3 Days in Porto: The Perfect Itinerary

Three days is the perfect amount of time in Porto: two days to explore the city’s tiles, bridges, port cellars and viewpoints, and a third for the Douro Valley or another day trip. Here’s our 3-day Porto itinerary.

Quick answer: Day 1: São Bento, Livraria Lello, Clérigos, the cathedral and the Ribeira. Day 2: the Bolsa, São Francisco, the six bridges cruise, Gaia’s port lodges and sunset at Serra do Pilar. Day 3: a Douro Valley day trip, or Aveiro, Braga and Guimarães. Evening: tram 1 to Foz on any day.

Why three days works

Porto’s centre is compact, but it’s steep, and the best moments (a long lunch, a port tasting, sunset over the river) don’t like to be rushed. Two days covers the main sights at a relaxed pace. The third lets you get out to the vineyards or one of the northern towns, all within about an hour or two by train or tour.

Day 1: The historic centre

• São Bento station and its 20,000 tiles. The panels in the entrance hall show battles, royal weddings and country life. See São Bento station.
• Livraria Lello (book the first slot; tickets from about €8, and the price comes off a book if you buy one) and Clérigos Tower (about €6 to €10 for the tower and museum). The tower climb is a little over 200 steps, and the view takes in the whole city.
• Lunch: a francesinha or a Casa Guedes pork sandwich. See what to eat in Porto.
• Afternoon: the cathedral terrace and down through the lanes to the Ribeira. See the Ribeira.
• Evening: dinner by the river.

The Ribeira waterfront is busiest from late afternoon. For cheaper food, walk a street or two back from the river, where menus are shorter and prices lower.

Day 2: The river and Gaia

• Morning: the Palácio da Bolsa (visits are by guided tour only, about 30 to 45 minutes, so book a time) and the gilded Igreja de São Francisco, its interior almost covered in carved, gilded wood.
• Six bridges cruise (about 50 minutes, from roughly €18). See cruises.
• Afternoon: cross the bridge to Gaia for a port lodge tour and tasting. See Vila Nova de Gaia.
• Sunset: Serra do Pilar or the Jardim do Morro, then walk back over the top deck. See the best Porto viewpoints.

The Dom Luís I Bridge has two decks. The lower one is open to pedestrians, buses and taxis but has been closed to private cars since 2023. The upper deck carries the metro and has a wide footpath with the best views. If the climb back up from Gaia looks too steep, the Gaia cable car runs from the riverside up to the Jardim do Morro. See the Dom Luís I Bridge.

Day 3: A day trip

• The Douro Valley: vineyards, tastings and a river cruise. See Douro wine tours.
• Or Aveiro and Costa Nova: canals and striped houses. See Aveiro.
• Or Braga and Guimarães: Bom Jesus and the birthplace of Portugal. See Braga and Guimarães.

The Douro is the classic choice. A tour handles the driving and tastings, or take the train from São Bento to Pinhão (about 2h20) and do it yourself. Aveiro, Braga and Guimarães are each about an hour by train, so they suit anyone who prefers a shorter day. See day trips from Porto by train.

If you stay in the city

Ride historic tram 1 along the river to Foz, walk the seafront to Matosinhos for grilled fish, and visit Serralves’ park and museum. See things to do in Porto.

Serralves is a contemporary art museum set in large gardens with an Art Deco villa. Allow two to three hours. Tram 1 is slow and popular, so expect a queue at the Infante stop in summer.

What to eat over three days

• Francesinha: a meat-filled sandwich under melted cheese and a beer-based sauce. One is plenty.
• Tripas à moda do Porto: tripe and white bean stew, the reason locals are nicknamed “tripeiros”.
• Bifana: a thin pork steak in a soft roll, good for a cheap lunch.
• Grilled fish in Matosinhos, and a glass of tawny or white port in Gaia.

Tips

• Getting around: walk, and use the metro for longer hops. See Porto public transport.
• Where to stay: the Ribeira, Aliados or Gaia. See where to stay in Porto.
• Shoes: the streets are steep and cobbled, so wear comfortable shoes with grip.
• Book ahead: Lello, the Bolsa and port lodge tours sell out in summer.
• Shorter trip? See Porto in one day and 2 days in Porto.

See also: 4 days in Porto and how many days in Porto.

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