48 Hours in Porto: A Quick Guide to Experiencing the Best in Just 2 Days!

Hey there, fellow travelers! Ready for an awesome 2-day adventure in our hometown, Porto? This city is packed with character and has so much to offer, even if you’re short on time.

Porto, nestled along Portugal’s stunning coast, is full of charm, history, and vibrant culture. We’re here to show you that you can experience the best of Porto in just a couple of days.

We suggest spending one day exploring the wonders of the old city center and another day soaking up the sun and sea breeze at the beach. With this plan, you’ll get the best of both worlds in just 2 days!

Day 1 – City Center

Start at Mercado do Bolhão, a recently restored market. From there, walk through Rua de Santa Catarina (the city’s busiest commercial street) to Praça da Batalha. In Santa Catarina make sure to pop in some of the most traditional grocery stores in town:

Stop for a café at the city’s most luxurious café, Café Majestic and make sure to be on the outside of FNAC Santa Catarina by the full hour to see the building’s famous clock.

On arrival to Praça da Batalha, where Teatro Nacional de São João is located, take a look at the old, tiled church (Santo Ildefonso) and the recently restored Cinema Batalha.

Walk down to São Bento Train Station to admire its Portuguese tiles and enjoy a cold beer at the Timeout market located – this area is now undergoing heavy construction work. From here you have 3 options (you can combine the 3):

Walk down to Ribeira through Rua das Flores, making sure to pay a visit to Palácio da Bolsa and Igreja de São Francisco. Enjoy the riverbank and admire the Luis I Bridge from below.
Walk up to Sé do Porto (the city’s cathedral) and cross the bridge from the top (or just admire the views from there). You can walk down to the riverbank, just make sure to do it only during daylight, picking up a busy street. An alternative is to use the cable car.
Walk up to the city hall square, located (Praça dos Aliados) and from there walk to Torre dos Clérigos, one of the city’s landmarks. I wouldn’t say it is mandatory to go up. Depending on your patience, visit Livraria Lello, a magficient bookstore that has, unfortunately, a huge line to go in. Entrance is paid (but you can discount your ticket value from a book purchase). Praça dos Leões is a lively square which, depending on the time of the year, may have students chatting and drinking and/or street performers.
If you feel like it, you can walk by the riverbank to Rua da Restauração, stop for a cold beer at Miradouro Ignez and see the sunset in Palácio de Cristal, a beautiful garden with quiet corners and a modern library. Jardim das Virtudes is very popular among tourists and young people too, but I personally find it very loud and busy.

Day 2 – Beach Front

Start your day in the business district, before heading to the beachfront. Make sure to pay a visit to Casa da Musica, Porto’s modern concert hall built in 2001. From here take the bus or an Uber to Museu de Serralves, Porto’s Modern Art Museum which resides in an award-winning building from a renowned Portuguese architect, Álvaro Siza Vieira. Its gardens are worth the visit even if you don’t have time to visit the exhibitions.

Once your visit is over, take the bus or uber to Rotunda do Castelo do Queijo from where you can walk near the ocean. Going left, facing the ocean, you will be walking into Porto; walking to the right would take you to Matosinhos, Porto’s nearby city.

RESTAURANTS

A trip to Porto wouldn’t be complete without trying the amazing Portuguese cuisine. From the rich and hearty Francesinha to the fresh and flavorful seafood dishes, Porto offers a culinary experience that is both diverse and delightful. Below, you’ll find a selection of places that we locals love to go to, ensuring you get a true taste of Porto’s gastronomic delights.

Portuguese Breakfast

Although Porto has many english and american breakfast and brunch spots nowadays, the traditional Portuguese breakfast is bread (toasted or not) and coffee/milk. You can find these in Portuguese bakeries such as:

Tavi (near the beach)

Padaria Ribeiro

Snopão

Corcel

Confeitaria do Bolhão