Take a look at our 4 days in Porto itinerary. See all the tips and information on the attractions and tours that can’t be left out of your trip.
What to do on your first day in Porto?
To start this 4 day in Porto itinerary, an essential tip that we always give to those who want to make the most of their new destination is to get up early. One of the advantages of this city is that most of its attractions are located in the same area, which allows you to see a lot without wasting time getting around.
So, on this first day in Porto, the first place we recommend you visit is the incredible Ribeira area. There, the cultural scene is vibrant and intense: full of bars, restaurants and beautiful old houses.
In addition, while in Ribeira you can take a delightful boat trip along the River Douro and pass over the bridges that cross the river. The most famous is the D. Luís I Bridge, through which you can reach Vila Nova de Gaia on the other bank.
Important tip: To make the most of your trip is to stay in the best region. If you want, see our article here that explains the best area, hotels and how to save a lot on accommodation.
Even if you’re a wine lover, stay in Vila Nova de Gaia and enjoy a delicious lunch in the area, then visit one of the wine cellars that the region has to offer. All of them usually have a fixed price, with the right to visit and taste some wines.
And to round off this first day of your trip, how about dinner in one of Porto’s delicious restaurants? Enjoy the city’s nightlife and get to know a little about Porto’s daily life. You can also take the opportunity to visit some of the city’s great bars.
What to do on your second day in Porto?
On your second day in the city, why not visit the historic center? This part of Porto is full of old houses, monuments and beautiful churches. Our first tip is to head for Terreiro da Sé, where you’ll find Porto Cathedral, one of Portugal’s oldest monuments.
Once there, continue strolling through Praça de Almeida Garret, where you’ll find São Bento station, famous for the beautiful tiled decoration inside and which tells a little about the history of Portugal.
Nearby is Praça da Liberdade, with its monument to Dom Pedro I on horseback. You can continue your walk to Av. dos Aliados, which is one of the city’s most important avenues, with many events and celebrations, such as Christmas and New Year. There, you’ll also find Porto City Hall and the Igreja da Trindade, a very pretty church that was built throughout the 19th century.
There are plenty of restaurants in the center, so stay for lunch and enjoy some delicious Portuguese food. There are many tascas (pubs) serving good food and you can also try Gazella’s hot dogs, which are very typical of the city.
After your meal, be sure to visit the Clérigos Tower. It is part of the Clérigos Church in the city, one of the symbols of Porto. So much so that when you arrive in the city, you’ll notice that the souvenirs sold always show the Clérigos Tower.
Then head to Rua das Carmelitas, where you’ll find the famous and beautiful Livraria Lello. It is the most famous in the country and one of the best known in the world. Finally, head to Rua D. Manuel II, which is a very green area with the famous Jardim do Palácio de Cristal.
What to do on your third day in Porto?
Start your third day by heading to Praça da Batalha, where you’ll find the statue of King Pedro V, the church dedicated to the Archbishop of Toledo (Igreja de Santo Ildefonso) and the Teatro Nacional de São João. Afterwards, head to Praça D. João I, which pays homage to the first king of Portugal’s Avis dynasty. There you’ll find the famous Rivoli Theater, inaugurated in 1913.
And to end the day, you can stop off at the Bolhão Market, which was built during the First World War and is a point of interest for tourists due to its diversity of fresh produce and varied items.
What to do on your fourth day in Porto?
On this last day of your tour, you can take the opportunity to visit neighboring regions and cities that belong to the district of Porto. Some of them you can visit are Foz (region) and Matosinhos (city).
Something incredible is that when the River Douro meets the Atlantic Ocean, it is called Foz, and Foz do Douro is one of the most beautiful areas in the whole city. To get there, you can take a streetcar ride from Porto in the direction of Foz.
The Matosinhos area used to be an old village, but nowadays it has been completely refurbished, full of beautiful and luxurious apartments. You can spend the day between Foz and Matosinhos, as well as visiting Castelo do Queijo beach and eating sardines or other seafood and fish dishes, which are local specialties.
Save on tickets for paid attractions in Porto
Porto is an incredible city with countless attractions to visit. We’ve traveled all over the world and found a great company that does all the guided tours there at very good prices.
So, you should know that on our last trips we used this very Porto Tickets website. As well as being one of the biggest ticket sellers in the world, it’s also very secure. Plus, on this site, you can buy all your tickets in one place.
It’s also worth mentioning that it’s always cheaper to buy all your tickets in advance and online. That way, you’ll avoid the queues and won’t waste any of your travel time.
Save money on your trip to Porto:
Saving money: do you want to plan your trip while making the most of your budget? Be sure to read our article on how to travel to Porto cheap, with all the tips to save the most, while still enjoying it!
Car: if you are thinking about renting one this is the best website. It compares the price at all rental companies and finds unbeatable prices. You can save up to 30%!
Mobile chip: we always use this chip. It’s electronic (eSIM), you install it instantly and you can use your cell phone’s Internet anywhere in the world.
Hotels: our article on where to stay in Porto. You will find out the best area, the hotels that we have stayed there and how to save a lot on the hotel.
Travel insurance: medical care in another country is very expensive and it is extremely important to take out travel insurance for any trip abroad. This is the website we always take out our insurance on. Reliable and at a good price.
Transfer: do you need one from the airport to the hotel? Find out here how to book and for the lowest price!
