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Planning a quick trip to Porto? This 2-day itinerary covers all the must-see sights, from historic landmarks to delicious food, culminating in an unforgettable Douro Valley adventure. Get ready to explore!
Including a Douro Valley Winery Tour!
Hello everyone! It's Melissa, your global travel blogger here.
Porto, seemingly one of Europe's hottest destinations lately,
I recently spent two fulfilling days exploring the city center.
Since my itinerary was a super packed two days,
I diligently moved around, and
I was able to see most of the must-visit spots.
I've put this guide together based on the actual route I took,
and though I missed some spots this time due to lack of time,
I'll also introduce some gems I've bookmarked for my next visit.
Let's explore them together!
1. Porto Travel Itinerary Day 1 – Sunset is the Key Highlight!
📍 Porto
Porto, Portugal
Day 1: Bolhão Market – São Bento Station – Capela das Almas – Canned Goods Shop – Cable Car – Serra do Pilar Monastery
📌Bolhão Market (Mercado do Bolhão)
A traditional market where you can truly get a glimpse into the authentic daily life of Porto's locals.
Fruits, seafood, olives, flowers, pottery — you name it, this market has it, despite its relatively small size. There are even food stalls where you can grab a quick bite, making it a fantastic spot to kickstart your day.
I arrived in Porto bright and early, dropped off my luggage, and grabbed breakfast right here at the market.
📌São Bento Station (Estação de São Bento)
A stunning train station adorned with beautiful Azulejo tile art, truly a symbol of Porto.
I'm not sure if it's the most beautiful in the world, but it truly is stunning! Be warned though, there's always a ton of people. It's perfect for a quick look around and snapping some gorgeous photos.
It's an active train station, and you'll find the famous restaurant Tapabento located right here.
📌Capela das Almas (capela das Almas)
This is a church with its entire exterior adorned with beautiful Azulejo tiles.
This truly feels like *the* ultimate photo spot. Isn't it absolutely gorgeous? I ended up taking tons of photos just from the outside. It's one of those places that instantly comes to mind when you think of Porto.
While the expansive Azulejo tiles on the side of the chapel are fantastic for photos, I think the front, with its entrance, offers an even more charming and classic chapel view.
📌The Fantastic World of Portuguese
This is an unbelievably cute canned goods shop!
With its vibrant, circus-like colors, it's a fantastic spot for photos, and the beautifully designed cans make for wonderful souvenirs or gifts.
Just a tip: canned sardines are fantastic for rice pot dishes (like a substitute for mackerel!) or simply enjoyed as a delightful snack with a drink.
Exploring in the middle of summer, I was absolutely melting from the heat!
So, I ended up taking the Gaia Cable Car (teleferico de gaia) , which wasn't in my original plan, just to get around. It was a lovely moment to rest my weary feet! While it might not be a super 'special' attraction, it offers a fantastic panoramic view of the Douro River.
You can catch it near the canned goods shop. And here's a tip: when you get off, you're super close to Jardim do Morro! If you're heading to watch the sunset but aren't keen on walking up, this cable car is your perfect solution...
📌Serra do Pilar Monastery (Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar)
When you're in Porto, catching a breathtaking sunset is an absolute must, right?
While most people gather on the lawn of Jardim do Morro to watch, I preferred to head up to the monastery instead. It gets quite crowded down there, and I wasn't particularly keen on sitting on the grass!
In front of the monastery building, there's a spacious plaza with benches, making it a perfect spot to relax and soak in the atmosphere!
I arrived well before sunset, relaxed, and enjoyed watching the buskers perform. But as sunset drew nearer, the area filled up with an incredible number of people!
Don't just stick to Jardim do Morro; if you venture a little higher, you'll be rewarded with an even more expansive and unobstructed view.
2. Porto Travel Itinerary Day 2 – Wandering at Leisure
Day 2: Clérigos Church & Tower – Bolhão Market (Revisit) – Livraria Lello – McDonald's
📌Clérigos Church & Tower (Igreja dos Clérigos)
Clérigos Church is renowned for its panoramic views from the tower and its magnificent pipe organ.
I heard there was a pipe organ performance at noon, so I timed my visit accordingly. I had considered going up the tower, but the line was incredibly long. I decided to just give up on the tower climb and enjoy the pipe organ performance.
The tower entrance fee is 10 euros, and it's convenient to book in advance.
The pipe organ performance is a bit long to listen to in its entirety, but do try to sit down and enjoy a part of it. Admission is free.
📌Lello Bookstore (Livraria Lello)
This place is considered 'the most beautiful bookstore in the world'.
In terms of locations, it seems to be the most crowded and famous spot in Porto... and since the Harry Potter author supposedly drew inspiration for her work here, as a Harry Potter fan, I absolutely wanted to visit.
Advance booking is essential.
I intentionally booked for a later time, hoping to avoid the crowds, but the bookstore isn't very large, so it's still hard to move around... haha. Still, it's a good place to visit at least once.
After visiting the bookstore, I heard about something else, 'the most beautiful McDonald's in the world' or whatever... I did stop by, quickly went in, took a look, and came out. In my opinion, it's not really a place you absolutely *need* to seek out;
The reason my second day's itinerary seems a bit loose (?) is simply because I spent more time wandering around without a specific purpose.
In between, I also explored a large supermarket and even visited a cathedral that I wouldn't particularly recommend. I was definitely out and about the whole time...
Porto isn't a city with an overwhelming number of attractions, so it feels more like a place to leisurely stroll around and take in the sights.
3. Two Itinerary Items I Definitely Want to Add Next Time
Douro Valley Winery Tour and Local Guided Tour
1. Douro Valley Winery Tour
What I regret this time is that with only a 2-day itinerary, I spent all my time in the city center and couldn't experience a wider variety of things.
I tried Port wine for the first time in Porto, and it genuinely has a captivating flavor!?? Everyone, you absolutely must try it. I recommend starting with a glass, just like I did.
There are some places in Porto city center that are called wineries, but they feel more like storage cellars for aging. The actual vineyards and wineries are located a bit outside the city.
I've been on a winery tour in Italy before, and it remains a truly wonderful memory. I'd love to go if I get the chance next time.
💡View Douro Valley Winery Tour Details
2. Porto Local Guided Tour
Porto has an insane number of hills and winding alleyways... it's super easy to get lost, and because of all the hills, I really hated going back the way I came. Seriously.
(Make sure to wear comfortable shoes. Seriously!)
If I had taken a guided tour, I wouldn't have gotten lost while listening to explanations! It also would have been so much better to have photos of both my husband and me together.
I didn't have enough time to have more diverse experiences, but for those of you planning to go, I highly recommend organizing a well-structured itinerary and enjoying your trip.
You can listen to a pipe organ performance at Clérigos Church at noon, and admission is free. The entrance fee to climb the tower is 10 euros, and it's convenient to book in advance.
Livraria Lello is a place that inspired the author of Harry Potter, and advance booking is essential for visiting. The bookstore is not very large, so it can be difficult to move around even if you visit late, but it's a place worth seeing at least once.
There's a spacious plaza in front of the Serra do Pilar Monastery building, which is great for sitting on a bench and enjoying the sunset. It's located higher than Jardim do Morro, offering an unobstructed view, and you can also spend time watching busking performances before sunset.
Porto has many hills and winding alleyways, making it easy to get lost. Therefore, it's highly recommended to wear comfortable shoes during your trip.
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