What to See in Porto: 2-Day Itinerary for a Perfect Trip

Porto is the second-largest city in Portugal but is still less well known than the beaches in Algarve. The city offered some of my favorite sites of our 2022 trip to Portugal.

This post will walk you through what to see in Porto if you only have 2 days. This post covers what to see, where to stay, and how to get around the city.

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Why Visit Porto?

Porto is a beautiful and relatively compact city. This city is full of beautiful tile work on the exterior of buildings, and stunning views make it a joy to explore. Lisbon may be the capital city, but I enjoyed the feel of Porto more.

Porto is most well known for the port and for port wine. The Douro wine valley is nearby, and much of the wine was (and is) shipped through Porto. This historic center of Porto is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

There are beaches a 30-minute bus ride (15-minute drive) from the city.

The size of the city makes it relatively easy to walk despite the hills. Porto is easy to explore quickly. After two days, you’ll likely want more time to take in the calm vibe.

Where to stay

There are two locations I suggest looking at for your visit to Porto.

Sé Porto/São Bento Station

This area of Porto is toward the top of the hill. These are also two of the must-see sights in the city. Staying in this part of Porto puts you near great restaurants and sights without having to battle too many hills.

I used credits to stay at the Intercontinental Porto. The hotel is around the corner from São Bento Station. It’s an excellent luxury stay.

The Se Cathedral Hotel is a good option if you want something other than luxury.

For apartment-style lodging, look at the Sao Bento Residences.

Ribeira District

The Ribeira district is the most picturesque area of Porto. Beautifully tiled houses line the hill near the water, along with excellent restaurants. You’ll be in one of Porto’s most beautiful must-see areas, but you’re also at the bottom of the hill. You’ll either walk up the stairs or take funiculars up the hills to see the rest of the city. If you’re good with that, you can’t beat the beauty of the Ribeira district.

Try the incredibly well-reviewed Editory House in Ribeira for a great traditional option.

Look into the FLORES 36 by YoursPorto for apartment-style lodging.

How to get around Porto

As with most cities, walking is the best way to experience Porto. Porto’s charm is in the tiled buildings and the beautiful aesthetic throughout the city.

Porto is easy to navigate. There is a cute street or ally to wander through no matter where you look.

However, there are hills. So, you’ll want to know the options for transit when your feet and legs are tired of walking. Luckily, there is an extensive transit system!

Public Transit

The city has metros and trams to get you where you need to go. The transit system conveniently crisscrosses the city. It can get you around everywhere except for Ribeira.

Use the Funicular dos Guindais to get up and down the hill in Ribeira. A funicular is a cable car system that can go up and down very steep inclines. The Funicular dos Guindais is the only transit into/out of the Ribera district, so it’s either the funicular or walking.

Get an Andante card to use public transit without worrying about the cost. Buy the Porto City Card before you go.

Porto is divided into zones for public transit. Zone 2 covers central Porto. Most of your sightseeing will be in Zone 2.

Tickets are €1.20 per ride or €4.15 for a 24-hour pass.

The Andante 24 card is a true 24 hours. So, you’d have access until 24 hours after your first swipe.

The airport is in Zone 4 (€2 per ticket or €6.40 for the Andante 24). Buy your airport pass separately from your Andante card

Other Options

If you want to avoid figuring out public transit, a hop-on-hop-off bus tour makes getting around super easy. Try the Porto Day Pass to get some added value in entrance fees.

Another option to consider if you’re traveling with a group is taking a few ride-shares. Ride-share apps are very affordable in Portugal and can be very convenient.

Getting to Porto

By Air

Porto is a very easily accessible city! The Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport has international arrivals from all over Europe. We even took a United flight from Newark, New Jersey, to Porto. The airport is connected to the city by a metro line.

By Train

Porto is also easily accessible from Europe by using the trains. They have wifi (usually) and are comfortable.

A high-speed train connects Lisbon to Porto. The ride will take 2.5 hours.

From Porto to the beaches in Faro to Porto will take 6 hours.

The same rail lines will connect Porto’s São Bento Station to the surrounding cities for day trips or travel to smaller towns.

What to See in Porto: Day 1

Day 1 in Porto involves a walking tour of the Sé and the Batalha district. Still, we’ll spend much of our time in Ribera. We’ll get the rest of Porto tomorrow!

Walking Tour

I love a walking tour. It’s one of the best ways to see a city and makes a great first activity. Porto is a lovely city with a history that makes a walking tour ideal. There are great options to choose from in Porto.

To see as much of Porto as possible, look into this tour. It will cover many main sites. The tour starts at the cathedral instead of the Ribera district at the bottom of the hill. So, you’ll be walking downhill instead of uphill.

If Port Wine is what you’re most interested in while exploring Porto, check out this wine tour. You’ll want to see more of the sites, but you’ll get to learn about the wine! Also, this tour starts at the bottom of the hill, so there will be some uphill walking.

For Harry Potter fans, check out a Harry Potter walking tour. Many spots around the city inspired different aspects of the story, and it can be fun to find the connections!

A walking tour covers some, but not all, of the activities found in my itinerary. Adjust your daily itinerary as you need to!

Ribeira District

The Ribeira district of Porto sits along the Douro river. The beautifully tiled buildings rise from the water and climb up the hill.

Find restaurants and shops along the waterfront to grab lunch after your walking tour if you’re interested in lunch with a view.

If not, wandering around the Ribeira district is one of the highlights. Spend as much time as you’d like taking in the view or walking through the streets.

Eat Pastel de Nata

Pastel de Nata is for sale all around Porto. Egg yolks and sugar combine with a pastry for a perfect treat as you wander around the city.

Dom Luís I Bridge

When you’ve explored the Ribera district as much as you’d like. Head across the Dom Luís I Bridge. It was under construction in April of 2022, so the views weren’t great walking across the bridge unless you were 6′ tall.

It was still an efficient way to move from the Porto side to the Gaia side, but it would be better with the view.

A student of Gustavo Eiffel (Of the Eiffel Tower) designed the bridge, and it’s lovely.
If you can spend time in the area and catch the sunset with the bridge and Porto, you won’t be sorry!

Vila Nova de Gaia 

Vila Nova de Gaia is across the water from Porto. Shops and wine bars line the water with excellent views of the Ribeira district of Porto.

Wine Cellars for Port Wine

If you are interested in port wine, this is the place to try it. There are multiple bars and wine cellars. You can sit with a view of the river or tour and see how the wine is aged.

Be on the lookout for flat-topped boats with barrels positioned on the river. Each boat bears the flag of a winery. Though used at one point in history, they are for tourists now. They’re still fun to see!

Teleférico de Gaia

When you get ready to head back up to cross the Dom Luís I Bridge, look into the Teleférico de Gaia. One uphill ticket will cost €6. You can purchase tickets on-site or online. The view from this cable car is one of the best of the river and Porto. There is also an option to ride the teleférico down and back up if you’re sick of walking up the hills.

Jardim do Morro

We made our way up to the Jardim do Morro on the Nova de Gaia side. You can skip it. The view could have been better, and the park was a little dirty.

I like the view from the top of the bridge more.

What to See in Porto Day 2

You’ll want to explore on top of the hill for your second day in Porto. There are several things to see. Spend time exploring the ones that interest you and skip the others.

Sé de Porto

The Sé de Porto is Porto’s cathedral. I’m not usually big on visiting churches and cathedrals. It’s nothing against them; I’ve just seen so many I struggle to appreciate them.

This cathedral in Porto was more than worth a visit!

The cathedral is full of Gothic elements typical of many cathedrals. The blue and white tile work makes this cathedral special.

These tiles are impressive. It’s even more impressive when you realize what goes into it. The tile artist has to design and paint the scene on paper before transferring the design to the individual tiles. Finally, the tiles are put together like a puzzle on the wall.

The azulejo designs are elaborate and take an already beautiful cathedral to the next level. The church is still in use today, so be aware of mass, especially on Sundays.

Clergios Church and Tower

The tower of this church dominates the skyline of the city.

The 75-meter-high tower also provides an excellent view of the city if you’re willing to climb to the top of it. Climb 200 steps, past 49 bells, to the lookout platform at the top of the tower.

The tower is a big draw for visitors, but the interior is worth seeing.

The church is open daily from 9:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Entrance to the church is free. Climbing the bell tower is €5.

Livraria Lello

This bookstore is one of the most impressive things you can see in Porto. It’s also incredibly popular with visitors, so much of the would-be charm is lost as you manage the crowds.

Livraria Lello has been named one of the most interesting bookstores in the world and even the prettiest bookstores in the world by various publications.

They aren’t wrong. It’s captivating.

The bookstore is ornate, and the central staircase is eye-catching. It turns out the now iconic red color was initially a mistake. They decided to keep it because it looked so good!

JK Rowling is said to have been a frequent visitor and customer when writing Harry Potter. All major online publications (even Fodor’s Travel) report that Livraria Lello was quite the inspiration for Rowling. But, on Twitter, Rowling denies ever visiting. It does give off an air of a magical world when you step inside.

You have to buy a ticket to enter the bookstore. The bookstore was one of the most expensive things we visited in Portugal. The ticket is only €5. If you purchase a book, you get €‎5 off.

The line will be long, but as you get closer, an employee will come to check the line for those who have electronic tickets. Have yours available to show, and you’ll move to the front of the line. Even with crowd control, the bookstore is still crowded.

Even with the crowds, this was one of my favorite experiences on the trip. Try to visit early in the morning rather than in the middle of the day.

Gryffindor Fountain

Just up the hill from Livraria Lello is the Gryffindor Fountain. The real name is Fonte dos Leões (Fountain of the Lions). The winged lions surround the edge of a large fountain. The square isn’t actually in the middle of anything. We could observe the details and take pictures without a crowd of Harry Potter enthusiasts to work around.

Azulejos

After visiting a couple of Harry Potter sites, start looking for the blue and white azulejo tiles that decorate the facades of various buildings in the city.

Igreja do Carmo

The Igreja do Carmo is just to the west of the Gryffindor fountain. One facade of this building is a giant azulejo mural. Buses, trams, and cars drive by as you take in artistry along the site of the building.

You can enter the church after admiring the facade. There is even a hidden house inside the church to visit on your tour.

São Bento Station

São Bento Station is the primary train station in the historic city. It is also home to some of the most beautiful azulejo tiles.

Even if you plan to take a train out of São Bento, you should still go by and visit when you aren’t carrying all of your luggage. The station is beautiful enough to warrant a visit on its own.

Igreja de Santo Ildefonso

This azulejo church is a 5-minute walk from São Bento Station. Azulejos decorate the main facade of the church. The church’s front steps create one of the most photogenic spots in the city.

Crystal Palace Gardens

If you have time, check out the Crystal Palace Gardens. The gardens are peaceful. It’s a nice escape after being in the city. The flowers and view of the Douro River are the big draws.

Make sure you have plenty of time before heading out since the gardens are far from the city center.

After 2 Days in Porto

Porto is a laid-back city. It is a good option for some extra time if you have it. Sip port wine by the river or take a day trip to Braga, Guimarães, Aviero, or others.

You’ll likely be coming to Porto from Libson or heading to Lisbon after visiting Porto.