Porto is my hometown, and after years of traveling the world, I still think it’s one of Europe’s most underrated coastal cities. Here’s exactly how I’d spend 48 hours there.
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Start your morning at the Porto City Hall, one of the city’s most iconic landmarks and the site of the New Year’s Eve and São João fireworks. Just behind it sits the Igreja do Carmo, one of the largest and most striking churches in the city, worth a quiet five minutes before the day gets busy.
From there, begin climbing Rua dos Clérigos, lined with traditional shops that have barely changed in decades. As you near the top, the Clérigos Tower comes into view, but before heading up, stop at Livraria Lello, one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world. Its red staircase is famous worldwide, and legend has it the shop influenced a young J.K. Rowling during her years living in Porto.
Climb the Clérigos Tower for the best panoramic view of the city, then grab lunch nearby, no trip to Porto is complete without a francesinha, the city’s signature sandwich.
In the afternoon, head to Rua de Santa Catarina, Porto’s main shopping street. Along the way, step into the Igreja de Santa Catarina, entirely covered in blue and white azulejo tiles. Continue down to São Bento train station, where the tiled walls tell entire scenes from Portuguese history, easily one of the most photographed train stations in Europe.
End your first day at the Ribeira, Porto’s riverside district, with a glass of wine overlooking the Douro river as the sun sets.
Day 2: The River and Its Wine
Cross to Vila Nova de Gaia and start at the Port wine cellars, where centuries-old traditions are still alive. Learn how the wine was once transported down the Douro by rabelo boats, the traditional flat-bottomed vessels that carried wine barrels before roads existed.
From the riverbank, admire the Dona Maria Pia Bridge, designed by Gustave Eiffel, and the Dom Luís I Bridge, one of the most photographed structures in the city and the best way to cross back to the Porto side.
Have lunch in the Ribeira, fresh fish is always the right call here, then visit the Church of São Francisco, home to the eerie and fascinating Bones Chapel. Finish your trip at the Tram Museum, where a ride on a century-old tram feels like stepping straight back in time.
Extend Your Trip: The Douro Valley
If you have an extra day, head inland to the Douro Valley, where the terraced vineyards that produce Port wine cascade down the hillsides along the river. It’s one of the most beautiful wine regions in the world, and there are several ways to experience it.
You can take a boat-hotel cruise along the Douro, waking up each morning to a different stretch of vineyard-covered hills, or book a stay at one of the valley’s quintas (wine estates), many of which offer accommodation right among the vines.
For a more traditional experience, hop on the century-old train from Porto to Régua, a scenic ride that hugs the river the entire way and remains one of the most beautiful train journeys in Europe.