The Ultimate Porto, Portugal Travel Guide -

This Ultimate Porto, Portugal Travel Guide walks you through where to stay, eat, drink, and what to do in this charming city. Porto (also known as Oporto) is the second largest city in Portugal which is the oldest country in Europe. Porto’s historic center was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This city is best for taking in the stunning views while drinking their world famous Port wine and their azulejo blue tile murals.

If you are planning a trip to Portugal, I HIGHLY recommend including Porto in your itinerary. When visiting we actually ended up extending our stay longer in Porto and cancelling our return back to Lisbon as we loved it there so much!

This Porto, Portugal Travel Guide includes the following:

What to Expect
How to Get Around
Where to Stay
Where to Eat/Drink
What to Do

What to Expect in Porto, Portugal

Local Language: Portuguese. Most places you visit have English speakers, however it is recommended to at least learn a couple of basic phrases such as olá (hello) or obrigad(o/a) (thank you – end with ‘o’ for men, ‘a’ for women).

Currency: As Portugal is part of the EU, the Euro is the currency used throughout the country and many countries throughout Europe.

Credit Cards & Cash Withdrawals: Almost everywhere we went accepted credit cards which we used for ease of not carrying around significant amounts of cash with us. However, I would recommend having some Euros on hand just in case for tips or smaller shops that may be cash only. There are countless ATMs around the city which will offer a better exchange rate than the airport. Make sure to notify your banks prior to international travel where you will be so that there are no holds on your account.

Climate: We visited in early October which had sunny days with cooler nights (light jacket weather). The best times to visit are during the summer or September for perfect fall weather with less tourists. Summertime is great as well as you can visit beaches close by (too cold to visit in October).

How to Get Around Porto

Walk: The city is incredibly walkable and we took full advantage of that. Our location was absolutely perfect as well as we were within walking distance to many shops and restaurants that we wanted to see. Porto is much more condensed than Lisbon as well which makes walking a breeze here.

Uber: Your second best option to get around is Uber which we would take advantage of for further trips. The costs are incredibly affordable as well compared to Uber prices in the United States. Uber drivers may not speak as much English, however were always incredibly friendly and we always felt very safe during our rides!

Metro: Porto has 6 lines that run from 6am to 1am daily. You can purchase a Porto Card for 1-4 days with costs ranging from 13 Euros to 33 Euros depending on your number of days. The Porto Card is a great affordable option offering free and unlimited use of Porto public transportation (includes metro/bus/trams). The card also includes free admission to 6 sights and museums + countless discounts to further attractions, stores, and restaurants. We did not feel the need to get a card with the city being so walkable, but this is a great option especially depending on your accommodation location.

Bus: More than 75 bus routes run through the city operating from 6 AM to 9 PM. You can use the Porto Card summarized above or purchase a single use ticket for just .60 Euros.

Trams: The trams are incredibly iconic and photo worthy in Porto! There are three routes that run through the city. We did not ride one during our time there, however you can purchase single trip tickets for just 3 Euros.

Where to Stay in Porto

Airbnbs

Airbnbs are always my favorite form of accomodation for exploring a new city. You get such a homier vibe, with more amenities, and locals to connect with and provide recommendations!

There are countless Airbnb’s you can stay at in Porto, however I highly highly recommend where we stayed: Oporto Diamond Luxe & Terrace ($130/night). This was easily one of the best Airbnbs I have ever stayed at, and our host Ana was incredible and so helpful/responsive! We had 1 queen bed, (1 sofa bed as well), 2 large patios, one you can see in the photos below, the other outside the bedroom. The location could also not have been more perfect and right across the street from Nicolau for brunch.

When we decided to extend our trip, we had to scramble a bit to find a new place to stay, and ended up booking this Airbnb (Almada 329 Apartment – $48/night). This was a much more affordable option, and still in a decent location, just hard to top the first Airbnb we stayed at which had a better location, nicer interior/amenities, and more space.

Some additional Airbnbs worth checking out in Porto that were on our list:

I highly recommend looking at the location of an Airbnb and thinking about what is your priority in terms of location. For us being within walking distance to restaurants/shops/bars was our top priority.

Wonderful Porto Terrace($153/night. 5.0 star reviews. Located on the water SW of the main part of town.)
Rooftop Balcony at Porto Historic Center ($113/night. 4.99 star reviews)
Blue Gem at Ribeira ($96/night. 5.0 star reviews)
Unique apartment with a gorgeous exclusive garden ($76/night. 4.78 star reviews. A little further north location to our liking but beautiful apartment)

*Note that prices are pulled from date this post is written and subject to change*

Hotels

There are plenty of hotels to check out in Porto, and I have consolidated some below worth checking out:

The Yeatman Hotel: ~$240+/night, 5 star hotel, 4.8 star reviews on Google, stunning hotel but not a fan of the location as on the south side of the Douro river (just depends what your preferences are)
Exmo Hotel: ~$150+/night, 4.9 star reviews on Google, closer to the water
Chic & Basic Gravity: ~$74+/night, 4 star hotel, 4.9 star reviews on Google, great location
Ceuta Terrace Suites: ~$70+/night, 4.8 star reviews on Google, great location
Hotel Moon & Sun Porto: ~$75+/night, 4 star hotel, 4.5 star reviews on Google, great location

Search Additional Hotels in Porto Below:

Booking.com

Hostel

Hostels are a great option for a more affordable stay, or an opportunity to meet people if travelling solo.

I highly recommend checking out Selina Porto & Cowork which was right next to our Airbnb (aka amazing location). If I were to stay in a hostel in Porto, I would hands down choose Selina ($25-$55 per night). They offer private, private plus, and shared rooms along with options to rent out a variety of coworking spaces. They also have a cafe connected to them called Easy at Selina which is how we initially stumbled upon this hostel when stopping for coffee/matcha.

Where to Eat in Porto, Portugal Guide

Breakfast/Cafes:

Nicolau Porto

This is an adorable, trendy cafe with a variety of healthy options for any time of the day including avocado toasts, pancakes, comfort bowls, and green juices. You can stalk their Instagram here. This was right across the street from our Airbnb so we frequented here often! Nicolau also has locations in Lisbon along with sister restaurants in Lisbon called Amelia and Basilio. Indoor & outdoor seating available.

Address: Largo Alberto Pimentel, 4, 4050-214 Porto
Hours: Everyday 08h30 to 00h00
Phone #: +351 22 208 24 06

**TOSTA AMÉLIA (PINK HUMUS & AVO TOAST W/ SALTY GRANOLA)**

Nola Kitchen

By far one of our favorite restaurants we came across due to their commitment to keeping refined sugars and flours, processed ingredients and preservatives OFF their menu. Everything we tried was absolutely delicious and you can stalk their Instagram here. Make sure to take their Snickers bites to go! Full menu here. Indoor & outdoor seating available.

Address: Praça Dona Filipa de Lencastre Nº25 4050-259 Porto
Hours: M-Sat: 10AM-11PM, Sun: 10AM-9PM
Phone #: +351 910 595 015

Zenith – Brunch & Cocktails Bar

Ranked on Trip Advisor as one of the most instagrammable spots in the world with locations in Lisbon, Porto, Madrid, and soon to be Barcelona. Stalk their Instagram here. Famous for their benedicts, smoothie bowls, pancakes, and juices plus more. Full menu here. Indoor & outdoor seating available.

Address: Praça de Carlos Alberto 86, 4050-158 Porto, Portugal
Hours: Everyday 9AM-7PM
Phone #: +351 22 017 1557

Dinner

Emotivo

If you can only choose one restaurant to try in Porto, please do yourself a favor and check out Emotivo (make reservation in advance!!) This was by far a highlight of the trip for both Kavya and I. This was an incredible, Portuguese dining experience with top notch service in a cozy, intimate setting. Reservations are in waves so you go through the dining experience at the same time as other tables.

The chef starts by making her rounds to the tables with a tray of knickknacks (ie a bull, or a whale) to choose which all represent different regions of Portugal. Your selections determine which courses will come out each round which was fun to see what different tables would receive. Dietary restrictions are also taken into consideration and they will adjust as needed to accommodate your needs! Stalk their Instagram here.

Address: Rua do Rosário, 4050-520 Porto, Portugal
Hours: 7PM-12AM
Phone #: +351 915 300 470

Flow Restaurant & Bar

One of my favorite dinner restaurants we ate at in Porto and was highly recommended by our host as well. I absolutely loved the Orchiette pasta. The interior was super chic and the service was incredible we absolutely loved our servers and they gave us a ton of recommendations for Porto as well! Was also super convenient to get to as was next door to our Airbnb. Full menu here (scroll down for English). Stalk their Instagram here. Reservations recommended.

Address: Rua da Conceição, 63/65, 4050-215 Porto
Hours:
- Lunch: Wed to Fri 12:30-15:00, Sat 13:00-15:30
- Dinner: Mon to Thur 19:30-00:00; Fri & Sat 19:30-01:00. Sun closed.
Phone #: +351 22 205 4016

Muti

We loved this pizza spot so much we came here twice! Cozy courtyard vibes with delicious, affordable pizza paired with a nice glass of wine seriously hit the spot. Would highly recommend trying to make a reservation, but you may have a chance at walking in if you didn’t make one in advance. I ordered the Pugliese pizza both times which I absolutely loved! Full menu here. Stalk their Instagram here.

Address: Rua da Picaria 55, 4050-477 Porto, Portugal
Hours:
- Wed-Mon 7PM-12AM (closed Tuesday’s)
- Fri-Sun 12PM-3PM
Phone #: +351 22 208 1414

eLeBe Centro

We came across this contemporary Portuguese restaurant from walking around and saw they had great reviews online (4.5 stars on Google with over 500 reviews). eLeBe has three locations across Porto and one further north in Póvoa. We ate at the Centro location. Our waiter was incredibly friendly and even gave us extra wine and double apps with no extra charge! Definitely try the octopus and risotto. You can stalk their Instagram here.

Address: Rua da Conceição 94 4050-213 Porto
Hours: Thurs-Tues 7-11PM
Phone #: +351 22 201 1651

Nogueiras Porto

Incredibly vibey, upscale restaurant. However we were very underwhelmed with the food. This is a meat heavy restaurant though so definitely was more limited with my options as I am not a big meat eater, so if you are, this may be the spot for you! Definitely a great spot to grab a cocktail upstairs at least. Full menu here. Stalk their Instagram here. Reservations recommended.

Address: R. de Ceuta 23, 4050-191 Porto, Portugal
Hours:
- M-Fri: 12:30–3PM, 7:30PM–12AM
- Sat: 7:30PM–1AM
- Sunday: Closed
Phone #: +351 915 181 515

Coffee Shops:

Cafe Majestic

By far one of the most touristy cafes we saw during our time in Porto due to it being ranked top 10 most beautiful cafes in the world. We admired from afar but did not get the hype of going in as plenty of other cute & quaint coffee shops in the city. Definitely worth at least walking by to see!

Address: Rua Santa Catarina 112, 4000-442 Porto, Portugal

Manna

Cutest vegetarian cafe with toasts, pancakes, smoothie bowls, yoga, coffee, matcha, etc. We only stopped in here for a coffee/matcha break, however the food also looks amazing! Stalk their Instagram here. Full menu here.

Address: Rua da Conceição 60, 4050-213 Porto, Portugal

Esquires Coffee

We popped in here while shopping around some boutiques for a quick pick me up coffee & matcha break. The server was soo friendly and the interior had a cute ambiance. They also serve all day brunch including smoothie bowls, waffles, eggs, etc. Stalk the Instagram here.

Address: R. de 31 de Janeiro 215, 4000-543 Porto, Portugal

Additional recommended restaurants in Porto, Portugal

Lazy Breakfast Club – Super girly and pink brunch spot. Perfect for the IG aesthetic (stalk them on IG here).
Meia Nau Porto – Seafood and grilled fish
Mito – Portuguese food, vegetarian friendly. Instagram here.
Ernesto – Portuguese food
Mistu – Traveler’s choice 2021. International food with a Portuguese twist. Instagram here.
Cruel – 3 menu options: experimental, moderate experimental and traditional Portuguese food. Instagram here.
Boa Bao Thai food – super cute interior
Muu Steakhouse – for the meat eaters

Sweets in Porto, Portugal

Manteigaria

You cannot leave Portugal without trying the famous pastel de natas! Pastel de nata are famous Portuguese custard tarts topped with sprinkled cinnamon. They have a flaky crust with a gooey center and oh so good! Manteigaria has locations in both Lisbon and Porto and is a must try while in Portugal. Stalk their Instagram here.

Address: Rua de Alexandre Braga 24, Porto 4000-049 Portugal

Confeitaria do Bolhão

This bakery has a variety of Portuguese pastries, cakes, and coffee. Vote Traveler’s Choice in 2021 and the inside is so inviting you must check it out if craving something sweet!

Address: R. Formosa 339, 4000-252 Porto, Portugal

Miss Pavlova

We passed by this adorable bakery and thought it would be the perfect place to pick up a cake or some macaroons. Very IG worthy aesthetic and you can stalk their Instagram here. Less than a 5 min walk from the Torre Dos Clerigos!

Address: Rua do Almada 21, 4050-036 Porto, Portugal

Porto Amazon Packing Inspo

What to See in Porto, Portugal

Jardim Do Morro

This is a must do while in Porto, Portugal. Walk across the bridge and climb up to Jardim Do Morro for the best sunset views in the city. It gets crowded as the sun sets, so get there early to secure a great spot! There is a large hill overlooking the city and people brought music and blankets to hang out. There were also performers and a stand to purchase drinks of choice such as beer or aperol spritz.

Day Trip to Braga & Guimarães

We spent a full day exploring Braga and Guimarães which were quaint towns close by! Guimarães you can walk through the town pretty quickly, and Braga we just had our Uber take us directly to the Bom Jesus do Monte Sanctuary which was absolutely stunning with the most incredible views of the city. Definitely recommend taking a day to explore if you have the time! You can train from Porto to both cities and we took an Uber from Braga to Guimarães for ease.

Tours more your vibe?? Check out some further options below:

Igreja Do Carmo

Catholic church built sometime between 1756 and 1768 with intricate blue tiles murals (azulejos) on the exterior and a stunning gold interior. Admission is free to enter.

Address: R. do Carmo, 4050-164 Porto, Portugal

Sé Catedral do Porto

Definitely a must see in Porto, and you can walk by this Cathedral on your way to the the Dom Luís I Bridge. There was live music playing by performers as we walked by which we thoroughly enjoyed. You also have some beautiful viewpoints of the city from here.

Address: R. Arcediago Vanzeller 50, 4050-621 Porto, Portugal

Torre Dos Clerigos

This 75m Baroque church is located in a very central part of Porto close to many shops down the street. It is the highest bell tower in Portugal and opened its doors in 1763. Free admission to enter the church. You can also pay 6 Euros to see the views up at the top (in my opinion plenty of other free viewpoints for stunning views of the city).

Address: R. de São Filipe de Nery, 4050-546 Porto, Portugal

São Bento Station

Another must see in Porto, as it is a National Monument and an UNESCO World Heritage Site. (However you do not need a significant amount of time to explore as the murals are just in the entrance of the station). You can also kill two birds with one stone by taking a train out for a day trip from the station. You can then just give yourself ~15-20 minutes before to admire the beautiful blue azulejo tiles depicting Portuguese agricultural life and history.

Address: Praça de Almeida Garrett, 4000-069 Porto, Portugal

Dom Luís I Bridge

Would highly recommend walking across the bridge at least once during your time in Portugal. We were there longer so walked both underneath and on top to maximize the views. You can cross over before sunset on your way to Jardim do Morro for some stunning views of the city.

Address: Pte. Luiz I, Porto, Portugal

Palácio da Bolsa

This National Monument is classified as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. We did not go inside, however the interior looks incredible, and the courtyard outside was beautiful.

Address: R. de Ferreira Borges, 4050-253 Porto, Portugal

Livraria Lello

One of the most famous bookstores in the world (ranked top 3 most beautiful in the World by Lonely Planet). This bookstore has sparked rumors of inspiring JK Rowling during her time living in Porto. In fact, you may see University students walking around with black capes which is said to have inspired the Hogwarts uniforms in the Harry Potter books. Would recommend purchasing tickets in advance here as the line queue gets incredibly long as one of the most popular tourist destinations in Porto. You can buy a 5€ ticket for normal entry + discount on a purchased book OR pay 15,90€ for priority entrance + included purchase of a book.

Address: R. das Carmelitas 144, 4050-161 Porto, Portugal

Jardim Da Cordoaria

Beautiful garden to take a stroll through while exploring the city. There is plenty of trees and landscape to walk through and admire the beauty. This garden is a close walk to other popular attractions as well within the city.

Address: Campo dos Mártires da Pátria, 4050-366 Porto, Portugal

Steak ‘n Shake Mural

This mural was created by Joana Vasconcelos consisting of over 8,000 hand painted tiles. This is her largest work of art right on the Steak ‘n Shake building. You can see this pretty quickly by just walking by and admiring her work!

Address: Praça Guilherme Gomes Fernandes 67, 4050-159 Porto, Portugal

Additional Tour Options

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Hope you found this Porto, Portugal Travel Guide helpful for planning your next trip to this incredibly charming city! If you have any questions I’m always just an email or DM away.

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