A weekend in Porto: what to see in 2 days

Before you go

Two bookings are worth making in advance: the Livraria Lello (dated ticket) and, depending on the season, the Gaia cellars (see the port wine cellars). For getting around, an Andante card and the single trip at €1.40 (Z2) are enough, or the Andante 24 at €5.35: full details are in our guide to transport in Porto.

Day 1: the historic centre and the azulejos

Morning, 9am: São Bento station. Start with the hall of São Bento station, free, before the crowds arrive: about 20,000 Jorge Colaço azulejos in a few minutes.

10am: the Clérigos Tower. A 8 to 10 minute walk away, climb the roughly 225 steps of the Clérigos Tower (€10, open 9am to 7pm). An online ticket avoids the wait.

Noon: Lello, Carmo and the Chapel of Souls. Pass by the Livraria Lello, then head down to the azulejo façade of the Carmo church. Have lunch in the nearby streets.

Afternoon: Bolhão and Santa Catarina. Walk back up to the Chapel of Souls, then the Bolhão market and Rua Santa Catarina for a stroll.

Late afternoon: the Aliados. Finish on the Avenida dos Aliados and its city hall, just as the terraces fill up.

Day 2: the Ribeira, the river and Gaia

Morning: the Sé and the Ribeira. Climb to the Sé cathedral, then walk down into the Ribeira. Our guide to the Ribeira details the streets and addresses.

Noon: the Dom Luís I bridge. Cross the Dom Luís I bridge on foot, then follow the Gaia quay.

Afternoon: the Gaia cellars. Visit a port cellar (see the port wine cellars) and taste. The Gaia cable car or the Jardim do Morro give you a view to finish.

Evening: sunset. The Jardim do Morro, or the Serra do Pilar monastery, is the right place to watch the sun go down over the Ribeira.

Indicative budget

The other visits (Lello, cellars, cathedral) are detailed on their own pages, as their prices vary with the option chosen.

Going further

With one more day, follow our Porto in 3 days itinerary. With less time, see Porto in one day.