4 Days in Porto: The Perfect Itinerary

Four days in Porto gives you time to explore the city properly and take two great day trips: the Douro Valley wine country and the historic cities of the north. Here’s a day-by-day 4-day Porto itinerary.

Quick answer: Day 1: the historic centre and Ribeira. Day 2: Gaia’s port cellars, then Foz and the sea. Day 3: the Douro Valley. Day 4: Braga and Guimarães, or Aveiro and Costa Nova. Stay in the Baixa or Ribeira.

Day 1: Historic Porto

• Morning: São Bento station, the cathedral and the lanes down to Ribeira. See São Bento.
• Afternoon: the Palácio da Bolsa and São Francisco church. See the Bolsa.
• Evening: the Clérigos Tower area, then dinner. See Clérigos.

Day 2: Port and the sea

• Morning: Livraria Lello (book ahead), then cross the Dom Luís I Bridge. See Lello.
• Midday: port cellar tour and tasting in Gaia. See the best port cellars.
• Afternoon: tram 1 to Foz and a seaside walk. See Foz.
• Evening: grilled fish in Matosinhos. See Matosinhos.

Day 3: The Douro Valley

Take a tour or the train to Pinhão for vineyards, tastings and a boat trip. See the Douro day trip.

Day 4: Braga and Guimarães, or Aveiro

• Option A: Bom Jesus, Braga’s cathedral and medieval Guimarães. See Braga and Guimarães.
• Option B: Aveiro’s canals and the striped houses of Costa Nova. See Costa Nova.

Tips

• Shoes: Porto is steep.
• Transport: see Porto public transport.
• Where to stay: see where to stay in Porto.

More: 2 days in Porto, 3 days in Porto and the best time to visit Porto.

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