Perfect 2-Day Porto Itinerary for First-Timers 

Explore the highlights of Porto in just two days with our perfect 2-Day Porto itinerary. We’ll show you the city’s top sights and share all of our insider tips so you can see it all without feeling rushed.

From lively and colorful riverside streets to world-famous Port wine cellars, Porto is a city bursting with charm. 

Often overshadowed by Portugal’s capital, Lisbon, we believe Porto is not to be overlooked! There’s so much to see and do here that we think you’ll fall in love just as we did. 

Our 2-Day Porto Itinerary is designed for first-timers who want to experience the best the city has to offer. We’ll guide you through the must-see highlights and some lesser known gems, share practical tips on getting around and where to stay, and even provide a handy map so you can make the most of your time in this unforgettable city.

Porto Itinerary Contents

• Our experience
• How many days in Porto?
• Porto itinerary overview
  • Day 1
  • Day 2
• Porto itinerary map
• Extra time in Porto
• Best time to visit
• How to get around
• Where to stay

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Our experience in Porto

Before diving into the details, we wanted to share a little about our own experience in Porto—so you know you’re getting firsthand advice!

We came to Porto with high expectations since so many travelers told us they loved it even more than Lisbon.

Note listen up when I tell you… Porto did not disappoint!

We instantly fell for the city’s relaxed vibe, colorful streets, and creative energy. One of our favorite areas was across the river in Vila Nova de Gaia, where we spent an afternoon wandering the streets and art market and soaking up jaw-dropping sunset views over the Douro.

After our experience, our only regret was not having more time in this charming city.

How many days in Porto; is 2 days enough?

We think 2 days is the perfect amount of time to get a real taste of Porto—enough to explore its historic center, wander the riverside, and enjoy a few Port tastings. 

That said, you could easily spend more time here soaking in the city’s laid-back charm, venturing to nearby beaches, or taking a full day trip to the Douro Valley. In fact, we highly recommend doing a day trip to Douro Valley if you aren’t already planning an overnight stay there. 

Day 1: Porto’s Iconic Sights

Explore Porto’s tiled churches, markets, and train station before heading across the bridge to Gaia for port wine tasting, and a sunset view across the Douro.

Breakfast

Get an early start on your first morning in Porto with breakfast at Floresta Cafe by Hungry Biker. This quirky and intimate cafe has friendly staff and unique breakfast options. 

We highly recommend the “Strawberry Fields”. It sounds weird (& it is a strange combo – avocado toast with strawberries, cheese, pistachio, and black pepper), but it is so good!

This place gets busy, so come early or expect a wait. 

Alternative: The owners have another location: Do Norte Café by Hungry Biker | Brunch & Breakfast. 

Largo da Pena Ventosa

After breakfast, take a short walk to Largo da Pena Ventosa, which is a cute colorful courtyard near Convento dos Grilos. There are a few miradouros there to get a view of the city. 

São Bento railway station

Next walk to Átrio da Estação de São Bento. The atrium of São Bento Railway Station in Porto is covered in stunning blue-and-white tiles that tell stories of Portugal’s history and daily life.

Mercado do Bolhão (optional)

If you feel so inclined, you can pop in to see the Mercado do Bolhão—one of the best markets in Porto. 

Note: If you want you can skip this market today, you’ll have more time to explore (and eat) there tomorrow. 

Optional stop: Just outside the market entrance is Confeitaria do Bolhão, where we found the best pastries in Porto. Try their cinnamon roll with cheese—I’m still dreaming about this!

Chapel of Souls

Around the corner from the market is the famous Chapel of Souls, a chapel renowned for its blue-and-white tiled exterior, displaying scenes from the lives of saints. It is free to enter and donations are appreciated.

Lunch

Stop for lunch at Cachorrinho Gazela. Made famous by Anthony Bourdain, this casual snack bar serves Portuguese hot dogs called cachorrinho. 

There might be a queue as this original location has limited seating and is very popular. If the line is too long, head to the other location, across the square at Gazela Entreparedes. It’s the same owners and a bigger space (we made the mistake of waiting too long). 

Order a few cachorrinhos and some beer and enjoy the afternoon with a casual dining experience. Make sure to get the sauce!

Alternative: Casa Guedes Tradicional is a sandwich shop known for pork shoulder and goat cheese sandwiches. Get the one with caramelized onions.

Luís I Bridge

Walk across the Luís I Bridge to the south side of Porto. Be sure to walk on the west side of the bridge for the best views. 

Tip: We recommend walking the lower level now and after sunset walking the top level (or taking the metro).

Cais de Gaia

Walk along the waterfront road that is Cais de Gaia, explore the artisan market, and take in the iconic views of Porto across the river.

Some interesting stops in Vila Nova de Gaia

• Check out the Half Rabbit by Bordalo II, a massive street art piece on a corner of a building on an off-street made from recycled trash, with one half vividly painted and the other left raw to highlight waste and sustainability.
• Casa Portuguesa do Pastel de Bacalhau is an interesting and super instagrammable shop that sells snacks and port wine in a unique setting. 
• 7g Coffee Roasters is a nice cafe if you need an afternoon pick-me-up.
• Pop into the Mercado Beira-Rio if you want a quick snack. 

Port wine tasting

Take your pick from the many port wineries in this area to have an afternoon drink. This part of the city is known for the wine caves and here are a few to choose from (reservations needed for tours):

• Burmester – right by the Luis I Bridge
• Caves Cálem – highly rated and great tour
• Graham’s Port Lodge – nice views from the patio and an excellent tour
• Sandeman – one of the largest wineries in the region

Gaia Cable Car

Ride the cable car up to Jardim do Morro for sunset. It’s a fun way to get a birdseye view of the city, and get up to the top quickly. 

Tip: Booking a round-trip ticket is a good idea if you want to eat dinner down below on the lower level of town. Just remember the last boarding is at 8 p.m. 

Plan your cable car timing to be at your sunset spot around 30-60 minutes before sunset for best lighting. 

Sunset

Jardim do Morro is a good spot for sunset, but it can get crowded. In our opinion, the sunset view from Miradouro da Serra do Pilar is best because you can capture the Luis I Bridge and get a great view of both sides of the river. It does take a bit more uphill walking to get there, but it is worth it!

Dinner

Have dinner at a restaurant of your choice. Preferably on the south side of the river for convenience (take the cable car or walk down). Here are two options we recommend:

• Taberninha do Manel: Traditional Portuguese food on the water
• Mercado Beira-Rio: Food market with various restaurant concepts

Day 2: Porto’s lesser-known gems

Discover more of Porto’s lesser-known gems; take the street car down to Foz for brunch and stroll the Palace Gardens before a hands-on tile painting class and more sunset views. 

Coffee

Start your morning with coffee and a pastry because you will be getting brunch later on. 

• SO Coffee Roasters – good coffee smoothies and small bites
• At Street Coffee – cute spot with good coffee and a small menu

Igreja do Carmo

This baroque church is well-known for its gorgeous blue and white tiled facade and is a nice solace to stop for a quick photo op.   

Torre dos Clérigos

The Torre dos Clérigos is one of Porto’s most recognizable landmarks—a 250 foot-high baroque bell tower above the Clérigos Church. 

Climb the 225 steps to the top for panoramic views of the red-tiled rooftops, the Douro River, and the cityscape below. It’s a bit of a workout, but the sweeping views are absolutely worth it!

If you’re interested, you can walk through the adjoining church and museum to learn more about the history. 

Brunch in Foz

Take the historic Porto Tram Line 1 for a scenic ride along the river to Foz. You will board the street car at this stop right in front of the Clérigos Church.

The tram runs about every 20 minutes from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and costs €3.50 for a single ride or €6 for round trip. The ride itself is scenic and takes about 20 minutes to reach the drop off point in Foz. 

Once you get down to Foz, head to Camelia for brunch. It’s a cute spot right on the water with a delicious brunch menu and both indoor and outdoor seating. 

After brunch you can browse the town, head to the beach or walk the path along the water. 

Jardim do Palácio Cristal

Make your way back towards the center of town (either via the tram or by walking) to visit the Jardim do Palacio Cristal for a peaceful escape. These 19th-century gardens are filled with  winding pathways, colorful blooms, and views over the Douro River.

It’s a green oasis in the city—and you can even spot peacocks as you wind your way through!  

Tile painting class

You’ll see azulejos, beautiful, hand-painted Portuguese tiles, everywhere in Porto. Learn the process by making your own in a tile painting class. It is one of the best souvenirs and a great way to spend a couple of hours in Porto.

There are lots of classes to choose from, but after a lot of research and comparison, here are our top 2 recommendations:

Gazete Azulejos

This tile painting class uses the traditional stencil technique that you’ll find in most classes around Porto. Not only does this class earn consistent rave reviews, but by taking one of their classes, you are also supporting their non-profit, Os Azulejos do Porto, which is dedicated to the preservation of all facade tiles in Porto.

Agostinha

This is the class I took and I highly recommend it if you want something a little different than the stencil technique. There’s nothing wrong with stencils, but I’ve done it many times before and wanted to try something different. The technique here uses glaze to paint in a 3D tile. 

Read more about the class.

Check availability and make your booking by WhatsApp: (+35) 191-740-4270.

Tip: Plan to do this early during your stay so you can pick it up once it has been fired in the kiln. Otherwise you’ll have to pay for international shipping (this is what I did).

Alternative: If this activity isn’t of interest to you, swap it out for a different activity mentioned below in more things to do. 

Afternoon snack at Mercado do Bolhão

After finishing up at the gardens, head on over to the iconic Mercado do Bolhão. Our favorite way to experience this market is to grab a glass of wine (or fresh fruit smoothie) and stroll through. 

You can find all kinds of small bites like cheese, charcuterie, sandwiches, fish, pastries, etc. 

Our recommendation: stop at Ostraria do Bolhão inside the mercado for fresh oysters and wine. (Tip: vinho verde is a local wine that’s nice on a hot day!) 

If you have time after the market, now would be a good time to head back to your hotel and freshen up for the evening. 

Catch the sunset & dinner

Choose which option you want to go to for dinner first and that will determine where you’ll have the opportunity to catch the sunset. 

• BOSCO Porto: popular spot for dinner and drinks with open patio and amazing views
  • Reservations are necessary – stay here for sunset
• Musa das Virtudes: edgy craft beer bar with outdoor seating and casual local vibes
  • We liked the beer and the food was great as well. We ordered the fried chicken sandwich, rustic style fries, and spicy peanuts with piri piri and honey.

If you choose to eat at Musa, head to this small “park” across the street from the restaurant, which has a nice view and is popular at sunset time. You can get take-away drinks in plastic cups from the bar to sip while you enjoy the view. 

Our experience: We never felt really uncomfortable, but the vibes were a bit dodgy here. Mostly just young people partying, so set your expectations accordingly. 

Alternative: Here’s another nearby viewpoint that’s a bit quieter.

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Porto itinerary map

Click on the map and enter your email to gain access to our interactive Lisbon & Porto map. It’s filled with custom pins of everything on this itinerary, plus our favorite sights, activities, restaurants and more in both Porto and Lisbon!

Have more than 2 days in Porto? Here’s what to do…

We could have easily spent more time in the city and surrounding areas. Here are some ideas for how to extend your time there.

1. Take a day trip to the Douro Valley 

This UNESCO-listed wine region is known for its terraced vineyards, scenic river views, and charming quintas where you can taste world-famous Port wine. 

And the best part: it’s just over an hour’s drive from the city center. 

Whether you join a guided tour or explore on your own, we’ve put together a detailed guide with our top tour recommendations and a step-by-step itinerary for planning your own perfect Douro Valley day trip (article coming soon!).

2. See modern art at Parque de Serralves

This park is a hidden gem and is a great place to add to your itinerary if you have more time. See all sorts of modern art exhibits, formal gardens, museums, farm animals, and even a treetop walk. 

3. Tour a sardine factory

If you’re into sardines, this tour is a must! My brother took this tour and loved it.

4. Take an evening sailing tour

Take in the city at night from a different vantage point – on the river. For my brother’s honeymoon, I gifted him and his wife this experience and they loved it.

5. Sample some excellent craft beer

Catraio Craft Beer Shop & Bar is a cute beer garden with good food and brews as well as a lovely atmosphere.

6. Visit the Porto Cathedral 

The Gothic cloisters and azulejos tiles make this cathedral a great one to visit for those interested in architecture and history. 

7. Take a food tour

Sample 10 food tastings with a few port wines and ginja drinks. A local guide will walk you around as you eat your way through Porto. 

8. Explore more of Foz

The neighborhood of Foz do Douro is a great spot to escape the busy center of Porto. It’s a nice area to explore on foot, with quiet beaches and oceanfront bars perfect for sunset. Walk along the seaside promenade from Passeio Alegre Garden to Felgueiras Lighthouse. 

Two famous places you can skip

If you don’t like crowds, give these places a miss.

See the iconic Livraria Lello

We skipped this iconic spot on purpose because we aren’t into waiting in long lines and we’ve heard from some people that it is so crowded that it ruins the experience. 

That said, this library is no doubt one of the most beautiful in the world, so you can certainly add it to your itinerary. You need to book a timed-entry ticket in advance, but you’ll still need to wait in a long line to enter during your allotted time slot. 

Majestic Cafe

This is a beautiful cafe/restaurant that gained popularity after it has been said J.K. Rowling spent time writing here. While the architecture is stunning, it is very busy and overpriced, and we were warned by many who have lived in Porto to avoid this place (unless we adjusted our expectations).

Best time to visit Porto

The best time to visit Porto is during the spring (April to June) and fall (September to October), when the weather is pleasant and the crowds are thinner than in the busy summer months. 

We visited Porto during the first week of June and found it to be very pleasant weather-wise (it was just a bit cooler than Lisbon). It seemed like the full high season crowds hadn’t descended on the city just yet, but I would guess later in the month that would change. 

How to get around Porto

Porto is compact and walkable, but expect plenty of steep hills and cobblestone streets. 

The metro, buses, and trams connect most areas of the city, and you can buy an Andante card for single rides or day passes at stations and kiosks.

Where to stay in Porto

For first-time visitors, we recommend staying in the Ribeira or Baixa districts—both are central, walkable, and packed with restaurants, shops, and major attractions. If you prefer a quieter stay, look to Cedofeita or Vila Nova de Gaia across the river, where you can enjoy stunning views of Porto’s skyline.

Hotel and Airbnb recommendations

Myo Design House: We personally stayed here and loved it!

• Perfect for our family of 4
• Centrally located
• A recent renovation, looks even better than the photos

Mo House Family Studio apt: 

• Different sizes rooms to suit families
• Rooms include a kitchenette and workspace
• Guest facilities include a lounge and coffee shop
• Room rates include a breakfast buffet

The Social Hub Porto:

• Good for digital nomads, each studio includes a workspace & kitchenette
• Ample guest facilities including a rooftop terrace, bar and swimming pool, fitness center, game room, and yoga classes
• Centrally located

Downtown Porto Edition:

• Excellent location in the city center, walking distance to everything
• Amenities include free WiFi, air-conditioning, and a fully equipped kitchenette with a coffee machine and microwave

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Plan your trip to Portugal

From vibrant cities to seaside escapes, we’ve got everything you need to plan the perfect Portugal adventure—from city guides and road trip itineraries to food tips and hidden gems! Start with our Portugal homepage or dive into some of our favorite articles below…

• Our 3-day Lisbon itinerary covers all the must-sees (and a few local secrets!).
• More articles coming soon!!

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