but, Porto first...

If there’s one place you can’t miss on your Portugal itinerary, it’s Porto. And if you think Porto is only for port and wine lovers, think again. The city is filled with stunning churches and cathedrals, the iconic Bolsa Palace, charming riverfront cafés, and endless strips of vibrant bars and restaurants.

We spent 4–5 days in Porto, and it still wasn’t enough. Since it was our first visit, we couldn’t cover everything recommended in travel guides, but we gave it our best shot. I’ve also included a few ideas for our next trip in September, along with options for those who want to explore beyond the wine scene.

Porto is over 900 years old and truly beautiful, with so much to offer. Below are some suggestions, followed by our itinerary.

Stay in Porto

Porto offers several neighborhoods to explore, each with its own vibe: Vila Nova de Gaia is home to most of the wine lodges and perfect for wine tasting; Ribeira, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is great for nightlife and riverside cafés; Baixa, where Porto University is located, offers a lively atmosphere; and Foz do Douro is a charming seaside area near Matosinhos, known for its fresh grilled fish. If its your first time in Porto I recommend focusing on Baixa, Ribeira, or Vila Nova de Gaia. Just a heads-up—if you stay in Foz or Vila Nova de Gaia, they’re not right in downtown Porto, but a quick 10-12 minute Uber or drive will get you there easily.
There are many amazing hotel properties to choose it from Yeatman, Intercontinental, Torel Palace, Pestana Palacio etc. Once you have aligned on your budget, you can find the one that works best for you.
We decided to use Airbnb for our stay here that had beautiful views of Dom Luis bridge.
Fun Fact for my American friends - Many homes in Portugal have washers and dryers, but the dryers don’t dry clothes as thoroughly as those in the US. So, if you plan to do laundry, keep that in mind. Hosts usually provide a drying rack to air-dry your clothes, and you’ll often find the washer located in the kitchen.

Food in Porto

A trip to Porto isn’t complete without visiting Matosinhos to try the catch of the day—fresh seabass grilled simply with sea salt, caught that very morning and served at lunch. It’s so delicious, you’ll want to eat it every day. We went to a restaurant called “São Vantim” and enjoyed garlic prawns, grilled seabass, bread, olives, and butter—everything was absolutely incredible. Highly recommended!

Fun tip - Bread baskets with butter and olives are usually not complimentary, so feel free to decline if you don’t want them. They typically cost between 2–4 EUR, depending on the restaurant. But be sure to try the local olives and Portuguese fresh cheese at least once—they’re definitely worth it!

Sweet roasted chestnuts are a popular street snack you’ll find sold by local vendors. A cone usually costs around 3 EUR and makes for a delicious treat—just peel off the roasted shell and enjoy! Gelato is a must—don’t skip it! A friend of mine, who’s Italian, told me that Portuguese gelato is the closest you’ll find to the real Italian version. We tried it at a place called “Santini,” and their mango, coconut, and pistachio flavors were incredibly good and refreshing after a long walk.

Anything from Portuguese White/Red wine, Sangrias and Portuguese Sparkling wines are delicious to try. Some restaurants offer house red and white wine which are equally juicy and delicious to enjoy.

We enjoyed early brunch at Zenith Cocktail & Brunch and their Veggie Eggs Benedict was too good.
Coffee- Ok, so Portuguese Coffee requires its own bullet point. No matter where you go, the coffee is really good. Whether you like Espresso or with milk, they have it. Even their Servico’s or service stations have great coffees (not to mention super clear restrooms).

Things to Enjoy in Porto:

Try various Port wine tastings at Graham’s, Calem and Kopke. For Graham’s, I would recommend making an appointment. We were able to walk in to Calem and get an available table. However, I bet it would be busy during peak times so please check for reservation guidance.

Stroll along Ribeira and find a waterfront spot for lunch. We enjoyed a delicious meal at one of the restaurants there. Be prepared for long wait times, but the stunning views and tasty food make it absolutely worth it.

Take a walk around and see Porto University, many churches, Porto Cathedral (one of the oldest monuments in Porto) and Bolsa Palace (requires to book a tour and takes about 30mins to complete the palace tour, a must visit).

Visit Livraria Lello, the iconic Porto bookstore rumored to have inspired JK Rowling while writing parts of Harry Potter. Expect long lines and a 5-euro entrance fee, payable on-site right before you enter. website HERE

Take a walk on Dom Luis bridge. They say Gustave Eiffel (yep the Eiffel Tower dude) presented this projected however it was ultimately executed by one of his students - Theophile Seyrig.

Wine to Enjoy :)

Port- We visited Calem and Graham’s but didn’t get to Taylors or Cockburn—worth trying if you have time. If you prefer spicy, intense port, go for older Tawnies (30–40 years); for a milder, fruitier taste, choose Vintage. Kopke, the oldest port house, came highly recommended, and we picked up a bottle of their Tawny at duty-free.
Verde/White/Sparkling- Carm, house white wine of the restaurants, Azul Portugal.
Tinto (Red)- Esteva, Evel, Trinca Bolotas, Palato, Altano, Monsaraz, Vallado, Macanita, Esporao, Vallado, Monte Velho. We also had a few Syrah blends which I don’t recall. But you can enjoy any of these and more Portuguese red wines and they are easily available in even the mini grocery stores. We would pick up a bottle every day and bring home to drink. The wines are very light, fruity and Syrah blends pack a good acidity for you to enjoy.

Our itinerary

We reached from Lisbon to Porto in evening. We were a bit tired from our Obidos day trip and a long drive so decided to get some food via their local Food delivery app called Glovo, amazing service. We ordered food from a place called Thamel, an asian place and got some veg Chowmein and Dimsums done 3 ways. Meal was so so delicious, with some wine with it and we called it a night while enjoying the views of amazing bridge.

Woke up and had some amazing espresso at home. Went to meet a friend at Zenith Cocktail and Brunch for some delicious brunch. Things we ordered -Burger, Sweet Potato Chips (must eat), veggie eggs Benedict, omelet with side of bread, double espresso, coke and Cappuccino.
We took a walking tour and saw -Porto University, Livraria Lello, Porto Cathedral and went to Bolsa palace but got the tickets for next day. We stopped by for some gelato and then drove to Foz to see the amazing Sunset. After that we went to a bakery called “Tavi” which is right in front of the ocean and we enjoyed some more coffee and dessert. Their fresh cheesecake is really good. I have never seen the horizon look this beautiful, we got the perfect table to enjoy some caffeine. We reached home, opened a bottle of Duoro wine obviously and called it a night.
The next day, we covered Bolsa Palace. It is gorgeous, the gold room is a must see. I loved hearing the stories about the architecture and meaning behind it. After the palace tour, we walked to Ribeira and found a great spot to relax and savor grilled cod, salad, and a liter of the best white wine sangria I’ve ever had. We spent three wonderful hours there—it was the highlight of our trip.
In evening, we went to Calem’s and did a Port wine tasting. We purchased their 1999 Colheita and Special reserve. We were so tired that night that we ended up going home and cooked some eggs and toast for dinner and wrapped it up, Yes I can eat eggs and toast for dinner too!
On our last full day in Porto, we started with coffee and views. While my husband had a meeting, I visited Graham’s for a pre-booked port tasting, enjoyed the tour, and bought two bottles of vintage port. We reunited for lunch in Matosinhos (already mentioned as a highlight). My husband finished some more work and I relaxed at Praia de Matosinhos, sipping coffee at a beachfront café and chatted with my mom and sisters. We ended the day at home with takeout, unwinding together.
We left from Porto and had a detour day trip to Aveiro and Fatima.
Souvenirs - I purchased a lot of them. Porto keychains, simple jute bags, Ceramic coasters, Olive Oil, Vinegar and the delicious Ginjha. There are so many of them that you can walk around and compare the prices before you actually purchased anything.

I really hope you enjoy your time in Porto.