19 Beautiful Things to Do in Porto in 24 Hours

This post is about things to do in Porto.

Headed to Portugal? You’re probably planning on visiting Porto, right? If you need some convincing to give this beautiful city some of your time, I’m here to persuade you!

Porto, Portugal is easily one of the most iconic and gorgeous cities in Portugal. Most notably, Porto is home to that famous blue tile! Every corner of this city has tiling embedded into its structure whether that be an apartment building, a church or a restaurant.

Okay, let’s get down to business! Here are all the reasons you should be visiting Porto, Portugal on your next trip to Europe!

Things to Do In Porto – Blue Tile Style

São Bento Railway Station

Starting off strong with one of my favorite pieces of blue tiles in Porto is the São Bento Railway Station. Whether you’re actually catching a train or just admiring the tiles, you absolutely must carve some time into your day to come and take a gander.

Church of St. Ildefonso 

Next up on the blue tiles list is Church of St. Ildefonso. These tiles look a little worse for wear, but I think it truly shows how old these tiles are and how well they’ve stood the test of time. We spent our morning admiring her beautiful façade with our coffees.

Chapel of Souls – “THE BLUE TILE CHURCH”

Did someone say blue tile? This is probably the most iconic blue tile you will see in all of Porto. Instagrammers have made this THE spot to get that photo of you in your pretty sundress in front of blue tile. The Chapel of Souls is swarmed with tourists as soon as midday hits, so make sure to get there early if you want a quieter, less hectic experience.

Carmo Church

Okay, I promise this is the last stop on your blue tile scavenger hunt! I honestly prefer this church to Chapel of Souls because it is much less crowded and there is more surface area to admire. Plus, the square the church is settled in is a quiet, inviting space to take a breather from your city wanderings.

Avenida dos Aliados 

Welcome to Porto’s Avenue of the Allies! The perfect spot to find some shade from the summer sunshine under the trees planted alongside the park. Also while you’re in the area, you should stop and snap a pic of Porto City Hall!

THINGS TO DO IN PORTO – WANDERING STYLE

Clérigos Church

If you aren’t tired of churches yet, I highly recommend heading over the Clérigos Church! What’s so special about this one? Blue tile? Nope! This church has a tower you can climb for a spectacular view of the city. No need to book in advance. Just show up with your climbing shoes and get on up there. I like this viewpoint over other ones like Porto Cathedral because you can capture all of the major landmarks in one go!

Ferreira Borges Market 

Need to do a little shopping? Markets are where I thrive and also where I spend all of my money. Wander through these booths to support all the local small businesses selling anything from clothes, prints and paintings, jewelry, and so much more! Here is the place you’ll find those unique and memorable souvenirs.

Porto Cathedral

You won’t be able to miss the Porto Cathedral as it stands tall and proud over the rest of the city. Like myself, you will probably find yourself using the cathedral as a directional landmark to orient you as you wander around. Now I know I said the Clerigos Church had the best viewpoint, but if you want to do your own research, you can climb one of the towers in the Porto Cathedral for around $3. Let me know what you think!

Miradouro da Vitória

Speaking of viewpoints! As you’re roaming around the tight alleyways, you may stumble onto this secluded little park. This view was one of my favorites since there are zero crowds. Also you get a great view of the Douro River and the opposing side of Porto!

Ribeira Waterfront Boulevard

Dinner time? Take a stroll along the Douro River and hunt for a restaurant to your liking. Unfortunately, I only had enough time for a brisk walk as I was trying to make sunset!

Luís I Bridge

Another one of my favorite parts of Porto’s landscape is how the Douro River runs right through the city making for lovely riverside walkways and, of course, Luis I Bridge that connects the two sides! Take a walk across to the Gaia side of Porto and see the city from a new vantage point!

Monastery of Serra do Pilar – Sunset Things to do in Porto

This is the biggest reason I already know I need to come back to Porto. Because I missed one of the most beautiful sunsets in all of Europe! If you have done any scrolling through travel TikTok, then you have definitely seen the iconic view of Porto’s sunsets from this specific viewpoint. 

Livraria Lello – Things to Do in Porto You Have to Book!

Yes, I saved the best for last! Welcome to the most beautiful bookstore in the world! Now, it’s not just me who says that. This bookstore has been awarded that title all on its own by the professionals. And I could not agree more. Make sure to book in advance and book an early time slot because this place is a mad house in the afternoon! The best part is that your ticket acts as credit if you buy a book! So you basically get a free book if you use girl math.

Douro Valley Winery Tour – Day Trip Things to Do in Porto

If you have the time while visiting Porto and you like to drink wine, I highly recommend booking a Douro Valley winery tour. I booked my tour through Get Your Guide, and it was the best time! Think beautiful rolling hills covered in grapevines, endless glasses of wine, and warm, welcoming hosts. No notes for this tour. It was incredible.

WHERE TO EAT – Things to Do in Porto for Foodies

Zenith Brunch

Something I found in my own research when looking for places to eat is that Portugal has their own version of pancakes! And I kid you not, they are the fluffiest, most amazing thing ever! No wonder I gained so much weight on this trip because I couldn’t get enough of these stacks of pancakes. But this place also has other amazing food too. I had a fabulous shakshuka! Also, the coffee was so incredible that we went back the next day just for a to go cup.

Esquires Coffee 

Another great breakfast spot especially if you are looking for a place that opens earlier than everywhere else. We had an early start to the day, and this place stuffed us for everything we needed and more for a successful day of wandering!

Bolhão Market

Of course, I can’t recommend where to eat and not include the local market! The saddest part about this market is there is so much to choose from that you can’t possibly try it all! But seriously this place has absolutely everything, so no need to fret if you have any picky eaters in your crew.

Trigo de Cantos – Risotto!

Again, I’m saving the best for last. We were actually recommended this place! On our winery tour, we met the owner of one of the wineries who also happens to have a restaurant in Porto. So, when we were dropped off after the tour, we headed over to check it out. The owner himself greeted us at the door and had saved us a table since we said we would stop by! The food! The food, guys! You must order the risotto whether it be the mushroom or the shrimp. This was easily one of the best meals I’ve ever had in my entire life. SO, DON’T! MISS! IT!

THINGS TO DO IN PORTO

And that’s all I’ve got! Thanks for following along on my quick stint to Porto. Too quick in fact. I already know I will be coming back to this city with a couple days added on, so I can properly spend some time in this beautiful city. I highly recommend having at least two full says to explore the city itself. Then have a separate day for a day tour into Douro Valley if you so choose.

Make sure to check back or follow me on Instagram to get updates on when I post the rest of my Portugal travels. Next post is all about Lisbon! Until then, happy traveling!

This post is about things to do in Porto.