If you only have 1 day to see the magnificent city of Porto in northern Portugal then you’re going to have to cram a lot into your day. Believe me when I tell you that this beautiful city will grab your heart and demand your attention. By the end of your day in Porto, I guarantee you’re going to be plotting how to get yourself back here as soon as possible. Let’s take a look at the ideal 1 day Porto itinerary to ensure you don’t miss any of the main attractions.

➡️ The main reasons for to have just 1 day to see Porto, of course, are if you’re on a whistle-stop tour of Europe (maybe coming in from the beautiful Sevilla, Madrid or Faro in Portugal’s Algarve) or if you’re only in town to pick up your Douro River Cruise or are here to explore the Douro valley wineries. I have taken one of these cruises and my short time in Porto before the cruise was enough to make me fall in love with the city. I’ve since spent a decent amount of time in Porto so am in a good position to help you plan your day trip to Porto. If you have longer in Porto, try my long weekend itinerary.

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Getting Around Porto

⭐️ If you’re happy to walk and have a decent level of fitness then this 1 day Porto itinerary will be perfect for you as is.

It’s important to know that although Porto is a smallish city, it is very hilly so it might be harder to walk if you are in Porto with kids or you have any personal fitness concerns. You could consider using public transportation to get between the main sites of Porto.

The Ideal 1 Day Porto Itinerary

Let’s try to get as much done and seen as possible on your 1 day Porto itinerary. The reality is, though, that you’re not going to get to know Porto with just one day; you’re unlikely to be visiting many museums taking a leisurely stroll through the gardens or learning how to make pasteis de nata.

That said, with the MexicoCassie 1 day Porto itinerary you will get to see a lot of Porto’s main sites and get a good feel for the city.

Morning in Porto

Breakfast Snacks

☕️ Begin the day with a coffee and pastel de nata (pasteis de nata in Portuguese), the famous Portuguese egg tart. You’ll see them everywhere but my recommendation is to go to the Delta Coffee Experience & Manteigaria as here you can watch them being made while you enjoy your coffee and cake. 

📍 R. de Alexandre Braga 24

⭐️ Top Tip: After you’ve finished your breakfast, nip into the Mercado de Bolhão (right opposite) for some breakfast port and snack-browsing (really, you can buy a glass of port to enjoy as you browse the market stalls – after all, when in Porto…).

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Morning Activity in Porto

✅ Walk and explore the beautiful city of Porto (follow the route outlined below)

or

✅ Take this official 5⭐️ walking tour or a guided tour in a tuk tuk or electric ‘vintage’ car if you’re not keen on walking around Portugal’s second largest city. 

➡️ Walk through the city center, towards the Cais da Ribeira and Vila Nova de Gaia (the banks of the Douro River)

Walk via the São Bento Train Station to admire the azulejo tiles (ceramic tiles) in the enormous entrance hall. These incredible tile murals are designed to represent traditional Portuguese life. 

Prepare to be wowed as you approach the quay through the narrow streets of the old city, as this part of Porto is actually a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With its traditional boats, imposing bridges and towering, colourful houses, this is really a sight to behold. 

➡️ Cross over the Ponte Dom Luis I (Don Luis I Bridge) to explore Vila Nova de Gaia

The bridge has two levels – the upper deck being for the metro and the lower deck for cars. Pedestrians are welcome on both levels. For excellent views, I recommend the upper deck. To reach here, either take the funicular or walk up the steps opposite the bridge. 

Note: If you cross the River Douro via the upper level you will now need to get yourself down to the lower level. You can either walk down the steps or you can take the cable car. Really, it’s just a short walk if you don’t fancy the cable car. 

➡️ Explore Porto’s port-y history

Once you’ve crossed the bridge it’s time to explore the port wine tasting area of Porto. 

Stroll along the quay checking out the port lodges, WOW (World of Wine) and more. With just a short one day in Porto, I don’t recommend visiting the WOW region but it’s good to know it’s there. 

🍷 If you’re interested in a port tasting you could do one down here – why not try to Casa Portuguesa do Pastel de Bacalhao for a glass of port and a cod cake (local delicacy). 

➕ Don’t miss: The Half Rabbit, one of the major attractions of Porto’s street art scene.

Lunch Time in Porto

🍽 Head into the rightly popular Mercado Beira Rio for a bite to eat – perhaps try another local delicacy, the Francesinha – a cheese and meat toastie covered in sauce or some excellent Portuguese seafood.

Afternoon Activity in Porto

➡️ Head back over the River Douro and walk towards the Torre de Clérigos

Stroll along the pedestrianised Rua das Flores on your way to visit the Clerigos Tower. Enjoy browsing the small stores.

➕ Don’t miss the Perspéntico Gato-Cidade (a giant cat), another excellent mural.

➡️ Climb the Torre de Clérigos for spectacular views over Porto and the Douro River

The views over the historical center from the top of the tower are beautiful and this is is one of the top sights in Porto. The tower tickets allows views of the inside of Clerigos Church and entrance to a small exhibition space (currently showing a Kandinsky exhibition).

⭐️ Buy your “skip the line” Clérigos Tower ticket in advance to save time

➡️ Walk to the Livraria Lello book shop

From the tower, head over to the oldest bookstore in Porto, the Livraria Lello. Yes, this is the “Harry Potter” bookshop, the one that is supposed to have inspired the bookshop in J.K. Rowling’s famous series. The bookshop is, more importantly, in my mind, classed as one of the world’s most beautiful bookshops.

💲 If you want to enter, know that it’s a ticketed and timed entry. You’ll need to buy your ticket in advance and be willing to stand in line. If you’re a big Harry Potter fan, maybe it’s worth it, if you’re not, you could admire through the window and then walk on.

⭐️ Book your tickets for the Harry Potter bookshop

➡️ The last stretch

If you’re still able to walk then you could head towards Avenida Dos Aliados (which runs from the São Bento Station) all the way up to the Porto City Hall past some of the fanciest buildings and architechture in Porto and the world’s most beautiful McDonald’s (McDonald’s Imperial).

Phew! Yes, this is a lot of walking but it’s also the perfect 1 day itinerary for Porto before you head off into the Douro Valley. You’ve seen the best things Porto has to offer, you know now that it’s a great place to visit and that you really have to come back because you didn’t even get to stick your head inside either the Porto Cathedral or the Palácio da Bolsa or spend nearly enough time in the numerous port wine cellars of the city. 

Next time you’ll know that Portugal’s second-largest city needs more of your attention and time. 

Looking for Iberian Peninsula Travel Inspiration?

➡️ Have you considered the magnificent Monfragüe National Park just over the border in Spain?

➡️ Andalucía, obviously, is home to some fabulous and well known vacation destinations such as Sevilla, Cádiz, Córdoba and Malaga.

➡️ Also in Andalucía are less well known but equally magnificent vacation options such as Aracena, Antequera, Tarifa and Mijas Pueblo (for example)

➡️ Don’t forget the Roman cities of Mérida and Segovia or the ancient Gibraltar