Porto itinerary: 1, 2 and 3 days

Match the plan to the time you have and what you want to see. The table below is the quick version; the sections after it give the detail.

Start early at São Bento station to see the tiled hall before the crowds, then walk down to the Ribeira. Cross the Dom Luís I bridge on the upper deck for the view, or take the lower deck if you want to end up at the Gaia riverside. Walk the Gaia quay, then come back over the bridge and climb to the Clérigos tower and the Livraria Lello area. Finish with a sunset from the Ribeira or a port tasting in Gaia.

One day is tight. Skip the cellars if you want both banks, or skip the Gaia walk if you want a cellar tour. The metro and buses can save time between the far points, but the centre is small enough to walk.

Day 1: the centre and Gaia. São Bento, Ribeira, the bridge, a port lodge in Gaia, then back for the Clérigos area and dinner. This is the core of the city and the day most visitors remember.

Day 2: pick one direction. North and west for Bolhão market, the Santa Catarina shopping street and Serralves museum and gardens. Or west along the river to Matosinhos for seafood and the beach. Or stay central for the cathedral, the São Francisco church and the Lello bookshop if you missed it.

If you have a third day, use it for the Douro Valley by train or a tour, or for a slower day on the coast.

Day 3 is the one that changes the trip. The Douro Valley is the classic choice: train from São Bento or Campanhã to Pinhão, about 2.5 hours each way, with vineyard terraces along the line. A guided tour by minibus or boat covers more ground if you do not want to plan train times.

Alternatives for day 3: Matosinhos for grilled fish and the beach, Vila Nova de Gaia for a second lodge and the cable car, or Amarante and the Tâmega valley by train and bus if you want a smaller town.

Book Douro tours and popular lodges ahead in July and August. Train seats on the Douro line can sell out on weekends.

Porto is cheaper than Lisbon for most things. The figures below are 2026 estimates for one person and exclude accommodation. Check current prices before you book.

Wear shoes with grip. Porto's centre is hilly and the cobbles are slippery when wet. The metro is the fastest way between the centre, the airport and Gaia; buy an Andante card at a machine or kiosk.

Book the Livraria Lello and popular lodges in advance in summer. Many museums close on Mondays, so plan around that. If you are coming from the airport, the metro line E runs to Trindade in about 30 minutes.

For food, the Bolhão market area and the Ribeira have the widest choice; Matosinhos is better for grilled fish. See where to eat in Porto for details.