Best Things to do in Porto, Portugal in 3 days

Last Updated on March 11, 2026

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Porto is the second largest city in Portugal, famous for its steep hills, old city charm and of course Port wine. Lisbon might be the more popular city in Portugal to visit, but there are many things to do in Porto making it a great European destination. While Porto shares many similarities with Lisbon, it has more of an old city charm than the more modern Portugal’s capital.

While Porto is yet to see the crowds of other European destinations, people’s interest in this charming Portuguese city is definitely on the rise. Something that is still very welcomed in the city. The spike in tourism helped bring back the city up from the financial slump of 2011. In 2017 Porto was named one of hot new European destinations to visit (along with Milan and Wroclaw), which definitely brought the city more attention.

How to get around Porto

Porto is not a big city and best way to explore it is by foot. Most of the top attractions and sights are in the Historic Center withing a short walk from one another. The challenging part is that Porto is very hilly. The city was built on the steep bank of Douro River, so be prepared for lots of climbing. I thought Lisbon was hilly until I went to Porto.

If you are tired of walking or have mobility issues, there is Funicular dos Guindais, which connects Riberia with the top level of the city. The two-minute ride up costs €4 (€6 for the return ticket), and you can catch the Funicular near the Dom Luis I Bridge. Be sure to have cash, credit cards and Andante cards are not accepted.

Also, Porto has a well-developed public transportation system consisting of metro, trams and buses. These work perfect for any longer distances, like getting to/from the airport or going from the Historic Center to Foz de Duro.

For more tips and information, check out my post Porto Tips – Things to Know Before You Visit Porto, Portugal.

How many days to spend in Porto, Portugal

Porto is not a big city, and if you stay in the Historic Center, you can walk pretty much anywhere. I think 3 days is the perfect amount of time to see all the main Porto attractions at a good pace, without rushing. You’ll have enough time to experience many of the things to do in Porto, while also leaving time to relax at cafes and just enjoy the city’s atmosphere.

If you have more time, Porto makes an excellent base for day trips. You can easily spend up to a week in the city and venture out to Douro Valley, Aveiro or Braga. All of these are easy day trips from Porto, just one to two hours away. And each of them shows a different side of northern Portugal.

So, for the city itself I recommend spending 3 days in Porto. If you want to explore beyond the city, add more days depending how many day trips you plan to take.

Best things to do in Porto in 3 days

Cais de Ribeira

A walk through Ribeira is one of the must things to do in Porto. This UNESCO recognized area is one of the oldest in the city, with its history closely related to naval trade. The riverfront stretch, Cais de Ribeira, is picture perfect with many colorful buildings, and incredible views of Douro River, Luis I bridge and Vila de Nova on the other side.

Cais de Ribeira is the liveliest spot in the city. The waterfront is lined with cafes and restaurants, which makes for a perfect spot to stop for a drink and people watch.

Walk the Louis I bridge

Out of the 6 bridges of Porto, Ponte Louis I is the most iconic and recognizable. It was built in 1886 by a student of Eiffel and the resemblance to Eiffel tower is hard to miss. The bridge has two levels, both accessible to pedestrians. The only difference is the lower level has road traffic, while the upper one is only used by trams. A walk across the upper deck is one of the must things to do in Porto, as it provides some of the best views of the city.

Take the 6 bridges boat cruise

It might be one of the most touristy things to do in Porto, but going up and down the river under Porto’s 6 bridges is a nice break from tackling the city’s hilly streets. The cruise will also give you a chance to be aboard a traditional Rabelo boat. Back in the day, these boats used to carry barrels of Port wine from Douro Valley to the wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia.

There are a few companies offering the cruises, and tickets can be bought from the kiosks set up along the waterfront in Ribeira and on the Vila Nova de Gaia side. You can also book your 6 bridges of Porto boat tour here.

Explore Vila Nova de Gaia

Some people assume that Vila Nova de Gaia, on the other side of Douro River, is part of Porto, but it’s actually a separate city. It’s best known as the home of many port wine lodges. That’s where the Port wine produced in the spectacular Douro Valley gets brought to for the aging process and to be stored. There are more than a dozen of them open to visitors, offering tours and wine tastings.

While exploring Vila Nova de Gaia, make sure to stop on the corner of Rua Dom Afonso III and check out an amazing Half rabbit art work. What appears to be a mural from far away, is in fact an installation made entirely out of trash. Behind this unusual creation is a Portuguese artist Bordalo II, who has created many more animal inspired art work, all made out of trash.

Taste port wine in one of the wine caves in Gaia

You simply can’t go to Porto without tasting Port wine. The grapes grow and wine is produced exclusively in Douro Valley, then makes its way to the lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia. There are more than a dozen wine caves offering tours and tastings, ranging from very casual to guided visits. Some of the popular ones are:

• Taylor’s – offers self-guided tours and tasting of 2 port wines, that take place in a beautiful garden.
• Graham’s – offers guided tours, that need to be reserved in advance.
• Croft – founded in 1588, offers guided tours and tasting of 3 Port wines.
• Ferreira – founded in 1751.
• Cálem – dates back to 1859 and you can visit on a guided tour. The standard tour is about 1 hour long, includes an interactive museum and tasting of a couple of Port wines.
• Churchill – one of the newer and smaller wine lodges, founded by a Graham family member in 1981.

PRO TIP: If you want to save some money, this Porto: Bridges Cruise & Sunset & Port Wine Cellar Option tour is one of the best deals around.

Visit Livraria Lello

After spending 3 days in Porto, I can honestly say that if there’s one very touristy place in the city, it’s the famous bookstore Livraria Lello. J.K. Rowling, who used to live in the city, frequented Lello and supposedly used it an inspiration for Harry Potter books. This little fact put visiting Lello on the list of top things to do in Porto, which now means thousands of people line up each day to get in. More to get the perfect shot on the beautiful bright Art Nouveau staircase, than to buy a book.

Tickets used to be sold at the store next door, but these days, if you want to visit the bookstore, you have to purchase a ticket voucher online prior your visit, The basic option is a Ticket Silver for €12, and the money goes towards a purchase of a book, if you find something you like. It’s their way of encouraging people to actually buy something vs coming in only to take photos.

You can also book a little more expensive Ticket Gold, which includes a book from Livraria Lello Collection and you get to enter through a special line. All the ticket vouchers have a timed entry.

Even though there is no denying this is one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world, it was too crowded for me to really enjoy it. Even though tickets are sold for specific time slots, there really is no limit on number of people allowed in. It’s definitely worth a visit just to see it, just go with the right expectations.

Livraria Lello is open every day from 9 am -7 pm.

Check out the São Bento train station

São Bento train station is a must stop on your Porto itinerary, even if you are not catching any trains. This is one of the most beautiful train stations in the world. The walls in the main hallway are covered in more than 20,000 azulejos, depicting the history of Portugal.

If you plan on taking any day trips from Porto on your own, you’ll most likely be taking a train from São Bento, so you’ll get to see it. If not, make it a point to stop while strolling around the city.

Visit some of the churches in Porto

Porto is full of beautiful historic churches, and whether you are religious or not, it’s worth visiting at least a couple of them. Some you can visit for free; others have a small admission. My personal favorites were the Capela das Almas decorated with blue and white azulejos and Igreja dos Clérigos with its tower.

• Sé Cathedral – Porto’s Cathedral was built between 12-13th century making it one of the oldest buildings in the city. The large square has some of the best views of Porto and Douro River. Sé Cathedral is free to visit, but there’s a €3 fee to get access to the Cloisters.
• Igreja de Santo Ildefonso – 11,000 azulejos cover the exterior of the church, and they’re by the same artist who worked on São Bento station. The church is located in Praça da Batalha, and is FREE to enter.
• Igreja de São Francisco – this Gothic church is a National Monument of Porto. There’s a €9 fee to enter.
• Igreja dos Clérigos – the Baroque style church was built between 1735 – 1748. With its iconic Clérigos Tower is one of the top places to visit in Porto. The church is FREE to enter, but there’s a €8 fee to climb the tower.
• Capela das Almas – one of the most stunning churches in Porto is located along the busy shopping street Rua de Santa Catarina. It’s impossible to miss, as its entire exterior is covered in beautiful white and blue azulejos. It’s FREE to enter.

Enjoy Porto views from Clérgios Tower

For great panoramic views of Porto, don’t miss climbing Clérgios Tower. Standing 249 ft tall (76 m), it’s the tallest monument in Porto. After you climb the 240 steps you will be rewarded with some of the best views of the city.

The views are well worth the price. You can prebook your ticket here or just show up at the church and get it on the spot.

Cost: €10/visiting the Clérgios church is FREE

Visit Palacio da Bolsa

The Neoclassical Palacio da Bolsa, the former Stock Exchange in the historic area of Porto was built to impress. While you might not think of it much looking from the outside, just wait till you step inside. All the rooms are beautiful, with amazing details and stunning floors. But it’s the Arab room you get to see near the end of the tour that is the most impressive. Inspired by the Alhambra in Granada, the room is absolutely breathtaking.

Rooms at Palacio da Bolsa are occasionally rented for special events i.e. weddings. One night’s rent will set you back €7,000.

The only way to visit Palacio da Bolsa is on a 30-minute guided tour for €14. Tours are offered in multiple languages, and you sign up for the next available tour in your chosen language.

Opening hours: 9 am – 6.30 pm

Walk Rua da Flores

The picturesque Rua da Flores is almost 500 years old and is home to some amazing buildings. It’s also lined with great restaurants, specialty stores and bookstores. One of my greater finds in the area was Mercearia das Flores, a specialty store, where you can also sit down and enjoy some of their delicacies and wines. They offer a great variety of artisan breads, cheeses and some of the finest ham.

Try Francesinha at Café Santiago

There are a few traditional dishes to try in Porto, but nothing is more famous than the Francesinha. This monster sandwich is nicknamed “a heart attack on the plate” for a good reason. Between two slices of bread there’s bologna, fresh sausage, red sausage, beef steak, ham and cheese. All that in delicious Francesinha sauce, which was one of the best things I’ve ever tasted.

Know that this is a very hearty and filling meal, so go hungry! You can find Francesinha almost everywhere in Porto, but one place that’s always recommended is Cafe Santiago. It’s always full of both locals and tourists, so you might need to wait in line a bit in high season. They also have some seats at the bar.

Visit Mercado do Bolhão 

There are several markets in Porto, but Mercado do Bolhão is the most popular one. It’s also the oldest one, dating back to 1914. A few years ago, it underwent a huge renovation, so it’s very clean and well organized.

It you’re a foodie; you should definitely add it to your Porto itinerary. The market it spread over two floors. On the first floor you’ll find stalls selling anything from food, produce, flowers, spices, wine and plenty of snacks. It’s a good place to pick up some souvenirs as well.

On the second floor you’ll find several restaurants and cafes, where you can sit down and enjoy traditional Portuguese food.

Bolhão market is closed on Sundays.

Fill up on Portuguese pastries

There’s no secret Portuguese love their pastries. Aside from the famous Pastel de Nata, you can find variety of other delicious sweets. During my 3 days in Porto, I sure had my fair share of pastries and here are some of my favorite places:

• Fábrica da Nata – this is a very popular bakery, that you can find in both Porto and Lisbon.
• Manteigaria – like Fabrica de Nata, Manteigaria opened in Porto following the success in Lisbon.
• Leitaria da Quinta do Paço – a little cafe known for best eclairs in the city.

Go on a food tour

Speaking of food, to try Francesinha, Pastel de Nata and other traditional dishes of Portugal, I recommend taking a food tour in Porto. Food tours are a great way to get to know local cuisine and sample many dishes in a short time. If you are a foodie, this will be one of the best things to do in Porto for sure.  

A lot of those tours also take you to some excellent local places, you might not find in travel guides. This highly rated 3 hour food tour takes you to several places and offers sampling of not only some of the most traditional Portuguese dishes, but also wine.

Have coffee at Majestic Café 

If you don’t mind overpaying for coffee, you can stop by the historic Majestic Café. It first opened back in 1921 and it was the main meeting point for all the important people in the city. There’s no denying this is one stunning cafe, and as you step inside its gorgeous interior will take you back in time.

Of course, you’ll pay more for dining in a place with such beautiful ambiance. While I opted out, it seems like the inflated prices don’t scare people away. Majestic Café is often mentioned as one of the must things to do in Porto, so it’s always busy and quite often there’s a line to get in.

Walk down Avenida de Aliados

This short, but wide avenue is lined with impressive Neoclassical buildings. It’s a great place for a walk and at the top end you’ll find the City Hall (Câmara Municipa) and the Porto sign.

Take a ride on the historic Tram 1

Old trams used to be the main means of transport in Porto back in the day. Later modern metro replaced the old trams, but 3 lines are still operating in the city.

The most popular one out of the three is Tram 1. Mostly because it runs along Douro River, so it offers the most scenic ride. It’s mostly used by tourists today, sort of like the Tram 28 in Lisbon.

Tram 1 runs from the Historic Center to Foz de Duro, a coastal neighborhood in the western part of Porto. You can catch it at the first stop called Infante, which is at the base of Igreja de São Francisco. It takes about 20 minutes to go all the wait to the end.

It’s a very popular tourist attraction, so the tram gets packed and there’s often a line to get on, especially in high season. Best chances to get a seat is to be at the first or last stop. Any other stops along the way, it’s most likely standing room only. And when it’s packed, you’re really not seeing much out the window.

My tip is to catch the Tram at the first stop near Igreja de São Francisco, and when it’s your turn to get on and you see all the seats are taken, let people behind you go and wait for the next Tram. When the next one arrives, you’ll be at the front of the line and one of the first people to get on. Take a seat on the left, as that’s where the views are on the outbound ride.

Historic trams are not covered by the Andante card and require a separate ticket. One way ride costs €6, but if you plan to take the Tram 1 back on the same day, the 2 trips ticket for €8 is a way better deal. You can get the tickets directly from the driver (cash or credit card).

Visit Foz de Douro

A 20-minute ride on the Tram 1 will get you to the western part of Porto, considered to be the most exclusive part of the city. It’s also where the Douro River meets the Atlantic Ocean, which creates quite a dramatic scenery.

I highly recommend getting out of Historic Center for a couple of hours and seeing a whole different side of Porto. There’s a promenade there for a nice walk along the water. You can stop at Felgueiras lighthouse, which is a great spot to watch the water and waves. Then sit at one of the seaside cafes/bars for a bite to eat and a drink with an ocean view.

If you don’t want to deal with the often-crowded Tram 1, a good alternative is the line 500 bus, that runs along the same route. You could also rent a bike from one of the many bike rentals in Porto for a scenic 3-mile bike ride along Douro River.

Discover the sleepy village of Afurada

If you want to take a break from the busy parts of Porto and check out an area that has not yet been discovered by tourists, head to the sleepy village of Afurada. This tight knit fishing community seems like world’s away from the busiest part of the city.

To get to Afurada, catch the ferry Flor de Gas across Douro River for €2. For an extra €1, you can bring your bike on board as well.

2025 UPDATE: Unfortunately, the Flor de Gas ferry stopped running in 2020 and never made a comeback. Best way to get to Afurada is by taking a taxi/Uber or walking along the River on the Gaia side.

Best Porto tours

There are many great tours you can take in Porto, if you enjoy those kinds of experiences. Whether you want to learn more about the city’s history, taste some local food or relax on the water, there are plenty of fun experiences to choose from.

Here are some of the tours in Porto worth taking:

• 3-Hour Guided City Highlights Walking Tour
• Guided Tour by Tuk-Tuk & Optional Douro River Cruise
• Delicious Food and Wine Walking Tour
• Charming Sailboat Cruise with Port Wine, Sunset Option

Where to stay in Porto, Portugal

The best area to stay in Porto, especially for a short visit, is the historic center. Either the picturesque Riberia or the downtown area of Baixa. From either you can walk to most attractions and there are plenty of restaurants and cafes everywhere.

Hotels in Porto are actually very affordable, especially compared to other European cities. Prices will depend on the season, but you can usually find pretty nice places for a good price.

1872 River House by Olivia – located in Riberia, right on the river, this Guest House has 8 rooms, half of which have great river views. Breakfast included in the rate.

Porto A.S. Hotel 1829 – boutique hotel in an excellent location, in the middle of everything.

Pestana Vintage Porto – this is considered to be one of the best hotels in Porto for the location and atmosphere. Located in Riberia, right on the river, you get amazing views from one of the balcony rooms.

The One Monumental Palace – if you are looking for a bit of luxury, this 5-star hotel will not disappoint. Located on Avenida dos Aliados in a historic building, the hotel offers over 70 beautiful and stylish rooms, indoor pool, spa and several restaurants on site.

If you enjoyed this article, you could download it via the GPSmyCity app – it will give you access to the guide, you will be able to use, even if you’re offline. Download it here.

READ MORE:

• Porto Tips – Things to know before traveling to Porto, Portugal
• 10 Days in Portugal – The Perfect Itinerary by Train
• How to spend 3 days in Lisbon, Portugal
• How to plan the perfect Lisbon to Sintra day trip
• Things to do in Braga, Portugal in one day

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