How to Spend 24 hours in Porto, Portugal

After an incredible four days in Lisbon, including a day trip to Sintra, we ventured to Porto. We took the train from Lisbon to northern Portugal, where Porto sits along the Douro River.

It’s taken me far too long to recap this trip, but it remains one of my favorite cities we explored on our Portuguese and Spanish adventure at the end of Summer 2022.

While you could spend an extended time in any European city, time is valuable when exploring multiple cities on a trip. We made the most of our time in this incredible place, so here’s how to spend 24 hours in Porto, Portugal.

Where to Stay in Porto

We took the early 8 a.m. train from Lisbon and arrived in Porto at 11 a.m. We booked the tickets via Rail Ninja. From the train station, we ubered to our hotel, M Maison Particulière Porto. This is one of the most incredible boutique hotels I’ve ever stayed in. It gives bed and breakfast vibes, where the front desk staff knows everyone staying there, and the key to your room is a physical key, not a key card.

This hotel sits on a quaint street (top left photo) without cars, filled with bars, restaurants, and shops. Porto is very walkable, but this hotel’s location made it much easier!

Day 1: What to do in Porto (Sites & Eats)

After dropping our bags at the hotel, we walked down our street to look for a bite for lunch. We landed on Cantina 32 for Mediterranean cuisine before continuing sightseeing.

Stop 1: Porto Cathedral

After lunch, we ventured to the Porto Cathedral. After many family trips to Europe, my family can agree we love popping into different churches and cathedrals. Our Catholic roots may be the root of the interest; however, no matter your religious affiliation, seeing the fantastic architecture in these old religious buildings is incredible. We ventured around the church and upstairs to see these magnificent tiled walls (far right photo).

Stop 2: Clerigos Church and Tower

Next, we headed to the other side of Porto to see the Clerigos Church and Tower. You can see it in the distance in the top left photo. We had the privilege of seeing a wedding procession heading into the church while I enjoyed a well-deserved gelato.

Stop 3: Liberdade Square

We took a lap from the church around Liberdade Square and wandered the streets to check out various shops. I love getting lost in other cities with a vague itinerary to guide me.

Afternoon Drinks:

Today, we definitely got our steps in. We headed back past our hotel to the river and found a restaurant to grab an afternoon drink. I first ordered Port wine innocently, thinking it was from the Porto region or something. I was wrong and immediately needed something to cleanse my pallet— I can’t say I’m a fan.

Dinner:

After freshening up from walking and sightseeing, we headed to our dinner reservation at A Despensa. I would definitely recommend this Italian spot. The vibes were on point, and we all enjoyed everything we ordered.

Day 2: The final hours in Porto

Breakfast: Starbucks

We woke up for “day two” but only had the first half of the day left in Porto. No trip is complete without checking out what’s on the menu at a European Starbucks, so that became our first stop of the day. We got a small bite and coffees here before heading to Livraria Lello Bookshop.

Stop 1: Livraria Lello Bookshop

Livraria Lello Bookshop is one of the coolest bookstores in the world. We knew we wanted to visit, and I certainly wanted to do my best to get photos without too many people in them. I booked our tickets for 9 am right when they opened, but we still had to wait outside to be one of the first groups for our ticket time.

Breakfast: Zenith Brunch

After almost a week in Europe, we craved a more “American” breakfast. I believe I found this place on TikTok, and it did not disappoint.

Stop 2: Walk on the other side of the river

Finally, we crossed the Duoro River to explore the other side. You can walk across the bridge—this was a scary and fun adventure. They have boat cruises down the river if you’re there longer and looking for activities, but our favorite part was walking up and down, checking out the eateries, and scoping out a spot for an afternoon drink.

This was one of my favorite cities and I look forward to returning someday!