--- type: "Article" title: "Porto – 13 tips for two days in Northern Portugal" description: "Porto is the port wine capital. Here are my 13 tips for a visit to the Portuguese city (Including boutique hotel and excursions)." resource: "https://travelmemo.com/portugal/porto-13-tips-citytrip" author: "Walter Schaerer" publisher: "Travelmemo" photo_count: 21 tags: ["City Trip", "Portugal"] entities: - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/portugal" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/zuerich" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/azores" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/city-trip" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/culinary-tourism" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/restaurant" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/sea-travel" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/air-travel" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/itinerary" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/review" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/shopping" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/luxury-travel" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/boutique-hotel" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/design" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/excursion-tips" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/landscape" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/vehicle-rental" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/organizations/six-senses" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/organizations/travelmemo" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/organizations/booking-com" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/organizations/swiss-international-air-lines" - "https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer" generated: { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer", at: 2026-07-04T14:07:18+00:00 } verified: - { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/katja-birrer", at: 2018-08-02T17:25:44+00:00 } sources: - id: photos resource: porto-13-tips-citytrip.md#photos title: "Original photography by Walter Schaerer" author: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer" timestamp: 2026-07-04T14:07:18+00:00 --- # Porto – 13 tips for two days in Northern Portugal > Porto, in northern Portugal where the Douro meets the Atlantic, is the home of port wine and a UNESCO-listed Old Town packed with azulejo-covered churches, iron bridges, and a lively riverfront district. ## Destination Porto, northern Portugal, at the mouth of the Douro River on the Atlantic coast. ## Getting there TAP and SWISS offer direct flights from Zurich; flight time is about 2 hours. Note that Porto appears as 'Oporto' on airport departure boards. A taxi from Porto airport to the Ribeira Old Town takes about 25 minutes and costs around $30. ## When to go The article does not specify a best season, though it notes the Douro Valley runs a few degrees warmer than Porto. ## Why visit Porto combines a UNESCO World Heritage Old Town with an authentic harbour atmosphere, iconic iron bridges, azulejo-tiled architecture, world-famous port wine cellars, and easy access to the scenic Douro Valley wine region. ## What to see - **Ribeira District** — Porto's UNESCO-listed Old Town along the Douro, characterised by picturesque if crumbling historic buildings and harbour atmosphere. - **Ponte Dom Luís I** — Porto's iconic 172-metre iron arch bridge linking the Old Town to Vila Nova de Gaia; open to pedestrians on both upper and lower decks. - **São Bento Train Station** — Covered with 20,000 decorative azulejo tiles, a source of particular local pride. - **Jardim do Palácio de Cristal** — City park featuring the domed Pavilhão Rosa Mota, blooms, sweeping city views, and free-roaming peacocks. - **Cais de Gaia** — Quayside on the Vila Nova de Gaia bank where the warehouses of major port wine producers line up. - **Praia da Luz** — Atlantic beach in the Foz do Douro district, surrounded by posh villas and seafood restaurants; about 10 minutes by taxi from the centre. - **Rua das Flores** — Romantic street lined with cafés, restaurants, bars, and boutiques. - **Rua de Santa Catarina** — Porto's main shopping street, lively and busy. ## What to do - **Walk across Ponte Dom Luís I** — Both the upper and lower pedestrian decks offer spectacular views over Porto and the Douro. - **Take the Cais de Gaia aerial tramway** — Gondola tram connects the riverside quay to the upper level of the Dom Luís I Bridge, avoiding a steep 45-metre climb on foot. - **Port wine tasting** — Tastings available throughout Vila Nova de Gaia at cellars including Sandeman, Taylor's, Offley, Kopke, Niepoort, Dalva, and Fonseca; a free glass comes with the aerial tram ticket. - **Douro 6-bridges river cruise** — 30-minute boat trip from the city to near the river mouth, passing under six bridges including the Dom Luís I; bookable as an add-on to hop-on hop-off tickets. - **Hop-on Hop-off bus tour** — Red Line covers most of the city including Foz do Douro; buses run every 30 minutes and a Douro cruise and port tasting can be booked alongside. - **Try Pasteis de Nata** — Porto's version of the famous egg-custard phyllo tarts, often dusted with cinnamon. - **Day trip to the Douro Valley** — UNESCO-listed wine-growing region about an hour away by rental car or river boat; notably warmer than Porto and visually spectacular. ## Good to know Port wine storage tip: vintage port should be consumed within 2–3 days of opening (refrigerated); most tawny ports keep for 5–6 months refrigerated after opening. The boutique hotel Armazém Luxury Housing on Rua das Flores is set in a converted iron warehouse with industrial-chic interiors. Cantina 32 restaurant on Rua das Flores is popular and reservations are recommended. ## Photos ```yaml photos: - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Porto-Panorama-Ribeira-Dom-Luis-Bruecke.jpg" caption: "Porto landmark: Ribeira district on the Douro with Dom Luis I Bridge" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Ribera-Quartier-Porto.jpg" caption: "Blue hour over the Ribeira district" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Kapelle-Das-Almas-Porto.jpg" caption: "Capela das Almas covered with blue-white tiles" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Calem-Rabelo-Quinta-da-Foz-Porto-Ponte-Dom-Luis-I.jpg" caption: "Emblems of Porto: Rabelo boat and the Dom Luis I. Bridge" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Rabelo-Boote-Porto-Vila-Nova-de-Gaia.jpg" caption: "Port wine Rabelo boats at anchor at the Cais de Gaia" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Dom-Luis-I-Bruecke-Porto.jpg" caption: "Dom Luís I. Bridge from the (even higher) Serra do Pilar vista point" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Sandeman-Weinkellerei-Luftseilbahn.jpg" caption: "Sandeman wine cellar with aerial tramway" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Teleferico-de-Gaia-Porto.jpg" caption: "Aerial tramway to the Dom Luís I. Bridge" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Restaurante-LSD-Porto.jpg" caption: "A little early: Katja and Walter in the small but classy Restaurante LSD" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Cantina-32-Porto-Dekoration.jpg" caption: "Cantina 32 Restaurant entrance decor" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Pateo-das-Flores-Weinbar.jpg" caption: "Páteo das Flores wine bar just inside the entrance" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Cafe-Mercador-Breakfast-Menu.jpg" caption: "Café Mercador breakfast menu" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Chocolataria-das-Flores.jpg" caption: "Brunch and lunch menus of the Chocolataria" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Rua-Santa-Catarina-Porto-Shoppingmeile.jpg" caption: "Rua Catarina, Porto's shopping street" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Restaurantterrasse-Praia-do-Luz-Porto.jpg" caption: "Sun sails on the Praia da Luz terrace" ```