6 Things To Do In Porto
Go Here! Adventures & moments from my travels…
If you look up Porto, you’ll be greeted with images of red tiled roofs, scenic views of the Douro River and many, many bridges. In reality, it’s so much more than its (ridiculously beautiful) landscape.
Wandering around with no guide or agenda felt endlessly possible, and there’s an argument to be made that it’s the best way to explore Porto.
We spent the beginning of trip to Portugal in Lisbon, then took the train to Porto which is a little under 3-hours. I immediately felt a kinship with the city and delighted that we had two uninterrupted weeks to explore and have our fill of it all.
While Lisbon feels like the fresh, young city, Porto feels like the older, wiser sister. A little more established and sure of herself, not chasing trends but firmly planting her feet in history, culture and nature.
I think that’s the part I enjoyed the most about Porto - that nature was so readily available to us and people made the most of it. My favourite part was watching the sun dip below the horizon at Jardim do Morro, an evening ritual where locals and tourists alike flock to the hill and cheer as the sun sets. My heart has never felt fuller.
We had a lovely little studio apartment so I cooked a lot during our stay, so this guide focuses on everything else. That said, I’ve included a list of our favourite eats in the magical city.
Porto: 6 Things Not To Miss -
Admire all the tiled buildings -
Since we came to Porto from Lisbon, we thought we already got a taste for the intricately tiled building and weren’t expecting anything extraordinary. Porto blew us away.
My tattoo artist in Lisbon (hi Rita!) told me Lisbon was the lighter, brighter city and Porto was darker and moodier in comparison. I saw it straight away in the buildings. There were tiles all right, but these didn’t shy away from the bold. Think deep navy, grey and burgundy, with the striking azulejos (blue and white painted tiles) everywhere and still turning up in the most surprising places.
The cathedrals and churches look like they’re draped in their finest lace dresses, and the colours are so vivid they could have been painted yesterday, not centuries ago.
My favourite tiles were inside Porto Cathedral (there’s an entry fee of €3pp). It’s an unassuming building, but you walk into a Hogwarts-esque corridor and find the most beautiful tiles all around, telling stories we have long forgotten. How lucky are we to still see such handiwork, so beautifully preserved?
Visit the Bolhão Market -
The word ‘market’ loosely describes the immense hall that houses Porto’s oldest market, Mercado do Bolhão. Established in 1914 and recently renovated, it’s easily one of the best food markets in Porto and a wonderful spot to spend your day. The ground level is filled with fruit and vegetable vendors, butchers, fishmongers, chocolatiers and bakers - basically anything and everything you could want to eat.
Before anything else, we beelined for Conserveira do Bolhão to sample Portugal’s famous tinned fish, known locally as conservas. If you want to try tinned fish in Porto, this is a great place to start. I won’t say I loved tinned fish, but after trying the octopus and baby sardines, I found myself slowly converting. I was so inspired, I even made this delicious Portuguese Octopus rice.
The upper levels have a mix of fine and semi-fine dining restaurants, perfect for a sit-down meal with a side of people watching.
Cross the Douro River for a port wine tasting -
We ummed and aahed about a trip to the Douro Valley for a proper winery tour, but the logistics didn’t work out. Instead we kept it simple, walking across the Dom Luís Bridge to Vila Nova de Gaia, a mini city on the other side of the river.
It’s known for being grungier than Porto, but as we walked along we could see the colourful personality of the area and why it’s slowly becoming a popular destination. The riverside is peppered with restaurants and bars, and you can easily stroll to one of the many cellars offering port wine tours.
We visited a small, family run winery called Augusto’s. The family has been making port wine for three generations and takes pride in staying small and exclusive. The cellar is slightly off the beaten track and our tasting group was small, which made it feel wonderfully personal. We tried a range of ports, including some aged tawnies, and the 40 year old was my favourite. If you want a taste of the port culture the city is famous for, Augusto is a wonderful choice. The 20 minute tour and tasting costs €15pp and includes ports aged 20, 30 and 40 years, with the option of a 50 year too.
We stayed in the area for dinner at Adega do Manel (get there early enough and you can sit outdoors by the river), followed by a spectacular sunset and a post dinner stroll back across the bridge.
Visit Livraria Lello, of course -
Yes, I know this is a predictable recommendation, but trust me, it’s for a good reason.
And no, whatever the blogs or guides tell you, there is NO time of day when the bookstore isn’t crowded. Our accommodation was a 2 minute walk away so we walked past every day, and there was always a line. The good news is the team is well organised, so everything moves fast.
Whether or not the bookshop inspired Harry Potter, once you walk in you’ll feel like you’re in a storybook. The architecture, wood carvings, furniture and interiors are all incredible. A beautiful carved red staircase sits in the middle of the store, its lacquer finish almost Willy Wonka-ish, and oh - the books. I don’t think I’ve been to a store with so many books published in so many languages - English, French, Portuguese and Spanish - with the most intricate covers, some of them the Livraria’s own brand.
It may feel like an expensive exercise, but every ticket is redeemable against a book. I think it’s such a clever way for the Livraria to do business, and I love that you walk out encouraged to read. It feels like a gift to your future self.
Mingle with the peacocks at Jardins do Palácio de Cristal -
We read all about the wild peacocks at this incredible park, but nothing could prepare me for how many we encountered. They roam around the park freely, happily minding their own business and completely unbothered by the scores of people photographing them.
We went bacl eot the Palácio de Cristal gardens several times with a picnic and our books (beware of all the other birds around - the geese WILL come for your snacks). On one of our last days we ventured down the levels, pushed through a few doors and found what felt like an enchanted fairy garden. The panoramic views of the city were incredible, with the glistening Douro spilling out into the ocean as boats lazily made their way along. It’s the one picture that comes to mind whenever I think of Porto.
Take the historic tram down the coast -
Unlike Lisbon, Porto has only three tram lines, so you won’t find them criss-crossing every street.
We found the adorable historic tram in Porto right outside our accommodation in Cordoaria, so once we had the perfect weather, we made our way down the coast. Like much of Porto, the tram felt like a step back in time. It’s small but beautifully preserved, and passing the river on the way to the coastline was a wonderful experience.
It’s a short journey, about 30 minutes to Praia da Luz in Foz do Douro. While you’re there, I’d recommend an afternoon snack and sangria at Restaurante Praia da Luz, one of the best beach clubs near Porto. It feels very Spanish and is perfect for settling in before or after a freezing dip.
Here are some more restaurants/ cafes and areas I loved in Porto -
We stayed in Cordoaria which was honestly the perfect location. A 5 minute stroll to Livraria Lello, 15 minutes to the Jardins do Palácio de Cristal and 15 minutes to the Douoro river, also close to tram and several buses.
Provavel - A small, trendy restaurant serving lovely seasonal, Portuguese inspired food with a contemporary touch. I’d recommend making a booking as it fills up.
Mila - We found Mila while strolling through the town and could not resist the open windows and scent of baked good drifting out. What followed was possibly one of the best cheese toasties and cinnamon scrolls of my life. Do not miss out!
Conga - A local recommendation for bifanas. We came from Lisbon craving the salty, melt in your mouth pork sandwich but were met with an entirely different experience in Porto. The pork is slow cooked in a spicy broth and th soft bread roll is dipped in said broth and served steaming, slightly spicy and very satisfying.
Funq - A retro-ish natural wine bar with a great wine list and salty nibbles. The owner is Australian and we had a fun little G’day mate.
Castro - Best Portuguese tarts, no arguments.
Bicho - Our favourite Porto find and the cafe we kept going back to. Very Scandi, very delicious - big breakfast plates with lots of butter, baked goods galore and some of the best bread/ bagels I’ve ever tried. Bicho is in R. do Breiner which has some very cool vintage stores and boutique shops around - I’d highly recommend spending at least a day wandering around the area.
Espresso and brigadeiro’s - Porto has so many wonderful local bakeries and patisseries with very affordable options. I took to eating a little brigadeiro (Brazilian chocolate truffle) with an espresso every couple days. Such a treat!
I'm Karina, a Sydney copywriter who writes about food, culture, lifestyle and travel. Read more about my travels on The Journal or Work With Me.
