3 Days in Porto: How to Plan a Trip to Porto, Portugal

Best Way to Spend 3 Days in Porto

There are several different ways to spend 3 days in Porto. You can spend all three days in Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia, visiting the historical sites and churches, and having plenty of time for wine tasting, cruising the Douro River, and sampling Porto’s cuisine.

Another option is to spend two busy days in Porto, using the third day to day trip either to the Douro Valley or to Braga and Guimarães. If you are on a quick trip to Portugal and don’t have time for a longer stay in the Douro Valley, a day trip from Porto is very popular and very easy to do. If you plan to visit the Douro Valley before or after your visit to Porto, a day trip to Braga and Guimarães is worth considering.

In this guide, we let you know how to do all three of these options.

About this Porto Itinerary

You can do these days in any order. I recommend checking the hours of the main attractions, since some wine cellars, restaurants, and landmarks are not open seven days a week, and using this information to arrange the order of your days. This is very important if you plan to day trip to the Douro Valley, since you don’t want to do it on a day when your preferred wineries are closed.

All of the times in the daily schedules are rough estimates, just to give you an idea about timing throughout the day. Your times may differ, based on queues and how much time you decide to spend at each place. I did my best to anticipate waiting times and visiting times, but on very busy days (or very quiet days) these times can differ.

You will have to do some work in advance by booking entrance tickets and restaurant reservations, but this will save you hours of time once in Porto. We’ll let you know how to do this, too.

I do my best to keep the hours of operation and pricing up to date for each attraction, however, these can change at any time. I recommend getting updated hours and pricing for your dates of travel. The link to the official website is provided for each site.

We have tons more information about Porto (and Portugal) which you can see in our Portugal Travel Guide.

How Many Days Do You Need in Porto?

Plan on spending a minimum of two days in Porto. This gives you just enough time to tour the famous landmarks, churches, and cathedrals in the old town plus visit a wine cellar or two in Vila Nova de Gaia.

With more time in Porto, there is still plenty that you can do.

If you are a wine aficionado or want to learn more about port wine, spending 1 to 2 days in Gaia visiting the wine cellars is a very memorable experience. You should also consider a day trip to the Douro Valley, if you won’t be going here before or after your visit to Porto.

There are also many hidden gems in Porto, and having three or more days gives you enough time to go off the beaten track and have a more leisurely experience. A third or fourth day in Porto allows you to day trip to the Douro Valley, Braga, and Guimarães. For those with an abundance of time, you could easily spend five or more days in Porto.

We spent four days in Porto, using one of these days to day trip to Braga and Guimarães. From Porto, we visited the Douro Valley for three days.

The view from the Porto Cathedral

Best Things to Do with 3 Days in Porto

Below is a list of the places to visit if you have 3 days in Porto. All of these are included on this Porto itinerary. For a full list of places to go, read our article Best Things to Do in Porto.

• Stroll along the Douro River
• Enjoy the views from the Luis I Bridge and nearby viewpoints
• Dine at the Majestic Café
• Visit Livraria Lello
• Taste port at the wine cellars in Gaia
• Enjoy the view from Torre dos Clérigos
• Visit the Porto Cathedral
• Try Porto’s street foods
• Bolsa Palace
• Day trip to Braga and Guimarães
• Day trip to the Douro Valley

3 Days in Porto Itinerary

Porto Itinerary Day 1

Livraria Lello, Bolsa Palace, Cais da Ribeira, & a Few of Porto’s Churches

This itinerary is identical to the first day of our 2 Days in Porto Itinerary.

Here is a quick overview of today’s itinerary:

9:00 am: Livraria Lello
10:00 am: Igreja do Carmo & Igreja dos Carmelitas
11:00 pm: Torre dos Clérigos
12:00 pm: Lunch
1:30 pm: Miradouro da Vitoria
2:00 pm: Bolsa Palace
3:00 pm: The Church of Sao Francisco
4:00 pm: Cais da Ribeira, Douro riverfront
5:00 pm: Cruise the Douro River (Optional)
Evening: Dinner

9:00 am: Livraria Lello

Livraria Lello is called “the most beautiful bookstore in the world.” Its whimsical architecture, iconic staircase, and colorful stained-glass ceiling attracts an enormous number of visitors each day. It’s definitely a sight to see in Porto.

Livraria Lello

For the least crowded experience, we recommend starting your day here, right at opening time. This is a site where we recommend booking your ticket in advance.

There are three ticket types: a standard ticket (the silver voucher), the gold ticket (standard entry plus a reserved book), and the platinum ticket. The platinum ticket is by far the most expensive ticket option but you enter through a priority line, plus you get access to the Gemma Room.

If you have a silver or gold ticket, even with a time slot entry, you could wait in line for up to 15 minutes to enter the bookstore. If you have a platinum ticket, you enter right at your allotted time, without waiting in line for the standard ticket.

The bookstore opens at 9 am. If you choose the silver or gold ticket option, it’s a good idea to get here early, because the line starts forming before 8:30 am. If you really want to be one of the first to enter the store, then the platinum ticket is the best option (but it is very pricey).

On the official website, get hours, pricing, and purchase your tickets in advance. A visit here lasts about 30 minutes, once you are inside of the bookstore.

10:00 am: Igreja do Carmo & Igreja dos Carmelitas

From Livraria Lello, it is just a 2-minute walk to Igreja do Carmo & Igreja dos Carmelitas, two churches that sit side-by-side. Casa Escondida (the ‘hidden house’), is a 1 meter wide house that separates these two churches.

Igreja do Carmo and its beautiful blue tiles | 3 Days in Porto

Start your visit at Igreja do Carmo. There is a small fee to enter, and on your visit you will see the ornately decorated nave and then tour the three levels of the tiny, hidden house. We didn’t find the house to be all that exciting and it was quite crowded during our visit.

Next, you will enter the catacombs, followed by the Crucifix Gallery, with the option to walk onto the rooftop. The view from the rooftop is just OK, but still worth it while you are here. What is not worth it is waiting to climb the narrow steps for a higher viewpoint. This becomes a human traffic jam and the view is not much better than what you get from the lower level of the roof. Our visit to Igreja do Carmo took about 30 minutes.

The nave of Igreja do Carmo

On the roof of Igreja do Carmo | 3 Days in Porto

Next, visit Igreja das Carmelitas. This church is much quicker to visit. It’s also free. Step inside to admire the golden altarpiece and the small museum.

Inside Igreja das Carmelitas | 3 Days in Porto

11:00 am: Torre dos Clérigos

From Igreja das Carmelitas, it is a 6-minute, 400 meter walk to Clérigos Church.

Torre dos Clérigos (Clerigos Tower) is a 75-meter tower that is attached to Clérigos Church. Climbing this tower for 360° views is one of the best things to do in Porto.

To get to the top of the tower, you will climb 240 steps and from here, you can see the Douro River, Gaia, and famous Porto landmarks such as the Porto Cathedral.

The view from Torre dos Clérigos

This is an extremely popular thing to do and you can save yourself a lot of time by booking a time slot in advance. On the official website, you can get hours and purchase your tickets in advance, which can save you an hour or longer during peak season. If they are sold out, you can also purchase them on GetYourGuide.

While you are here, it’s also worth visiting the inside of Clérigos Church, which is free to do. Again, you can see another ornately decorated nave and walk the hallways on the second level of the church for stunning views of the nave.

Inside Clérigos Church | 3 Days in Porto

12:00 pm: Lunch

Sitting down to lunch and dinner is one of our favorite things to do in Porto (and all of Portugal…the food is incredible!).

For lunch, we have several options.

Just off of Rua da Flores, a lovely pedestrian shopping street, and a 5-minute walk from Clérigos Church, is Voltaria. This tiny restaurant always had a line when we walked by. It gets rave reviews and serves tapas and seafood dishes. We never got a chance to eat here but if you can get a table, this is our top recommendation for lunch today.

Also nearby is A Sandeira do Porto (a sandwich shop very close to Clerigos Church) and Pregar (a sandwich shop at the bottom of Rua das Flores).

If you want to try some of Porto’s street food, you can do that now, but you will do some extra walking. That’s probably not a bad idea, because the street foods are very decadent.

At A Regaleira, try the francesinha, Porto’s most famous street food, a sandwich of ham, steak, and sausage and drenched in a creamy sauce (7-minute walk from Clérigos Church and a 13-minute walk to Miradouro da Vitoria). The francesinha was invented at this restaurant.

At Gazela, try a cachorrinhos, which is a slightly spicy hot dog best enjoyed with Super Bock beer. This was our favorite street food experience. From Clérigos Church, it is an 11-minute walk to get here and a 14-minute walk to Miradouro da Vitoria).

1:30 pm: Miradouro da Vitoria

For a panoramic view of the city, climb the steps to Miradouro da Vitoria. It’s a hefty hill climb to get up here, so you’ll burn off some of those calories from lunch. If you’re not feeling up to this quick workout, you can skip this viewpoint…there will be several others later in this itinerary.

Miradouro da Vitoria | 3 Days in Porto

2:00 pm: Bolsa Palace

From Miradouro da Vitoria, it is an easy, downhill, 7-minute walk to Bolsa Palace.

Bolsa Palace

Bolsa Palace, also called the Stock Exchange Palace, was built in the 19th century, although it took until 1910 for the interior to be completed. Highlights include the Arab Room and the Hall of Nations.

This palace can only be visited on a 30-minute guided tour. Unfortunately, they no longer sell tickets or tours online in advance. To visit the inside of Bolsa Palace, you will have to get in line for the next available tour and then it is your call as to how long you would like to wait.

3:00 pm: The Church of São Francisco

Sitting next to Bolsa Palace is the amazing Church of São Francisco (the Church of Saint Francis).

On a visit here, you will visit the old church and the new church, and the catacombs. There is a small fee to enter.

The new church is worth a quick peek, as are the catacombs, which is where the Franciscan monks and wealthy families in Porto are buried. Don’t miss seeing the bones in the ossuary in the glass floor.

Inside the New Church

The catacombs

The old church is amazing. Most of the naves are covered in gold leaf. Unfortunately, photos are not allowed in the old church, so you’ll have to wait and see it with your own eyes. It’s definitely worth it.

Church of São Francisco | 3 Days in Porto

4:00: Stroll along the Douro River

From the Church of Sao Francisco, it takes just a few minutes to walk down to the riverfront.

Cais da Ribeira is the promenade that runs along the Douro River in Porto. It’s a short, incredibly scenic walk, dotted with bars and restaurants. You’ll gaze across the Douro River to Gaia.

This is a great place to take your time, enjoy the view, and pop into a bar or café for a glass of wine, Porto tonic, or a snack.

5:00 pm: Cruise the Douro River (Optional)

Cruising the Douro River on a 6 Bridges Cruise is a popular thing to do in Porto. These cruises typically last about an hour and start at Cais da Ribeira.

This cruise gets very good reviews and is one of the cheapest 6 Bridges Cruises available. Or, cruise the Douro River at sunset on this party boat.

Evening: Dinner

For dinner, we have several recommendations.

Not far from Cais da Ribeira is Taberna dos Fernandes. This small, compact restaurant is located on Rua da Fonte Taurina. We had lunch here and it was one of our best meals in Porto. The service is impeccable, the octopus was some of the best we had in Portugal (which is saying a lot!), and the shrimp in olive oil and garlic was delicious. They don’t take reservations but it’s worth the wait, if there is one.

Lunch at Taberna dos Fernandes

MISTU is a short walk from Cais da Ribeira (it is behind Bolsa Palace). This restaurant fuses Asian and South American flavors. We recommend the butterfish with foie gras and the sea bass. Make a reservation in advance.

And if you didn’t dine here earlier in the day, Voltaria is open for dinner some nights of the week, or you can try A Regaleira and/or Gazela.

Porto Itinerary Day 2

Majestic Café, Porto Cathedral, Douro River, Wine Tasting in Gaia

On this memorable day in Porto, you will visit a few more key sights in Porto before crossing the Douro River to Gaia, where you have the option to go port wine tasting.

Gaia, also called Vila Nova de Gaia, sits south of the Douro River (across from Porto). Gaia is home to the wine cellars where the port wine is stored and aged.

Here is an overview of today’s itinerary:

9:00 am: Majestic Café
10:00 am: Rua da Santa Catarina and the Chapel of Souls
10:30 am: Church of Saint Ildefonso & São Bento Station
11:00 am: Take your pick between three churches
12:30 pm: Luis I Bridge
1:30 pm: Wine Tasting in Gaia

9:00 am: Breakfast at the Majestic Café

The Majestic Café is an Art Nouveau style café that opened in 1921. It is a historic café and one of Porto’s most beautiful dining experiences.

It is open from 9 am to 11 pm Monday through Saturday (it’s closed on Sunday). Plan on arriving here right at 9 am to save yourself a wait in line for a table. It’s also possible to make a reservation in advance, but first thing in the morning it is probably not necessary.

10:00 am: Rua da Santa Catarina and the Chapel of Souls

The Majestic Café is located on Rua da Santa Catarina, a pedestrian shopping street. In the morning, places will just be opening for the day.

From the café, it’s a 5-minute walk up this street to the Chapel of Souls, a small church that is covered with beautiful blue and white tiles. You can step inside for a quick visit but it’s the outside that amazed us.

Chapel of Souls | 3 Days in Porto

10:30 am: Church of Saint Ildefonso & São Bento Station

Walk back down Rua da Santa Catarina until you reach the Church of Saint Ildefonso (8-minute walk, 500 meters). You can admire this church and its blue and white tiles from the outside, or step inside if you have an interest in seeing the interior of this church.

Next, walk down Rua de 31 de Janeiro, enjoying views of the Torre de Clérigos in the distance, until you get to the São Bento Railway Station. Step inside for yet another view of azulejos (blue and white tiles).

São Bento Railway Station

11:00 am: Take Your Pick between 3 Churches

Next, we list three churches to visit. The Porto Cathedral is the most famous and one of the most important landmarks in the city to visit. It’s nice to see but there are two nearby churches that are highly underrated: the Church of Santa Clara and Igreja de São Lourenço. These tend to have small crowds and a big wow factor. You can visit all three or take your pick from this list.

Porto Cathedral

The Porto Cathedral, also called Sé do Porto, is the largest, grandest church in Porto. You can visit the interior of the church for free, and then pay a small fee to visit the cloister and climb the tower for panoramic views of Porto.

Porto Cathedral

The Porto Cathedral cloister

The view from the Porto Cathedral | 3 Days in Porto

Igreja de São Lourenço

This underrated church is a very short walk from the Porto Cathedral. To get here from the cathedral, cross the parking lot in front of the cathedral, take in the view from Miradouro da Rua das Aldas, and take the steps down to the next parking lot. Igreja de São Lourenço will be on your left (you can’t miss it).

The view from Igreja de São Lourenço

There is a small fee to enter, cash only. Climb the spiral staircase to the top of the tower and from here, and the walkway that connects to the second tower, you get amazing views of Porto. You also get a sweet view of the Porto Cathedral. These rival the views at the cathedral and when we did this, there was only one other couple.

Church of Santa Clara

The Church of Santa Clara is a 3-minute walk from the Porto Cathedral (in the opposite direction of Igreja de São Lourenço). There is a small fee to enter.

Inside, the nave is covered with gold leaf, even more than we saw in some other larger, more famous churches in Porto. This church is unique in that there are a lot of large windows and the sun really brightens up this church. Make sure you climb the stairs to the second level where you can look over the nave from the choir room.

Church of Santa Clara | 3 Days in Porto

12:30 pm: Luis I Bridge

Next up is an incredibly scenic walk across the Douro River on the Luis I Bridge. To get onto the upper level of the bridge, you will have to get to the intersection of Avenue Vimara Peres and Rua de Saraiva de Carvalho. From the Porto Cathedral, it is a 1-minute walk. From Igreja de São Lourenço it is a 5-minute uphill walk.

Walk along Avenue Vimara Peres towards the Douro River. Then enjoy the spectacular views as you walk across the Douro River.

The view from the Luis I Bridge

Once you make it to Gaia on the opposite side of the river, you have the option to add on the view from Jardim do Morro (which is located next to the bridge) and Miradouro da Serra do Pilar (a higher viewpoint but you’ll do a lot of extra walking to get here).

The view from Miradouro da Serra do Pilar | 3 Days in Porto

To get to Miradouro da Serra do Pilar from the Luis I Bridge, walk down Avenue da Republica, turn left (almost do a U-turn), and immediately walk up Rampa do Infante Santo. It’s an uphill walk on this street to get to the viewpoint. From the Luis I Bridge, it is almost a 1 km walk that takes about 12 minutes, a little shorter if you start at the Jardim do Morro metro station.

If adding on 30-minutes of walking isn’t worth it to you, you can head right to the good stuff, wine tasting in Gaia. You also have the option to visit Miradouro da Serra do Pilar at the end of the day, at sunset.

1:30 pm: Wine Tasting in Gaia

The remainder of the day will be spent in Gaia, where you can tour a wine cellar, go wine tasting, stroll along the riverfront, and visit the World of Wine. It’s a fabulous way to end your visit to Porto.

If you simply want to stroll along the riverfront, visiting a few of the more popular wine cellars for a tasting or tour, ride the cable car that has a station next to Jardim do Morro and takes you down to river level. From here, it is an easy, flat walk to big port names such as Caves Ferreira, Sandeman, and Caves Calem. There are also quite a few restaurants offering lunch.

For lunch with a view, we recommend Vinum, which is part of Graham’s Port Lodge. It’s located far from the Luis I Bridge, so consider hiring an Uber to get you here. Make your lunch reservation in advance. After lunch, you can visit another wine cellar for a tour or tasting, stroll along the riverfront, or walk over to the World of Wine.

If you want to tour a wine cellar, it is best to make a reservation in advance, because tours can sell out. We had our best experience at Niepoort and highly recommend it for port wine lovers, as it is a great experience in a very small group.

In an afternoon in Gaia, you have enough time to do two tours, if they are short. Again, see our Guide to the Porto Wine Cellars for recommendations.

Finally, you can also visit the World of Wine, a good option for those traveling with kids. There are several informative, very well done museums about chocolate, wine in Portugal, cork, and rosé wine. We list your options in our Guide to the Porto Wine Cellars.

Here is a sample itinerary for an afternoon in Gaia:

1:30 pm: Lunch at Vinum
3:00 pm: Tour a wine cellar. We had a great experience at Niepoort but Sandeman and Caves Calem are located along the waterfront and offer lots of tours throughout the afternoon.
5:00 pm: Stroll along the riverfront and do a port tasting at Kopke and/or Burmester
7:00 pm: Dinner at Enoteca 1756. We had a fantastic dinner here. Dona Maria Restaurante is another restaurant that gets glowing reviews. Alternatively, you can visit Jardim do Morro or Miradouro da Serra do Pilar for sunset views of Porto (get sunset times for your dates of travel here).

Porto Itinerary Day 3

Take Your Pick: Wine Cellars in Gaia, Douro Valley Day Trip, or Braga & Guimaraes Day Trip

On your third day in Porto you have a choice to make. Would you rather spend a full day touring the wine cellars in Porto or take a day trip from the city? All are wonderful options, and your answer depends on your interests and the other places you plan to visit in Portugal.

Option #1: Wine Cellars in Gaia

For those who would rather tour the wine cellars in Gaia, taste port wine, have a leisurely lunch, and enjoy the views across the Douro River to Porto, this itinerary is for you.

Tim and I are huge port fans, even before our trip to Portugal. We spent three days in Porto and more than half of this time was spent in Gaia. Visiting the wine cellars in Gaia was not only our favorite experience in Porto, but it was also one of our top experiences in all of Portugal.

On day 2, you got to spend a little time in Gaia. But with another full day, you get to dive deeper into Porto’s amazing port wine lodges and experiences.

For information about the wine cellars in Gaia, take a look at our article Best Wine Cellars in Gaia.

Here is a one day itinerary for Gaia. This is how we spent our first day in Gaia and it works very well. Basically, you can tour a wine cellar in the morning and afternoon, separated by lunch.

10:00 am: We took the Niepoort and Friends tour and tasting. This ended at 11:30 am, but tours can run late, so keep that in mind if you are making a reservation for your next activity. Alternatively, you can tour a different port lodge, or visit WOW in the morning, saving a wine cellar tour for the afternoon.

Wine tasting at Niepoort

1:00 pm: Lunch at Vinum, Graham’s Port Lodge (if you did not do that yesterday).

Vinum | 3 Days in Porto

3:00 pm: 1790 Tour at Sandeman. Alternatively, you could visit a museum at WOW followed by a tasting at Taylor’s (we liked the port and the experience more at Taylor’s than nearby Fonseca) or tour a different wine cellar. We never got to Cockburn’s, but their port is wonderful and there tours get rave reviews.

5:00 pm: Spend some time along the riverfront in Gaia with the option to do tastings at the wine houses here. Kopke and Burmester would be our top picks (we are big fans of these ports).

7:00 pm: Dinner or watch the sunset from the Luis I bridge. We had dinner at Enoteca 1756. Of course, you can pick a different restaurant in Gaia or return to Porto, if you are staying in Porto. Walking across the Luis I bridge at sunset is a great thing to do in Porto. You can walk up to the bridge from the riverfront or ride the cable car.

Dinner at Enoteca 1756

Option #2: Douro Valley Day Trip

The Douro Valley is the oldest wine region in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Douro River cuts through this hilly region. Vines grow on terraces, surrounding stone quintas and wineries and dotted with very small towns.

If you are a wine lover and don’t have plans to spend some time in the Douro Valley on your trip to Portugal, this is a day trip worth considering. The Douro Valley is gorgeous, and it’s worth seeing, even for those without a big interest in wine.

The Douro Valley | 3 Days in Porto

On a Douro Valley day trip, you will visit a few wineries, have lunch, and have the option to cruise on the Douro River. There are tons of tour options that include your transportation and fees, so it is easy to plan your day trip, without researching which wineries and restaurants to visit.

However, if you want to day trip to the Douro River independently, that’s easy to do too. It’s best if you have a car, because getting around the Douro Valley using public transportation is very challenging (however, it’s easy to get here on the train). In our Douro Valley Day Trip guide, we provide a detailed one day itinerary that takes you to several spectacular wineries plus where to go for a gourmet lunch.

However, if you prefer to join a tour, which really makes things easy, here are several options.

Douro Valley Day Trip Tours from Porto

On this full day tour, you will taste wine at two wineries, have lunch, and cruise the Douro River. This tour gets glowing reviews and is one of the top tours of the Douro Valley. It’s also one of the cheapest.

This small group tour is a little more expensive, but you visit two prestigious wine cellars, have a 3-course lunch, and cruise the Douro River.

If you want to take a private tour of the Douro Valley, take a look at this tour that includes two wineries and a Douro River cruise.

Finally, for those who want to be more active, on this tour you take a short, guided hike in the Douro Valley, visit a winery, have a picnic lunch among the vines, and then explore Pinhao village.

Option #3: Braga & Guimarães Day Trip

Braga and Guimarães are two lovely small towns that sit north of Porto.

Braga is famous for the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte, a Portuguese Catholic shrine. It is a Christian pilgrimage site and its white Baroque stairway is one of Portugal’s most famous landmarks. Braga is a very pretty small city and worth a quick stroll, but we liked Guimarães more.

Bom Jesus do Monte

Guimarães is close to Braga. This small town is a delight to stroll through, with narrow, picturesque streets, interesting architecture, and historical landmarks. Tour the Palace Duques de Bragança, see the Guimarães Castle, stroll through the photogenic squares, and ride the cable car up to Parque da Penha for panoramic views over Guimarães and northern Portugal.

Guimarães

Like the Douro Valley, you can visit Braga and Guimarães on your own or on a tour. If you don’t have a rental car, taking a tour takes out the hassle of getting around using public transportation (take a train between Porto and Braga and Porto and Guimarães; travel by bus between Braga and Guimarães).

This tour starts at the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte and then includes visits to Braga and Guimarães. It gets great reviews and includes your transportation, entrance fees, with the option to add on lunch.

Make Your Reservations in Advance

Below are two places in Porto that we recommend making an advance reservation, plus the links to make your planning easier.

• Livraria Lello
• Torre de Clérigos

You should also make a reservation in advance at any wine cellars you plan to tour as well as dinner restaurants.

How to Get Around Porto

The best way to get around Porto is on foot. It’s a relatively small, compact city and easy to walk between most sites. However, it’s also good to know that Porto is hilly, so you will walk up and down some hills and stairs, especially the closer you get to the Douro River.

There are a few trams and funiculars that connect the riverfront area to the hillier areas of Porto, which can save you a big uphill walk. In Porto, Funicular dos Guindais has a bottom station on the Douro River next to the Luis I Bridge and ends near the Church of Santa Clara. So, if you are strolling along Cais da Ribeira and then need to walk to the city center or to Luis I Bridge, you can take this tram to save yourself the uphill walk, or walk the winding streets and staircases up the level of the Porto Cathedral. There is a small fee for the tram and there could be a line, so in some cases, walking is faster.

And in Gaia, the Gaia cable car connects Jardim do Morro and the upper level of the Luis I Bridge to the riverfront area.

There is a metro but there are only a few stations in the city center. You can use the metro to get from Porto (station: São Bento) to Gaia (station: Jardim do Morro).

To connect points that are farther apart, hire a taxi or use Uber. We used Uber to get from our hotel (near Liberty Square) to and from Gaia.

Vila Nova de Gaia and the Gaia cable car

How to Get to Porto

You can get to Porto by plane, train, bus, car, and on a tour. Porto has an international airport, so you can fly here from other locations around the world.

São Bento Railway Station has a convenient location in the city center. If you are coming from Lisbon or another Portuguese city, getting to Porto by train is fast, budget-friendly, and convenient. Buses are also budget friendly but sometimes have longer travel times, so check timetables when planning your journey.

If you are road tripping through Portugal, you’ll need to park your rental car while in Porto. Driving and parking is challenging in Porto, so I don’t recommend driving from place to place. When choosing a hotel, it’s best to choose one that offers parking.

As for planning your Portugal itinerary, we have several great options. One of the most popular 10 day trips to Portugal combines Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve into one trip. For more ideas on how to spend 10 days in Portugal, take a look at our guide to 5 Ways to Spend 10 Days in Portugal. And finally, if you have a little more time, this 2 Week Portugal Itinerary covers the highlights of mainland Portugal and can be done by rental car or public transportation.

The Porto Card

The Porto Card offers free, unlimited use of public transport (excluding the historic street cars), taking the metro from the airport to the city center, free admission to several museums (none of which are in this itinerary), and small discounts on other sites, such as Clérigos Tower and the Porto Cathedral.

The savings is minimal and I don’t think it is worth it, unless you plan to use public transportation frequently (such as taking the metro from the airport to the city center and using the metro or buses to get around the city) or plan to visit a few of the included museums (which are relatively obscure and probably not of interest to most first time visitors).

Learn more here.

Where to Stay in Porto

The historic center of Porto is the best place to stay for this itinerary, followed by a few select hotels in Gaia. If you are traveling through Portugal by train, consider choosing a hotel near the São Bento Railway Station.

We have a list of recommended hotels in Porto in our Porto Travel Guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can’t you miss in Porto?

Must-see sights in Porto include Cais da Ribeira (the promenade that runs along the Douro River in Porto), the wine houses in Gaia (port tasting is an essential experience to have in Porto), the Porto Cathedral, Luis I Bridge, Livraria Lello, and Bolsa Palace.

Is 3 days in Porto enough time?

Yes, with 3 days in Porto, you can spend all of your time visiting the highlights of Porto, the wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia, and a few hidden gems, at a leisurely pace. Or, spend 2 days visiting the sights in Porto and 1 day either day tripping to the Douro Valley or to Braga and Guimarães.

When is the best time to visit Porto?

Porto can be visited all year. Spring and summer are the best times to visit, when the weather is pleasant but crowds are manageable. Summer is the hottest, busiest time to visit Porto. Our visit was at the end of September. Porto still felt busy, but it was warm and sunny every day we were here.

If you have any questions about how to spend 3 days in Porto or this Porto itinerary, let us know in the comment section below.

More Information for Your Trip to Portugal

PORTO: Get started with our Porto Travel Guide, which lists where to eat, where to stay, and has lots of helpful tips for visiting Porto. We cover the best things to do in Porto in our Porto Bucket List. In our Guide to the Wine Cellars in Gaia, get recommendations on which wine cellars to visit and how to plan your time. See the best of Porto in our One Day in Porto Itinerary and 2 Days in Porto Itinerary.

DOURO VALLEY: Get started with our Douro Valley Travel Guide, which covers the essential things to know when planning a trip to this wine region. We also have a guide to the Best Way to Day Trip to the Douro Valley from Porto and 8 Wineries to Visit in the Douro Valley.

CENTRAL PORTUGAL: Visit the coastal town of Nazaré (and see its gigantic waves), walk the castle walls at Óbidos, and explore Monsanto, a town famous for its colossal boulders.

PORTUGAL ITINERARIES: If you are just beginning to plan your Portugal itinerary, take a look at our 10 Day Portugal Itinerary for five different ways to spend 10 days in Portugal. We also have a detailed 10 day itinerary that includes Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve and a 2 week itinerary that includes the highlights of mainland Portugal.

PORTUGAL FOR FOODIES: In our article 20 Foods to Eat in Portugal, we list 20 Portuguese foods to try and exactly where to get them, plus some of the most unique restaurants in Portugal.

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