The Ultimate 3-Day Porto Itinerary: What to Do, See & Eat

Planning a trip to Porto? This 3-day Porto itinerary covers the best things to do in Porto, including port wine tastings, river cruises, historic landmarks, and some of the city's best restaurants. 

Porto is Portugal’s second-largest city and the birthplace of Port wine, which has become synonymous with the region.

I went to Porto, and I can not recommend it enough. Here is my itinerary for a three-night trip to Porto.

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Best Time to Visit Porto

I would personally choose to go to Portugal in April, May, June, and September. These months offer pleasant temperatures and fewer crows than in peak summer.

Where to stay

Torel Palace* - Located in the heart of the city, this 1861 palace has been lovingly restored into an incredible boutique hotel. Each room is unique and incredibly decorated. Torel Palace is the perfect base for exploring the city, and the breakfast is delicious. I recommend upgrading if you can. We stayed in the Junior Suite, which was spacious and beautifully decorated.

The One Monumental Palace* - This is a five-star hotel set in the city centre. It is luxurious, with an indoor pool, a gym, Art Deco decor, and lots of restaurants.

The Rebello* - Located on Gaia waterfront, with stunning views. This hotel is excellent for families, with its kids' club and apartment-style rooms. 

Arrival Made Easy

We decided to book our transfers through Holiday Extras. The journey from the airport to the city centre takes around 20 minutes, depending on traffic. We went with pre-booked transfers and had no issues. We had a smooth experience and would definitely book through Holiday Extras again. 

Getting Around

Porto is a very walkable city. However, Porto is famously hilly, so comfortable footwear is essential. We used Uber once to get to the Marina, and we found it affordable and easy to use. 

Itinerary Overview

Day 1 - Arrive in Porto & Explore

Day 2 - Tuk Tuk Tour and Port Wine Tasting

Day 3 - Boat Tour and Cais Da Riberia

Day 1 - Arrive in Porto & Explore

Depending on what time you arrive, I recommend strolling around the city with no real plans to get your bearings and discover some of Porto’s most beautiful streets and architecture.

Drinks - Bello Rooftop

On your first night, I recommend heading to Bello Rooftop, which is a stunning rooftop bar with views over the Douro River Waterfront. It serves excellent cocktails, but I recommend reserving a table in advance.

Dinner - Rio’s Tapas Bar

For dinner, I recommend going for some Portuguese Tapas at Rio’s Tapas & Bar. Whilst a small restaurant, it has some delicious food such as goat cheese puff pastry and spicy potatoes. 

Day 2 - Tuk Tuk Tour and Port Wine Tasting

Morning 

For your first full day, I recommend doing a Tuk Tuk Tour. I love doing a Tuk Tuk tour at the start of a trip, as it provides an introduction to the city while letting you sit back and enjoy the sights. 

I have linked the tour we went on here*.

 On our Tuk Tuk tour, we went to:

•  Miradouro da Serra do Pilar - A viewpoint next to a former 16th-century convent. Offers breathtaking panoramic views of the Douro River.

  
  

• St Lawrence Church - A 16th-century Jesuit church featuring a striking Baroque interior. Perched on one of Porto's highest points, it offers spectacular views.

  
  

• The Porto Cathedral - One of Porto’s oldest monuments, this Roman Catholic cathedral combines Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque architecture. 

• São Bento Railway Station - famous for its beautiful blue-and-white tile panels depicting scenes from Portuguese history. 

• Chapel of Souls - A chapel known for its beautiful blue tiles, which illustrate scenes from the lives of saints.

Afternoon

After your tour, I recommend crossing the Dom Luís I Bridge in the afternoon to take in the fantastic views.

Once you are here, take the funicular, lift, or walk down to the riverfront and stroll along the riverfront in Vila Nova de Gaia. Vila Nova de Gaia is home to many of the historic port wine cellars where the city’s famous fortified wine is aged and stored. 

Whilst here, I recommend doing a port wine tasting. Two of the most popular port lodges are Graham’s and Cockburns, although there are many excellent ones to choose from. Port tasting is one of Porto’s most popular experiences, so make sure you book in advance.

Once you have finished, you can take the Gaia cable car back to the Dom Luis I Bridge. This offers a great view of the city.

Dinner - Cúmplice Steakhouse

For dinner, we went to Cúmplice Steakhouse, which was lovely. We ordered the T-bone steak; the service was excellent here, and I recommend coming here on a trip. At the time of writing, Cúmplice was ranked among Porto's top restaurants on TripAdvisor. 

Day 3 - Boat Tour and Cais Da Riberia

Morning

I highly recommend doing a boat tour this morning. We did a private one, which I have linked here*. However, I also found a good group tour, which I have linked here.*

On a boat tour, you’ll see Porto’s six bridges, the Ribeira District and Vila Nova de Gaia from the water. This offers stunning views from a different perspective. 

Afternoon

After your boat tour, spend some time exploring Ribeira, Porto’s colourful riverside district. With its narrow streets, lively cafes, and beautiful waterfront views, it is one of Porto’s most beautiful areas.

I recommend checking out Clerigos Tower. We went up this and enjoyed it, but it is an additional charge. I then recommend going to the Church of Saint Ildefonso.

Dinner - Blind

For dinner, I recommend heading to Blind, a restaurant located in the Torel Palace Hotel.

This tasting menu is all about your senses. For one dish, we had a truffle butter candle that melted in front of you to dip your bread in; for another, we were blindfolded; and for the last course, we listened to music whilst we ate. It was quite an expensive experience; however, I truly believe it was worth it, as it was such a unique experience. We had ten courses, and it was truly delicious. 

Final Thoughts

Porto exceeded my expectations, and I would highly recommend it for a long weekend city break. With its beautiful architecture, outstanding food, incredible port wine, and stunning riverside views, it offers everything you would want from a European city break. 

If you are looking for another perfect European city break, then check out my blog post about Krakow here.