Porto 7-day itinerary

Start at the Ribeira waterfront — UNESCO-listed, with narrow lanes and azulejo-covered buildings cascading to the Douro. Take the upper deck of Dom Luís I Bridge for panoramic views. Walk down to Cais de Gaia and stroll the riverside promenade past the port wine lodges. The morning light hitting the colourful Ribeira facades is the best photo opportunity in the city.

Spend the afternoon in Vila Nova de Gaia's port wine cellars. Taylor's offers excellent guided tours with tastings (€15), and their terrace has unbeatable views. Graham's is more intimate with a superb restaurant. For a free option, smaller lodges like Poças and Ramos Pinto offer complimentary tastings. Lunch at a Gaia riverside restaurant — try a bifana and a Super Bock for under €8.

Watch sunset from Jardim do Morro or the Serra do Pilar viewpoint above the bridge — both are free and spectacular. Take the Teleférico de Gaia cable car down (€7 one-way) or walk. Dinner in Ribeira at Taberna dos Mercadores for petiscos and vinho verde. Then explore the bars along Rua de Galeria de Paris in the Galerias district for craft cocktails and live fado music.

Start at São Bento railway station — the entrance hall's 20,000 azulejo tiles depicting Portuguese history are worth lingering over. Walk up to Torre dos Clérigos (€8) and climb the 240 steps for the best 360° view of Porto's terracotta rooftops. Then Livraria Lello (€8 entry, redeemable on books) — a neo-Gothic bookshop with a crimson staircase. Coffee at Majestic Café on Rua de Santa Catarina.

Explore the freshly renovated Mercado do Bolhão — Porto's grand iron-and-glass market now beautifully restored. Browse cheeses, cured meats, pastéis de nata, and ginjinha. Lunch at Café Santiago on Rua de Passos Manuel for a francesinha (€10–12) — Porto's legendary sandwich of cured meats, cheese, and spicy beer sauce. Walk along Rua de Santa Catarina, the main shopping street.

Porto's nightlife centres on the Galerias de Paris district — Rua de Cândido dos Reis and surrounding streets have dozens of bars, from bohemian wine bars to underground clubs. Start at Aduela for natural wines, move to Base for cocktails, then Plano B for DJ sets. Most bars don't charge cover, and drinks are €3–6 for beer, €6–9 for cocktails.

Take the vintage Tram 1 (€3.50 or Andante card) from Ribeira along the Douro to Foz do Douro — the ride takes 25 minutes and hugs the riverbank. At Foz, walk the Passeio Alegre garden and the Felgueiras Lighthouse promenade where the Douro meets the Atlantic. The contrast between the sheltered river and open ocean is dramatic and beautiful.

Continue north along the coast to Praia de Matosinhos — Porto's best beach and a local favourite. The wide sandy beach has good waves for surfing (board rental from €15/day at nearby shops). Lunch at one of the seafood restaurants on Rua Heróis de França — grilled sardines, octopus rice, and fresh fish at honest prices (mains €10–15). Matosinhos has the best seafood in the Porto area.

Metro back to the Cedofeita neighbourhood — Porto's creative quarter with independent boutiques, record shops, and speciality coffee. Browse Rua de Miguel Bombarda's art galleries. Dinner at O Paparico for an upscale traditional experience (tasting menu ~€45) or keep it casual at Gazela for the city's best cachorrinho (hot dog with melted cheese, €2.50). Drinks at Era Uma Vez no Porto for wine flights.

Take the early CP train from São Bento station along the Douro Valley to Peso da Régua (2 hours, €14 return) — one of Portugal's most spectacular train journeys, following the river through steep, terraced vineyards. The Douro Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage landscape. Arrive in Régua and walk along the riverside promenade past traditional rabelo boats.

Visit Quinta do Vallado or Quinta da Pacheca for wine tastings (€10–20) — both are within walking or short taxi distance from Régua. The terraced vineyards rising from the river are breathtaking. Try the Douro DOC reds and the region's excellent white ports. Lunch at a quinta restaurant with valley views — expect €15–25 for a full meal with wine.

Catch the late afternoon train back from Régua — the return journey in golden hour light is even more beautiful than the morning. Back in Porto, keep dinner simple: grab a bifana (pork sandwich, €3) and a beer at Conga on Rua do Bonjardim — it's been serving Porto's best bifanas since 1976. Then a nightcap port on the Ribeira waterfront.

Bus 203 to Serralves — Porto's contemporary art museum designed by Álvaro Siza Vieira. The building itself is a masterpiece of clean lines and natural light. The 18-hectare park is gorgeous for a walk with sculptures scattered throughout. Entry is €20 (museum + park) or €10 for park only. Grab coffee at the museum's café terrace overlooking the gardens.

Porto is the world capital of azulejo tiles. Walk an azulejo trail: Igreja do Carmo (blue-and-white facade), Capela das Almas on Rua de Santa Catarina (stunning exterior tiles depicting saints), and Igreja de Santo Ildefonso near São Bento. Then head to Rua de Miguel Bombarda for contemporary street art and gallery-hopping. Lunch at Lado B in the gardens of Palácio de Cristal.

Stroll through the Jardins do Palácio de Cristal for sunset views over the Douro — the gardens are terraced with romantic viewpoints and peacocks. Dinner at Cantina 32 on Rua das Flores (creative Portuguese, mains €12–18). Then seek out live fado at Casa da Mariquinhas or Ideal Clube de Fado — Porto's fado is edgier and less tourist-oriented than Lisbon's.

Train from São Bento to Guimarães (1h15, €7 return) — the medieval city where Portugal was born. Explore the UNESCO-listed historic centre: Guimarães Castle (€2), the Paço dos Duques de Bragança palace (€5), and the perfectly preserved medieval streets of Largo da Oliveira. The inscription "Aqui nasceu Portugal" (Portugal was born here) is etched into a wall near the castle.

Take the Teleférico da Penha cable car (€7.50 return) up to Penha Hill for panoramic views of the city and surrounding countryside. The forested hilltop has walking trails and granite boulders. Back in town, lunch at Histórico by Papaboa (€10–15 for regional dishes) or grab a traditional rojões (pork with potatoes) at a local tasca. Browse the craft shops around Largo da Oliveira.

Evening train back to Porto. Explore the Miragaia neighbourhood — quieter and more authentic than Ribeira, with local tascas and beautiful views. Dinner at Casa Guedes for Porto's best pernil sandwich (roast pork leg, €4.50) — a local institution since the 1980s. End with a final walk along the Douro, watching the city lights reflect off the dark water.

Final morning at Mercado do Bolhão for fresh pastéis de nata, coffee, and last-minute souvenirs — local cheeses, port wine miniatures, and tinned fish (conservas) from beautifully designed shops like Loja das Conservas. Walk through the Vitória neighbourhood, one of Porto's most photogenic streets with tiled facades and laundry strung between buildings.

Relax in Jardim da Cordoaria, a shaded garden popular with university students, surrounded by Porto's university buildings. Walk to the Fontainhas neighbourhood — a hidden gem of steep staircases, colourful houses clinging to cliffs, and viewpoints over the river that few tourists find. Lunch at Flor dos Congregados near São Bento for classic Portuguese comfort food.

Final evening on the Ribeira waterfront. Splurge on dinner at DOP by chef Rui Paula (tasting menu €55) for modern Portuguese cuisine in a stunning riverside setting, or keep it simple at Taberna Santo António for petiscos and local wine. End with a glass of tawny port at Wine Quay Bar, watching the Dom Luís I Bridge light up as the sun sets over the Douro.