How To Spend 2 Days in Porto: The Perfect Itinerary For First-Timers
Planning your first trip in Porto and only have 2 days? It’s my favorite city in Portugal, and there’s just so much you can see here. Some of the highlights here are the iconic blue-tile churches, the famous six bridges, and the chance to taste their amazing Port wine.
It’s a small city and easy to walk (despite the hills), so you can cover the main sights without rushing, and even sit by the river with a glass of port. If you’ve always wanted to experience a chill Europe Summer, you’ve come to the right place.
After exploring Porto for 2 days, this is the itinerary I’d give a friend. I’ll tell you about places I think you could skip versus what’s actually worth the wait. That way, you’ll have the perfect first taste of Porto, and hopefully the feeling we had that made us fall in love with the Porto atmosphere.
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2-day Porto itinerary summary
Day 1 (arrival afternoon):
- Check in to accommodation and have lunch
- São Bento Station
- Porto Cathedral viewpoint
- Walk down the alleys toward Ribeira
- Dinner with a reservation
- Cross the Luís I Bridge
- Jardim do Morro at blue hour
Day 2 (full day):
- Capela das Almas
- Brunch at Noshi Coffee
- Livraria Lello (pre-booked ticket)
- Igreja do Carmo for tile photos
- Quick lunch
- Six Bridges Cruise from Gaia
- Taylor’s Port tasting
- Early waterfront dinner
Read on for the details, things to know for each spot, and our tips on how to make the most of your time. I’ve also included timestamps for each activity so that you’ll know what was actually realistic for us.
Where to stay in Porto for two days
It was actually difficult trying to decide where to stay, because so many apartments looked amazing. In the end, we narrowed down to the accommodation with the most convenient location. Since we only had 2 days, we wanted to be in a walkable area to make the most of our time in Porto.
Ando Living – Flores 200 House
We ended up staying at Ando Living – Flores 200 House, an apartment right on Rua das Flores, and I’d recommend it without hesitation. It’s slightly pricier, but the location is what you’re paying for. Despite being on such a busy touristy street, the noise fades the moment the front door closes behind you.
The hallway is quiet, we hardly saw another person in the building, and the elevator opens into another building section. Most importantly, the room itself is spacious with a full kitchenette, espresso machine, washing machine, and a view toward the cathedral.
Notably, there were some minor cons, like squeaky floorboards and walls thin enough to hear our upstairs neighbors occasionally. It wasn’t a dealbreaker since we were only there for 2 nights.
Staying in Rua das Flores
Staying in the historic center on or near Rua das Flores gives you the most walkable base for a short trip. From there, São Bento Station, the cathedral, Ribeira, the bridge to Gaia, the blue-tile churches, and most of the best restaurants are all within a fifteen-minute walk. You won’t have to waste time waiting for a ride share, which can sometimes take a while when there’s traffic on the hilly city streets.
We felt that the apartment rooms strike the right balance for us when it comes to convenience and costs, though boutique hotels can add a more upscale feeling to your trip if you prefer it.
It’s also one of the oldest streets in the historic center, and it spent centuries as Porto’s goldsmiths’ row. That’s why the facades above the modern shopfronts are so much grander than you’d expect.
Getting to Porto
If you’re coming from Lisbon, the train from Lisboa Oriente to Porto Campanhã runs frequently and the trip is around three hours. From Campanhã it’s a short Uber/Bolt or metro ride into the historic center.
We actually took a flight to Porto, so after arriving at the airport, we booked a ride share to our accommodation in the historic city center. It can be quite crowded at the ride share pickup area, with cars taking a long time to enter the parking lot.
Do expect some waiting time here, or alternatively opt for public transit if that’s a convenient option for you. Otherwise, you’ll likely need to be patient and wait for your ride to reach you.
We had an amazing ride nonetheless, and our Uber driver was so excited to tell us all about Porto. He told us the things we needed to see, the food to try, including francesinha – a Porto classic. We initially had most of our Porto itinerary unplanned, and ended up taking a lot of his recommendations.
4pm: Late lunch – francesinha
After checking into our accommodation, we took a quiet break from the afternoon sun, before heading back out for a late lunch. The local thing to eat is francesinha – a heavy sandwich of cured meats and steak in a tomato-and-beer sauce, usually with fries and a fried egg on top. We decided to share it so we could save some appetite for dinner.
You can find francesinha in lots of restaurants, and we had ours at Grego Bixar near Rua das Flores. I’d have loved to try the francesinha at Cafe Santiago too.
The sandwich itself is a fairly modern invention. A Portuguese emigrant came home from France and reworked the croque-monsieur into something far heavier. Porto has been arguing over who makes the best one ever since.
545pm: Torre dos Clérigos
We had a quick coffee stop at Garcia & Marquez before heading to Torre dos Clérigos, also known as the Clérigos tower. It was the tallest tower in Portugal for a long stretch of its life. Ships coming up the Douro used it as their landmark for finding the city.
While we were there, a tram stopped right in front of the tower, and there were colorful shopfronts surrounding the street. All of Porto just felt so colorful and I love it.
615pm: São Bento Station
Next, we took a short walk to the São Bento Station. The azulejo tile interior of São Bento is genuinely one of the most beautiful train station entrances you’ll ever see. These are blue-and-white panels covering the entrance hall, and it’s definitely worth the five-minute detour. What surprised me was that it’s still a working train station, so you’d find locals rushing through and going about their day.
I was curious about what the panels meant, because I’m sure they aren’t just decoration. It was cool to learn that these tiles depict scenes from Portuguese history. They run from royal weddings to the conquest of Ceuta. The station even sits on the site of an old Benedictine convent that burned down. There’s an added significance there.
630pm: Porto Cathedral viewpoint
From São Bento, we walked up to the Porto Cathedral, the church where João I married Philippa of Lancaster. This was the marriage behind the Anglo-Portuguese alliance that’s still the oldest one in the world.
We mostly wanted to check out the terrace viewpoint, so it didn’t matter that the cathedral was closing by the time we got there. It also oriented us above the city before we walked downhill toward the river.
645pm: The descent through the alleys to Ribeira
From the cathedral, instead of taking the main road down, we followed a series of stairs down without expecting anything. It was surprisingly charming, with the faded colorful walls and the stairs winding around residential homes and local bars.
In the late-afternoon light, the colorful walls light up in vibrant colors, and small local bars start spilling out onto the steps. You’ll pass people sitting on stairs with their drinks, talking and laughing, such that the whole walk gives off a relaxed Porto vibe.
It was the perfect photo moment, very romantic, and probably my favorite walk in Porto. I later learned why the houses lean and stack the way they do. Owners were once taxed on street frontage, so everyone built upward instead of outward.
Finally, the alley stairs ended at the Ribeira, which was where we were headed for dinner.
715pm: Dinner in Ribeira
If you have specific restaurants you want to dine at, you’ll need to make a reservation to avoid long wait times. We didn’t do this, so we decided to get to the restaurant at an earlier dinner timing and ask if there would be seating available if we waited.
We wanted to eat at Adega São Nicolau, and didn’t mind waiting for a seat as there were just five groups ahead of us. It took maybe 15 to 30 minutes for us to get a seat, which wasn’t too bad, and we got to sit inside the restaurant which resembled a wine barrel.
The food was excellent, and I loved everything we ordered. This included their slow-cooked veal (the day’s special), cod cakes, octopus rice, and a recommended ten-year port to conclude the meal.
845pm: Luís I Bridge and Jardim do Morro
After dinner, we walked up to the Luís I Bridge to cross to the Gaia side. We chose to take the upper deck, which meant climbing up some stairs from the Ribeira and working up a bit of a sweat. It was really pretty seeing the lights come on after sunset, and we continued up to Jardim do Morro for blue hour.
It’s actually a really popular hangout for locals and travelers, and lots of people would be sitting on the grass with drinks. As we looked out towards the Ribeira, which is now on the opposite side of the river, I could just imagine what an amazing sunset view it would be. If it works at the time of year you’re visiting, I recommend watching the sunset from Jardim do Morro before dinner.
Perhaps we were just tired after a long day, but we found Jardim do Morro rather crowded and not really relaxing, so we didn’t stay for too long. We called it a day and took a leisurely walk back to our accommodation.
Day 2: Blue tiles, books, and Gaia
We spent the first half of the day seeing the rest of the attractions in Porto that are mostly clustered together. In the afternoon, we went on a boat ride along the Douro River, and got the chance to taste Port wine on the Gaia side. Finally, we ended the day with dinner overlooking the river.
940am: Capela das Almas (Chapel of Souls)
As superficial as it sounds, I find the blue tiles to be very pretty and I’d seen so many videos and pictures of them before our trip. That’s why I was very excited to visit the Capela das Almas, where the blue tiles cover the side wall of the church facing the street.
I recommend coming here in the morning, as it’s known to be really crowded throughout the day. However, please don’t stand in the middle of the road just for a picture as it can be really dangerous. When you’re there, just take a quick picture and admire the building from across the street.
1015am: Brunch at Noshi Coffee
Our next stop was a cluster of attractions, including Livraria Lello and Igreja do Carmo blue wall, with Noshi Coffee conveniently located nearby. Noshi Coffee feels like the perfect spot for a break as it’s away from the crowds, has a small garden seating area in the back, and serves healthy options. We got a breakfast plate and pancakes with chocolate, peanut butter, banana, and fruit.
If you’re not in a rush to get to the blue wall at Chapel of Souls, you could always get breakfast here first, and enjoy coffee slowly while people watching.
1115am: Livraria Lello (with a pre-booked ticket)
If you like the Neo-Gothic aesthetic that resembles Hogwarts, you definitely need to visit Livraria Lello. It’s a bookstore that’s a century old, and the striking red curved stairs and the stained glass windows make the interior look stunning. Some also claim this is the most beautiful bookstore in the world.
However, you will need to purchase a time-entry ticket if you want to ensure a visit without too much waiting. We booked ours online the day before, and got the 11:15am slot. Even though there was a long line right before our entry time, we managed to get inside by 11:30am. The ticket is €12 and comes with a voucher you can apply to a book purchase.
Our next spot gives me a bit of mixed feelings about recommending it because it’s so crowded, but ultimately I think it’s still worth a visit. It’s also worth knowing that even though the author Rowling did live and teach in Porto, she has said the shop wasn’t the inspiration for Hogwarts.
I was determined to get a book or two so that we would have a souvenir from the bookstore, rather than just having the ticket price go to waste. That’s why we came home with these small books about Portugal’s short stories and folklore. Before we knew it, we’d spent 1 hour in here.
1230pm: Igreja do Carmo blue wall
After our visit to Livraria Lello, we doubled back to Igreja do Carmo to admire the blue-tile wall along the side of the building. You’re also able to enter this Catholic church for free and check out the interior. Apparently there’s a sliver of a house wedged between Carmo and the church next door. It was reportedly built so the friars and the Carmelite nuns would never share a wall.
115pm: Break at the apartment and lunch
If you bought a book or did any shopping, this is probably the best time to drop it off. We also wanted to take a short break, so we walked back to the apartment at Rua das Flores. It felt like we had already done so much walking, given all the hills in Porto, and we needed to recharge before our afternoon activities. On that hot summer day, it was also so nice to enjoy some air conditioning to cool off.
For lunch, we had a quick pizza at Pizza Bella Mia around the corner from Rua das Flores. It was surprisingly good for a place that didn’t have too many people dining in. The prices were reasonable and the food came out quickly too.
3pm: Six Bridges Cruise
Instead of doing more walking around Porto, we decided that seeing the city via a boat ride on the Douro River would be really unique. You may notice that there are boat departures from both sides of the river. From what I’ve seen, the Gaia-side departures tend to be slightly cheaper than the Porto-side ones and have pretty good reviews.
We booked the Six Bridges Cruise through GetYourGuide the day before, and it cost ~$21 per person. Judging by the frequency of the boat rides and the number of seats left on the boat, I think you could get away with just walking up for a ticket instead of booking in advance.
We spent almost an hour on the boat, making a round trip up and down the river to see the six bridges. Fun fact – the rabelo boats used for these cruises are copies of a working boat. They once hauled port barrels down the Douro rapids, back before the river was dammed.
415pm: Taylor’s Port tasting
Since we alighted at the Gaia side, it was convenient for us to continue our day’s adventures from there. This time, we’re headed for World of Wine – a relatively new attraction that is gaining popularity in Porto.
From the cruise dock, we walked uphill on the Gaia side until we got to Taylor’s Port. Taylor’s is one of the oldest port houses still going. Every lodge sits on the Gaia side because port legally had to be aged across the river before export.
The thing that surprised me most was that you can walk in for a tasting without a reservation, or even a tour. We also happened to arrive at a time when it wasn’t too crowded, so we were attended to shortly after we got there. Our Uber driver had highly recommended a visit here, so we were really excited to be here.
The essentials tasting is €22 for three wines – Chip Dry, Late Bottled Vintage, and a 10-year Tawny – and compared to a tasting flight in Napa Valley, it’s a real bargain. You can also order chocolate mousse to pair with the Late Bottled Vintage, which the staff recommended. If it’s not too hot, the outdoor seating is gorgeous and even has a river view. I’d imagine this spot would be beautiful during sunset (if the tasting room is still open).
One thing we noted was that walk-ins get less priority when the place is full of pre-booked tour guests, so you might wait thirty minutes or more in peak summer. We saw a few groups who were complaining of long wait times, and even lack of service when they came during the busy time.
630pm: Early waterfront dinner
Finally, after a satisfying wine tasting, we walked back across the bridge to the Ribeira and had an early dinner on the waterfront. We were craving seafood again, so we decided on Terra Nova, located right on the waterfront.
I’ll be honest though – the waterfront restaurants are slightly overpriced and slightly touristy, and the food is not the best you’ll get in Porto. Admittedly, we’re paying for the river view, and since it’ll be our last evening in Porto, it’s well worth it.
Frequently asked questions
Is Livraria Lello worth it?
The honest answer: it depends on why you’re going.
If you’re going for the photos and the architecture, yes. The red staircase, stained-glass ceiling, and neo-Gothic interior are really special, and a €12 ticket for a half-hour inside a building this beautiful is reasonable. You will not get a clean photo where you’re the only person there – the space is small, narrow, and constantly full of people stopping mid-step to take pictures.
If you’re going because you heard it inspired Harry Potter, know that J.K. Rowling has publicly denied that connection. The shop leans into the association anyway by selling Harry Potter editions with custom covers, and that’s part of the experience now.
In short, go if you like photographing beautiful spaces even if it’s crowded. Skip if you’re hoping for a quiet bookstore you can slowly browse through.
Is the Six Bridges Cruise worth it?
Yes, though my tips would differ from others. First, ignore people telling you that edge seats are the best – because I got those seats and was actually uncomfortable from keeping my body turned the whole time.
Second, the Gaia-side departures are usually a better deal than the Porto-side ones. To secure your spot on the boat, book through GetYourGuide the day before, and it’ll cost about $21 per person.
Is 2 days enough for a Douro Valley day trip
In my opinion, visiting Douro Valley requires a full day on its own to make the most of it. It was tempting to me at first too, and I wanted to see it all. But I gave up on it, knowing that we’d ideally need at least 3 days in Porto to justify adding it in.
Is two nights in Porto enough?
For a first visit, yes. Two nights and one and a half days felt like the minimum though. It’s just enough time to see the monuments, take a river cruise, do a port tasting, catch at least one blue-hour or sunset view, and get a real feel for the city. I wish I’d had more time, so that I could check out more of the top restaurants in Porto.
If you can stretch it to three nights, here’s what I’d add: a slow morning at a café reading or writing, a Douro Valley day trip, and watching one more sunset. We would’ve wanted to watch the sunset at Crystal Palace garden but with just a 2-day trip, we were too tired to go all the way there.
Practical tips for planning your trip to Porto
- Porto is walkable but hilly: Expect stairs, slopes, and uneven cobbles. Comfortable shoes matter a lot, so I was wearing my trail runners the whole time (since we’d come from an adventure trip to Madeira).
- Make restaurant reservations if there’s a specific place you want to eat. Walk-ins are fine, but you may be left waiting for a long time.
- Stay in the historic center: Rua das Flores, São Bento, and Ribeira are all within easy walking distance of each other.
- Don’t optimize every minute: The best moments in Porto are the ones that aren’t about checking items off a list.
Final thoughts for 2 days in Porto
At the end of our 2 days in Porto, we concluded that Porto was our favorite city in Portugal. The food, the colorful buildings, the way the sun sets over the river, all make it the perfect destination.
Even if you don’t have a fixed plan, you’ll find so much to do once you start roaming around the city. It’s also incredibly walkable so you can see a lot in one to two days. If you’re looking for a relaxing Europe trip, Porto is the place to be.
I can’t wait to go back and maybe check out Douro Valley and even more restaurants on our next trip!
