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Casa da Música, Porto

Itinerary · Porto · Portugal

One day in Porto

A day-by-day plan grouped by neighbourhood, so you spend your time seeing Porto, not crossing it.

Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team

Photo: Filipe Fortes from United States, CC BY-SA 2.0

Quick answer

One day is a taster: the plan below covers the essentials, but most visitors want 4. Day 1: Ribeira waterfront and Dom Luís I Bridge. Base yourself in Ribeira.

Key facts

Days
1
Sights covered
5
Day trips
None
Best base
Ribeira
Book ahead
Nothing essential

Day by day

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

    Ribeira waterfront, Dom Luís I Bridge, Palácio da Bolsa and Church of São Francisco, then Casa da Música in the evening.

    1. Morning

      Ribeira waterfront

      Wander the stepped lanes behind the quay, such as Escadas do Barredo, to see everyday life away from the restaurant terraces. Allow 1–2 hours.

    2. Late morning

      Dom Luís I Bridge

      Walk across the upper deck at sunset towards the Serra do Pilar for the classic view over Ribeira. Allow 30 minutes.

    3. Lunch

      Lunch: Francesinha

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

    4. Afternoon

      Palácio da Bolsa

      Visits are by guided tour only; buy a ticket on arrival for the next tour in your language. Allow 45 minutes.

    5. Late afternoon

      Church of São Francisco

      Combine it with Palácio da Bolsa next door, and allow a few minutes for your eyes to adjust to the dim, gold interior. Allow 45 minutes.

    6. Evening

      Casa da Música

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

Before you go

If it rains

  • Swap in Port-wine lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia (Vila Nova de Gaia riverfront): Compare a tour at a large house with a tasting at a smaller producer, and try an aged tawny alongside the ruby.
  • Swap in Livraria Lello (Baixa and Aliados): Book the first time slot of the day online; queues on Rua das Carmelitas grow quickly.
  • Swap in São Bento railway station (Baixa and Aliados): Step inside even if you are not catching a train; stand back from the centre of the hall to take in all four walls.

Where to stay for this itinerary

$$$ · Best for first-timers and couples

Ribeira

Stacked, colourful houses and terrace restaurants along the Douro quay

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 4–5 hours of visiting over one day, 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.

Getting between stops: Walking. Most sights between São Bento, Ribeira and the Clérigos Tower are within 15 minutes' walk, though the climbs are steep.

More or fewer days

Questions travellers ask

+Is one day enough in Porto?

One day is a taster: the plan below covers the essentials, but most visitors want 4. How many days Porto needs.