundays).
A particular place I liked when I visited was the Marisqueira dos Pobres restaurant located near the coast in the Matosinhos district. When I was there, I paid around 9 EUR for a freshly prepared seafood dish with potatoes and salad. Prices will have changed since my trip, but the experience of choosing fresh seafood in Matosinhos was one of the highlights of my visit.
13. Enjoy local cuisine at O Buraco Restaurant
- 📍 Location: O Buraco Restaurant [Map Link]
- 🕐 Opening Hours: 12:00 - 15:00, 19:00 - 22:00
After spending a day in Matosinhos, you can come back to Porto and relax for the rest of the day until dinnertime. There, you can check out O Buraco Restaurant, a local restaurant where you can try authentic local cuisine.
The restaurant serves all kinds of traditional Portuguese food and is popular among both locals and tourists alike. The place is very small and almost always full, so be prepared to wait or get there as early as you can. The place opens from 12:00 - 15:00 and 19:00 - 22:00 on weekdays, 12:00 - 15:00 on Saturday, and is closed on Sunday.
When to Visit Porto?
June to August is the best time to go, with warm weather, longer days, and a lot more happening outside than during other periods. However, it also comes with more tourists, expensive accommodation, and warm weather.
September to October is the best time if you prefer to avoid the crowds and would like to save costs while still enjoying the city at its best.
How to Get to Porto?
If you are coming from outside of Europe, you can find a cheap flight to Porto via Skyscanner or Expedia.
If you are already in Europe and are on a budget, you can also take a bus from anywhere with Flixbus for only a few euros.
How to Get Around Porto?
Metros are the best way to travel around the city. They are well connected and relatively cheap.
Right from the airport, you can get an Andante card at one of the ticket machines. The cost depends on the zones you cross; for the airport to central Porto, you will generally need a Z4 ticket, which currently costs 2.30 EUR for a single journey. The reusable Andante Azul card itself costs 0.60 EUR.
The validity period depends on the number of zones: Z2 and Z3 tickets are valid for 1 hour, while a Z4 ticket is valid for 1 hour 15 minutes. You must validate when you begin a journey and again whenever you change line or mode of transport.
The Andante system works across participating metro, bus, and train services in the Porto metropolitan area, making it useful for more than just the metro.
That said, if you plan to visit several paid attractions, consider the Porto Card. It comes in versions with or without transport; the transport version includes unlimited travel on operators integrated into the Andante network, plus free entry to selected museums and discounts at many other attractions. It does not make every attraction in this itinerary free, so compare the included benefits with the places you actually plan to visit before buying.
Daily Budget
This location leans a little towards the expensive side, where I find myself spending approximately $40 - $60 USD per day per person. Despite this, it remains fairly affordable.
Please keep in mind that these are suggested daily budgets based on my own style of travel, which leans more towards the budget side of things. If you aim to stick to this budget, anticipate sleeping in dormitories, dining out only occasionally, and being comfortable with the cheapest and most convenient modes of transportation, which often involve a considerable amount of walking.
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8 Comments
This is great, Thank you :) :)
I'm going to Porto for 2.5 days and this provided some great insight.
I'm still looking for Recco's on a good Port Winery tour where you get Port not sold anywhere else
Hey Prits,
Glad you found the post useful! There are so many selections on the wine tour that it does get overwhelming at times for me as well. I didn't have time to do it though so I just sat somewhere by the river, and enjoy the wine and the vibe of the city. :)
Hello Pete,
A good place to eat seafood is near the beach in Matosinhos, you can catch the bus 500 that goes from the city center directly to there. You can enjoy fresh fish such as seafood and shellfish! This was recommended by locals through Living Tours. Portugal is a perfect choice because of its flavors, good quality and low prices. Can't wait to visit again!
Thank you for your post.
Looking forward to see your next article.
Hey Karen, yes that's exactly what we recommended here too. :) It was definitely cheaper and fresh near Matosinhos and a lot more options than in the city. Highly recommend for anyone to go there and try instead of staying in Porto city center.
Hi!
I've visited the north of Portugal several times over the last ten years and had the opportunity to have several experiences in Porto.
If you are a wine lover - like me - I would totally recommend a trip to the Douro Valley, where you can learn more about wine and even taste some of the famous ones in the region!
The last time I've visited Portugal I booked a tour and I don't regret it! The tour expert was great and was always talking about hidden gems and more secret places most people don't know.
Thank you for this great post!
David
Hey David, thank you for the suggestion! I've only been to Portugal once. Maybe, it's time to start exploring the country properly :) Thanks for the inspiration!
Hi Pete,
Any plans to visit Lisbon?
Not any the moment, but maybe next time when I am in Europe! :) Hopefully soon!