The Perfect 3 Days in Porto Itinerary – Culture, Port & Food

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Porto is surely one of the most beautiful – and underrated – cities in Europe. Although I’m currently living here, I understand many people will be visiting for a short trip. I’ve put together this 3 day Porto itinerary so you can experience the best of Portugal‘s second-biggest city.

PORTO ESSENTIALS

Accommodation: Booking.com / Hostelworld

Getting there: flight (Skyscanner), train (Omio), bus (Flixbus)

Activities: GetYourGuide

Getting around: walk / Metro / bus / taxi

Guidebook: Lonely Planet Porto

In a rush? Pin this 3 day Porto itinerary for later.

Is 3 days enough in Porto enough?

For a first trip to Porto, three days is a great amount of time to spend. Porto isn’t a city with hundreds of must-see attractions so it’s easy to tick off the notable sights in the historic city centre during one day, unlike the capital: you need at least 3 days for your Lisbon itinerary!

However, the charm of Porto isn’t measured by its number of monuments. Porto is worth visiting for its quirky details and architectural delights to be found in the backstreets. To enjoy Porto properly, you’ll want more than one day.

With two days, you can add port tasting in Vila Nova de Gaia to your Porto itinerary and, with a third day, you can take a choice of day trip; Porto has several to choose from.

Here’s how to visit Porto in 3 days…

Where is Porto?

porto map

Porto is on the Iberian Peninsular in the north of Portugal, located close to the coast. As you can see from the map above its located on the Douro Estuary where the Douro River meets the sea before continuing inland to the Douro Valley.

Porto is around 320km to Lisbon, around a 3.5 hour drive (an hour less on the train).

How to get to Porto

By air: fly into Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport. Flights from the UK start from €7. I use Skyscanner to find the best-value flights, using the ‘search by month’ tool to find the cheapest dates.

By train: these arrive into Campanhã (the largest station to the east of Porto) or São Bento (a beautiful station in the city centre). Use Omio to book trains to and from Porto.

By bus: the most affordable bus network around Europe is Flixbus. Tickets from Lisbon to Porto start from €5. Browse Flixbuses into Porto.

From Porto airport to the city, catch the Metro for €2.50 (the purple Line E to Trinidade station), a bus (GetBus runs 6 times daily) or a taxi for around €10 if you call Uber or Bolt (an airport taxi will likely cost double).

How to get around Porto

Walk

If you’re staying somewhere central, you can easily spend 3 days in Porto without needing to catch public transport. Porto is walkable but make sure to bring comfy footwear because there are steep hills, particularly between the city centre and Ribeira.

Public transport

Metro: This runs underground in the city centre and above ground in the suburbs. It’s really affordable: single journeys around the city centre are €1.20 and they increase in price as you travel further out.

Tip – pick up an Andante Card when you arrive and top up using the machines in the station. You can. geta 24-hour pass for €7 or a 3-day card for €15.

Public bus: Journeys also cost €1.20 with an Andante Card or €2 with cash. Journey times are listed on Google Maps although, in my experience, the buses don’t always arrive when scheduled.

Get a 1-4 day public transport card from €20 including 50% off Porto attractions.

Tour bus: For a fun, touristic way to get around, take the open-top bus tour around the main attractions. Book your ticket here.

Historic tram: This old-fashioned tram is more of a touristic attraction than anything but it has the dual purpose of getting you to the Foz district. Trams depart every 20 minutes and cost €3 each way. Beware they get busy in peak months; the 500 bus to Foz is cheaper and less crowded.

Funicular dos Guindais: To travel between Ribeira and the elevated city centre, a single funicular ride costs €3.50.

Get a combined ticket for the tram, funicular and open-top bus.

Cable car: To travel between the upper and lower levels of Vila Nova de Gaia, take the scenic cable car for €6 one way / €9 return.

Taxi apps

Use Uber, Bolt or FREE NOW. The latter two are slightly cheaper.

Where to stay in Porto

Ribeira (the riverside district) is a beautiful, popular place to stay but it’s also very busy with a steep walk required to reach the city centre. If you’re keen to stay here, I would recommend The Editory House Ribeira.

Baixa is the city centre and a convenient place to stay near to the nightlife so may be ideal for solo travellers visiting Portugal. For a hotel, check out B The Guest Downtown (€85 per night), for an apartment check out Oportolazaro Apartment and for a hostel, go for Oporto Invictus Hostel.

Cedofeita is a trendy neighbourhood known for cool galleries and cafes on Rua Miguel Bombarda. It’s just a short walk from the city centre. Casa Antiqua (€100 a night) is a beautiful rustic option with a garden while Almada Apartments are great for more privacy. Oporto Sky Hostel is the best budget option.

Bonfim, a 15-minute walk from the city centre, is an authentic local area with just a few hipster places popping up like craft breweries and speciality coffee roasters. Read my Bonfim area guide for why you need to visit! Catalonia Porto is a lovely luxurious option and Moov Hotel is a great budget choice.

When to spend 3 days in Porto

Spring (March-May): This is a lovely time to visit Porto with pleasant weather and fewer tourists than the summer months.

Summer (June-August):
These months in Porto can be blissfully hot with temperatures of up to 32°C (90°F) but expect the city centre to be totally rammed.

Autumn (September-November):
This is another good season to visit as the warm weather can stick around until mid-November although mornings and evenings do get chilly.

Winter (December-January):
Porto is one of the rainiest cities in Southern Europe (or the ‘Manchester of Portugal’ as another Brit put it) so bring a good raincoat and umbrella. Temperatures go down to 5ºC (40ºF).

What kind of Porto itinerary is this?

This is a first-timers itinerary suitable for those spending 3 days in Porto. We’ll see the highlights and get stuck into the history and culture.

It’s a fairly busy itinerary but not too jam-packed. I don’t generally enjoy rushing through a trip, so I create itineraries that balance the must-sees with time to wander, eat and visit coffee shops.

3 day Porto itinerary – quick overview:

  • Day 1: city centre, history and culture
  • Day 2: Ribeira and Vila Nova de Gaia (inc port tasting)
  • Day 3: choice of popular day trips or Porto hidden gems.

Since I travel on a budget, you won’t overspend while following this Porto 3 day itinerary. You also won’t miss any meals because I make it my mission to find the best food wherever I go!

Dom Luis I Bridge
Ready for 3 days in Porto? Let’s go!

DAY 1 PORTO ITINERARY (CITY HIGHLIGHTS)

For our first day in Porto, we’ll explore city centre and finish with a sunset bar. We’ll also start with my favourite activity, a…

Free walking tour

Free walking tours operate around the world and I’m a huge fan. I’ve taken them everywhere from Cape Town to Copenhagen. The two most popular operators in Porto are Porto Walkers and Sandeman’s New Europe Tours, both led by local guides who offer informative introductions to the city.

If you’re taking the Sandeman’s one, it departs at 11am near the Clérigos tower. Climb it beforehand for spectacular 360-degree views over Porto. After the tour, go back to the attractions that most interested you for a second, more in-depth look.

Notable sights for day 1

Whether you see them during a walking tour or independently, don’t miss these sights from your Porto itinerary. The following places are all close together meaning you can easily see them on foot during day 1.

If you save Ribeira (the riverside area) for tomorrow, you can avoid climbing any steep hills during this first day.

Clérigos tower climb

This baroque church is one of Porto’s most famous landmarks. There’s rarely a time you won’t see it jutting above the city skyline. For views of Porto and the Douro River, there’s nowhere better.

Inside, the church is decadent and covered in gold. There’s also a museum about its history but I confess I whizzed through this to reach the tower.

Visitor details: Entrance including the museum and tower costs €6. It’s open from 9am-7pm with last entry 30 minutes before closing.

Igreja do Carmo

chapel of souls
Famous blue buildings

One of the most famous buildings in Porto is Igreja do Carmo, a ‘twin’ church joined with Igreja dos Carmelitas.

Separating the two churches is Casa Escondida (Hidden House) measuring just 1 metre in width. It was built to fill the awkward gap and improve the look of the two important chapels beside Jardim de Cordoaria. The tiny house was inhabited until the 1980s and, before that, used for secret meetings during the Siege of Porto (1832-1833).

Miradouro da Vitória

Miradouro da Vitória itinerary porto

Soak up views of Porto and snap photos from Miradouro da Vitória not from the central Clérigos area. Although there are countless elevated viewpoints in this aesthetically-pleasing city, this is one of my favourites.

São Bento Station

A train station as a tourist attraction? Stay with me.

Spectacular São Bento is known as one of the world’s most beautiful train stations. Chances are if you catch a train to or from Porto, it will be from the larger station, Campanhã. Regardless, make sure to visit this masterpiece designed by Portuguese architect, José Marques da Silva, depicting centuries of Portuguese history via 20,000 blue and white tiles.

São Bento was built on the site of an ancient Benedictine monastery. Officials had been planning to convert it into a station for several decades but couldn’t until the last nun died in 1892. Legend has it she haunts the station to this day!

Wander nearby Rua de Flores, one of the prettiest streets in Porto with outdoor dining and live music in summer.

Igreja de Santo António dos Congregados

Igreja-de-Santo-António-dos-Congregados porto itinerary

Next door to São Bento Station is the Church of St Anthony’s Congregation, built in the 1600s and decorated in the Porto uniform of blue and white tiles. Although it’s more of a local place of worship than a tourist attraction, it’s worth admiring from the outside and snapping some photos. It’s free to enter.

Rua das Flores

This famous walking street shouldn’t be missed when spending 3 days in Porto. With 500 hundred years of history, it’s a notable street lined with restaurants and souvenir shops, and it’s ALWAYS busy. You can find better bargains elsewhere but it’s worth visiting to soak up the atmosphere and listen to buskers perform live music.

Rather than pay for an overpriced tourist restaurant, grab an espresso and pastel de nata at Natas Lisboa and perch yourself on a chair in the outside seating area, watching the world go by.

Capela Das Almas (Chapel of Souls)

If the thought of yet another church doesn’t entice you, perhaps its Instagrammable nature will. The blue and white tiled wall is a regular haunt for photographers.

Entry to the chapel is free and so is having a photoshoot outside!

The Chapel of Souls is on Rua de Santa Catarina, Porto’s main shopping street near Mercado do Bolhão and foodie gems like old-school cafeteria, Confeitaria do Bolhao, and my two favourite pastel de nata cafes in Porto, Manteigara and Fábrica da Nata.

Igreja de Santo Ildefonso

Igreja de Santo Ildefonso what to do 3 days porto
More azulejos

A small, attractive church near Porto city centre is Igreja de Santo Ildefonso featuring artwork by Porto’s best-known architect, Nicolau Nasoni. Despite being small, the church is made of 11,000 blue and white azulejos (tiles). Entrance is free so take a quick peek inside.

Time this stop for lunch or dinner to eat at nearby Casa Guedes (serving famous pulled pork sandwiches) or Cafe Santiago (an iconic place to try Porto’s national dish, the francesinha).

Porto Cathedral

One of the oldest and most important monuments to add to your Porto itinerary is Porto Cathedral (Sé do Porto). With views of the Douro River, this 12th-century cathedral has collected elements of Baroque, Romanesque and Gothic architecture throughout the ages.

Although it’s a pleasant place to wander today, it has a gory history: the column in the central square is where the criminals of Porto were once hung. Gulp!

Wander through the cloisters and admire yet more blue and white azulejos, then climb the tower for spectacular views over Porto.

Entry to the Cathedral as of 2024 costs €3.

Bishop’s Palace

About 20 steps from Porto Cathedral is the Episcopal Palace (Bishop’s Palace), built in the 12th century for, unsurprisingly, the Bishop. In the 18th century, it was redesigned by Nicolau Nasoni, the architect responsible for half of Porto’s notable buildings.

The main reason to venture inside is the walk up the Baroque staircase and admire the bejewelled ceiling.

Tip – entry is €4 but if you buy a combination ticket, you can enter the Bishop’s Palace and Porto Cathedral for €6, saving €1 compared to buying separate tickets.

Day 1 – afternoon

If you see the above sights during a morning walking tour and choose not to revisit any, you’ll have some free time in the afternoon. After a busy start to your 3 day Porto itinerary, you may wish to simply wander and relax in the cafes (it’s what I would do!). Otherwise, here are a few other city centre attractions to check out:

Livraria Lello

Livraria Lello porto

When I first strolled along Rua das Carmelitas during my first day in Porto, I wondered what everyone was queuing before. Perhaps something cultural or religious?

Well, I wasn’t exactly wrong: Harry Potter is basically a religion, right? This famous bookstore has a link to the wizarding world because J.K. Rowling spent several years living in Porto before penning her novels.

Many people will tell you Livraria Lello is not worth a visit and, if you only have 3 days in Porto, I’m inclined to agree. You’ll be queuing for ages to visit a beautiful but small and crowded library that’s only rumoured to have inspired J.K. Rowling’s books (unfortunately she recently busted this myth).

If you DO decide to visit, here’s some advice:

  • Entrance is €5 online or €6 on the door but if you buy a book, the price is deducted from your purchase
  • Visit early or late to reduce time queuing. It’s open from 9.30am-7pm so, if the line is long, consider arriving at 9am on day 2 or 3 of your trip
  • If time’s tight, consider paying €15.90 for a skip-the-line ticket
  • Large bags need to be left in lockers. To save time, just bring a small bag.

Crystal Palace Gardens

Crystal Palace Gardens

For a slice of peace in central Porto, end your day in Jardins do Palácio de Cristal (Crystal Palace Gardens). Peacock strut around a curious dome building (the Superbock stadium) and locals and tourists take sunset picnics overlooking the Douro River.

Inside the gardens, you’ll also find the Porto Romantic Museum and the Port Wine Museum.

Where to eat during day 1

If you’re spending just three days in Porto, plan your meals with precision. There’s so much to eat and drink; you wouldn’t want to miss the highlights.

Foodie options for day 1 of your Porto itinerary:

For coffee & brunch: For enormous breakfast dishes and excellent coffee in an atmospheric cafe, head to Do Norte Café by Hungry Biker. The cheesy waffles with smoked salmon are unusual but very tasty. I also like Zenith and Nicolau Porto (both have good vegan options).

Read next: my Porto coffee guide and my Porto brunch guide

For affordable food: Visit Conga to try the ubiquitous Portuguese bifana (spicy marinated meat in a crusty bread roll) for €2.30. For a fantastic meal in a hidden gem of a restaurant, Casa Guedes to legendary pork leg sandwiches (sande de pernil), Cana Verde is an affordable option with excellent rissóis (croquettes) and other typical dishes. Gazela is the place to go for famous cachorrinhos (hot dogs) as visited by food god, Anthony Bourdain.

For vegan food: Try burgers and ‘cheese’ boards at Apuro Vegan Bar, healthy brunch at Nola Kitchen, veggie versions of Portuguese dishes at Vegana by Tentugal and burgers, bowls and sharers at Kind Kitchen. Don’t miss daTerra for an impressive buffet!

Read next: where to eat vegan food in Porto

For pastel de nata: My favourite cafes are Manteigaria on Rua de Alexandre Braga and Fábrica da Nata on Rua Santa Catarina. In both cafes, you can see pastry chefs making fresh nata. Natas D’ouro is also worth a try for their orange, lemon, port and caipirinha-flavoured natas.

For pastries and snacks: to try fish and meat croquettes, tasty sandwiches and more pastries and sweets than you knew existed, Confeitaria do Bolhao is an authentic but touristic cafe in Bolhão. Eat in or stock up for a sunset picnic.

For francesinha: to try the national dish of Porto (steak, sausage and ham between slices of white bread, drowned with a cheesy, beer sauce and topped with a fried egg), head to Cafe Santiago. Avoid peak hours if possible – it gets VERY busy. Try a veggie version at Brasão or Francesinha al Forno da Baixa.

Mercado do Bolhão: this historic market has been around for centuries boasting 80 stalls, 10 restaurants and 40 shops. Even if you don’t stop to eat, it’s worth browsing so soak up the atmosphere. Stalls sell fresh fruit, veggies, cheese, fish and meat while the restaurant serve all kinds of delcious delicacies. The market hosts occasional live music events like jazz.

Read next: what to eat in Porto – the must-try dishes

Day 1 evening options

Provided you’re not tired from a busy day exploring Porto, you should absolutely make the most of the nightlife while spending 3 days in Porto. The city has a nice range of rooftop terraces, cosy bars and lively clubs.

Sunset from Guindalense Football Club

Catch sunset overlooking Dom Luis I Bridge from the terrace of Guindalense Football Club. This bar is nothing fancy but the views are spectacular. They serve a range of local drinks including port and vinho verde (Portuguese green wine) and snacks including chouriço (chorizo) mopped up with crusty bread.

If you want to end the day somewhere fancier, try Miradouro Ignez or 17th Restaurant & Bar.

Watch a fado show

Catch a cultural performance at Fado na Baixa auditorium. Practised in Portugal since the 1820s, fado music has earned a spot on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Book a Fado show in Porto.

Porto bar crawl

Porto has lively bars and clubs so why not enjoy them as part of a bar crawl? Porto Walkers run a good one departing at 10.30pm. If you’d rather explore without a tour, there are plenty of cool bars like Royal Cocktail Club and Candelabro.

Read next: what to do in Porto at night

DAY 2 PORTO ITINERARY (RIBEIRA & VILA NOVA DE GAIA)

For day 2, explore Porto’s most beautiful neighbourhood, Ribeira, then head south of the Rio Douro (river) to find out what’s good in Vila Nova De Gaia. Clue: it’s port!

First up…

Morning – Ribeira

On a sunny day, there’s no area of Porto more atmospheric than Ribeira. This district on the banks of the Douro River is known for its impressive townhouses and many cafes and restaurants (although expect to pay tourist prices).

Although the riverside area, Cais da Ribeira, is most famous, don’t miss the backstreets. Just behind popular Ribeira Square is a maze of alleyways and ancient houses. Find one of the city’s most ancient houses at Torre da Rua de Baixo.

For excellent coffee and beautiful views, start your day at My Coffee Porto halfway down the steps between the city and Ribeira.

Take a scenic boat cruise

RIBEIRA BOAT CRUISE

Board a 6 Bridges boat cruise from Ribeira Square. These cruises in traditional rabelo boats depart regularly, lasting 50 minutes and offering a commentary on the bridges you sail underneath.

Get a boat cruise, bus tour and cellar tour for €28.

São Francisco Church

On the waterfront is one of the oldest monuments in Porto, Igreja de São Francisco, built in the 14th century. Entrance is a little pricey at €8 but you may wish to part with the money to spy the decadent interior laden in 100kg of gold leaf.

Bolsa Palace

The Stock Exchange Palace (Palácio da Bolsa) beside São Francisco Church is a neoclassical building, protected by UNESCO. The Arab Room, which took 18 years to construct, is the jewel of the palace and can be visited only as part of a guided tour (€12).

It’s worth visiting early in the day to find out when the next tour will be departing in your language. You may need to buy a ticket and return a couple of hours later, or you may be lucky and find one is departing right away.

Mercado Ferreira Borges

The bright red market building is worth a quick stop if you’re passing nearby Bolsa Palace and São Francisco Church. It houses modern art, a restaurant with outdoor seating and even a nightclub.

Afternoon – Vila Nova De Gaia

After your morning in Ribeira, cross the low level of Luís I Bridge to reach Vila Nova De Gaia. This suburb of Porto is best known for its many wineries producing the city’s most famous beverage, port wine.

Lunch at Beira-Rio Market

Eat lunch at Mercado Beira-Rio to line your stomach. Unlike the traditional markets in Porto with centuries of history, this is a stylish modern market open since 2017. Eat Italian food at Piadini Mia, seafood at More Sea, authentic Brazilian food at Botequim a Brazilian, or simply sip coffee and snack on a pastel de nata.

Another nearby option for quality coffee and brunch is 7g Roasters.

Port tasting

port tasting
An essential for any Porto itinerary

No three day Porto itinerary would be complete without port. This sweet beverage was invented when the French raised taxes on Bordeaux wine and the British were forced to find a new export supply. They settled on the wines from Northern Portugal’s Douro Valley but the product spoiled during its journey back to the UK.

The solution? Add a slug of brandy to keep it fortified. The sweet, strong wine has remained a hit ever since!

Port wine-tasting experiences in Porto:

Find the street art rabbit

street art rabbit porto itinerary

Just around the corner from Beira-Rio Market is this incredible street art mural of a giant rabbit. The artist, Bordalo II, created it from trash found around Porto to demonstrate how wasteful society can be.

Read next: complete Porto street art walking tour

Sunset viewpoints for day 2

Finish your day at…

Jardim do Moro

This beautiful garden viewpoint can be accessed by walking across Luís I Bridge from the city centre or if you’ve previously been exploring Gaia, by walking up the hill or catching the cable car from Cais de Gaia station.

With views over the Douro River and Ribeira, this is one of the most atmospheric places in Porto to watch the sunset, added to by live musicians playing for the crowds.

Tip – pack a dinner picnic. I brought some takeaway rissol (croquettes) and pastéis de bacalhau: the perfect picnic after a busy day sightseeing.

Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar (monastery)

This ex-monastery set on a hilltop behind Jardim do Moro is another popular sunset spot in Vila Nova de Gaia, not to mention a UNESCO World Heritage Site!

The monastery was used as a makeshift fort during the Siege of Porto, having been under construction for 72 years due to a lack of funds. Nowadays, it remains one of the city’s most iconic buildings, seen from any viewpoint.

Like Jardim do Moro, watching sunset here is free.

For lesser-known miradouros like Miradouro das Fontainhas, see my guide to the best sunset viewpoints in Porto

DAY 3 PORTO ITINERARY

Finish three days in Porto with either a day trip or another round of city sightseeing. A few of the best day trips from Porto are…

Option #1 – Douro Valley

If there’s a part of Portugal more beautiful than the Douro Valley, I’m yet to hear about it. This vast wine region is one of the oldest in the world, protected by UNESCO and known as the birthplace of port wine. Expect sweeping valleys, lofty viewpoints along curvy, cliffside roads, and family-run vineyards nestled on the banks of the Douro River.

Although I spent a few days exploring this region, you can visit the Douro Valley as a day trip from Porto. You can hire a car or catch a train/bus to one of the main towns then a taxi to one of the many vineyards. A more convenient option if you just have one day is an organised day tour from Porto including tasting, boat cruise and lunch.

If you take just one day trip from Porto, let it be this one!

Option #2 – Cycle to Senhor da Pedra beach 

One of my favourite days in Porto was spent cycling to Capela do Senhor da Pedra (Chapel of the Lord of Stone) on Senhor da Pedra beach, 10 kilometres from central Porto.

This relaxed, non-touristic beach is easily reached by a flat cycle path that follows the coast. Stop at points of interest including São Pedro da Afurada, a quaint fishing village with colourful houses and friendly locals, and Douro Estuary, a nature reserve home to various bird species.

There are plenty of coastal beach clubs where you can stop for an upmarket lunch or, for those on a budget, a selection of modest restaurants near the church. I had sardines and a drink in a restaurant for €5.

Hire a bicycle from Porto Rent a Bike costing €12 a day. Cross the lower level of Luís I Bridge, turn right and follow the coast the whole way.

Option #3 – Aveiro day trip

day trip to aveiro
Moliceiro boat

This pretty Portuguese city with canals, boat rides and Art Noveau architecture is just an hour from Porto by train or bus.

In addition to riding a painted moliceiro boat, you can take a sub trip to Costa Nova to snap colourful beach houses and relax on white sands; learn about the history of salt at the open-air salt pan museum (Ecomuseu Marinha da Troncalhada), or hire a bike and explore 48km of scenic cycling trails.

To learn how to visit Aveiro as a day trip from Porto and what to do there, follow my guide. Other day trips from Porto include Braga and Guimarães.

Option #3 – more city sights / hidden gems

If you’d rather explore the city thoroughly, finish your 3 day Porto itinerary by touring any attractions you’ve missed or seeking out the hidden gems.

Foz do Douro: Spend a day exploring the Foz district of Porto where the river meets the ocean. Promenade through Pérgola da Foz, visit Felgueiras Lighthouse or take the 1-hour coastal walk (or quick bus/taxi ride) to Matashinos, a beach where you can surf and eat fresh seafood.

To get to Foz, ride the historic tram to Foz (Line 1) from Ribeira for €6 return (you’ll need to purchase two €3 singles) or the cheaper 500 bus. Alternatively, purchase the ultimate Porto transport ticket including the trams, hop-on-hop-off bus and funicular.

Parque de Serralves: Between Porto and Foz lies an 18-hectare park boasting a museum, cinema and pink Art Deco villa. Tickets cost €20. One option is to visit in the morning, then head to Foz in the afternoon, finishing with a sundowner.

Parque de Serralves
Parque de Serralves

Street art: Porto may not be famous for street art like Lisbon but there are a few cool murals to check out. As well as the Bordalo II rabbit in Vila Nova de Gaia, there’s an impressive blue cat mural off Rua de Flores. A notable street is Rua de Miguel Bombarda with urban murals and modern art galleries. If you visit this part of town, check out Rota Do Chá tea house and Frida Mexican restaurant.

Take a street art tour by tuk-tuk for €25

cat street art

Jewish Quarter tour: With a fascinating yet tragic history, Porto has one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world. Take a Porto Jewish heritage walking tour stopping at hidden synagogues and other places of interest.

Mercado Bom Sucesso: Although it doesn’t feel overly Portuguese, foodies spending 3 days in Porto may wish to visit this modern, indoor market near Casa da Música. There are some stands serving traditional Porto dishes like Lado B (famous for its francesinha) as well as world cuisine. I can vouch for the veggie buffet at Datera and the banoffee pie at Chocolate Rosa.

Mercado Bom Sucesso
Mercado Bom Sucesso

What to eat during 3 days in Porto

  • Francesinha – as I already mentioned, Porto’s national dish is a white bread sandwich filled with steak, sausage and ham, drenched in a rich sauce made of beer and topped with a fried egg. To really give your arteries a workout, it’s served with a side of fries.
  • Prego em prato – steak is topped with fried egg, cheese, fries and ham (just in case you didn’t eat enough meat already!).
  • Bolinhos de bacalhau – salted cod croquettes are best eaten warm when the breadcrumb exterior is still crispy.
  • Sardines – Portuguese sardines are large and meaty. To make them a meal, they’re often served with potatoes and vegetables.
  • Cachorrinho – rich, spicy Portuguese sausages are served in crispy bread. To call them hot dogs would be sacrilege.
  • Caldo verde – tasty green soup is a classic Porto starter. Garlic, onion and black pepper are cooked with stewed greens and potato.
  • Pastel de nata – well, obviously! These egg custard pastries don’t originate in Porto but that’s no reason not to eat them in excess.

Read next: the best pasteis de nata in Porto

francesinha portuguese food
Francesinha

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I hope you have a better idea of where to eat the best food in Porto. You’re in for a feast!

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3 days in porto itinerary

TRUSTED RESOURCES FOR VISITING PORTUGAL

Getting there by air – I use Skyscanner to find the best-value flights, using the ‘search by month’ tool to find the cheapest dates. You can also use the ‘to anywhere’ feature if you’re flexible on where you’re going.

Driving in Europe – use Rentalcars.com to compare car rentals in European countries (and all around the world).

For trains, I use Omio. The search feature allows you to compare prices, and they show live departure times on the website. This is also a handy tool to compare trains and buses in one search.

For buses, I use FlixBus. Find journeys between European countries from €1! 

For hotels and self-catering apartments, I use Booking.com. You can filter by review score and price to find the best-rated budget places. For hostels, I use Hostelworld.com.

Browse tours and activities on GetYourGuide.

To save money on accommodation, I use Trusted Housesitters, a website that connects homeowners going away and travellers who can sit their homes & pets.

Need travel insurance? I use True Traveller (for UK & Europe residents) since it’s some of the most affordable insurance out there but still covers everything you’d need including various activities, valuables and pre-existing conditions. Unlike some companies, they insure you if you’re already travelling / don’t yet have your flight home booked. Get a quote.

For travel insurance for other nationalities, I recommend Hey Mundo and for long-term digital nomad travellers, I suggest Safety Wing.

Check out my resources page for more travel discounts and budget tips from my 10+ years on the road!

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