This post was originally published on A Globe Well Travelled in 2019. The content has been revised and updated with fresh information.
Porto is one of those cities that gets under your skin.
A handful of people had hinted that it was the kind of place my husband and I would love — and boy, were they right. Colourful azulejo-tiled buildings, a stunning river setting, world-class port wine, and that slightly-grungy-but-also-charming energy that flows through so many of our favourite destinations.
I’ve done loads of city-hopping in my time, and honestly, Porto was one of my best experiences. Although it was a little more touristy than I expected, it was still a winning destination — and easy to see why it’s become one of Europe’s most popular weekend breaks.
If you’re planning a trip and wondering what to do in Porto, you’re in the right place. Here are 12 essential activities to make the most of your weekend in this happening seaside city!
Quick summary:
Porto is one of my all-time favourite city breaks — packed with colourful azulejos, stunning river views, incredible port wine, and some seriously good food. Here are 12 essential activities to make the most of a weekend in this charming Portuguese city.
Recommended tours:
🚢 Porto Douro River Cruise with Port Wine – Sail the Douro River past Porto’s iconic landmarks with complimentary port wine
🍷 Graham’s Port Lodge Tour with Premium Wine Tastings – Tour a historic working cellar and enjoy premium port and food pairings
🚶 Porto 3-Hour Guided City Highlights Walking Tour – Explore Porto’s most beloved historic landmarks with a knowledgeable local guide
🎨 Private Azulejos Tile Painting Workshop – Learn traditional Portuguese tile painting techniques in a fun hands-on workshop
🥐 Pastel de Nata Cooking Class – Learn to make Portugal’s iconic custard tarts in a hands-on cooking class
Where to stay in Porto
We spent our weekend in a private apartment on a quiet street near Trindade Station — a modern space with a perfectly adorable Portuguese balcony overlooking a building covered in deep-green azulejos. Our mornings were spent drinking coffee as seabirds flew overhead, and our evenings with Portuguese wine and a cheese spread. It literally could not have been more perfect.
🏨 If you’re looking for a hotel in the same area, I’d point you towards Pur Oporto Boutique Hotel by Actahotels.
I haven’t stayed here personally, but it’s a beautifully decorated 4-star boutique hotel right in the heart of Porto’s historic centre — and being in the same neighbourhood as our apartment, you’ll find it’s a great base for ticking off the activities in this post.
The best things to do in Porto for a weekend:
Go hunting for azulejos
Azulejos (Portuguese tiles) started appearing in Porto in the 16th century. They were traditionally white and blue, though nowadays you can find them in a range of colours. You’ll see them covering both the outside and inside of historic and modern buildings throughout the city. Take your camera and go hunting for these pretty patterned tiles.
🎨 If you’re feeling crafty, you can even do a Tile Painting and Cocktails Workshop in Downtown Porto to learn the traditional painting techniques!
Walk over the Dom Luís I Bridge
The Dom Luís I Bridge is an impressive structure crossing the Douro River, connecting Porto with Vila Nova de Gaia. This double level arch bridge was built in 1886 and was designed by a student of Gustave Eiffel (who did the Eiffel tower! Can you see the similarities?).
Walking over the bridge is a popular activity for visitors to Porto. I walked over both the top level and the bottom level, and absolutely loved the city views from both!
Check out the Douro
The gorgeous river that flows through Porto is the Douro. The river actually starts 897 kms (557 miles) away in inland Spain, and it meets the ocean right here in Porto! If you follow the river upstream, you’ll come across some pretty landscapes and a stellar port wine region.
🚢 While you’re in Porto, one of the best ways to experience the Douro is on a Porto Douro River Cruise with Port Wine.
Available as a daytime or sunset cruise, you’ll sail past the Arrábida Bridge, the old customs house, the port wine cellars in Gaia, and the iconic Dom Luís I Bridge — all with a complimentary glass of port in hand. It would be a really lovely way to see the city from a different perspective!
Sip on some port wine
Did you know that port wine is from Porto?? I had no idea, but it seemed so obvious once I found out! Wine tasting is one of the best things to do in Porto. If you head across the Douro to one of the wine cellars in Gaia, you can sample different types of this sweet wine such as white, rose, tawny, and ruby in these little port glasses. My fave was the tawny!
Visit a cellar tour
If you enjoyed tasting the port wines, then it’s also worth visiting a cellar tour. We enquired at a few places in Gaia and ended up on a tour of Cockburn’s, which included 3 port wine tastings. I’d highly recommend booking ahead, as these tours are very popular.
🍷 One great option is the Porto: Graham’s Port Lodge Tour with Premium Wine Tastings. Graham’s Lodge dates back to 1890 and is still a working cellar, which makes it feel like a really authentic experience.
You’ll get a peek behind the scenes of how port is made, stunning views of Porto and the Dom Luís I Bridge, and finish up with a premium tasting — LBV with chocolate, Quinta dos Malvedos with cheese, and Pastel de Nata. Yes, really.
Wander around Gaia
After you’ve finished up with your wine tastings and cellar tour in Gaia, take a walk around! This area has some special spots, like Jardim do Morro, pictured above. It’s a steep walk up the hill to the park, but it’s worth the effort for these views! If you’re feeling extra lazy, you can choose to take the cable car from the riverfront to this insta spot instead.
Walk along Ribeira
Although Ribeira was rather touristy and the restaurant options were almost 100% seafood (not great for us vegetarians!), it was still nice to walk through and see what this area was all about. Ribeira Square is lined with some pretty pastel buildings, and you get some lovely views of the Douro from around here.
Check out the church tower views
Clérigos Church should definitely be on your Porto itinerary! This Baroque church was built in the 18th century, and is well worth the 5€ entry fee. The bell tower attached to this church is 76 metres (249 ft) tall, standing high above the surrounding rooftops. If you can climb the 200 steps to the top, you’ll be treated to this above vista of the city! The historic architecture inside the church is pretty neat, too.
See beautiful historic buildings
Porto has a huge number of historic buildings in the city center that are worth seeing. Stop in to visit Clérigos Church, Igreja do Carmo church, São Bento station, and the Chapel of Souls.
🚶 Get the full story behind them on a Porto 3-Hour Guided City Highlights Walking Tour, where a knowledgeable local guide shares the history and stories that bring it all to life.
Another one is Livraria Lello bookshop, which is one of the oldest bookshops in Portugal. Keep in mind that this is a very popular activity in Porto, and you can expect to pay an entrance fee and wait in line to get inside the shop. We gave it a miss as I really hate wasting time waiting in queues, and just peeked in from the doorway instead.
Hit up the beach
The above yellow structure is the Pergola of Foz, and it was my favourite place from our beach day in Porto! The temperature was a tad too cool for swimming during our September visit, but my husband and I spent hours staring out at the Atlantic from our seat at a nearby beach bar with a jug of sangria to share.
It’s pretty easy to get to the beach via bus, which takes about 30-40 minutes from the center of Porto. If you search for Pergola of Foz in Google Maps, it should give you a few route options including the 200, 202, and 500 buses.
Try some Pastel de nata
Portuguese tarts (Pastel de nata) may just be the best thing to eat in Portugal! These drool-worthy treats are made of pastry, egg custard, and a cinnamon dusting.
You can find them in cafes all over Porto, and they taste pretty great no matter where you get them from. I had a few in various cafes, coffee shops, and even at the airport as I was leaving Portugal.
🥐 If you want, you can even learn how to make these delightful treats in a Porto: Pastel de Nata Pastry-Making Workshop!
Drink and dine
Porto has some amaaazing food and drink options, and it’s not too difficult for vegetarians to find a decent meal! Here’s how I suggest you spend a day drinking and dining in Porto:
First up, order brunch at Fabrica Coffee Roasters – a hip little coffee shop in the city center. After you’ve spent a few hours sightseeing, relax with an afternoon Super Bock (Portuguese beer) at Base Porto – a rooftop garden bar right next to Clérigos Church. When you’re finished exploring for the day, tuck in to an all-you-can-eat veggie buffet at daTerra restaurant. The food here was amazingly good!
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