Only have a weekend to explore Porto? Perfect! The good news is that Porto in 2 days is very easy to do. It’s a fairly compact city, easy to explore on foot, and has that perfect balance of history, cute cafés, and viewpoints that make you want to stay longer. I’ll tell you everything I did during my trip to Porto and which places I recommend.
Porto in 2 Days: Quick Information
📍 Where to stay: Apartamento Firmeza388
✈️ Airport: The airport is very well connected to the city. The cheapest option is the metro (Line E), which takes around 30 minutes to reach the city center. An Uber or Bolt is also a great option, costing around €12 and taking about 20 minutes.
🎟️ Reservations needed:
- 6 Bridges Cruise. Get 5% off on GetYourGuide with the code: POSTCARDSFROMIVI5
- Free walking tour of Porto. Free tour in english to get an overview of the city.
- Lello Bookstore ticket
🗺️ My Porto Map
Day 1 in Porto
- Bolhão Market
Our first stop was Bolhão Market, right in the city center and one of the most traditional places in Porto. There are stalls selling fruit, flowers, cured meats, wine, and several places to try something local. On the second floor, there are market-style stalls selling crafts, souvenirs, and other products.
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Chapel of souls
Just a few steps from the market is the Chapel of Souls, one of the prettiest churches in Porto. Its façade is completely covered with thousands of blue and white tiles depicting scenes from the lives of different saints. You can also go inside for free to see the interior, which is quite simple.
- McDonald’s Imperial
It might sound strange to recommend a McDonald’s, but this one is not just any McDonald’s. It is located inside the former Café Imperial and retains much of its original decoration. It’s very close by, so I recommend going inside to see it.
- Clérigos Tower
We continued walking to Clérigos Tower, one of Porto’s great symbols. They say that from the top you get one of the best panoramic views of the city.
- Carmo Church or Iglesia do Carmo
Very close by is Carmo Church, which also has an incredible façade covered in tiles!
- Lello Bookstore
Lello Bookstore is one of the most famous places in Porto. It is known for its impressive staircase and because for years it was said to have inspired part of the Harry Potter universe, although this was never officially confirmed. If you’re a fan, you can take this Harry Potter tour of Porto.
There is an entrance fee, but you can use that amount to buy a Lello-edition book. You need to buy your ticket in advance on the bookstore’s website; you cannot buy it at the entrance.
In my opinion, the bookstore is beautiful (although my favorite will always be El Ateneo in Buenos Aires) and I think it’s worth visiting if it’s your first time in Porto. But the entrance fee is quite expensive just to visit a bookstore, so if you’re not particularly excited about it, you can skip this plan.
Day 2 in Porto
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Church of San Ildefonso
Another one of Porto’s most famous churches, with its impressive façade covered in blue and white tiles.
- São Bento Train Station
São Bento Train Station is probably the most famous train station in Portugal. In its main hall, there are more than 20,000 tiles depicting scenes from the country’s history. It’s a must-see.
- Porto Cathedral (Sé do Porto)
From São Bento, we continued walking to Porto Cathedral, one of the oldest and most important buildings in the city. All the streets around the cathedral are very beautiful, and because it is located quite high up, there are impressive views of the city. The Palácio da Bolsa is nearby.
From the cathedral, we started walking down towards Ribeira, probably the most famous image of Porto, with its super picturesque colorful houses.
- Six Bridges Cruise
This is one of the most popular activities in Porto and, for me, it’s definitely worth doing. The Six Bridges Cruise travels along the Douro River for around 50 minutes and passes under the six bridges connecting Porto with Vila Nova de Gaia, including the famous Dom Luís I Bridge.
Seeing the city from the water completely changes your perspective and it was one of my favorite activities of the trip.
👉 I booked this Six Bridges Cruise on GetYourGuide. If you book through my link, you get 5% off using my code: “POSTCARDSFROMIVI5”.
- Vila Nova de Gaia
After the cruise, we took the opportunity to walk around Gaia. This is where the Port wine cellars are located, so if you’re interested, you can take a tour of several wineries.
From this side of the river, you get the best views of Porto, and this is also where the Half Rabbit artwork is located. I didn’t get to visit it, but there is also Jardim do Morro, with panoramic views of the city. Afterwards, you can cross back over the Dom Luís I Bridge.
Have 3 days in Porto?
If you have one more day, I recommend taking the opportunity to explore some of the surrounding areas. Here are a few options:
- Aveiro and Costa Nova: Known as the “Venice of Portugal,” Aveiro is a very easy day trip from Porto. You can explore its canals, try the traditional ovos moles, and, if you have time, continue on to Costa Nova, famous for its colorful striped houses and beach. Everything can be done in the same day and it’s one of the most popular day trips from Porto.
- Douro Valley: If you like wine, you can spend a day in the Douro Valley. The plan here is to visit vineyards, enjoy tastings, and explore one of the most spectacular landscapes in Portugal.
Where to stay in Porto
If it’s your first time in Porto, my recommendation is to stay in the historic center. The city is quite compact and, if you choose your location well, you’ll be able to do practically this entire itinerary on foot.
📍 Center / Bolhão (my recommendation)
This is the area I chose for this trip and I would stay there again without hesitation.
It’s very close to Bolhão Market, São Bento Station, and Santa Catarina Street, one of the city’s main shopping streets.
Apartamento Firmeza388 recommended accommodation: I stayed in this two-bedroom apartment. I loved the location because I was able to explore practically the entire city on foot, and the apartment was spotless. It’s on a quiet street, but only a few minutes’ walk from the main attractions. The apartment was spacious, modern, very well equipped, and made an excellent base for exploring Porto.
If you prefer to stay in a hotel, here are some very well-located options:
- BessaHotel Baixa – Modern hotel with an excellent location near the city center.
- Grande Hotel do Porto – A classic hotel on Santa Catarina Street, perfect for exploring the city on foot.
- The One Monumental Palace – If you’re looking for a five-star experience, this is one of the most exclusive hotels in Porto.
Other useful posts:
- 3 days in Lisbon
- Things to do in Barcelona
- Where to stay in Barcelona
- What to see in Barcelona in 3 days
- 4 days in Paris itinerary
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