7 days in Porto

Day by day

1. Day 1: Ribeira waterfront and Dom Luís I Bridge

   Ribeira waterfront and Dom Luís I Bridge, then Serra do Pilar and Jardim do Morro in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Ribeira waterfront

      Ribeira · 1–2 hours · free.

   2. Late morning

      Dom Luís I Bridge

      Ribeira · 30 minutes · free.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Francesinha

      Cafés and snack bars across the city; locals debate their favourites endlessly.

   4. Evening

      Serra do Pilar and Jardim do Morro

      Bring a drink and arrive 30 minutes before sunset; the lawns fill with locals and buskers.

2. Day 2: Palácio da Bolsa and Church of São Francisco

   Palácio da Bolsa and Church of São Francisco, then Casa da Música in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Palácio da Bolsa

      Ribeira · 45 minutes · mid-priced.

   2. Late morning

      Church of São Francisco

      Ribeira · 45 minutes · low cost.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Tripe Porto style

      Traditional tascas and restaurants in the old town, often as a dish of the day.

   4. Evening

      Casa da Música

      Check the programme for an evening concert; tickets for smaller shows are often reasonably priced.

3. Day 3: Six bridges river cruise and Historic tram line 1

   Six bridges river cruise and Historic tram line 1, then Galerias de Paris and Rua Cândido dos Reis in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Six bridges river cruise

      Ribeira · 1 hour · low cost.

   2. Late morning

      Historic tram line 1

      Ribeira · 1 hour return · low cost.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Roast pork sandwich

      Long-running snack bars around Praça dos Poveiros and the Baixa.

   4. Evening

      Galerias de Paris and Rua Cândido dos Reis

      Dense bar streets that fill with locals and students on weekend nights, with drinking on the pavements.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Douro Valley

   About 2–2.5 hours by train each way. Getting there: Train from São Bento to Régua or Pinhão; or a tour or car.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Douro Valley

      About 2–2.5 hours by train (Train from São Bento to Régua or Pinhão; or a tour or car); about 110 km.

   2. Day

      Douro Valley

      The train line beyond Régua to Pinhão hugs the river, and quintas offer tastings, lunches and river boat trips.

   3. Evening

      Back in Porto

      Dinner: try Bacalhau à Gomes de Sá.

5. Day 5: Port-wine lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia and Livraria Lello

   Port-wine lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia and Livraria Lello, then Ribeira and Gaia riverfront in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Port-wine lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia

      Vila Nova de Gaia riverfront · 1–2 hours · mid-priced. Tours at popular houses fill up in summer; reserving a slot online a day or two ahead helps.

   2. Late morning

      Livraria Lello

      Baixa and Aliados · 30–45 minutes · low cost. Timed tickets are sold online; buying ahead avoids the outdoor queue.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Bacalhau à Gomes de Sá

      Traditional restaurants across the centre and Ribeira.

   4. Evening

      Ribeira and Gaia riverfront

      Riverside terraces for drinks with views, quieter and more relaxed.

6. Day 6: Day trip to Guimarães

   About 1 hour 15 minutes by train each way. Getting there: Urban train from São Bento.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Guimarães

      About 1 hour 15 minutes by train (Urban train from São Bento); about 55 km.

   2. Day

      Guimarães

      A cable car climbs to Penha hill for views.

   3. Evening

      Back in Porto

      Dinner: try Grilled fish in Matosinhos.

7. Day 7: Clérigos Church and Tower and São Bento railway station

   Clérigos Church and Tower and São Bento railway station, then Rua Miguel Bombarda in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Clérigos Church and Tower

      Baixa and Aliados · 1 hour · low cost.

   2. Late morning

      São Bento railway station

      Baixa and Aliados · 20 minutes · free.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Grilled fish in Matosinhos

      Restaurants on and around Rua Heróis de França in Matosinhos.

   4. Evening

      Rua Miguel Bombarda

      Gallery openings, wine bars and a creative crowd.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Port-wine lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia and Livraria Lello before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 7 nights, Ribeira keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Baixa and Aliados ($$$) suits first-timers, shopping, food lovers and families. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 10–12 hours of visiting over 7 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.2 hours in December to 15.1 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Porto
• 2 days in Porto
• 3 days in Porto
• 4 days in Porto
• 5 days in Porto

Questions travellers ask