Portugal Series Part Two - My Highlights from 3 Days in Porto
View from the Dom Luis II Bridge. A must see when in Porto.
When I first landed in Portugal, I fell in love with Lisbon. It was so colourful, beautiful and lively. I figured this would be my favourite of the two major cities we were visiting on the trip. That was until I visited Porto.
Though both cities are about a three hour train ride away, they are very very different. From the colours to the vibe, Porto to me felt like home and I’d gladly return.
Porto is a very walkable city and is more physically manageable compared to the very steep and tiring hills of Lisbon. Though it wasn’t always flat, I found a mixture of more tolerable climate during the day, less hilly terrain and less attractions to cover resulted in us being far less exhausted and really allowed us to “stop and smell the flowers” for a bit.
Sao Bento Railway Station
Instead of providing you with an itinerary, because I think in this case it would be better to build one according to your interests, I’ll share the highlights of our time in Porto. The one thing I would suggest is that, unlike Lisbon there isn’t much of a need to see a whole bunch of sights but rather some key places. And that will differ depending on your preference.
Porto is a city best enjoyed in a slower, more relaxed pace.
So, have a picnic, sit a little too long on a patio in Ribiera and enjoy Porto!
My Porto Highlights:
Walking across the Dom Luis ll Bridge.
Then heading down and strolling along both sides of the river. Ribiera was my preferred side.
Doing two free walking tours with Portowalkers.
This will allow you to see all the main attractions in Porto within a few hours with context. Highly recommend it.
Visiting the Douro Valley Region.
I would highly suggest visiting the Douro valley region. Regardless of whether or not you drink wine, the views from this UNESCO World Heritage site are absolutely spectacular.
Such a relaxing moment just being here in the Douro Valley Region.
Within the 1.5ish hour drive from Porto to Douro, you experience a completely different climate (Portugal seems to be the king of micro-climates). We went from gloomy to sunny and bright and there truly is no better way to experience this area.
The amount of greenery you will find here is such a breath of fresh air. It was certainly one of the highlights of my trip!
Others Things to Do in Porto:
Visit Serralves Museum if you are a museum person
The gardens in Museum Serralves.
This museum is more on the modern side, so I would only suggest it to individuals interested in modern art.
I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s a must but I really enjoyed the work that was featured here. It was very different than a lot of the more historical museums I’ve visited in Italy and France and though historical museums are my preference, it was a really good experience nonetheless.
They also have nice gardens. It is a little far from central Porto, so you’ll need to take transit or an Uber.
The famous stairs at Livraria Lello
Livraria Lello
Not only is it considered one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world but if you are a Harry Potter fan, you will not want to miss this beautiful bookstore. It is where J.K. Rowling drew inspiration for the moving staircases.
Tickets costs 5 euros to enter but you get your money back if you purchase a book. And yes, books in English are available.
Accommodations
Accommodations wise, we stayed in a private room at a Hostel called Nice Way Hostel. It was centrally located and did it’s job but was nothing too special so I won’t bother going into too much detail there.
Food
Food-wise, we did not plan too many places to eat in advance. The only ones we planned ahead to try were:
Zenith Brunch and Cocktails Bar
O Diplomata
The brunch at Zenith was delicious!
Asides from getting gelato at Santinis at every opportunity possible, we just went with what we were feeling at the moment and what was around. This is where our Vodaphone SIM cards served us really well. We were able to search for restaurants on the spot and make our decision based on reviews.
The one thing that everyone said to try is the Francesinha sandwich. It’s full of meat and cheese and is a “must try” when in Porto. Due to my dietary restrictions, I was not able to try it but I suggest you do it you enjoy an excess of meat and cheese.
If you go on the walking tours, the guides will gladly give you many suggestions on places to eat as well.
So there you have it, that’s my little summary of Porto. As I said before,
Porto won my heart over.
I would highly suggest it to anyone visiting Portugal.
Stay tuned for next post in the Portugal series that will cover Lagos and Albufeira in the Algarve Region. I will be covering my favourite excursion that I have ever been on in my entire life!
Until next time,
Mahreen
Photos don’t do the sunsets in Porto justice. They are absolutely stunning!
