The Perfect 3-Day Itinerary for Porto, Portugal
Porto, Portugal, is a historic, vibrant coastal city in the north, famous for its namesake fortified wine, Port wine, Douro River, and UNESCO-listed Ribeira district, known for its steep, cobbled streets, colorful buildings, and grand bridges like the Dom Luís I. As Portugal's second-largest city, Porto offers a rich blend of historic sites (São Francisco Church, Palácio da Bolsa), modern culture, excellent food, and proximity to stunning Douro vineyards and Atlantic beaches.
Portugal’s second largest city is on most visitor’s multi-city itinerary and has so much to offer every type of traveler. Whether you are visiting Porto in addition to a trip to the Algarve coast, Lisbon, or both, you are sure to be enchanted by this charming Portuguese city.
Is 3 days enough in Porto?
Yes! 3 days in Porto is enough to see the main sights, explore nearby wine cellars, and enjoy the food scene as well as take a nearby day trip.
Do I need a car in Porto?
No! It is actually advisable not to have a car in Porto. Portugal’s second largest city is very walkable and has excellent public transportation.
For my complete guide to Porto Public Transportation, click here!
What is the best area to stay in Porto for 3 days?
Ribeira, Baixa, and Vila Nova de Gaia are ideal areas for a short stay.
For the Best Hotels in Porto at Every Budget, click here!
Visiting Porto with limited time? No worries!
You can still see and do so much in a small amount of time in this magical Portuguese city. This three-day Porto itinerary will help you maximize your visit, see all the highlights, and allows time to enjoy some of Porto’s best restaurants.
This Porto itinerary can easily be adapted to fit your likes, interests, and budget, as well as be amended to fit 2 or 4 days.
Day 1
Ready to start exploring Porto?
This is the perfect first day itinerary to start your visit to this charming Portuguese city. This walkable Porto itinerary starts in the upper part of the city and takes you to Porto’s must see attractions and sites.
Whether you choose to take in the architecture and exterior of these sites, or explore the ornate interiors, you will have plenty of time to enjoy at a relaxed pace.
💶If you choose to visit all of these Porto sites, plan to budget €35 (adults) for entry fees.
Take a Porto Free Walking Tour
A free walking tour is one of the best ways to get acquainted with a new city. This is an especially great way to see Porto on a short visit. A free walking tour of Porto will let you see all the highlights of the city and let you determine what to go back to and explore further.
I try to take free walking tour in every city I visit but didn’t take one in Porto until my 3rd visit. Even after spending quite a bit of time in Porto, I learned so much about the city on this three-hour tour.
I booked through Guruwalk and lucked out with a really great Porto free walking tour guide, Agata.
You can book directly with Agata on her Instagram here, or the Take Free Tours (free tours offered throughout Portugal).
⭐Remember to tip your guide!
The Livraria Lello & Irmão
The Livraria Lello & Irmão, commonly known in English as the Lello Bookshop, is a bookshop located in the civil parish of Cedofeita, Santo Ildefonso, Sé, Miragaia, São Nicolau e Vitória, in the northern Portuguese municipality of Porto.
🗺️R. das Carmelitas 144, 4050-161 Porto
💶€10 (this is applied to any book purchase)
🕰️Daily 9a-7:30p
Built in 1906, the stunning Lello Bookstore has been acclaimed as one of the World’s Most Beautiful bookstores, due in large part to the it’s iconic staircase.
More recently this Porto bookstore has been made famous for (allegedly) inspiring Harry Potter author, J.K. Rowling.
⭐While it IS possible to join the line to enter, it can be very long, so advanced timed tickets are strongly encouraged, especailly with limited time in Porto.
🎟️Purchase tickets to Lello Bookstore here.
Igreja do Carmo & Igreja dos Carmelitas
The Carmo Church or Church of the Venerable Third Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, is located at the intersection between Praça de Carlos Alberto and Rua do Carmo, near the Church and Tower of Clérigos, in the Portuguese parish of Vitória, city of Porto.
Of Baroque/Rococo style, it was built in the second half of the eighteenth century, between 1756 and 1768, by the Third Order of Carmel, being the project of the architect José Figueiredo Seixas. Construction of the hospital began later, and it was completed in 1801.
🕰️Daily 9:30a-5p
💶7€
One of the most famed sites in Porto. Connected to its twin church by a house, this baroque church has a well-known tiled side façade. The church is open to visitors and is beautiful both inside and out.
Torres dos Clerigos
Clerigos Tower
The church was built for the Brotherhood of the Clérigos by Nicolau Nasoni, an Italian architect and painter who left an extensive body of work in the north of Portugal during the 18th century.
🗺️R. de São Filipe de Nery, 4050-546 Porto, Portugal
🕰️Hours: 9a-7p daily (Sunday service 9:30p10:30p)
💶Adults 10€, Students 7€, Children under 10 are free
The Torres do Clerigos, is the 75-meter-tall bell tower of the Clérigos Church and can be seen from nearly all of Porto. The church and tower are open to the public with entry to the church being free and the opportunity to climb 200 steps to the sweeping views of Porto.
On my first visit to Porto, my friends were not up for the climb and on the one day I tried to go solo, the weather was prohibitive to a view. I finally made the climb when I returned to Porto in 2024 and the views were worth every step.
Portuguese Centre of Photography
🗺️Largo Amor de Perdição, 4050-008 Porto, Portugal
🕰️Tues-Fri 10a-6p, Sat-Sun 3p-7p, Mon-Closed
💶Free
Located just next to Torres dos Clerigos, I passed this beautiful building numerous times without paying it much attention until my Porto free walking tour guide shared that it is a great free thing to do in Porto.
Since it comes at my favorite price tag, and encompasses many of my interests: photography, architecture, and views, I decided to visit while in Porto and curating a list of free things to do in Porto.
Housed in an old jail, and still featuring much of the original design, the Portuguese Centre of Photography is absolutely worth a visit. I thought I would be in and out of this hidden gem in Porto in about 30 minutes, but ended up spending well over an hour. The building itself is really cool, but the exhibits are also interesting and offer a wide variety of historic and modern pieces and information.
⭐If you aren’t up for the climb or price of Torres dos Clerigos, the top floor of this free Porto attraction offers some of the most beautiful views in Porto!
Lunch
Use this interactive map to find some of my favorite and highly recommended Porto lunch spots close by.
Miradouro da Vitoria
Scenic overlook offering picturesque views of city buildings, bridges & the river below.
🗺️Rua de São Bento da Vitória 11, 4050-265 Porto, Portugal
💶Free
Miradouro da Vitoria offers some of the best views in Porto, giving an ideal vantage point to take in terracotta rooftops, historic buildings, and the river and bridges below.
The Church of São Francisco
The Church of Saint Francis is the most prominent Gothic monument in Porto, Portugal, being also noted for its outstanding Baroque inner decoration. It is located in the historic centre of the city, declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO
🗺️Rua do Infante D. Henrique, 4000 Porto
💶€8 Adults
🕰️Daily 9a-7p
Porto's Church of Saint Francis has been on my Porto short list for far too long.
Though I am yet to make it inside, the exterior itself is striking, and the photos of the inside have it at the top of my list for my next visit to Porto. Whether you visit the inside, or take in the impressive architecture of the exterior, this famed Portuguese church should be on every Porto itinerary.
Douro River Boat Cruise
This is one of those experiences that I really thought I didn’t “need” to do in Porto, but then my friend came to visit, and we decided to combine a Douro River 6 Bridges Boat Cruise and port wine tasting… and we loved it!
This quickly became something I think everyone should do in Porto and is the perfect way to end your first day before heading to dinner.
The views from the Douro River truly are unmatched and give a unique vantage point.
There are many different options for Douro River boat cruises, so there is something for every budget, time frame, and preference.
We opted for this 2 hours, small group, Douro River Boat Cruise with Port Wine Tasting and absolutely loved it!
Cais da Ribeira, Douro Riverfront
The Douro River front, particularly in Porto, Portugal, is famous for its vibrant, historic Ribeira district, known for colorful buildings, lively cafes, stunning views, and iconic bridges like the Dom Luís I, connecting to Vila Nova de Gaia (for port wine cellars) across the river, offering a picturesque blend of old-world charm and activity with river cruises, historic rabelo boats, and panoramic vistas, especially beautiful at sunset
Cais da Ribeira is stunning at any time of day but truly comes alive in the evening with bustling cafes, life performers, and views of the lights of Gaia reflecting off the Douro River.
This is the perfect area to end a day of sightseeing with dinner, a glass of wine or cocktail, and stroll along the river.
Day 2
Day Trip to Douro Valley
No trip to Porto is complete without a trip to the Douro Valley and a three-day Porto itinerary gives the perfect amount of time to add a day trip to Portugal’s famed wine region.
Day two of a trip to Porto is the ideal time to incorporate a trip to Douro Valley as it is a full day commitment and involves considerable transit time. While it is possible to take a day trip to the Douro Valley and return in time for a train or bus to Lisbon or other parts of Portugal, it can make for a very transit heavy day (believe me, I did it).
There are several ways to visit the Douro Valley wine region from Porto, from a self-guided tour to small group and private tours. If you are looking for a relaxing, scenic, day you can take a cruise on the Douro River or take the panoramic train round trip to Pocinho.
For my Complete Guide to the Douro Valley, click here!
Day 3
After a relaxing day in the Douro Valley, it is time to throw those cobblestone-friendly shoes back on and finish exploring Porto!
This walkable Porto itinerary also starts in the upper part of the city and works it’s way down, this time cross over into Gaia to explore famed port wine caves and take in the best sunset views of the Porto.
Be sure to start the day hungry - this itinerary includes some of the best spots to eat in Porto!
This route comes in at a very budget friendly €4 with most sites being donation based, but be sure to bring some cash along for the market.
Rua da Santa Catarina
Running the center of Porto, you will find Rua da Santa Catarina, a pedestrian street lined with cafes and some of the best shopping in the city.
Along this famed Porto street, you will find street performers and artists, as well as some of the best people watching in the city. This is a great place to start the day with a stroll or sitting outside a cafe with a pastry and coffee watching the city wake up before heading to the famed Chapel of Souls.
The Chapel of Souls
The Chapel of Santa Catarina, also known as the Chapel of Souls, is a chapel located on the shopping street of Rua de Santa Catarina, in the former parish of Santo Ildefonso, in the city of Porto, in Portugal. It is particularly noted for the blue azulejo tiles on its exterior walls.
🗺️R. de Santa Catarina 428, 4000-124 Porto
🕰️Mon-Fri 7:30a-5:30p, Sat 7:30a-12:30p reopens 4:30p-5:30p, Sun 7:30a-12:30p
💶Free
Along Rua da Santa Catarina, you will find this beautiful iconic chapel, boasting 16,000 blue and white tiles depicting scenes from the lives of Saint Catherine and Saint Francis of Assisi.
Mercado do Bolhão
🗺️R. Formosa 322, 4000-248 Porto
🕰️Mon-Sat 8a-12a, Sun - closed
🥬 Vegetarian Friendly
From fresh seafood, endless cheese, mini charcuteries, sweet treats, and everything in between, Mercado do Bolhão really has something for everyone.
This is a great place to sample so many Portuguese delights, take in all the sights and smells and just wander through the endless stalls.
São Bento Station
Per Wikipedia; São Bento Railway Station is a 20th-century railway terminal in the civil parish of Cedofeita, Santo Ildefonso, Sé, Miragaia, São Nicolau e Vitória, in the municipality of Porto, district of Porto.
🗺️Praça de Almeida Garrett, 4000-069 Porto
Every time I have come to Porto over the pas 4 years, Sao Bento train station has been under some type of renovation, but finally (as of September 2025) the indoor restoration is complete!
The tile work in this 20th Century Portuguese train station is absolutely a site to behold and hold so much history and stories in those traditional blue tiles.
This will be your first view of Porto if you take the train from Lisbon into Sao Bento. If you don’t take the train in or out, be sure to visit the station for the stunning architecture and tile work.
Igreja de Santo Ildefonso
🗺️R. de Santo Ildefonso 11, 4000-542 Porto, Portugal
🕰️Open daily 10:00a-10:40pm (except Mon)
💶Donation
The Igreja de Santo Ildefonso is an eighteenth-century church in Porto, Portugal. The church is located near Batalha Square. Completed in 1739, the church was built in a proto-Baroque style and features a retable by the Italian artist Nicolau Nasoni and a façade of 1932 azulejo tilework.
The Igreja de Santo Ildefonso is an eighteenth-century church featuring ornate decor and beautiful tile work. Even for those that are not religious, it is worth a visit for the beautiful architecture and history.
Porto Cathedral
The Porto Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church located in the historical centre of the city of Porto, Portugal. It is one of the city's oldest monuments and one of the most important local Romanesque monuments.
🗺️Terreiro da Sé, 4050-573 Porto, Portugal
🕰️Daily 9a-5:30p
💶€4
The exterior of the Porto Cathedral is stunning on its own, offering sweeping views of the city from its terrace. If time is limited, it is still well worth stopping to take in the exterior of this famed Porto Cathedral and the views, however, if time allows the interior is absolutely stunning.
Featuring endless immaculate and breathtaking traditional blue tiles, ornate decor, and holding so much history, the interior of Porto Cathedral is a favorite amongst visitors to Portugal’s second largest city.
Lunch
Use this interactive map to find nearby Porto restaurants for a delicious lunch and recharge before continuing your fun filled Porto itinerary.
After a good lunch and break, it is time to head over to Gaia, where you can walk the river front, explore the famed port wine caves and indulge in some tastings before taking in the most beautiful sunset over Porto.
Dom Luís I Bridge
Luís I Bridge, is a double-deck metal arch bridge that spans the River Douro between the cities of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia in Portugal. Take a walk over the bridge for incredible views of the Douro river and both Gaia and Porto.
You can enter the upper level near the Porto Cathedral and cross over to Gaia from there. The upper level will take you directly to Jardim do Morro (see below).
The lower level of the bridge will take you to the wine cellars and riverfront of Gaia (to follow this itinerary, take the lower level).
Wine Tasting in Gaia
Vila Nova de Gaia, across the Douro River from Porto, is home to numerous famous Port wine cellars (Caves), with18 major ones known for tours and tastings.
Over the course of several visits to Porto, I have visited these four Port wine cellars that I can confidently recommend.
Caves Cálem
🗺️Av. de Diogo Leite 344, 4400-111 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
🕰️Open daily 10a-7p
We opted for the tour and tasting at Calem, however; there are several pairing options including food pairings and a tasting with Fado music.
Tours are offered in numerous languages and the guides are engaging and informative.
Burmester
🗺️ Largo Dom Luís I, 4400-111 Vila Nova de Gaia
🕰️Open Daily 10a-7p
We lucked out and got a tour and tasting at Burmester included in our Hop on, Hop off bus tour. The cellar is beautiful, the guide was friendly and informative, and the tasting room was lovely.
Very reasonably priced “souvenirs” as well. Would definitely recommend taking a tour of this cellar on your visit.
Sandeman
🗺️R. de São Filipe de Nery 60, 4050-162 Porto
🕰️Open daily 11a-4p
With its iconic sign and history, Sandeman is one of the most famous cellars in Porto. This cellar offers a more “high end” experience as far as tour and tasting than many of the other surrounding cellars.
It also has a beautiful store and great outdoor space with drinks and bites (big thumbs up for the sangria!)
Kopke Wine House
The Oldest Port Wine House
🗺️4430 999, Av. de Diogo Leite 312, Vila Nova de Gaia
🕰️Open daily: 10a-7p
This three story tasting house offers beautiful views of the Douro river and Porto’s Ribeira on the opposite bank.
A really great tasting experience (that included red and white wine, in addition to port) with a chocolate pairing, in a lovely environment.
Jardim do Morro - Sunset
🗺️Jardim do Morro, 4430-210 Vila Nova de Gaia
If you are looking for the best sunset view in Porto, leave Porto and go to Gaia.
The view from Jardim do Morro will take your breath away, especially at sunrise or sunset when the sky truly puts on a show.
This green space transforms into a vibrant and cool sunset party every night with hundreds of people coming to watch the famed Porto sunset.
Grab a blanket, a bottle of wine and a snack and join the party! Or just swing by this viewpoint after a wine tasting or dinner in Gaia.
Dinner
Porto is a foodie’s playground, with a range of cuisines from traditional Portuguese restaurants to international fare, casual eateries to fine dining. Porto is home to several amazing markets with everything from fresh fruits and veggies to divine pastries, sandwiches, meats and cheeses and so much more.
Whether you are traveling Porto on a budget or splashing out, there is something for everyone in this famed Portuguese city.
Porto’s robust culinary scene is perfect for vegans and vegetarians, pescatarians, meat eaters. groups, couples, solo diners and anything in between.
For my favorite places to eat dinner in Porto, click here!
Have More Than Three Days in Porto?
With more time in Porto, you can commit to exploring the city further, or taking day trips to explore nearby towns and cities. Porto is the perfect base for visiting smaller, charming historical cities and towns.
These are three of my favorite Day Trips From Porto
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