Porto in 3 days

Lisbon's moodier, riverside little brother. Smaller, cheaper, arguably tastier. Best time to visit: May-June and September-October. Average daily budget: $60 to $100 USD.

Day 1, Get oriented

Base: Ribeira, UNESCO riverside, colourful houses, the postcard view.

Morning: Port tasting at Graham's or Taylor's. Book the small-group tour, not the walk-in.

Afternoon: Explore Ribeira, UNESCO riverside, colourful houses, the postcard view.

Evening: Sunset at Jardim do Morro. The Dom Luís bridge from above, with port in hand.

Eat: Francesinha at Café Santiago

Day 2, Go deeper

Base: Vila Nova de Gaia, Across the bridge, where every port wine cellar lives.

Morning: Livraria Lello early entry. Go at 9:30am or skip it. Worth it once.

Afternoon: Explore Vila Nova de Gaia, Across the bridge, where every port wine cellar lives.

Evening: Walk the Douro riverfront at golden hour. From the Ribeira's tiled houses up onto the bridge's top deck, the whole city glows. Time it for late afternoon, then drop down for dinner by the water.

Eat: Bacalhau à Brás at Tasca da Badalhoca

Day 3, Hidden side

Base: Cedofeita, Indie shops, galleries, the city's creative quarter.

Morning: Douro Valley day trip. Hire a driver, not the bus tour. Lunch at a quinta.

Afternoon: Explore Cedofeita, Indie shops, galleries, the city's creative quarter.

Evening: Port tasting in Vila Nova de Gaia. Cross the Dom Luís I bridge to the cellars on the south bank, Graham's or Taylor's for the view, smaller houses for the chat. Book a tasting flight and watch the sun hit the riverfront.

Eat: Pastel de nata at Manteigaria (yes, also in Porto)

Hidden gems

Capela das Almas tile facade, Rua de Santa Catarina.
Mercado do Bolhão, recently renovated, locals only by 11am.
Praia dos Ingleses for an Atlantic dip after lunch.
Café Santiago for a proper francesinha (Porto's only sin).

Getting around

Mostly walkable, but the hills are real. Get the Andante card for the metro and tram 1 to Foz. Bolt is cheap for late-night hops back to your hotel.

Safety

Very safe. Petty theft is rare even by European standards. The main hazard is a wet calçada in winter rain, those marble pavements get slippery.

Porto in 5 days | Porto in 7 days | Full Porto guide