Porto is one of those dream destinations in Portugal. It is easily accessible and a perfect weekend destination. Bettina and I can’t believe that we haven’t made it to Portugal until now! We fell for Porto as soon as we had our first taste of the Portuguese life. If you enjoy cobblestone streets, great food, great wine, and great weather, then Porto is for you! Keep reading for how to spend a relaxed weekend in Porto!
If you are spending more time in Portugal and are looking to explore more of the country, you might also be interested in our other Portugal guides:
Getting around Portugal is easiest by car. We recommend checking out Discover Cars for the best and cheapest rental cars for your trip.
Porto is very walkable, which makes it a great city for a little bit of exercise. In addition, a central hotel location is ideal so you can drop back in at any time of the day. We arrived on a Friday and stayed at the Porto Royal Bridges Hotel. The location was perfect for our relaxing stay, as was the fantastic breakfast and friendly staff! The breakfast spread was impressive, and a great way to start our morning each day during our weekend in Porto.
Table of Contents
Exploring Porto
Bettina ambitiously decided we should wake up early to catch some of Porto’s famous blue-tiled buildings before the crowds set in. We started at Capela das Almas de Santa Catarina, which didn’t disappoint.
The azulejo tiles are striking and found on buildings throughout Porto, certainly adding to the charm of the city. Many of the tiles tell a story, making exploring them even more engaging.
The historic center has a number of iconic buildings. Two of our favorites are the Porto Town Hall and Porto Sao Bento train station.
From the train station head downhill, exploring the many side streets along the way.
Eventually, you will be greeted with a fantastic view of the Douro River and surrounding city! The North side of the river contains many of the famous colorful houses in Porto. Not to mention a lot of the best restaurants in the city.
Shop Bettina's Look
{Bettina:} My shoes were gifted to me by Mi.iM and they quickly became my favorite travel sandals. I was wearing them all day, every day, walking through the streets of Porto and was comfortable and fashionable all the time.
This was our favorite part of the city. While it is a bit touristy, it has a great vibe, and in March wasn’t overly crowded, but buzzing with the right amount of energy for our weekend in Porto.
Port Wine
A relaxed weekend in Porto would not be complete without a glass, or two, of some fine port wine! This wine is what the city gave its name to. Your best bet is to cross over the Douro River to the city of Vila Nova de Gaia, the riverfront stretch on the south side of the river. Here there are breathtaking views of the historical center as well as some of the best port wine cellars in the city.
Porto Cruz came recommended to us and didn’t disappoint. We were able to snag a seat on the rooftop to rest our weary feet and relax with a glass of port wine and some tapas. Other port wine cellars which were recommended to us but we didn’t try were Ferreira and Graham’s. Alternatively, you can also book a Porto Wine Tour to learn more about the history of port wine.
If you haven’t tried it before, port wine is produced exclusively in the Douro Valley of Portugal, and is typically a sweet red, often served with dessert.
Did we mention the stunning views of the old town from the Porto Cruz rooftop? This is a great place to spend a relaxing afternoon tasting wine in the sun, and a must-do during your weekend in Porto!
Porto City Viewpoint
Before you cross the river again, make sure you stop by Jardim do Morro for the most incredible sunset views. Depending on the number of glasses of port wine you’ve had, you can either walk or take the cable car to the top of the hill at Jardim do Morro. We opted to walk and zigzagged our way up the narrow streets to the top.
The views of the city from up here are breathtaking!
Walking across the bridge back to the historical center leaves you with just as many beautiful impressions of the city. Watch out for the trams along the bridge as you will need to share the space! If you didn’t enjoy dinner at one of the port wine cellars, head back to the historical center to find your new favorite dinner spot.
Livraria Lello - Harry Potter Library
Early Sunday morning head to Livraria Lello, one of the world’s best bookstores to beat the crowds just before opening. This bookstore has impressive architecture, but is probably most known for being an inspiration for Flourish and Blotts of Harry Potter fame. JK Rowling lived in Porto when she began developing ideas for the Harry Potter series.
You can also see into the bookstore from the outside, which may be enough for some. We opted not to wait in the 50+ deep line and pay the 5 EUR per person entry fee, and instead settled on gelato next door!
Porto Twin Churches
Just a bit further up the street is a beautiful square with Porto’s famous twin churches. Igreja dos Carmelitas and Igreja do Carmo are famous for having the narrowest building in the city between them and having a beautiful outside wall with azulejo tile.
The buildings can easily be mistaken as one church, but each has a very unique history. The narrow building in between was created to ensure no contact between the nuns and monks occurred at any time.
Continue the neighborhood tour of Porto with a requisite tourist photo at the ‘PORTO’ sign nearby. While we’re into cheesy tourist opportunities, why not get a sardine can with your birth year printed on it? Or try the local cod cakes which are hand-made cakes shaped like a potato, filled with cheese and then fried.
While you’re in the neighborhood, snap a picture of the iconic Tram 28 which winds its way through the steep and narrow cobblestone streets.
Because no weekend in Porto would be complete without shopping, make sure you head to Porto’s Rua de Santa Catarina which is the main shopping street. Bettina definitely spent some time here and contemplated the limits of her hand luggage and how many clothes she could buy and still fit in.
This is how we spent our relaxed weekend in Porto and we loved it so much, we can't wait to go back. Check our top tips below to help plan your weekend and sign up for our 10 money-saving travel tips to save on your next weekend getaway!
The Next Trip Top 5 Weekend in Porto Tips
1) Uber from the airport to the city center.
We used Uber to and from the airport as well as a few times within Porto and every time the car was there within 2 minutes, was clean, and had a good driver. As a bonus, it is cheaper than a cab, our rides to and from the airport were just under 15 EUR each way.
There is a bus and metro option, which can definitely save you money, but for our location it was also over an hour vs. 20 minutes in an Uber.
2) Drink the wine!
As this is what they are (rightly) famous for. Without a doubt, sampling the many kinds of port wine the city has to offer, is a great way to spend your afternoon and necessary for a proper weekend in Porto. If port wine is not your thing, no worries. Wineries offer all kinds of other regional wines as well. Our favorite wineries, or those recommended to us by locals are Porto Cruz, Ferreira and Graham’s.
3) Eat the seafood.
Portuguese food is typically quite hearty, and we found it heavier and greasier than we expected, however the exception is seafood and Porto has that in abundance. There are so many great places to try, just get out there and start eating. Remember that fresh sardines in Portugal are far better here than that old can in the cupboard of your grandmother’s house.
4) Bring your best walking shoes.
The city is small enough that you can easily see all of the major sites by foot in a weekend. There is no need to use the metro, buses, or trams, unless your hotel is slightly off the beaten path. That being said, the streets are cobblestone and there are a lot of hills!
5) Do search out your favorite azulejo tile.
The blue tiles are on all sorts of beautiful and very average buildings. Taking pictures of the tiles you come across and searching for the one that speaks to you is a fun challenge we enjoyed while walking the streets during our weekend in Porto.
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What a great post. I feel like I just took a trip too. Portugal is definitely on my list of places to visit, and now I am even more excited to go!
Thank you, JP! Porto is definitely worth a visit with its quaint vibe, narrow streets, and delicious food.
X,
Bettina
Your photos look so good! They make me want to pack my bags and go there. I love your blue skirt, too! Where’d you get that from?
Hi Katie! Thank you so much. I’m so happy you find the post inspiring. Porto was wonderful and definitely worth a trip! My blue skirt is from Chicwish and is less than $50! I got it in a size small and it fits perfectly.
X,
Bettina
Such a great post Bettina and Kyle! Loving all of the gorgeous photos (and Bettina’s fashion 😉 Would love to visit here some day!
Thank you so much Kelsey! Porto is such a cute city and I would definitely recommend visiting if you’re planning a trip to Portugal!
X,
Bettina
You showed us how beautiful Porto is. Will surely visit some day. On our list now 🙂