How to spend a long weekend in Porto

Known for the winding Douro River, incredible food and wine, and hills that work calves the world over, Porto is one of the best places to spend a long weekend in Europe. Whether you’re on a girls’ trip, like I was, or heading out with family or loved ones, there’s a magic to Portugal’s second city.

Of course, one of the highlights of spending a long weekend in Porto is drinking and eating. From wine to port to local beers to fresh seafood and incredible cheeseboards, there is a good chance you’ll come back from Porto a little heavier, but a whole lot happier.

So, how should you spend a weekend in Porto? Well, don’t worry, I’ve got you covered in this complete guide.

Getting To Porto

Getting to Porto is extremely easy. There are low-cost airlines flying into Porto from all across Europe. The airport is a short distance from the city centre, and the metro is the cost-effective and quick way to get between the two. If you have an early flight, there are late-night buses from Porto centre to the airport, but Ubers are also really reasonable, as it’s really not that far to get to the airport.

If you’re coming up from Lisbon, you can easily get the train. Depending on the route, this direct train is anywhere between 2 hours 40 minutes and 3 hours 45 minutes. Usually, it’ll cost between £24-30 one-way. Alternatively, you can jump on FlixBus, which takes 3 hours and 15 minutes and starts from £5 one-way.

Where To Stay In Porto

There are a few neighbourhoods to choose from when you stay in Porto. The most famous and popular area is Ribeira, which is right down on the Douro River, and in the historic part of the city. It’s close to the attractions, but can be pricey.

If you want to be near the port houses, stay across the river in Vila Nova de Gaia. This is away from some of the other attractions, but it’s a little cheaper and still has great metro and tram connections.

To the east of Ribeira and slightly inland is Bolhao. This is the central region of Porto and home to the historic food market. There are a number of hotels around here, and it’s close to attractions without the Ribeira price tag.

If you want more greenery, head to Miragaia. There are a ton of city parks here, so it feels a little more relaxed. It’s also close to a whole host of museums and Livraria Lello, so more of a cultural vibe, with boutique places to stay.

For great bars and restaurants and more of a youthful vibe, head inland to Boavista. This is where we stayed, and it was great value for money and close to a few different metro stops for getting around. Even then, wandering to Bolhao or Ribeira wasn’t too bad at all. It’s definitely uphill from the river, so consider a metro ride for the way back!

Getting Around Porto

The best way to get around Porto is by using the metro. You can find stations all around the city, and it’s cost-effective with a tap and go ticket method, so you can use your contactless bank card or phone. Each trip is usually €2,25, and that lasts for 1 hour and 15 minutes, so if you need to change trains or just nip in and out, it’s super cheap. It also caps at €7 per day.

There is also the historic tram that operates in tourist-heavy parts of the city. There are three lines: Line 1, which goes along the Douro to the Atlantic Ocean, Line 18, which goes uphill to Clérigos Tower, and Line 22, which runs around the city centre by São Bento station. These are tourist attractions in and of themselves, and you can buy your ticket from the driver. Expect long queues on the weekend and in peak season!

What To Do On A Long Weekend In Porto

So, once you’re in the city, how do you spend a long weekend in Porto? Well, it depends on what you’re into. Personally, we did a lot of eating, drinking, and wandering around the cobblestone streets. There are also a few great day trips from Porto to consider as well. Let’s dive in and find out more.

Visit the Port Houses in Vila Nova de Gaia

One of the best things you can do when you visit Porto is to leave it. This sounds harsh, but the Port houses that are one of the most popular attractions aren’t technically even in Porto, they’re over the river in Vila Nova de Gaia. While some say this is a neighbourhood of Porto, it’s not; it’s a separate city, just a short walk or metro ride away.

There is a huge range of port houses you can visit in Vila Nova de Gaia. Some require bookings in advance, especially the popular ones like Sandemans, Taylors, or Cockburns. We hadn’t booked anything deliberately, we had lunch and some small complementary tastings at the restaurant at Porto Cruz. I recommend heading up to their roof terrace for incredible views of the Pont Luis II bridge.

Afterwards, we went to Fonseca Port House for a tasting. It’s got a historic and rustic tasting room, with comfortable seats and a reasonable shop. Even if you’re not taking the formal tour, you can go and have a look at the giant barrel rooms and pick a few to sample from their tailored menu. The waiter also talks you through all the options. This is a budget-friendly way of trying different ports, versus the more expensive tasting and tour experiences.

Go on a wine tour of the Douro Valley and Vinho Verde wine regions

If you’re looking for a delicious day trip from Porto, most people head on a tour to the Douro Valley. However, there are two great wine regions on the outskirts of Porto: the Douro Valley and Vinho Verde. Known as “green wine”, Vinho Verde is a still white wine that has almost a fizzy taste to it without being classified as a “sparkling wine”.

We found this 11-hour tour that took you to two different vineyards (one in each region), provided a three-course lunch (with liberal free pours of wine), and a cruise along the Douro River with sparkling wine. All this with return transfers to and from the centre of Porto, near the Bolhao Market.

Undoubtedly, this was one of the best wine tours that I’ve been on, and it says 11 tastings on the booking, but with the top-ups throughout lunch and on the boat, it definitely feels like more. We also got the opportunity to squish the grapes at the Vinho Verde vineyard, so of course, I volunteered and had slightly red-tinged shins for the rest of the trip, despite the speedy hose-down…

Wander the historic Old Town

I’m a big fan of wandering aimlessly around historic cities. Porto’s Old Town is no different. However, it’s definitely hillier than your standard European city. There are endless back alleys and side streets to explore along the cobblestones, with cool independent shops and cafes along the way.

Every so often, the space will open up, and you’ll be rewarded with a stunning church or hillside vista down across the terracotta rooftops to the Douro. If you have comfortable shoes on, then this is a must-do, at least for a couple of hours.

This way, you can wander towards Arco das Verdades, or the Arch of Truth, an incredible wine bar, hidden down a winding backstreet. It’s only small, so it fills up quickly, and the window seats have one of the best river and bridge views in the city. Alternatively, you can sit on the steps outside or collapse into a bean bag with a top-tier glass of wine from producers you’re not likely to find anywhere else.

Visit Livraria Lello

There’s a reason why this stunning bookstore is a tourist favourite. Livraria Lello is a gorgeous book shop with ornate wooden decor and stairwells that look like they’re straight out of a fantasy novel. It’s also incredibly busy.

You need a time slot reservation in advance. These can be booked online, and then when you arrive, you join the correct line with your time slot. These tend to be in 15-minute increments. Tickets start at €12, but they are refundable back against the cost of certain books. So, if you buy a beautiful edition, you can technically get in for free and just buy the book (girl maths?).

There are other price packages that include deductibles for special “gold edition” books and tours to rare book rooms. When you go in, have a plan because with the crowds, it’s overwhelming. I went upstairs first to see the architecture and incredible roof, and then went back downstairs to the English language section to hunt for a book.

Take a day trip to Aveiro

If you want a seaside day or just to visit a city with a different vibe, jump on the train to Aveiro. Known as the Venice of Portugal, this coastal city has vibrant, colourful and tiled buildings, meandering canals, and its own answer to gondolas, called Moliceiros.

There are two train options. You can get the fast train from Porto Campanha station, which is out near the football stadium. This can take as little as 33 minutes and starts from £7 one-way. However, if you’re already in the centre of Porto, it may be better to go from the famous São Bento station. Direct trains can take as little as 45 minutes, but most take a little over an hour, and they start from £7 one-way as well. However, you save metro money and time from having to get out to Campanha in the first place.

If you have time, you can also take the local bus or an Uber from Aveiro’s historical centre to the beach. It’s a short driving distance, past the salt flats and is a stunning way to spend a day in Northern Portugal. I’d also recommend getting salt cod or bacalhau while you’re there, as it’s a delicious local speciality.