Porto, Portugal Travel Guide: Port Wine, Sunset Views, & Easy Day Trips
If Florida's rainy season has you craving a change of scenery, Porto is well worth adding to your list. Portugal's second-largest city is known for its historic hillside neighborhoods, Port wine, scenic river views, and easy day trips to storied nearby towns. Here's how to make the most of your first visit.
Tour the Historic Centre of Porto by land and sea
A walking tour is the best way to get a sense of Porto. I went on a three-hour tour that covered key stops, including the UNESCO-listed São Bento Railway Station, Porto Cathedral, Church of Carmelitas, and the colorful Ribeira waterfront. We also passed Livraria Lello, deemed “the most beautiful bookshop in the world”.
Your buns may burn by the end of the walking tour thanks to Porto's steep hills and endless staircases, but you’ll leave with a better understanding of the city’s history, a list of places to revisit, and plenty of recommendations from your guide.
Porto is just as beautiful from the water, and there are plenty of river cruises to choose from, including the popular Six Bridges Cruise, which gives a different perspective of the city's colorful waterfront.
Sample Port Wine
Porto is known for Port wine, so why not indulge? The grapes are grown in the Douro Valley before the wine is aged and shipped around the world. To visit many of the top Port wine houses, walk or take the metro across the Luís I Bridge to Vila Nova de Gaia, commonly called Gaia.
I took a small-group wine tour that visited three different producers, where we learned how Port wine is made, how it is aged, and sampled several varieties. The guide was especially helpful because, as they say, there's a big difference between drinking Port and drinking good Port.
Go to a Fado Show
Fado is Portugal's traditional, soulful style of music, and seeing it performed live is an unforgettable experience. I attended a show at Casa da Guitarra, a musical instrument shop dedicated to traditional Portuguese stringed instruments.
During the 60-minute performance, we listened to resident fado singers accompanied by the Portuguese guitar and fado guitar. During intermission, a glass of Port wine was served. It was such an intimate way to appreciate this important piece of Portugal’s cultural heritage.
Take Day Trips to Braga and Aveiro
It’s easy to take day trips from Porto to some of northern Portugal’s most charming cities. Braga was my favorite, and it’s only about an hour by train. The historic center is filled with beautiful gardens and is home to Braga Cathedral, the oldest cathedral in Portugal. Just outside downtown is perhaps the region’s most photographed landmark: Bom Jesus do Monte, a neoclassical church perched above a dramatic zig-zagging staircase.
About an hour south of Porto by train is Aveiro. Many call it the "Venice of Portugal" because of its canals. Boat tours can be booked on-site, but I reserved a Scenic Guided Boat Tour through GetYourGuide in advance. We cruised through the Central Canal, Canal do Côjo, and other waterways while learning about the city's history.
Watch the Sunset in Gaia
Sunset is a must in Porto, but one of the most popular places to spend golden hour is actually across the Douro River in Gaia. You can easily walk across the upper or lower levels of the Luís I Bridge. The lower level provides easy access to the riverfront, while the upper level puts you closer to popular viewpoints like Jardim do Morro and landmarks such as Igreja e Claustro da Serra do Pilar, both of which offer incredible views as the sun sets over Porto.
Where to Stay
During my five nights in Porto, I stayed in an Airbnb called the Theater Studio. It was close to the metro while still being within walking distance of many of Porto’s top attractions. Tucked inside a secure historic building, it felt very safe and had a cool, artsy vibe. It was the perfect home base to explore all that Porto has to offer.
