The lovely city Porto is perfect for a weekend getaway. Most travelers say this place is more about the vibes than the sights and I wholeheartedly agree with that statement.
Porto is based on the Douro river that flows into the Atlantic Ocean, with on both sides of the river a low side on the riverbank and the rest of the city uphill.
While absorbing the energy of the city, we visited the sights too in the old centre of Porto. Walking through the Ribeira in the following order is also perfect for mostly walking downhill.
Sights of Porto in one day
São Bento station
Start the day in the centre of the Ribeira, even if you don’t need to take the train, the station hall is worth stepping inside and viewing the tiled walls.
Torre dos Clérigos
Walk up the narrow steps of the Torre dos Clérigos for the best 360 degree views of Porto.
Jardim das Oliveiras
A small park on top of a parking lot, to relax in the grass.
Livraria Lello
A historic bookstore with an old style library interior. As this place is enormously popular, tickets need to be bought in advance and it’s extremely crowded. With the massive crowds, the bookstore lost some of its appeal, so we didn’t go in.
Sé do Porto
Walk up a bunch of steps for this magnificent cathedral, and especially the monastery next to it.
Rua das Flores
Backtrack back down the steps to Rua das Flores, a shopping street with small local stores and art galleries.
Mercado Ferreira Borges
This indoor market we stumbled on by accident, but it’s filled with stalls selling self-made jewelry, arts and crafts and the like.
Palácio do Bolsa
The palace can only be visited with a guided tour, hence we skipped it.
Cais da Ribeira
Stroll the waterfront on the North side of the river, sit down on one of the many terraces and simply enjoy the moment.
Boat tour 6 bridges of the Douro river
On both sides of the waterfront, 50 minute boat tours are offered along the 6 bridges of Porto. Having a different calm view from the water.
Ponte Luís I bridge
Cross the river on the lower side of the Ponte Luís I bridge. And come back on the upper side for the best view.
Riverfront Vila Nova de Gaia
Riverside walk with views of Porto’s old town on the other side of the river.
Jardim do Morro
Around sunset locals and tourists come together in this park for the best sunset views.
Douro Valley
After one day in Porto we drove our rental car outside the city to the Douro Valley where we spent the next three days. The Douro Valley is a scenic area about 2 hour drive from Porto filled with vineyards and viewpoints. This is a place to wind down, enjoy the wine and port and also relax by the pool of a quinta.
These are worthwhile stops when driving through the Douro Valley.
Amarante
A quaint little town with the highlights, the cathedral and bridge across the river. Have a drink and pastry on the riverside terrace at Confeitaria da Ponte for the best views.
Miradouro São Leonardo de Galafura
The first viewpoint is 600 meters above sea level with a wide view of the valley below. The road up is very accessible by rental car and on top a restaurant is situated to also enjoy a hearty lunch.
Miradouro de Valença do Douro
In the town of Valença do Douro, just across the river from Pinhão, is my personal favorite viewpoint of the Douro valley and river.
Miradouro de Casal de Loivos
From Pinhão it is a 10 minute drive up the mountain to Miradouro de Casal de Loivos. This viewpoint was rated by the BBC as one of the six best views in the world.
Vineyards in São João da Pesqueira
Driving the N222 towards São João da Pesqueira we passed beautiful vineyards.
Miradouro de São Salvador do Mundo
Drive about 45 minutes further East from Pinhão along the N222 to the last viewpoint in the Douro Valley.
Boat tour on the Douro river from Pinhão
From Pinhão take a 50 minute boat tour for €15 per person along the river. Although the views of the valley are much prettier from the viewpoints on top of the mountains.
Guimaraes
On the drive back from the Douro Valley to Porto Airport we made a last stop at Guimaraes. A smaller town North of Porto. Perfect stop for the last day to view the castle and stroll through the town center.
Where to stay
The list of hotels we stayed at and highly recommend.
Porto:
Fervença Suites – A modern apartment with spacious rooms in Vila Nova de Gaia. The apartment is very close to Jardim do Morro. Perfect location when driving a car in Porto as there is a parking lot right in front of the apartment. With a 7 minute walk to the tram, it’s only one stop from São Bento station.
Douro Valley: close to Pinhão we stayed in 2 different accommodations in Valença do Douro with one of the best views of the valley.
Socalcos do Douro House – A family run hotel with a heated pool with views of the valley. On this hilltop hotel breakfast is included and they have a restaurant that serves dinner, no need to drive anywhere after a few wines.
Quinta da Casa Cimeira – A quinta with 6 large rooms and a pool. The USP is joining dinner where all guests sit at the same table, sharing food and stories and plenty of wine and port to go around. Definitely a place to remember.
