Porto, Portugal’s second largest city, sits in the north along the Douro River, not far from the Atlantic. In recent years, Portugal has become a popular destination for U.S. travelers thanks to its friendly locals, affordable prices, and abundance of direct flights. But while most visitors gravitate toward Lisbon, Porto offers a slightly less touristy and equally captivating experience. (If you are planning a trip to Lisbon, check out my previous post on what to do when visiting this amazing city.)
I spent a week in Porto in May 2023, and the city completely charmed me. With perfect weather, we had plenty of time to explore Porto’s historic streets, sample its signature dishes, and soak in the views. Here are some of the highlights.
What to See in Porto
1. Azulejos: Capela das Almas church and the São Bento train station
Porto may not have as many tiled facades as Lisbon, but the ones it does have are stunning. Don’t miss the Capela das Almas, its exterior covered in blue-and-white scenes, or the São Bento train station, where the interior walls tell stories through hand-painted tiles.
When I visited Porto in May 2023, the exterior area around the São Bento train station was under construction, and as a result there were no trains running to/from the station. However, you could still make your way inside the station to see the azulejos.
2. Beautiful views of the Douro River
Porto is located on a hillside with the Douro River at its base. As a result, there are many vantage points across the city that offer beautiful views of the river. One of my favorites was the Crystal Palace gardens, pictured below. This was a great place to spend an afternoon.
There are chickens, roosters, and peacocks strutting across the grounds within the Crystal Palace gardens – this was an unexpected but fun element!
3. The famous Ponte de Dom Luis I bridge
This bridge is the defining landmark of Porto. You’ll see it every time you are near the river. Some of my favorite places to see the bridge included from Ribiera (the waterfront neighborhood with many cafes), Vila Nova de Gaia (town located across the river from Porto), and a boat tour of the six Porto bridges (more on this below).
What to Eat in Porto
1. Pastéis de nata! (also referred to as pastel de nata or pastel de Belém)
This delicious egg custard pastry is a must-try item for anywhere in Portugal, not just Porto. Head to a bakery for breakfast and pick up few pastéis. Make sure to dust the top with cinnamon.
2. Francesinha
Porto’s signature sandwich is a hearty stack of meats smothered in cheese and beer sauce. It’s worth trying once, though it may be a bit too heavy to revisit.
3. Port of all varieties!
Port is the signature drink of Porto, as evidenced by the city’s name. I have never been much of a port wine drinker (or any sweet wines, for that matter) but trying port in Porto was a game changer.
You can also try Porto’s signature cocktail: the port and tonic. Similar to a gin and tonic, but with the gin replaced by port, this is a delicious cocktail perfect for summer.
4. Sample a variety of traditional northern Portuguese foods at the Mercado do Bolhão
The Mercado do Bolhão (Bolhão Market) is centrally located in Porto and specializes in meat, fish, fruit, flowers, vegetables, wine, and other similar items. It is vibrant, well laid out, and a great spot to pick up local produce, sauces, cured meats and cheeses, and more.
We stopped here one afternoon and wandered around the different stalls, picking up a couple of items from each to create a mini picnic which we ate at the steps. This was a great lunch. I also saw a ton of people strolling around with glasses of wine, just perusing the stalls.
5. Partake in Porto’s fine dining scene
By “fine dining,” I’m referring to sit-down meals (nothing too crazy). We had no shortage of delicious meals in Porto – some of my favorite spots, including dishes and drinks, are pictured below.
Our lunch at the Yeatman was pricey (given the hotel’s reputation) but spectacular. One particular aspect I loved was the couvert (bread and accoutrements, often a menu item in Portugal), which came with a unique surprise. There were olives served with the bread, but there was also tapenade and butter that had been shaped to resemble olives to go with the bread as well. The presentation was extremely realistic and this was the most original way I have ever seen bread and butter served.
There are great views from the Esplanada do Teleférico restaurant. Right next to the Jardim do Morro in Vila Nova de Gaia, this was a beautiful place to watch the sunset, and was much less crowded than the lawn overlooking the river. We managed to walk-in and get a table for 4 people at sunset on a Saturday.
Some other restaurants that I wanted to try (but didn’t get the chance to – there was only so much time!) included Muu Steakhouse and Ponte de Ferro. If you make your way to either of these, let me know how they are.
What to Do in Porto
1. Get a drink at the Ponte Pensil bar
This bar has outdoor seating that is situated directly on top of an old lookout station, a souvenir from Porto’s pre-modern days. The view of the river and the Dom Luis I bridge from this location, paired with the actual experience of having a drink on such a cool and historical structure, cannot be beat.
The service here wasn’t the best, but we eventually got our drinks. I would not plan on having a full meal here. Just stop by quickly for the experience and some good photos.
2. Take a boat tour down the Douro River
A Rabelo is a traditional Portuguese cargo boat, originally used to transport the barrels of Port wine from the Douro Valley region to the wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia. Rabelo boats are now used to transports tourists up and down the Douro River for a short (50 minutes) sightseeing cruise.
The most popular rabelo tour offered is the Six Bridges tour. There are many of these tours offered with the opportunity to purchase tickets at booths at intermediate points along the waterfront in both Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia. This is a great activity to do on your first day or two because it orients you to your surroundings.
3. Head to Vila Nova de Gaia for a port tasting
I didn’t even think I liked port before visiting Porto – I came back with multiple bottles of port, so clearly I’ve been converted. All of the port cellars are located in Vila Nova de Gaia, which is right across the river from Porto (a 15 minutes walk from Ribeira).
We chose to do a tour and port tasting at Cockburn’s (pronounced COH-burns) wine cellars. This was a fascinating experience. We learned a significant amount about how port is made (add brandy to the grape juice after 2-3 days to stop the fermentation of alcohol) and about the different varieties sold (white, ruby, tawny, vintage, and L.B.V. or Late Bottled Vintage). I could spend a few paragraphs droning on about the intricacies of port-making, but I’ll spare you. I highly recommend this tour however!
Pairing the ports with different chocolates was fun and really enhanced the different port flavors! Also, who doesn’t like having alcohol and chocolate at 10:30 on a Monday morning?
4. Listen to a few of the fantastic street performances
I’ve spent the past five years living in New York City…we have a lot of people on the streets doing all sorts of performance activities, and I’ve pretty much trained myself to walk right past them. However, I had to break this habit in Porto. While we were visiting, we heard some of the most fantastic musical talent, mostly in the Ribeira area near restaurants. I actually wanted to stay and listen to the singers’ different sets.
Musical talent was abundant in Porto, and pausing to soak in the music was a great way to experience the culture of the city.
5. Take a day trip out of Porto to another city or region
We were able to explore Aveiro, Braga, and the Douro Valley during our time based in Porto. I’ll go into more detail on these destinations in another post, but check out some photo highlights below.
Porto is a city that blends history with natural beauty, offering plenty to see and do without feeling overwhelming. Between the friendly locals, affordable food and wine, and postcard-worthy views, it’s a destination that feels both approachable and unforgettable.
If you’re planning a trip to Portugal, don’t stop at Lisbon—make sure to include Porto (and, if time allows, the nearby Douro Valley) on your itinerary.
