Porto 5-day itinerary
- Best for
- A first visit to Porto with room for one extra neighborhood.
- Pace
- Four walking days and one day trip.
- Base
- City centre
- Estimated budget
- $400–$1,400
Day-by-day plan
Follow the stops in order. Walk times are estimates between nearby places.
- Day 1
City centre
Walk City centre in Porto. Start at Palácio da Bolsa, then Sé do Porto and Port Wine Institute. Stay on foot.
Stop 1
Palácio da Bolsa
It was built in the 19th century on the grounds of the destroyed old cloisters of the adjacent São Francisco church. It also contains the most impressive Arab room in the country. There is also a Port wine tasting room.
Stop 2 · 5 min walk
Sé do Porto
This Romanesque cathedral was built in the 13th century. Later on Baroque alterations were made in the 17th and 18th century. The cathedral is on top of a hill from where you also have great views over the city and the river.
Stop 3 · 5 min walk
Port Wine Institute
A small exhibition about Port wine and its certification process. Samples of a small variety of Port wines can be bought. Guided tastings and tours to the laboratories can be arranged.
Stop 4 · 13 min walk
City Hall
City Hall is a listed stop in this neighborhood.
Stop 5 · 14 min walk
Igreja de São Francisco
A Gothic church with later alterations of the interior decorations in Baroque style.
Stop 6 · 16 min walk
Mercado do Bolhão
A traditional market of fruits, vegetables, fish and meat. As of 2022 the entire market is now open after major refurbishment.
Eat · Café Piolho / Âncora d'Ouro: The third oldest cafe in Porto, it is commonly known as "O Piolho" (the Louse). The cafe looks out on the street facing a faculty of the Universidade do Porto, and had been a meeting place for students since the 19th century.
Browse Porto tours - Day 2
West of city centre
Walk West of city centre in Porto. Start at Museu do Vinho do Porto, then Pavilhão Rosa Mota and Museu Romântico. Stay on foot.
Stop 1
Museu do Vinho do Porto
Museu do Vinho do Porto is a listed stop in this neighborhood.
Stop 2 · 4 min walk
Pavilhão Rosa Mota
A multi purpose pavilion with nice gardens to rest, also known as "Palácio de Cristal".
Stop 3 · 4 min walk
Museu Romântico
A house where the King of Italy stayed while in exile.
Eat · Taberna Folias de Baco: A small cozy Portuguese restaurant with a nice ambiance. You can sip on amazing wine while eating delicious authentic food. The manager is very friendly and helpful.
- Day 3
Boavista
Walk Boavista in Porto, including Casa da Música and Fundação de Serralves.
Stop 1
Casa da Música
Designed by Rem Koolhaas and OMA. Guided tour available in English from 1 June - 30 September at 10:00, 11:00, 16:00 and 17:00 for €10/person (free for children under 12) which take about 1 hour. The rest of the year the guided tour is at 11:00 and 16:00.
Stop 2 · 32 min walk
Fundação de Serralves
A contemporary museum designed by the famous architect Álvaro Siza, with a huge garden/park and an Art Deco Villa. When visiting this foundation you can visit the exhibitions, relax at the park, have lunch at the restaurant, bar or tea house and explore the shops or the library. There is also a farm at the southern end of the park.
Eat · Laurear: Authentic fabulous Portuguese food. Small and cozy place with very friendly service. It's rather small, you have to be lucky to get a table in the evening.
- Day 4
Foz do Douro
Walk Foz do Douro in Porto, including Castelo Do Queijo and She Changes.
Stop 1
Castelo Do Queijo
Castelo Do Queijo is a listed stop in this neighborhood.
Stop 2 · 7 min walk
She Changes
She Changes, known locally as anémona, is a sculpture designed by artist Janet Echelman for the cities of Porto and Matosinhos, Northern Portugal. The installation consists of three steel poles, cables, a 20-ton steel ring and a net structure of varying densities and colors. The sculpture is Echelman's first permanent public art installation.
Eat · Trinkas Petisqueira Lounge: Very good cuisine, simple, homemade and careful. Lovely little restaurant, great for sitting by the side of the road and watching the world go by.
- Day 5
Day trip toward Vila Nova de Gaia
Leave Porto for the day. Come back to the same bed.
Stop 1
Vila Nova de Gaia
Listed as a next stop from Porto. Check the regional train or bus the night before.
Stop 2
Matosinhos
Listed as a next stop from Porto. Check the regional train or bus the night before.
Stop 3
Espinho
Listed as a next stop from Porto. Check the regional train or bus the night before.
Eat · Pack snacks from town. Do not count on a full menu at a small station.
Browse Vila Nova de Gaia day trips
Where to stay
Sleep near the walking base. Pick an area, then search hotels by neighborhood.
City centre
Walking this plan
Base here if you want Palácio da Bolsa, Sé do Porto, Port Wine Institute on foot.
West of city centre
Walking this plan
Base here if you want Museu do Vinho do Porto, Pavilhão Rosa Mota, Museu Romântico on foot.
Boavista
Walking this plan
Base here if you want Casa da Música, Fundação de Serralves on foot.
Things to book
Tours and tickets that match this plan. Book anything that needs timed entry.
Budget
Rough mid-range spend for 5 days in Porto, excluding long-haul flights. Hotel nights drive most of the range.
- Budget: about $400 (hostel/budget hotel, transit, street food)
- Mid-range: about $700 (3★ hotel, sit-down meals, a tour or two)
- Comfort: about $1,400 (nicer hotel, taxis, paid attractions)
Transportation
Get in
thumb|400px|Aerial view of Porto and Douro River * , also known as Aeroporto do Porto or Aeroporto de Pedras Rubras | url=http://www.ana.pt/en-US/Aeroportos/porto/Porto/Pages/Homepage-Porto.aspx | email= | address= | lat=41.2367 | long=-8.6708 | directions=in Pedras Rubras, about 15 km from the city centre | phone= | tollfree= | fax= | hours= | price= | wikipedia=Porto Airport | image=Aeroporto Porto 17.jpg | wikidata=Q943743 | content=Porto International Airport is the second-busiest in Portugal, posting a very high proportion of flights and passengers for a European non-capital city. }} The business is due to Porto's particular economic importance and growing tourist interest, coupled with northern passenger logistical demand to fly out of Porto directly, instead of going by rail to Lisbon to get on a flight. As a result, Porto Airport is now Portugal's secondary hub for intercontinental flights to Brazil, North America and many European destinations by the Portuguese flag carrier TAP Portugal. Other European airlines are increasingly offering flights to Porto from their main
Get around
thumb|Porto Valley Porto, like most Portuguese cities, is a nightmare to drive in. Roads vary in conditions - from fully paved to cobbled lanes that can make even the most shortest of distance seem like a go-kart rally. With that said, keep in mind that the tourist parts of the city (the Ribeira and Baixa) are a never ending maze of narrow streets, short tempered drivers and snakelike alleys. Better to walk (despite the fact that it's very hilly).
Where to eat
Simple meal ideas near the day’s walking route.
Café Piolho / Âncora d'Ouro
The third oldest cafe in Porto, it is commonly known as "O Piolho" (the Louse). The cafe looks out on the street facing a faculty of the Universidade do Porto, and had been a meeting place for students since the 19th century. Plaques donated by graduating medical classes from the early 20th century onward decorate the walls.
Taberna Folias de Baco
A small cozy Portuguese restaurant with a nice ambiance. You can sip on amazing wine while eating delicious authentic food. The manager is very friendly and helpful.
Laurear
Authentic fabulous Portuguese food. Small and cozy place with very friendly service. It's rather small, you have to be lucky to get a table in the evening.
Trinkas Petisqueira Lounge
Very good cuisine, simple, homemade and careful. Lovely little restaurant, great for sitting by the side of the road and watching the world go by.
Taxca
A typical Portuguese tavern, with excellent quality gastronomy products, the atmosphere is fantastic, typical of a tavern, without table service, the hanging hams immediately whet your appetite. One of the best places to snack on Portuguese dishes. The best bifanas in Porto, the sarrabulho porridge, well garnished with meat.
Churrasqueira Brasil
Don’t let the outside appearance fool you. This place is a hidden gem. Great homemade food and attention. Very nice place to eat the dish of the day.
Casa Das Tortas
Great authentic Portuguese food homemade with bakery pastries. A very good place to eat typical food. Best Francesinha in Porto.
Taberna do Doutor
Fantastic francesinha and great sardines. Friendly and attentive staff.
Optional alternatives
Add one if a walking day finishes early. Don’t stack them onto the same afternoon.
Douro river cruise
Take a cruise upriver (the cost starts at €15 (although they can be slightly cheaper if paired with a different activity) and takes about 50 minutes. Cruises run from 10:00 to 18:30, with sailings every 30 minutes for most operators.
Fado Bars
Fado is a music genre originating in Lisbon and considered an integral part of Portuguese music. It is traditionally sung by a woman in a black dress, accompanied by guitar players. A handful of Fado bars stand in Porto, primarily in the Sao Bento area, offering one or two shows per day.
Teatro Nacional São João (TNSJ)
Porto's main theatre and opera production company and venue. There are also guided tours (€5/person) for access to the stage, rehearsal room, dressing rooms and the technical area (if they are not used during the time of the tour).
FC Porto
They play in Primeira Liga, Portugal's top tier. Their home ground Estádio do Dragão (capacity 50,000) is 1 km north of the centre with its own metro station.
Boavista FC
They were relegated in 2025 and now play in Liga 2 the second tier. Their Estádio do Bessa (capacity 28,200) is 2 km northwest of the centre, metro Francos.
Porto Exit Games
You're locked in a room with a mystery to solve and the clock ticking. Can you crack the puzzle and escape?
Before you go
Questions
- Do I need a car in Porto?
- No for this plan. The days stay inside walking range, then local transit to OPO. thumb|Porto Valley Porto, like most Portuguese cities, is a nightmare to drive in. Roads vary in conditions - from fully paved to cobbled lanes that can make even the most shortest of distance seem like a go-kart rally. With that said, keep in mind that the tourist parts of the city (the Ribeira and Baixa) are a never ending maze of narrow streets, short tempered drivers and snakelike alleys. Better to walk (despite the fact that it's very hilly).
- Is 5 days enough?
- Yes if you want Porto plus one nearby trip. Use the 3-day plan if you will not leave town.
- Where should I stay?
- Base near City centre so the first walking day starts at the hotel. Alma Porto Hostel is a listed option, not a ranking.
- Where do I eat?
- Each day names one sit-down stop. Café Piolho / Âncora d'Ouro is on the list. Keep the rest as bakeries and market counters.
Other Porto trip lengths
- Where to stay in Porto
- Best time to visit Porto
- eSIM for Portugal
- Travel insurance for Portugal
- Airport transfers
Daily stops compiled from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA), and Wikipedia. Updated 2026-08-25. Edited by Lina Varela.