One Day in Porto: The Perfect 24 Hours in Porto
As Portugal’s second city, Porto is often overlooked for the flashy capital, Lisbon, but this northerly metropolis deserves its own, dedicated visit — even if you only have one day to do so.
With 24 hours in Porto, you’ll have just enough time to squeeze in tasting port wine, gawking at gorgeous azulejos, seeing panoramic views from the top of Se do Porto, and diving tastebuds first into a francesinha.
I’ve visited Porto both on a short trip of just a few days and lived in the city for a month. Because of that I know what it’s like to try and fit in the best sights in a small amount of time and which sights are worth your while!
This guide will help you decide how to spend your one, golden day in this beautiful city and planning logistics like how to get around, where to stay, and when to visit.
Whether you’re just headed to Porto for a day trip or you have a full 24 hours, here’s how to spend one day in Porto, Portugal!
Shortcut Itinerary for One Day in Porto
🌞 Morning: Eat pastel de nata for breakfast, see azulejos at São Bento Station, climb Se do Porto
🍷 Afternoon: Have lunch at Cervejaria Gazela, take a tour of a port wine lodge
🌅 Evening: Grab drinks at Orpheu, Dom Luis I Bridge for sunset, dinner at Brasão
Porto One Day Itinerary Map
Is one day enough in Porto?
I get it. You’re probably traveling on minimal time and can only see so much in one trip. Heck, I’m just happy you chose to visit Porto in the first place!
One day is just enough time to get a small taste of Porto — although you’ll no doubt be left wanting more.
You’ll be able to fit in some of the most important sights and experiences, like visiting a port wine lodge, crossing the Dom Luis I Bridge, and digging into delicious foodie treats.
Still, if you have the time, I highly recommend spending at least three days in Porto so that you can truly see the city unhurried and even have the chance to fit in a day trip.
Getting to Porto
Make the most of your 24 hours in Porto by getting to the city bright and early.
High speed trains connect Lisbon to Porto on an hourly basis. The fastest of these trains takes just 2 hours and 39 minutes. Considering the first train leaves Lisbon at 6:40 am, you can be in Porto by 9:45 am!
While the 6:40 am train from Lisbon is the earliest it isn’t the fastest! The first high speed train leaves at 7:10 and is almost an hour faster, which gives you a bit more time to sleep in.
The last train for Lisbon leaves Porto at 8:30 pm (and arrives at 11:22 pm) [would not have time for the fado show but definitely enough time for dinner].
Tip: If you’re arriving from Lisbon or another nearby town by train, take it all the way to Sao Bento Station versus Campanha, the larger station, and you’ll pop out in the heart of the historic center.
For those who are landing in Porto with one day to explore, the metro system connects the airport to the city center quickly and efficiently. The journey takes about 45 minutes in total.
The Perfect 24 Hour Itinerary in Porto
This itinerary is a bit fast and furious. Feel free to switch activities out or omit them entirely as you see fit. Simply wandering around Porto for a day is worth your while, whether you check off the “must-do’s” or not!
Morning
Try to get to Porto early in the morning (or the night before) to make the most out of your 24 hours!
Your first order of business should be fueling up with a pastel de nata and a meia de leite at a local pastelaria. My favorite is Confeitaria Sao Domingos, open every day but Sunday. If you arrive at São Bento train station, you’re only an eight minute walk away down Ruta das Flores.
Now that you’ve fueled up and you’re ready to explore, go on the hunt for the city’s famous azulejos! For those who stepped off the train back at São Bento, you’ve already seen some of the city’s best, if you didn’t, make a beeline for the train station.
Just across from São Bento is Igreja de Santa Antonio dos Congregados, another favorite of azulejo hunters. You’ll also find more of the city’s best tiles at your next stop — Se do Porto!
Climb up Avenue Dom Afonso Henrique to reach the Se do Porto, dually known as the Porto Cathedral. A lot of visitors opt to climb the Clerigos Tower, but I like the view here better because, 1.) You get to see the stunning azulejos tucked in the cloisters and 2.) I love being able to see the river and Dom Luis I Bridge clearly.
I’ve seen others recommending you skip going inside Se do Porto altogether and I can’t disagree more. Tower tickets are just €3 and you’ll also get access to nooks and crannies you can’t see otherwise, like the cloisters and terrace.
Timeline:
9:45 AM – Arrive by train (unless you spent the night before)
10:00 AM – Grab a pastel de nata at Confeitaria São Domingos
10:30 AM – See azulejos in the historic center (São Bento, Santo Antonio dos Congregados, Igreja de Santo Ildefonso)
11:00 AM – Climb to the top of Se do Porto
Afternoon
After getting your panoramic views of the city, head to Cervejaria Gazela for lunch. A favorite hole-in-the-wall that was made even more popular after appearing on Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown, they’re known for their cachorrinhos.
Essentially a spicy sausage and melted cheese in between crispy bread, these morsels are perfection with an ice cold Super Bock. You can sit at the bar to watch the action, but I highly recommend soaking up the sun out front.
After filling your belly, make the trek down the hill to the riverfront, crossing the lower section of the Dom Luis I Bridge to the Vila Nova de Gaia neighborhood (often referred to simply as “Gaia”).
This is where all of the port wine lodges are located! If you’re short on time and trying to fit it all in, I would opt for either the Burmester Cellar Tour (1 hour, shortest tour, and least expensive) or the self-guided tour of Taylor’s Port Cellars so you can move at your own pace.
We did the Burmester Cellar Tour and had such a great time. Because we were traveling on a budget, this tour called to us. I was a little skeptical because it was the least expensive, but my husband and I both loved the experience!
You’ll take a guided tour through the cellars, learning about the history of Burmester and port wine making before a tasting of the good stuff.
Tours usually take around 1-2 hours, depending on which option you choose. Burmester also sits quite literally right across the Dom Luis I Bridge from the historic center of Porto, so you won’t have as much walking to do.
Head back across the bridge afterwards to walk along the Cais da Ribeira, the riverfront promenade. In summer, this section of town is bustling and you’ll likely have the chance to see Portuguese college students performing which is always a wonderful treat!
Timeline:
1:00 PM: Lunch at Cervejaria Gazela
2:30 PM: Take a tour of a port wine lodge
4:00 PM: Walk along the Cais da Ribeira
Evening
Make your way back to the historic center for more sips and a bite to eat at Orpheu. Tucked in a tiny alley, this is one of my absolute favorite spots for a drink and has gorgeous views of the Clerigos Tower.
I highly recommend ordering one of their port wine cocktails and Portuguese cheese board! They also have the nicest staff who let us practice our very broken Portuguese.
Make the 10-minute walk to the Dom Luis I Bridge for sunset. Designed by a disciple of Gustave Eiffel (the same guy who designed the Eiffel Tower), it’s the perfect spot to watch golden hour cast its light on the city skyline.
After walking all over the city, now is your chance to try the famous francesinha, a Porto culinary classic. Head to Brasão Coliseu, a brewery turned restaurant that dishes up some really delicious bites.
While the francesinha, a Portuguese take on the French croque monsieur, is definitely the star of the show, we also loved their rissole, kind of similar to Spanish croquettes.
If you don’t have a train to catch, end the night at a fado show. The Ideal Clube de Fado is only a few minutes walk away. The late performance begins at 9:15 pm so you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy dinner without having to rush.
Timeline:
5:00 PM: Grab drinks and nibbles at Orpheu
6:00 PM: Walk across the Dom Luis I Bridge at sunset (this might need to be shifted depending on the time of the sunset)
7:00 PM: Dinner at Brasão
9:15 PM: See a fado performance at Ideal Clube de Fado
If you have more time in Porto
If you’re in the middle of planning your trip to Porto and realizing that you want more time, here are a few suggestions of what to do if you extend your Portuguese vacation.
With two days in Porto I would use the second day to…
- Explore some of Porto’s further flung neighborhoods like Foz do Douro and Matosinhos
- Take a pastel de nata or azulejo painting class
- Take a cruise along the Douro River
With three days in Porto I would plan a day trip out of the city! Northern Portugal is a treasure trove of beautiful villages and seaside hamlets that are just waiting to be explored.
Here are a few ideas of my favorite day trips by train from Porto…
- Visit the Douro Valley by train
- Cruise along the canals in Aveiro
- Discover castles and unique pastries in Guimarães
My favorite day trip from Porto is to the Medieval village of Guimarães but Aveiro is overflowing with unique heritage and a Douro Valley tour is quintessential.
When To Visit Porto
Porto is best visited in the off seasons of spring and fall. Temperatures are mild, crowds aren’t at their peak, and you’ll have plenty of daylight and (usually) sunshine.
Winter in Porto is actually one of my favorite times to visit! The crowds are gone, the weather is often lovely, and prices are cheap.
Summer is typically fairly mild by most standards but the crowds — and prices — swell during this time of year.
Getting Around Porto
Porto is a fairly small city and easy to get around using public transportation.
The metro is extensive, fast, and will get you around both the historic center and to further flung neighborhoods in Porto like Matosinhos. Trams are another good way to get around and service areas that the metro doesn’t reach (like the Miragaia neighborhood).
Walking is probably the most popular way to get around Porto. Most of the famous sights are concentrated in the historic core. Although keep in mind that Porto is very hilly!
Uber also operates in the city if you need to get somewhere fast!
Where to Stay in Porto
You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to where to stay in Porto. There are plenty of swanky hotels, boho boutique properties, Airbnbs, and budget-friendly hostels to choose from.
We usually stay in this Airbnb and can’t recommend it highly enough! While you’re right in the heart of the tourist center, it’s easy to go off-the-beaten-path and the views are *chef’s kiss*.
I would recommend staying in the historic center or on the Ribeira side of the river if you only have 24 hours in Porto, that way you’re close to most of the popular sights and you can easily store your bags.
The Ribeira Douro Hotel is a stylish, boutique property tucked right on the Cais da Ribeira with rooms that face an interior courtyard — meaning you’ll be in the heart of it all but sleep peacefully.
Torel Palace is another great option with beautiful rooms and an outdoor swimming pool (rare in Porto). I would absolutely choose this option if I was taking a romantic trip to Porto!
