Porto in One Day: The Perfect Itinerary

Only one day in Porto? Whether you’re on a cruise, a stopover or a quick visit, Porto’s compact centre makes it easy to see the highlights in a day: tiled churches, a fairy-tale bookshop, the riverside Ribeira and a port wine tasting with a view. Here’s our one-day Porto itinerary.

Quick answer: morning at São Bento station, Clérigos Tower and Livraria Lello; lunch near Rua das Flores; afternoon at the Palácio da Bolsa and the Ribeira, then across the D. Luís I bridge to Gaia for a port tasting and sunset at Serra do Pilar. Wear comfortable shoes: Porto is steep!

The one-day plan

Morning: the centre

• 9:00 – São Bento station: the stunning azulejo hall, free.
• 9:30 – Livraria Lello: book the first slot online (from about €8, deducted if you buy a book).
• 10:30 – Clérigos Tower: climb for the best view over the rooftops (€10 with the museum).
• 11:30 – The cathedral (Sé): great views from the terrace, and a cloister of tiles (small fee).

Lunch

Try a francesinha (the famous meat-and-cheese sandwich in beer sauce) or a bifana, around Rua das Flores or the Bolhão market.

Afternoon: the river

• 14:00 – Palácio da Bolsa: the stock exchange palace with its dazzling Arab Room, by guided tour only (€14). See tickets.
• 15:00 – Igreja de São Francisco: a Gothic church covered inside in gold (about €8 with the catacombs).
• 15:45 – The Ribeira: stroll the riverside, or take the 50-minute six bridges cruise (about €18–20). See river cruises.

Evening: Gaia

• 17:00 – Cross the D. Luís I bridge (lower deck from the Ribeira) to Vila Nova de Gaia.
• 17:30 – Port wine tasting in one of the historic cellars. See port tastings.
• 19:00 – Sunset at Serra do Pilar or Jardim do Morro: the best view of Porto. Walk back over the top deck of the bridge.
• 20:30 – Dinner by the river or back in the centre.

For cruise passengers

Ships dock at the Leixões terminal in Matosinhos. Take the metro (line A) from Matosinhos Mercado or Matosinhos Sul to the centre, about 30 minutes, or a taxi. Matosinhos is also famous for its grilled fish restaurants if you have time at the end of the day.

For layovers

The metro (line E, the violet line) runs from the airport to Trindade in the centre in about 27 minutes. You’ll need an Andante card. See Porto airport to the city centre.

Prefer a guide?

A walking tour or a tuk-tuk covers the highlights quickly and saves your legs. See the best tours in Porto.

Got more time?

See 2 days in Porto, where to stay in Porto, Porto hotels with a view and Porto’s best photo spots.

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