Two days is the perfect length of time in which to discover Porto.

A 48-hour stay will provide ample time for you to experience the very best of Porto, from its rich history and port wine heritage through to its blossoming art scene and vibrant nightlife.

Your first day in Porto would typically follow the classic sightseeing tour of the city, which explores the charming and historic sights of the Ribeira and Sé neighbourhoods. The latter part of the day would be spent taking in the grand side of Porto, in the Baixa and Cordoaria neighbourhoods.

The second day offers time for you to discover the more authentic side of Porto. This could include visiting the delightful Foz district, shopping in Bolhão market, taking a relaxing boat tour or admiring the art of the Serralves museum. Often, part of the second day is spent in Vila Nova de Gaia, discovering more about port wine and enjoying a tour of a port cellar and a tasting session. In the summer, you may even wish to visit the sandy beaches of Foz or Matosinhos.

Porto is a fantastic city to visit in two days, making it an ideal location for a weekend city break or short trip. If you are lucky enough to have a longer holiday to Portugal, you should plan to spend at least two days in Porto.
This article will provide a suggested itinerary and tour for two days in Porto and will help you get the most out of your time in this amazing city.
Related articles: Introduction to Porto –Top 10 Porto

Day 1 morning: Discover the historic centre of Porto by exploring the labyrinthine alleyways of the Ribeira and Sé neighbourhoods. Marvel at the iconic Sé Cathedral, the beautiful azulejo tilework of São Bento train station, and wander along the pretty waterfront of the Ribeira neighbourhood.

The colourful houses of the Ribeira lining the banks of the Douro River.

Day 1 afternoon: Explore the grand plazas and equally impressive sights of the Cordoaria and Baixa neighbourhoods, which contain the Igreja do Carmo and Livraria Lello bookshop, as well as the grand Câmara Municipal.

The beautiful Azulejo tile paintings on the Igreja do Carmo church.

Day 1 Evening: Cross the Ponte Luís I bridge and watch the sunset from the Jardim do Morro, before having dinner in one of the restaurants on the Ribeira waterfront. To continue the night, head to the sociable bars around the Rua da Galeria de Paris.

A romantic meal overlooking the Ponte Luís I bridge.

Day 2 morning: Explore Vila Nova de Gaia, the city on the southern bank of the Douro River, famous for its port wine cellars. Join a guided tour through one of the historic port cellars, followed by a short boat tour along the river.

The Port cellars, historic buildings and cable car of Vila Nova de Gaia’s waterfront.

Day 2 afternoon: Ride the delightful tram to the Foz district and stroll along the waterfront promenade. End the day watching the sunset from one of the beach bars that overlook the Atlantic Ocean.

The Pérgola da Foz, overlooking the Praia do Molhe beach and the Atlantic Ocean.

Day 2 afternoon (alternative 1): Visit the traditional Bolhão market and then wander the bustling shopping streets that surround it. Later, head to the Mercado Bom Sucesso, a lively food market, for dinner.

The traditional market stalls of the Mercado do Bolhão.

Day 2 afternoon (alternative 2): Admire the contemporary art of the Serralves museum or learn more about Porto’s history at the Museu Nacional Soares dos Reis, before taking a relaxing walk through the Palácio de Cristal gardens.

The Art-Deco exhibit hall of the Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Serralves

Day 2 Evening: Spend the evening at the waterfront of Vila Nova de Gaia, listening to street musicians and admiring the view over Porto while savouring a port wine.

The interactive map below shows the highlights of this two-day tour of Porto and includes a walking tour for each of the days. (Note: zoom out to see all of the points)

Day1 (green) 1) São Bento Train Station 2) Sé Cathedral 3) Ribeira neighbourhood 4) Igreja de São Francisco 5) Palácio da Bolsa 6) Rua das Flores 7) Torre dos Clérigos 8) Igreja do Carmo 9) Livraria Lello 10) Avenida dos Aliados 11) Ponte Luís I bridge 12) Jardim do Morro viewpoint
Day 2 morning (yellow) 13) Caves Cálem 14) Caves Sandeman 15) Caves Ferreira 16) Half Rabbit (art) 17) WOW Porto
Day 2 afternoon (blue) 18) Jardim do Passeio Alegre 19) Forte de São João Baptista 20) Pérgola da Foz 21) Mercado do Bolhão 22) Mercado Bom Sucesso 23) Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Serralves 24) Museum Soares dos Reis 25) Palácio de Cristal gardens 26) Dragão Stadium (FC Porto)

The following section provides a detailed description of the 2-day tour.

The following are links to our specific guides, which may be of further use to you:
A walking tour of Porto (for your first day in Porto)
Which port cellar in Vila Nova de Gaia should you visit? (for your second day)
A tour of the Foz district (for your second day)
Porto’s best beaches (for your second day and in the summer)

There is very high demand for accommodation during the peak season, so we’d advise that you book your hotel rooms now before they sell out. To check current prices and availability, enter your holiday dates in the search box below:

Booking.com

The following section details this two-day tour in greater depth.

The Baixa district is the recommended location to begin a tour of Porto, as it contains many of the city’s iconic tourist attractions. The district includes the magnificent Praça da Liberdade, the bustling shopping streets of Rua de Santa Catarina and the lively nightlife area surrounding the university.

Highlights of the Baixa district include:
• The panoramic view from the top of the Torre dos Clérigos (240 steps to the top)
• The neo-Gothic architecture of the Câmara Municipal do Porto (city hall)
• The beautiful azulejos tiles covering the exterior of the Igreja do Carmo
• The traditional market of Mercado do Bolhão
• The Livraria Lello bookshop, an inspiration for the Harry Potter books
• A coffee in the Café Majestic, which is regarded as one world’s most decorative cafes
• The Jardim da Cordoaria
• São Bento Railway Station and its wonderful tile paintings
• The Rua das Flores a charming shopping street filled with independent shops
• The “Fons Vitae” painting, exhibited in the Museu da Misericórdia do Porto (MMIPO museum)

For lunch, head to a café serving a Francesinha, the traditional dish of Porto. This incredibly filling meal, is a meat-filled sandwich, smothered with melted cheese, and served in a rich sauce of beer and tomato – delicious and ideal when sightseeing!

For the afternoon it is recommended to explore the two oldest districts of Porto; the Se and Ribeira districts.

The Se district was the religious centre of the city, and is centred around the ancient Se cathedral and bishop’s palace (Paço Episcopal). The district covers one of the highest hills of the city and provides wonderful views over Porto. Highlights of the Se district include:
• The Gothic Se cathedral
• The extravagant interior of the Igreja de Santa Clara do Porto
• The remains of the city walls
• Views of the Ponte Luís I (from the top deck)

Historically, the Ribeira district was the docks and trading centre of Porto, and today is one of the most characterful sections of the city. The district extends along the banks of the Douro River, and the labyrinth of narrow alleys follow the medieval layout of the city.
Highlights of the Ribeira districts are:
• The Praça da Ribeira with its numerous restaurants and bars
• The maze of alleys and back streets, which originate from the middle ages
• The extravagant gold gilding of the Igreja de São Francisco church
• The Neoclassical Palácio da Bolsa, constructed in the 19th century as the stock exchange for the city

An additional activity for the day is a short boat cruise along the Douro River, and this is ideal after a long day of sightseeing. These boat tours typical last for around an hour, and provide a riverside view of the city by passing beneath the six bridge of Porto.
Insight: The six bridges of Porto are (from east to west): Freixo, São João, Maria Pia, Infante D. Henrique, Luís I and Arrábida

For the evening it is suggested to have a delicious meal in one of the many restaurants in the Ribeira district and then spend the night in one of the bars of the district. For live music and late-night revelries head to, the Hard Club, housed in the former Mercado Ferreira Borges market.

The city of Vila Nova de Gaia lies on the southern banks of the Douro River and is the traditional home of Port wine. The grapes are grown, harvested and pressed much further up the Douro River and the finished product is stored and matured in the vast cellars (referred to as lodges) that line the banks of Vila Nova de Gaia.

Insight: the barrels of Port were traditional transport from the vineyards to Porto by boat, that is why the port cellars are all close to the river.

All of the major Port producers (Graham's, Sandeman, Taylor, Warre and Ferreira) are within walking distance of each other, and their lodges are open for tours and port tasting. The tours and tastings are surprisingly inexpensive and are conducted in multiple languages throughout the day (popular tours should be booked in advance).

There is always a social and enjoyable atmosphere along the waterfront in Vila Nova de Gaia (the Avenida de Diogo Leite), and it is a great place to hang out on a hot summer’s day.

While in Vila Nova de Gaia, we suggest that you visit the urban art rabbit (called the Half-Rabbit, and on the side of building close to the Igreja de Santa Marinha) and the Estaleiro do Rabelo, the traditional shipyards of the Barcos Rabelos boats.

From the riverside there is a cable car that transports visitors up to the Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar, a circular church and monastery, which also offers amazing views of the Douro river.

The Foz district is situated on the mouth of the Douro River to the Atlantic Ocean. This charming district is surprisingly little visited by tourists, and has a pleasant, calm ambience. For tourists, there are two distinct areas to the Foz district; the riverside section and the area along the coastline.

The riverside area of Foz offers traditional fishing harbours, tranquil parks and grand Portuguese villas, and there is an enjoyable walking route along the banks of the Douro River. The coastline section of the Foz district faces the Atlantic Ocean and is formed of small beaches and rocky headlands, which extend all the way to the town of Matosinhos.
The Foz district can be reached by either catching the number 1 tram, which departs from the Igreja de São Francisco, or the 500 bus.
Related articles: The Foz district

The Pergola da Foz is one of Porto’s most romantic places to watch the sunset

For the adventurous: Check out “Porto Bridge Climb”, which provides a climbing tour on the arch of the Arrábida Bridge to a height of 65m above the river, their website is: www.portobridgeclimb.com

For a more cultural afternoon consider visiting the Palacio de Cristal park and the museums of Soares dos Reis and Quinta da Macieirinha. Soares dos Reis exhibits part of the national collection of art and sculptures, and is housed in the ornate Carrancas Palace.

The Quinta da Macieirinha mansion was where the exiled Italian King, Carlo Alberto, spent his final months before dying in 1849. The Quinta da Macieirinha museum has been restored to how it would have appeared during his stay. Both museums are close to the peaceful gardens of the Palacio de Cristal park.

For the final evening in Porto it is suggested to have a big night out in the bars and clubs along the Rua Galeria de Paris. This street is affectionately known as “bar street” and is close to the university.