When you think of Porto, many exciting experiences come to mind for me. Things like tasting wine in the Douro Valley, enjoying the delicious Portuguese food, learning about the importance of Port wine, or simply soaking in views of the Douro River are why Porto is incredible.
Porto is a city that has the feel of the US Pacific Northwest. If you’ve ever visited Portland or Seattle, that’s what the city feels like. It’s an old city on the water with a coffee, food, and drink scene that will make you want to return as soon as you leave.
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Best Credit Cards to Use in Porto Portugal
The Amex Gold Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve, and Citi Premier Card are ones that continue to treat us well. Each would be ideal to have with you in Porto Portugal. Chances are, you are likely to be spending money on dining and travel-related expenses in the city. So, these cards are set up great to earn points during your visit.
You earn 4x points on dining and US groceries with the Amex Gold Card. The Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 3x points on dining and travel. With the Citi Premier Card, you earn 3x points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel, and hotels.
What is the best month to visit Porto Portugal?
May through October are pristine months to visit Porto Portugal. The highs average 68 to 77 degrees and the lows average 53 to 61 degrees. July and August are your best months in terms of the lowest chance of rain. Each month averages two days of rain per month.
We visited Porto Portugal in October and the weather was off the charts good! Yes, it did rain one day. However, the highs during the day were in the upper 60s and the lows were in the low 50s. You could essentially wear whatever type of clothing you wanted during the day and at night.
Porto Portugal Flights to Book
Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO) is the main airport serving Porto. This airport offers nonstop flights throughout Europe, as well as, nonstop flights to the US. In terms of flights to the US, here are nonstop flights that you can book:
- TAP Air Portugal <> Newark
- United Airlines <> Newark *seasonal
Similar to Lisbon, Uber was our main form of transportation in Porto. It’s about a 10-15 minute ride between the airport and downtown. Once we arrived at our hotel, we found Uber and walking as the easiest way to navigate the city.
Where to Stay in Porto Portugal
Marriott, IHG, and Hyatt each have properties that you can book with points in Porto. Hyatt has the Hotel Infante Sagres. InterContinental Porto is an IHG property to check out. Marriott has the Sheraton Porto Hotel & Spa. These brands have other properties that you can book. However, these hotels are the most centrally located.
We booked the Sheraton Porto Hotel & Spa and loved it! We used a suite upgrade during our stay, which made the experience even better. Even if you’re not in a suite, this hotel has all of the amenities you could ask for. The customer service was great and the hotel was nice.
Porto Portugal Places to Visit in 48 Hours
Day 1
Grab a coffee at Combi Coffee and Moustache to start your first day. With java in hand, start at the 19th century Jardins do Palácio de Cristal where you’ll find spectacular views of the Douro River below the park. You’ll then make the short walk to the beautiful Igreja do Carmo, a Catholic Church with a classic Portuguese tiled wall facade. Head back to Combi Coffee and Moustache for lunch as both spots have an array of breakfast and lunch options.
Post lunch, snap a few pictures in front of the big blue Porto letters at Letras do Porto. It’s then a short walk south to the 19th-century São Bento Station, a railway station that has beautiful tilework similar to Igreja do Carmo. This station reminded me of Union Station in Washington, D.C. Closeout day 1 with dinner at either DOP and Tapabento S.Bento. If you need a pre or post-dinner cocktail, Bar Baixa, Bonaparte Downtown, and Royal Cocktail Club are where it’s at. Pro tip: grab a seat in the non-smoking section at Bonaparte and the best vibes are at Royal Cocktail Club.
Day 2
Porto Cathedral is where to start your second day after scooping up a coffee from Combi Coffee or Moustache. We didn’t go inside this Romanesque cathedral. Instead, we took incredible pictures overlooking the city to the north. Make the short walk south to Lift Lada Ribeira, an elevator that offers views of the Luís I Bridge and Douro River. You can actually make the walk up the steps, instead of using the elevator, to the top of Lift Lada Ribeira. It’s at the top where you’ll find a scenic overlook of the Luís I Bridge, a bridge connecting Porto and Gaia. For lunch, go back to the well and grab food at Combi Coffee or Moustache.
After you’re done with lunch, closeout day two at Bolsa Palace, a beautifully designed 19th-century landmark building with an interior design that will blow you away. Bee bop around until it’s time for a cocktail or dinner. For dinner, head to either DOP and Tapabento S.Bento, whichever one you didn’t experience your first night. Spread some to the cocktail scene by visiting whichever one of Bar Baixa, Bonaparte Downtown, and Royal Cocktail Club you weren’t able to go to.
Day 3
In addition to the time we spent in Porto, we also booked a day trip to the Napa Valley of the region called the Douro Valley. This wine region is roughly an hour and a half east of Porto and absolutely beautiful. The wineries are carved into the mountainside making for a backdrop that envies any picture you can take.
ML-Private Tours is who we used to book our winery tours. Miguel was our friendly driver and could not have done a better job. He picked us up at the Sheraton Porto around 9 AM in a nice car and arranged tours at wineries that we would never have been able to get access to by ourselves. If you want to book Miguel, please let us know!
We started our day off at 1030 AM at Quinta dos Frades, a winery that dates back to 1256. We were the only people on the tour given by Inés making this experience even more unique. Quinta dos Frades is a UNESCO world heritage site pumping out some of the best Vinho Verde in Portugal.
Quinta do Pôpa was our next stop in the Douro Valley. We grabbed a picnic-style lunch that came with an entire bottle of wine and a view overlooking the Douro Valley. Homenagem was my favorite wine that pays tribute to the grandfather of the winery owners.
The last stop of our winery tour was at Wine & Soul. This was my favorite of the 3 wineries for a couple of reasons. One, Sandra, the owner, and wife of the husband and wife team gave us the tour. Two, we tasted their 5G, a 120-year aged Tawny. Words can’t even describe how delicious this was!
Porto Portugal Travel FAQs
Is Porto Portugal worth visiting?
No question! It’s one of my favorite cities in Europe. Porto Portugal experiences include a Douro Valley wine tour, local food markets, Portuguese food, Port wine tasting, views of the Douro River, rooftop drinks watching the sunset, traditional bakeries, and a Fado music performance.
What is Porto Portugal known for?
Porto is world-famous for its Port wine.
Is Porto Portugal safe?
Just like any major city, there are areas that tourists would consider unsafe. However, we never felt unsafe walking around Porto and the Duoro Valley.
Is Porto Portugal expensive?
Not really. London, Paris, Barcelona, Berlin, Amsterdam, and Rome are more expensive. Two areas where you may have to fork out some cash are the hotels and restaurants. Generally speaking, Porto is not an expensive city.
Conclusion on Porto Portugal in 48 Hours
Like Lisbon, Porto felt like a true vacation. We had a blast in this city and can’t wait to go back! Between the sites, high-quality restaurants, and the laid-back nature of the city, it’s hard not to like. Think of Porto, and Lisbon, as a laid-back version of Barcelona.
What about you? Have you been to Porto? What would you put on your things to do in Porto Portugal list? Please let me know in the comments or by sending me an email on my contact page.
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