By Monika
How to Plan a 2-4 Day Perfect Porto Itinerary.
Planning your first trip to Porto and not sure how many days you need?
You’re not alone – this charming riverside city is packed with incredible sights, history and breathtaking views that make it tough to choose what to do each day of your visit.
Let me help you with that!
After spending four wonderful days in Porto, I’ve put this guide together to help you plan a perfect Porto itinerary that hits all the highlights, whether you have 2, 3, 4 days, or more.
Let’s make sure you get the most out of every minute in this unforgettable city!
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- How to Plan a 2-4 Day Perfect Porto Itinerary.
How Many Days Do You Need in Porto?
That’s the big question!
To see all the main attractions, I recommend no less than 2 days, and with more time, you can either slow down your itinerary or include some additional things to do, like a day trip.
If you only have one day, follow my one-day Porto itinerary to learn how to see the best of the city in just 24 hours!
2 days in Porto
Day 1: Historic Porto and Gaia
We’ll dedicate today to the historic center of Porto and the Gaia neighborhood. You’ll find a map of all the places you’ll see at the end of this section.
We’ll start with the iconic spot that needs a timed entry ticket so that you have the rest of the day free to roam at your own pace.
Livraria Lello
Start your day by visiting this beautiful historic bookstore, considered “the most beautiful bookstore in the world”, most famous for being an inspiration for some of the Harry Potter series Hogwarts scenery.
Make sure you purchase your tickets in advance, either on the official website or here.
Don’t forget to take a photo on the famous red staircase!
Time needed: about an hour
Igreja do Carmo & Igreja dos Carmelitas
2-minute walk from Livraria Lello.
Those two churches are right next to each other, connected by a very narrow house (known as “the narrowest house” or “the hidden house”).
The churches are free to enter, but if you’d like to tour the house and other spaces of this religious complex you need to buy a ticket. You can do it onsite, at the Igreja do Carmo.
Don’t miss the Lion Fountain in the square before the churches and the azulejo-covered wall of Igreja do Carmo!
Time needed: 30 minutes without the tour; add an hour if touring the house.
Torre dos Clérigos (Clérigos Tower)
5-minute walk from Igreja do Carmo
In theory, the tower also requires a timed ticket; however, we were able to just walk in and purchase the tickets onsite.
We bought the combo tickets to both the museum and the tower, which I recommend – it breaks up the climb to the top for some amazing views!
Time needed: about an hour
Buy your tickets on the official website or here.
Helpful hint: If you need to purchase the tower tickets in advance in the peak season, just buy them for about 90 minutes after the entry time to Livraria Lello – the two sites are about 2 minutes apart and you’ll just head to the churches after you visit the tower.
Start making your way towards the riverfront. As you stroll the city’s cobblestone streets, you’ll come to the next point of this itinerary:
Miradouro da Vitória
4-minute walk from the Clérigos Tower
It’s a viewpoint that’s easy to miss as it doesn’t look like much – just a low stone wall at the end of the street. We stumbled upon it by chance and it turned out to be a real gem!
It offers an amazing view of the Ribeira do Porto, the Douro River, and of course, the iconic Dom Luís I Bridge.
Time needed: It’s a quick stop, just enough to enjoy the views of the area.
Bolsa Palace (Palácio da Bolsa)
5-minute walk from Miradouro da Vitória
Stop by the Bolsa Palace (also known as the Stock Exchange Palace) and either admire it from the outside or book a 30-minute mandatory tour to explore the rooms inside.
Learn more about the tours here.
We missed out on the tour as we didn’t book in advance and the line to purchase onsite was SO LONG!
Time needed: minimum 30 minutes for the tour plus wait time to enter the buliding
Church of St. Francis (Igreja do Convento de São Francisco)
2-minute walk from Palácio da Bolsa
This is another religious complex in Porto. You have to buy an entry ticket (you just get it onsite) and you get access to the actual St. Francis Church, the museum, the Catacombs,and the new church – Church of the Third Order.
The main church is known as “the Gold Church” as it’s decorated with over 250 kg of gold inside! Photography was not allowed, so you just have to visit and see for yourself!
Don’t miss the Catacombs!
Time needed: 60 – 90 minutes
Ribeira do Porto
5-minute walk from the Church of St. Francis
That’s the waterfront of Porto – a large promenade where you can walk around, grab some food and go souvenir shopping in the stalls lined up by the riverbank.
It’s a great area to just enjoy being in Porto and take in the views!
Most likely you’ll pass by a few of the traditional Rabelo boats, which were used in the past to transport port wine from the vineyards of the Douro Valley to the wine cellars in Porto and Gaia.
Optional: If you’d like a different perspective of the city’s landscape, book a ride on one of the boats! This “Six Bridges River Cruise” seems to be the most popular and best-reviewed tour.
Cross the Dom Luís I Bridge
No trip to Porto is complete without crossing this iconic Porto landmark at least once.
It connects the historic district of Porto with Vila Nova de Gaia (often called just Gaia).
The bridge has two levels, and you can cross it on either one.
The lower deck is for pedestrians and cars only and you can access it right from the riverfront promenade. There is a set of low stairs and a ramp.
The upper deck is where the Porto metro runs but it also has sidewalks for pedestrians.
You can access this level either by taking the Guindais Funicular from the lower station and walking from the upper stop near the Santa Clara Church to the bridge or you can climb the stairs, which will bring you right next to the bridge entrance.
Both the stairs and the funicular station are located across the street from the lower deck of the bridge.
Stroll along the Gaia riverfront
Just like on the Porto side, this area is full of cafes and souvenir stands and shops, but its primarily known for the port wine cellars along the esplanade.
As you stroll along the riverbank stop by for a wine tasting or go for a wine cellar tour. You should reserve those in advance.
Some of the most popular wine cellars offering tours are: Sandeman, Taylor, and Fonseca.
Don’t miss Kopke – the oldest wine cellar in Porto! While they don’t seem to offer tours, stop by the store and check out the wines!
Optional: If you have time and energy visit WOW – The World of Wine and check out one of their interactive museums:
- The Wine Experience
- Planet Cork
- Porto Region Across the Ages
- The Bridge Collection
- The Chocolate Story
- Pink Palace
Time needed: 60-90 minutes if you’re just strolling along the river; add time for a wine cellar tour (typically about 1 hour) and more time if you’re visiting the WOW museums (90 minutes for the Wine Experience, about 1 hour for the others)
That concludes your day 1 in Porto! Hopefully, you enjoyed walking the streets and had some good port wine, maybe even went on a boat tour?
If you’re up for it you can take the Gaia Cable Car ride to the upper level of the bridge and walk a minute to the Miradouro da Serra do Pilar for one more view of Porto before crossing the bridge back to the city.
Day 1 in Porto itinerary map:
Here is a map of everything you’ve seen today:
For more information and details (costs, opening hours) and a few other hidden gems you can find on the way, read my article about the best things to do in Porto.
Day 2: Local market, historic café and beautiful churches
We’ll start your second day in Porto by strolling along the prettiest shopping street in the city – Rua de Santa Catarina.
Start your day early and visit a wonderful, authentic local market!
Bolhão Market (Mercado do Bolhão)
It’s a historic marketplace, full of fresh local produce, cheeses, sweets, crafts, souvenirs and more!
It opens at 8 am and is definitely worth a stop, but if browsing stalls with local goods is not your thing, just skip right to the next stop!
The Chapel of Souls (Capela das Almas)
3-minute walk from the Bolhão Market
This 18th century church is covered with azulejos both on the outside and inside and is beautiful – make sure you stop by to see it.
It’s right across the street from the Bolhão metro station, on Rua de Santa Catarina.
Time needed: about 30 minutes
When you’re ready, start walking along this bustling street towards the next stop on today’s itinerary
The Majestic Café
5-minute walk from the Chapel of Souls
It’s a stunning historic café dating back to the early 1900s. You can have a cup of coffee and a bite to eat or just peek inside.
Keep walking down the street.
Church of Saint Ildefonso (Igreja de Santo Ildefonso)
2-minute walk from the Majestic Café
Another gorgeous, azulejo-covered church!
For a small fee, you can see the church with its ornate, gold altar and the small museum.
Time needed: about 30 minutes
São Bento Train Station
8-minute walk from the Church of Saint Ildefonso
Visit this fully functioning train station, famous for the entry hall decorated with blue tile mosaics, depicting scenes from Portuguese history.
It’s said to be one of the most beautiful train stations in the world.
Time needed: 15-30 minutes
Porto Cathedral (Sé do Porto)
4-minute walk from the São Bento Railway Station
Porto Cathedral is one of the oldest churches in the city, established in the 12th century.
You pay a fee to enter the church, the cloister, the bell tower, the museum, and the treasure room.
The cloister is a much smaller version of the Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon, with the best part being a large wall covered in azulejo tiles.
The tower provides some amazing views of the city, with the Clérigos Tower visible above other buildings.
Don’t miss the large plaza in front of the Cathedral, with a tall statue and the view of your next destination (see the photo below).
Time needed: at least 90 minutes, more if you choose to also visit the adjacent Bishop’s Palace.
St. Lawrence Church (Igreja de São Lourenço)
2-minute walk from the Porto Cathedral
As I mentioned, you can see this church from the Cathedral Square.
Just walk straight ahead, through the square, leaving the Cathedral behind you, down towards the viewpoint called Miradouro da Rua das Aldas.
St. Lawrence Church will be right in front of you. Just walk down the stairs on the left side of the viewpoint and you’ll see it – also on your left.
The church has a small archeological museum attached to it, as well as a bell tower and it is all free to enter.
You’re just not allowed to take photos in the church, but trust me – there is a lot of gold there!
Climb to the top of the tower and walk the short walkway between the two “peaks” – it’s another great spot for amazing views of Porto.
Time needed: 30 – 45 minutes
Church of Santa Clara (Igreja de Santa Clara)
7-minute walk from St. Lawrence Church
I’ve mentioned “gold” in just about every church’s description but this church takes it to a whole new level! This is by far the most ornate and gold church we’ve seen in Porto.
Even the ceiling is covered in gold!
It was founded as a closed female convent and due to that history, it has some unique features – like a turning tray to purchase sweets from the nuns without contact, a special door for speaking with them and spikes on the gate to prevent physical contact.
Climb the stairs to the second floor to watch a movie about Santa Clara’s renovations, and to see the room where the nuns prayed and watched the mass.
Time needed: about 1 hour
And that concludes your day 2 in Porto itinerary.
If you have time and energy left, you can walk a few minutes to the bridge and revisit Gaia or Porto’s riverfront OR just head back to your accommodation.
We’ll get to “where to stay in Porto” a little later.
As I mentioned earlier – for a lot more details on each destination of this itinerary, plus a few more optional attractions, read my guide to the best things to see and do in Porto.
Day 2 in Porto itinerary map:
Here is a map of everything you’ve seen today:
Looking for authentic Portuguese flavors? Read my guide to delicious foods to try in Portugal.
Day 3 and Day 4 in Porto
With more days, I highly recommend taking a day trip from Porto.
Visit the beautiful vineyards of Douro Valley, where you also get to taste a lot of different port wines and try some delicious Portuguese food.
You can also go to the scenic villages of Braga and Guimarães .
For those looking for an adventure, visit the famous Arouca 516 suspension bridge and hike the Paiva walkways.
If crossing the bridge seems like too much, you can just walk the Paiva Walkways.
Helpful tip: Each of these tours is a full-day trip, so to cover all three destinations and visit all the highlights of Porto, you’ll need 5 days in Porto!
What to book in advance
Most sites in Porto are free to access or you can easily buy entry tickets when you get there.
These are the attractions that you should book ahead:
- Livraria Lello
- Palácio da Bolsa tour
- Torre dos Clérigos in peak season
- Wine cellar tour
- Day trips from Porto
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Where to Stay in Porto
In my opinion, the best area to stay in Porto is the historic center.
We rented an apartment called “The Porto Way” right on Rua de Santa Catarina, and the location was perfect!
We could walk to all the sites on this itinerary as well as easily get to the meeting point for our tours.
For more accommodation choices in Porto, explore the map below:
Is Porto walkable?
Yes! As you can gather from this article and the maps, everything you want to see in Porto is within a short walk from one attraction to the next.
You don’t need a car to see the city, and day tours are easy to take and very convenient, especially when wine tasting is involved!
For more information about how to get around Porto, read my guide to Porto!
Need help planning your trip to Portugal? Follow these easy steps to plan your Portugal adventure stress-free!
Thinking of a Porto – Lisbon – Algarve road trip? Combine this guide with my Lisbon and Algarve itinerary and read the guide to the best places to see between Lisbon and Porto to plan an amazing Portugal adventure!
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👉 To learn about my trusted travel planning resources that help me (and will help you too!) plan my trips easily and save money, read this guide: How to Plan a Trip to Europe: My Favorite Travel Resources Revealed.
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About Monika
An avid traveler and a passionate trip planner, mildly obsessed with being organized and prepared 🙂
Well aware of how precious travel time is, I’m here to share my experience and help you get the most out of your vacation time.
“Taking the hassle out of trip planning”
