Porto has been making waves for a long time. The ancient city in northern Portugal is known for its hilltop viewpoints, medieval monuments and historic center. It has a wide range of possibilities when it comes to culture, cuisine and nightlife.
The itinerary takes you through some of the city's most well-known attractions, from the Eiffel-inspired bridge to the port-sipping above 300-year-old cellars. Along the way, you will also find lesser-known delights, including quintessential only-in-Porto moments like biting into a francesinha or wandering beneath the cedars of Serralves.
Squeeze every moment out of your next vacation with tips and tricks from Lonely Planet in our weekly newsletter delivered to your inbox.If you want to keep breakfast low-key, use a cimbalino and a pastel de nata. The Confeitaria do Bolho has been doing the business for over a century.
The spire of the Torre dos Clérigos can be found 12 minutes southwest of there. Clérigos is one of the most famous works of art byNicolau Nasoni, who is known as the architect of Porto. The city can be seen from the 200 steps. Avenida dos Aliados is Porto's architecturally striking main boulevard and is where you should go if you're claustrophobic or impatient.
The famous Porto dish is the francesinha. The movie Inception takes just as long to finish as this one, but it has more layers than this one. One of the best places to get food is Cafe Santiago. If you don't want to eat meat, vegana by tentgal is a great place to go.
You can walk past some of Porto's most important landmarks. The baroque Igreja de Santo Ildefonso and the mighty Sé are two of the best examples of Baroque architecture. You need to go down into the Ribeira. It is loud and lively and has some of the best views in town.
It has a lot of blockbuster sights. You can visit the Casa do Infante and the Igreja de So Francisco in the past. You can take a break at one of the cafes on the Praa da Ribeira. You can take a ride on the vintage Number 1 tram if you don't mind the crowds.
O Paparico is a restaurant that looks traditional but is anything but. There will be fireworks that showcase Portugal's best produce.
Base is a trendy open-air bar located beneath the Passeio dos Clérigos olive trees and is a great place to hang out after dinner. Rua da Galeria de Paris and Rua de Cndido dos Reis are packed with nightclubs and bars when the clock strikes midnight.
The Jardins do Palcio de Cristal is a great place to grab breakfast and a specialty brew if you're vegan, vegetarian or don't want to eat meat. Look out for the small gardens scattered across the park's eight hectares. The southern part of the park has great views. You go back down the river.
You can hire a bike and pedal west along the river. It takes about 20 minutes to get to Foz do Douro. Here you can watch the waves crash over the coast and dig your feet in the sand. Follow the seaside promenade to the north.
The seaside district is a great place to eat lunch. You can find seafood icons on Rua Heris de Frana. Praia de Matosinhos is a large expanse of sand and surf. Return your wheels by pedaling along the river.
You can explore Miragaia after you drop off the bike. The former Jewish quarter is located just west of Ribeira and is a delight to visit. There is a mural by Daniel Eime on Largo de Artur Arcos and a carving by Vhils a few blocks up the road. Mirajazz is a roof terrace that is hard to find. At the street level, you can find an intimate dinner spot with a small selection of food.
You can take a walk across the Ponte de Dom Lus I in the morning. The port wine lodges can be reached by crossing the river. The World of Wine is located inside the former port wine cellars. There are seven museums, a dozen restaurants and cafes, and an entire afternoon of fun to be had. The Wine Experience and the Pink Palace are two of the highlights.
The restaurants in WOW have great views over Porto. You can eat fish and chips at the Golden Catch, linger over all-day breakfast at VP, or feast on vegetarian cooking at root and vine. Start at the legendary Taylor's for more port exploration. You can wander through the 300-year-old cellars and see the views from the terrace on a self-guided tour.
It is possible to see Porto, the Douro and its various bridges before the sun goes down. You can see the sunset from a spot on the grass of the Jardim do Morro.
You can get dinner at Tapabento on your way back across the Douro. Foie gras toast with pear in moscatel and carmelized walnuts can be enjoyed here. The LIFT Rooftop Via Catarina is an open-air lounge on the 14th floor of the Via Catarina Shopping car park and has a panoramic view of the city.
The grand Art Nouveau confection of oversized mirrors, cherubs and ornate wood carving is known as the Cafe Majestic. You can take a self-guided walking tour of Porto's azulejos, those blue-and-white tiles that transform buildings into elaborate works of art.
The life of St Francis and St Catherine can be seen in the depictions of the church. The Igreja de Santo Ildefonso is located south of there and is covered in tile. It takes 10 minutes to get to Igreja do Carmo. The east side of the building is covered in tile.
Go to A Tasquinha for lunch and then take the bus to Serralves. There is a contemporary art museum in this location. After you check out the latest exhibition, take a stroll outside. The barnyard animals can be found in forested sections, fountains, ponds, rose gardens, and even pastures. The Treetop Walk is a great way to see the grounds from above.
The bus goes back and forth between the center and Largo de Ferreira Lapa. Casa Agrcola is located in an 18th-century building. There is a 10-minute walk to the Casa da Msica from this location. If you want to hear the world-class acoustics of a performance, go inside. Capela Incomum is a wine bar that has been renovated into a 19th century chapel.
There are more than one way to describe it.
In Portugal it is easy to lose 48 hours. You could spend a lifetime sighing at its breathless beauty, in awe of its curves and cobblestones, and its Klimt-esque sunsets, if you were lucky.
Trips from Porto are the best of the year.
Think of evocative churches, evocative poetry, passionate fado guitarist, and a riverside tavern. Prepare to go crazy. There are some things you can do in Porto.
Go towards the river after you arrive in Porto. The Ribeira district is loud and lively and has some of the best views in town, making it a great place for tourists and lovestruck couples. The Wine Quay Bar has a great selection of Portuguese wines. To tide you over until dinner, order a side of cured hams and cheese.
Call ahead for a table at Tapabento if you want to try fresh-shucked oysters or Azores cheese with walnuts and rocket. One of the city's oldest streets, Rua das Flores, has an intricate architecture.
If you want to keep breakfast low-key, use an espresso and a pastel de nata. Pick from any of the traditional cafes in the city, but we think the Confeitaria do Bolho is the best. Locals can't get enough
It takes 10 minutes to get to Igreja do Carmo. Adorned in blue-and-white azulejo tiles from tip to toe, this 18th-century church is an architectural dazzler. The monks were separated from the nuns by a small house in the middle of Carmo.
The Torre dos Clérigos is visible from the south. Clérigos is one of the most famous works of art byNicolau Nasoni, who is known as the architect of Porto. You have to pay 6 to go up the steps. Avenida dos Aliados is Porto's main avenue and the old staircases are narrow and crowded.
Porto's famous multi-layer meat sandwich, the francesinha, will be on your menu tonight. This masterpiece is covered in cheese, drowned in tomato sauce and crowned with a fried egg, and it takes just as long to complete. You can send your medical bills to Cafe Santiago.
The afternoon goal is to cross the river for a port tasting and then walk along Porto's cobblestones. Pass the baroque Igreja de Santo Ildefonso and walk through the Batalha district to reach the Sé, a cathedral with centuries' worth of architecture.
A walk across the top level of the Ponte de Dom Lus I leads to the city of Vila Nova de Gaia. There is a new 105 million ($143 million) cultural district squeezed inside former port wine cellars.
There are six museums, five restaurants and a lot of fun to be had here. For a real taste of the city's fantastic fortified wine, head further out and take a personalized tour at Croft, which ends with a port.
The south side of the Douro is a great place to watch the sunset. Capela Incomum is a wine bar that has been renovated into a 19th-century chapel. The O Paparico is a romantic stone-walled restaurant that looks traditional but is anything but, because locals don't usually eat until 9pm. Local produce such as Rendufas figs will be used to make fireworks.
Base is a trendy open-air bar located beneath the Passeio dos Clérigos olive trees and is a great place to hang out after dinner. Rua da Galeria de Paris and Rua de Cndido dos Reis are packed with nightclubs and bars when the clock strikes midnight.
Even though it looks like a garage sale at first glance, Galeria de Paris is worth a visit. Follow the human tide to find other places to dance. For a reason, the locals wear comfortable shoes.
Join the rest of the city if Saturday is late. You can get breakfast and a specialty brew at NoShi Coffee, which caters to vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free dieters.
If you want to go to the Jardins do Palcio de Cristal you need to stop for a tea in the peaceful garden of Rota do Ch. Look out for the small gardens scattered across the park's eight hectares. You can stop at the Miradouro Ignez roof terrace for a snack or a drink when you return to the river.
You can hire a bike at Biclas and then go west along the river to get lunch. You can choose from fresh fish on the street, pizza overlooking the river, or Portuguese share plates at Casa de Pasto da Palmeira. The Farol de Felgueiras jetty becomes the North Atlantic as the waves pound it. Parque da Cidade is the largest urban park in Portugal and can be reached via the coast. You can backtrack along the river.
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You can keep things low-key with a beer at Conga. Portugal's traditional thick-filled pork sandwiches are served at this no- frills joint. The Fbrica da Nata or Manteigaria is a good place to grab a pre-departure pastel de nata. Purchase a box of the flaky, crisp, custard-filled tarts to take home with you.
The article was first published in August.
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