3 Days in Porto
Porto, Portugal
Porto sneaks up on you. You think you're going for the port wine and the riverside, but you end up obsessed with the bakeries, the trams, the blue-tiled churches, the cheap good lunches. Three days is the sweet spot.
Day by Day
Day 1
- Morning.
- Coffee at Majestic Cafe, then walk down to Ribeira.
- Afternoon.
- Cross the Dom Luis bridge on foot, find a port lodge tour in Gaia.
- Evening.
- Sunset on the Gaia side, dinner along the river.
Day 2
- Morning.
- Livraria Lello (get tickets online), then Clerigos Tower.
- Afternoon.
- Long lunch at Cantina 32, walk it off in the city centre.
- Evening.
- Fado at Casa da Mariquinhas - touristy but the food and music are real.
Day 3
- Morning.
- Tram 1 along the river to Foz, beach walk.
- Afternoon.
- Sao Bento station for the tile panels, Bolhao market.
- Evening.
- Last dinner at Tapabento, then port at a quiet bar.
Where to Stay
- Budget. Selina Porto - design hostel, social.
- Mid-range. 1872 River House - small, family-run.
- Splurge. The Yeatman - across the river, full-on luxury and the view.
Where to Eat
Cantina 32
Modern Portuguese, great wine list, book ahead.
Tasca da Badalhoca
Old-school tasca. Cheap, loud, perfect.
Manteigaria
Pastel de nata, fresh from the oven. Beats Lisbon's.
One local tip nobody tells you
Skip the touristy Francesinha places near Ribeira. Go to Cafe Santiago instead - locals only, and the sandwich is the real thing.
Gallery
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