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Porto travel guide
Blue tiles, port cellars and a riverside that glows at sunset.
Photo: Igor Passchier / Pexels · Pexels License
Porto is a compact, very hilly city that you can see well in two or three days on foot. Spend one day in the old centre (São Bento, the Sé, Ribeira and Clérigos), cross the Dom Luís I Bridge to the port cellars in Gaia, and keep a third day for Serralves, the sea at Foz or the Douro Valley. Book Livraria Lello and any cellar tour ahead, and wear shoes with grip.
Plan your Porto trip
Best things to do in Porto →
13 honest picks with costs, timing and skip-it-ifs.
Where to stay in Porto →
4 neighbourhoods compared, with hotel picks per budget.
Porto in 3 days →
A day-by-day route grouped by area.
Day trips from Porto →
4 easy escapes by train or bus.
Porto City Quest →
A printable self-guided treasure hunt.
Porto quick facts
- Best time to visit
- April–June and September–October: mild and sunny. July–August is busiest; winter is wet but quiet.
- Money
- Euro (EUR). Cards are widely accepted. Keep a little cash for small cafés and markets.
- Airports
- Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO), about 11 km north of the centre.
- Airport to city
- Metro line E (violet) runs from the airport to Trindade in about 27 minutes. You need a rechargeable Andante card (€0.60) plus a Z4 ticket (€2.30, checked October 2026). Validate before every trip.
- Getting around
- Walk the centre (it is steep), and use the metro, buses, the historic trams and the Guindais funicular to save your legs. Validate the Andante card on every trip.
- Budget
- Often better value than Lisbon for hotels and food. The city adds a tourist tax of €3 per person per night (up to 7 nights, under-13s free).
- Language
- Portuguese. English is common in tourist areas.
- Plugs
- Type C/F, 230 V.
Only have one day? Do these three
Top things to do in Porto
- 1. São Bento Station · Free
- 2. Porto Cathedral (Sé) · Church and terrace free
- 3. Ribeira riverside · Free
- 4. Dom Luís I Bridge · Free
- 5. Port wine cellars in Gaia · Paid tours and tastings
- 6. Clérigos Tower · Paid
Watch: Porto in one video
Video coming soon
Our walk-through of Porto is in production. See all videos.
Turn sightseeing into a game
Porto City Quest
Follow 12 quest stops from São Bento Station down to Ribeira and back up past Clérigos, Lello and Aliados, with riddles, photo missions, a kids’ mode and a printable map.
Get the questPorto FAQ
How many days do you need in Porto?
Two days covers the old centre, Ribeira and the port cellars. Three days lets you add Foz, Serralves or a Douro Valley day trip.
Is Porto very hilly?
Yes. The river is at the bottom and most of the centre is uphill. Wear shoes with grip and use the metro, the Guindais funicular or the trams to save your legs.
Do I need to book Livraria Lello?
Yes, you need a paid ticket, and it’s best to book a time slot online. The first slot of the day is the calmest.
How do I get from Porto airport to the city?
Take metro line E to Trindade, about 27 minutes. Buy an Andante card (€0.60) and a Z4 ticket (€2.30), and validate before you travel. Prices checked October 2026.
Is there a tourist tax in Porto?
Yes: €3 per person per night, for up to 7 nights. Children under 13 are exempt.
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