Porto in a Weekend (+ Itinerary)
- Shal & James
- Dec 3
- 10 min read
Updated: Dec 6
If you’re plotting how to conquer Porto in a weekend, consider this your cheat sheet to squeezing every last drop of charm out of Portugal’s most soulful city.
Porto may be best known for its sweet port wine and those irresistible custard tarts, but this UNESCO-listed gem is so much more than a sugar rush and a sip. The city is easy to reach from the airport and its highly walkable centre has glittering churches that look like they’ve been dipped in gold, sweeping viewpoints that stop you in your tracks, and azulejo (tile)-clad façades so pretty you’ll be shamelessly filling your camera roll. Add in a foodie scene that swings from steak sandwiches to Michelin-level magic, and you’ve got a city that manages to be both historic and deliciously alive.
James whisked Shal to Porto for a surprise birthday weekend and, despite loving Lisbon years ago, this city quietly won us over in record time. It strikes that rare balance of being popular yet never overwhelming, with locals filling the cafés, chatting across balconies, and navigating those glorious cobbled hills. We found that experiencing Porto in a weekend revealed a city that’s warm, atmospheric and beautifully textured.
CONTENTS
We’ve included prices with currency conversions based on current exchange rates, and what we paid to help with planning—but things can change (things to do, hotels, the lot), so it’s always worth double checking to dodge any last-minute surprises.
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KEY INFO: PORTO, PORTUGAL
BEST TIME TO GO TO PORTO
Spring (Apr–Jun) and autumn (Sep–Oct) are the golden tickets: sunny but not scorching, lively but not rammed. We went 20-25 Jun and it was a dreamy mix of sunshine, wine, and zero queues for custard tarts.
HOW TO GET TO PORTO
Fly into Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO) and hop on the metro straight into town.Or, be lazy like us and book an Uber.
HOW TO GET AROUND PORTO
The centre is walkable, but prepare your calves—this city is basically a stair-master with prettier views. For longer jaunts, the metro, trams, and Uber work a treat.
IDEAL TRIP LENGTH
2-5 days (we visited for 5 days); 2-3 days exploring Porto + 1-2 days for day trips to the Douro Valley and/or Guimarães (both UNESCO-listed).
LANGUAGES
Portuguese is the local lingo, but English is widely spoken. Bonus points if you can say “obrigado/a” without sounding like you’re butchering it.
PORTUGAL ESIM
We never travel without an Airalo eSIM—grab one through our links for 15% off if you’re new, or 10% off if you’re already part of the club.
PORTUGAL TOURIST VISAS
EU: visa-free. UK, US, Canada, Australia: also visa-free for up to 90 days...for now.
The EU’s new ETIAS scheme, delayed until Q4 2026, will require visa-exempt travellers—including Brits—to apply online, pay €20, and receive an authorisation valid for up to 3 years or until their passport expires.
PORTUGAL CURRENCY
Euros (€). Cards are fine, but some little cafés only take cash—handy for pastel de nata emergencies.
IS PORTO SAFE?
We think so. Just watch your pockets in touristy spots and maybe don’t attempt the Dom Luís I bridge selfie after too much vinho verde. You can read more about Portugal's safety here.
CAN YOU DRINK TAP WATER IN PORTUGAL?
Absolutely. Fresh and safe—cheers!
VACCINATIONS NEEDED FOR PORTUGAL
None to our knowledge, just keep your routine jabs up to date.
BEST HOTELS IN PORTO
If you’re planning a luxury stay, Porto has a tempting mix of boutique hideaways and grand historic boltholes that feel far more indulgent than you’d expect from a city this size. We stayed at affordable luxury boutique hotel, Chic&Basic Gravity on this trip and loved its playful design and genuinely warm service, but of course we couldn’t resist digging deeper. Two other super luxe favourites quickly made our shortlist for next time, each offering that dreamy blend of style, comfort and unmistakable Porto charm. Rather than cram everything into this guide, we've put our experience — plus the hotels we’d book in a heartbeat — into this dedicated Porto luxury hotel post.
48 HOURS IN PORTO
This two-day itinerary folds together Porto's classics with a few well-researched extras, from golden-hour wine stops to quiet corners most visitors miss. If you want even more detail including opening times, ticket tips, hidden gems and where to book ahead, have a look at our guide to 24 Best Things to Do in Porto for details and links.
DAY 1: OLD TOWN ICONS & RIVERSIDE WANDERS
Morning: Start at São Bento Station for your first dose of azulejos (painted tiles). Walk up to the Porto Cathedral for sweeping views over the rooftops. If you’re up for one more beauty stop, pop into the Church of Santa Clara. Wander down Rua das Flores, one of the city’s prettiest pedestrian streets. Continue to Livraria Lello, a beautiful bookshop (buy tickets in advance...YES, tickets for a bookshop). Climb the Clérigos Tower for the classic panorama. Catch your breath at the Jardim das Oliveiras just beside it.
Afternoon: Tour the Bolsa Palace and admire the Arabian Room. Step into the Church of São Francisco for its famous interior dripping with gold. Walk down to the riverfront and enjoy the colourful facades tumbling towards the Douro. If you’re planning to head back uphill later, consider the Guindais Funicular if you don't fancy walking uphill.
Evening: Settle in at Wine Quay Bar with a glass in hand and the Dom Luís I Bridge glowing across the water. After dinner (and we have strong feelings on the best restaurants in Porto!), make sure to catch a fado show (we loved Fado Maior do Porto).
DAY 2: TILES & TASTINGS
Morning: Start at the Chapel of Souls for its iconic blue-and-white facade. Walk Rua de Santa Catarina and stop wherever catches your eye, which is likely to be Majestic Café with its Art Nouveau glamour and gigantic queue. Visit the Church of Saint Ildefonso for another dose of tiles. Browse the stalls at Mercado do Bolhão for a taste of local life.
Afternoon: Walk the Dom Luís I Bridge on the upper deck for the sweeping views you came for. Pick your cellar for a port tasting (we loved Taylor’s). Wander the Gaia waterfront and enjoy the slower pace on this side of the river.
Evening: Head to Jardim do Morro and/or the Miradouro da Serra do Pilar for a golden-hour finish over the rooftops and river curves before dinner.
If you’re ready to dive deeper into Porto’s sights, timings, costs and hidden corners, head to our 24 Things to Do in Porto guide for all the practical tips and extra gems to plan the perfect trip.
DAY TRIPS FROM PORTO
Porto makes day tripping almost too easy, with options ranging from vineyard-draped valleys to medieval hilltop towns and colourful coastal escapes. Think Braga’s grand churches, Aveiro’s candy-striped canals, Coimbra’s scholarly charm and the breezy shores around Foz. For our getaway, we zeroed in on two favourites: UNESCO-listed Douro Valley for wine-soaked scenery and UNESCO-listed Guimarães, the “birthplace of Portugal.” If either is on your list, check out our full DIY day trip guides — they break down how to get there, what to do and offbeat finds that make each trip special.
BEST RESTAURANTS IN PORTO
If you’re anything like us, you’ll spend half your Porto trip plotting your next meal. From atmospheric wine bistros to clever mash-ups, legendary steak sandwiches and the city’s most iconic hot dogs, we tasted our way through the best of them. We ended up with clear favourites, topped by standout meals at Bartolomeu Bistro & Wine that absolutely floored us. If you’re hungry for the full list, honest reviews, and a few hard-earned tips (like where queues are worth it and where reservations won’t save you), check out our post: 5 of the Best Restaurants in Porto for an Unforgettable Meal.
BEST PASTEL DE NATAS IN PORTO
If you’re hunting for the very best pastel de nata in Porto, prepare to fall head-over-heels into a sugar-dusted rabbit hole. We ate our way through the city’s flakiest, warmest, most caramel-blistered tarts, from the classics baked right before your eyes to the creamier, more decadent versions that practically melt on contact. We even found a few unexpected spots where the setting is just as delicious as the pastry. If you want the full rundown and which nata stole our hearts, read our complete guide here: Pastel de Nata Porto: Our Top 4 Spots for the Perfect Custard Tart.
HOW MUCH DOES A LUXURY TRIP TO PORTO COST? (WHAT WE SPENT)
Curious what a luxury long weekend in Porto actually costs? We tracked every glass of port, museum ticket, and cheeky custard tart so you can get a clear picture of what two people might spend on a comfortable, stylish escape. Below is our full breakdown in GBP, EUR, and USD to help you plan (and budget) your own luxe Porto getaway.
Note: We paid for our hotel using miles, which knocked ~£1000 off our total. If you’re paying cash, adjust the accommodation line accordingly.
FX: 1 GBP = 1.14 EUR / 1.33 USD
^Local tax; room paid with American Airlines miles.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is Porto a good weekend trip?
Absolutely! Porto is compact, walkable, and easy to reach, which makes squeezing in its food, wine, and riverfront views wonderfully effortless.
Is Porto worth visiting for 2 days?
Two days gives you enough time to see the essentials, wander the Old Town, and cross the bridge for those famous views.
How many days are required to visit Porto?
You can see the highlights in 2–3 days, but five days lets you explore properly and add in the best day trips such as the Douro Valley for wine-soaked scenery and Guimarães, the “birthplace of Portugal.”
Are shops closed on Sunday in Porto?
Most traditional and independent shops in Porto close on Sundays, but plenty of tourist-friendly places stay open, so you’ll still have options. Expect small local shops, services, and Mercado do Bolhão to be shut.
What is closed on Mondays in Porto?
Most museums in Porto close on Mondays, but there’s still plenty to fill your day: churches, cathedrals, viewpoints, open-air wanders, shopping and a cheeky port cellar tasting or two.
What to do in Porto for a long weekend?
Mix tile-covered churches, port tastings, riverfront strolls, and a sunset in Gaia, then dive into our full 24 Best Things to Do in Porto guide for details.
What are the top five things to do in Porto?
Don’t miss São Bento Station, Clérigos Tower, the Ribeira waterfront, a port tasting in Gaia, and a sunset at Jardim do Morro — and see our full guide for the 24 Best Things to Do in Porto.
Is Porto expensive?
Porto offers great value compared to other European cities, though luxe experiences, dining, and port tastings can add up depending on how you travel. We like to splurge and you can see how much we spent above.
What is the best time to go to Porto?
Spring (Apr–Jun) and autumn (Sep–Oct) are the golden tickets: sunny but not scorching, lively but not rammed. We went 20-25 Jun and it was a dreamy mix of sunshine, wine, and zero queues for custard tarts.
The weekend we landed in Porto happened to be Festa de São João (Feast of Saint John), the city’s biggest party of the year. Picture fireworks exploding over the Douro, paper lanterns floating into the night sky, and streets turned into one giant block party. And then there’s the tradition that takes things from festive to bizarre: locals (and soon, you) bop each other on the head with squeaky plastic hammers as a playful sign of celebration. No, really—it’s a thing, and by midnight, the whole city is joyfully hammer-happy. To top it off, the same weekend coincided with the medieval festival in UNESCO-listed Guimarães, the birthplace of Portugal—just a short train ride away.
Where is good to stay in Porto? / Where to avoid staying in Porto?
Baixa and Ribeira are excellent for first-timers thanks to their central location, while staying too far uphill or outside the historic centre can mean a lot of unnecessary climbing. We stayed in the Baixa district at the Chic&Basic Gravity Hotel and loved the hotel and the neighbourhood. Here's our other Porto luxury hotel recommendations.
How to get to Porto?
Fly into Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO) and hop on the metro straight into town. Or, be lazy like us and book an Uber.
How to get around Porto?
The centre is walkable, but prepare your calves! This city is basically a stair-master with prettier views. For longer jaunts, the metro, trams, and Uber work a treat.
Do they speak English in Porto?
Yes, English is widely spoken, especially in hotels, restaurants, and major sights, so getting around is easy.
Which is better, Lisbon or Porto?
Both cities shine in different ways: Lisbon is grand and sprawling, while Porto is moodier, more intimate, and wonderfully atmospheric. Personally, we prefer Porto.
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