3 Days in Porto: Experinence-Led Itinerary (2025)

I spent five weeks in Porto testing restaurants, booking tours, and exploring neighborhoods. This is not a “see every church and museum” itinerary – this is an experience-focused plan based on what actually made my Porto visit special.

Before You Start: Practical Planning

Where to Stay: For a 3-day trip, stay in Baixa near Clérigos Tower. Yes, it is loud and expensive, but convenience wins for short visits. You will walk everywhere and save time on transport. Read my full guide to Porto neighborhoods if you want other options.

When to Book: Book your Douro Valley tour NOW, before reading the rest of this itinerary. Tours fill up, especially July-September. I booked 3 weeks out and still paid more than I wanted.

Budget: Expect to spend roughly 200-300 euros per person for these three days, including accommodation (60-100 euros/night), the Douro tour (85-95 euros), meals (30-50 euros/day), and activities. Porto is affordable compared to other Western European cities.

What to Pack: Comfortable walking shoes (Porto is hilly), sunscreen, a hat for the Douro Valley, and layers. August evenings can be warm but air-conditioned restaurants and buses get cold.

Day 1: Porto Old Town, Cooking Class, and Clérigos Tower

Morning (9:00am-12:30pm): Pastel de Nata Cooking Class

Start your Porto trip by learning to make Portugal’s most famous pastry. I took a pastel de nata cooking class on my first morning and it set the perfect tone – hands-on, delicious, and you meet other travelers immediately.

The class I took lasted about 2.5 hours. We made the pastry from scratch (most classes skip this and only make the filling, so check when booking). There are 16-20 steps to make a proper pastel de nata, so everyone takes turns doing different steps.

Our instructors were ex-lawyers turned chefs who spent the whole class talking everyone out of law and into following their passions. As someone who went to law school and never practiced, I related hard.

Best part: you eat your creations warm from the oven at the end. You get about 3 pastries each, plus wine during the class.

Cost: Around 35-45 euros depending on which class you book. Book in advance – classes sell out.

Lunch (1:00pm-2:30pm): Castro for Pastel de Nata (Yes, Again)

Walk to Castro near Clérigos Tower. This is my favorite pastel de nata spot in Porto – crisp pastry, creamy center, perfect vanilla balance. After making pastries all morning, you will appreciate the difference between homemade and professionally executed.

Castro gets busy at lunch. Expect a 15-20 minute wait if you go between 12:30-2pm. Worth it.

Grab a light lunch here too – they have good sandwiches and salads if you do not want more pastries (though let’s be honest, you will want more pastries).

Cost: 1.50 euros per pastel de nata, 6-8 euros for a sandwich.

For more pastel de nata recommendations, read my guide to the best pastel de nata in Porto where I compare all 7 places I tried.

Afternoon (2:30pm-6:00pm): Old Town Exploration

Walk off lunch by exploring Porto’s historic center. This is not a checklist of churches – this is wandering through beautiful streets and stumbling on things.

Clérigos Tower: Climb it. Yes, it is touristy. Yes, there is a line. But the 360-degree views of Porto from the top are worth 10 minutes of waiting. The tower has about 200 steps – not terrible if you are reasonably fit.

Cost: 8 euros for tower entry.

Livraria Lello: I did not go this trip because I have been before and because I do not support JK Rowling’s views. But if you want to see the famous bookshop, go now while you are nearby. Book tickets online in advance – it is timed entry and sells out. The bookshop is beautiful but small and very crowded. You will spend 15-20 minutes inside maximum.

Cost: 8 euros entry, refundable against book purchase.

Igreja do Carmo: The blue-tiled church is stunning from the outside. Most people photograph it from across the street to get the full facade. Look closely between the two church buildings – there is a tiny house squeezed in the middle. Our walking tour guide pointed this out and I never would have noticed otherwise.

Jardim da Cordoaria: A lovely park in the middle of the city. Lots of shade, benches, local families. Good spot to sit for 20 minutes if you need a break from walking.

Chapel of Souls: Another azulejo-covered building. Photograph it from across the street for the best angle.

Porto Cathedral: Walk up to the cathedral for another excellent viewpoint. The cathedral itself is nice inside – definitely go in, do not just photograph the exterior. The courtyard and upstairs areas are worth seeing. The view from beside the cathedral is my favorite on the north side of the river.

Dinner (7:30pm-9:30pm): Bilha Nova or Porta4

Make a reservation for dinner – August in Porto requires booking 2-3 days ahead for good restaurants, especially Friday-Saturday.

Bilha Nova was one of my favorite Porto restaurants. It is one of the few places that does excellent seafood AND vegetarian options. My partner got mushroom risotto (legitimately excellent, not just good for a vegetarian option), and I had the Bacalhau. The waitress guided us through wine selections and we ended with traditional Portuguese flan.

Cost: 25-35 euros per person including wine.

Porta4 is the alternative if Bilha Nova is booked. Small restaurant, promising menu, incredible sea bass that melts in your mouth. I tried green wine (Vinho Verde) here for the first time – despite the name, it is not actually green. This was probably the best fish I had in Portugal.

Cost: 30-40 euros per person.

For more restaurant recommendations, read my full guide to the best restaurants in Porto.

Evening (9:30pm-11:30pm): Wine Bar in Baixa

End your first night at Aduela or Bonita Wine Bar. Both are in the vibey part of Baixa along Rua dos Mártires da Liberdade. Outdoor seating fills up fast, so arrive by 9pm if you want a table outside.

Aduela had incredibly cheap drinks – wine and beer from 3 euros despite August inflation. The place was constantly buzzing with locals when I walked past at all hours.

Bonita Wine Bar has a good sommelier who will recommend wines based on your preferences. Try a green wine if you enjoyed it at dinner – I became slightly obsessed with these during my Porto stay.

Cost: 3-6 euros per glass of wine.

Day 2: Full-Day Douro Valley Wine Tour

This is your biggest expense and best experience of the 3 days. I cannot overstate how much I loved the Douro Valley day trip.

What the Tour Includes

Most tours follow a similar structure:

• 8:00am pickup from your Porto hotel or central meeting point
• 90-minute drive to the Douro Valley
• Visit 2-3 family-owned wineries with tastings
• Traditional Portuguese lunch (usually included in tour price)
• 1-hour boat cruise on the Douro River
• Return to Porto around 6:30-7:00pm

Our tour visited three wineries. The first was my favorite – hillside vineyard with views for miles, walking tour through the vines, then four port tastings (white, tawny, ruby, vintage). The guide was generous with pours.

Lunch was a proper sit-down meal, not a buffet. Bacalhau, roasted vegetables, local cheeses, fresh bread, and unlimited wine. The meal alone was worth 25-30 euros at a Porto restaurant.

The boat cruise on traditional rabelo boats was peaceful. We floated down the river passing vineyards on both banks while the guide kept refilling glasses with sparkling wine. A lot of people got properly drunk. I fell asleep for 15 minutes it was so relaxing.

Critical Douro Valley Tips

The microclimate is real: The Douro Valley is 5 degrees Celsius hotter than Porto. Porto in August was 25-28°C. The valley hit 33°C the day I went. Wear light clothing, bring sunscreen, and pack a hat. Several people on my tour wore jeans and suffered.

Sit on the right side of the bus: Going TO the valley, right side has better views. Coming back, left side.

Bring cash: Some wineries only accept cash for bottle purchases. Prices are often cheaper at wineries than Porto shops.

Book 2-3 weeks ahead: Tours fill up and prices increase as availability decreases. I paid 89 euros booking 3 weeks out. Same tour was 105 euros one week before.

For full Douro Valley details, costs, and whether it is worth it, read my complete Douro Valley day trip guide.

Evening: Light Dinner or Skip

After the Douro tour, you will be full. The lunch is huge, you have been tasting wine all day, and you probably napped on the bus back. I grabbed a light snack around 8pm and called it a night.

If you want dinner, go somewhere casual. A Sandeira do Porto does excellent sandwiches (try the tofu and goat cheese with apple – better than it sounds). Or just get a cheese plate and wine at a bar.

Day 3: Port Cellars, Ribeira, and Evening Wine Bars

Morning (10:00am-12:30pm): Port Tasting in Vila Nova de Gaia

Cross the Dom Luís I Bridge to Vila Nova de Gaia where all the port cellars are located. Walk across the lower level of the bridge – the upper level has great views but some people find the height intimidating.

Porto Cruz Rooftop: This is my favorite kept secret. Everyone goes to Sandeman next door, but Porto Cruz has a rooftop terrace with unobstructed views of Porto. Just walk into the Porto Cruz building, tell the counter you are going to the rooftop, and they will direct you to the lifts.

We went twice and both times had excellent service with staff recommending ports and cocktails. The views alone are worth it, even if you do not taste anything.

Quevedo Port Tasting: I booked the 4-port discovery tasting but wish I had booked the version with cheese. Port is sweet and hard to drink without food. We were seated with a Dutch couple and exchanged Porto travel stories. Tables are mixed with other groups.

Cost: 15-25 euros per person for tastings. Book online in advance for better prices.

For detailed port house reviews and which ones to visit, read my guide to port tasting in Porto.

Lunch (1:00pm-2:30pm): Ribeira Riverside

Walk along the Ribeira waterfront. This is Porto’s most photogenic area – colorful buildings, traditional rabelo boats, river views.

Taberna dos Carris was a highlight. I took London friends here because it is one of the few Ribeira restaurants that lets you book ahead (most require you to show up and wait). We got sardines, and the traditional Portuguese flan for dessert was incredible.

This is rare for Ribeira – most restaurants are overpriced tourist traps. Taberna dos Carris is genuinely good and still allows reservations.

Cost: 20-30 euros per person.

Alternative: Mercado Beira-Rio across the river has a food market with better value. I had amazing octopus for 18 euros. Plenty of vegetarian options too, including daTerra Mercado for veg buffet.

Afternoon (2:30pm-5:30pm): Explore at Your Own Pace

You have three days and you have done the key experiences. Now do what interests you:

If you love architecture: See Igreja dos Grilos, Monument Church of St. Francis, and Church of Saint Ildefonso. Porto has stunning churches with azulejo tiles.

If you want more food experiences: Book a Porto food tour that hits multiple restaurants and markets. The ones that include Bolhão Market are worthwhile.

If you want culture: Portuguese Centre of Photography has rotating exhibitions. Took me about an hour. Free entry.

If you want shopping: Rua de Santa Catarina is the main shopping street. O’kilo vintage shop (opposite Mercado Bolhão) sells clothes by weight – cool concept.

If you want quiet: Jardim do Palácio de Cristal is a beautiful park with peacocks, river views, and a tower lookout. On my last Porto day, I discovered this park and it was the perfect ending.

If you want a river cruise: Book a 6 Bridges cruise (50 minutes, 15 euros). The cruise passes all of Porto’s iconic bridges. I took this and it is worth it for the views and river perspective.

Dinner (7:30pm-9:30pm): Venn Canteen or daTerra

If you want to end your Porto trip with something special, book Venn Canteen. This is vegan fine dining that will change your mind about vegan food if you are skeptical (I was). First-class gastronomy, inventive dishes, excellent wine list including zero-alcohol options.

This was our celebratory dinner when we arrived in Porto to start our month as digital nomads. The staff walked us through every dish (we had never done vegan fine dining). The carpaccio and crispy rice dishes were amazing.

Cost: 50-70 euros per person.

daTerra is the alternative if you want elevated vegetarian food without the fine dining price. They used to be a buffet but reopened as a sit-down restaurant. The fried mushroom dish was incredible.

If you prefer seafood for your final meal, go back to Porta4 or Bilha Nova. Both exceeded expectations.

Evening (9:30pm-Midnight): Final Night at Porto’s Best Wine Bars

Folios de Baco: Low intervention wines and sharing plates. Book ahead – it is small and every walk-in we saw was turned away. Great veg menu. My unexpected favorite was the empanadas with aioli.

Mira Jazz: Rooftop bar in Ribeira with incredible Douro River views. Very well priced for the setting. Book ahead if you want terrace tables. We went twice, both times 6-7pm, and loved it.

Musa das Virtudes: Best taproom if you prefer beer over wine. Excellent location with river views. Most seating is outside on the street. Had a burger, fries, and fried tapioca with spicy jam – unexpectedly addictive.

Just across the street from Musa is one of the best sunset viewing spots. The north side of the river has excellent sunset views and it gets busy but you can always find a spot on the grass.

What to Skip in 3 Days

Majestic Café: Constant queues, overpriced, tourist trap. It is beautiful but not worth the wait or expense. Our walking tour guide confirmed this.

Mercado do Bolhão: Unless you go to upper levels for arts and crafts, it is overpriced and touristy. Better markets exist (Beira-Rio across the river).

FC Porto Stadium Tour: Only worth it if you are a huge football fan. Otherwise, there are better ways to spend your time in Porto.

Multiple Port Cellars: Two is enough. After tasting 8-10 ports across two cellars, they start to blur together. Quality over quantity.

3-Day Porto Budget Breakdown

Here is what I actually spent per person for these experiences:

Accommodation (3 nights in Baixa): 240-300 euros (80-100 euros/night)

Day 1:

• Cooking class: 40 euros
• Castro pastel de nata and lunch: 10 euros
• Clérigos Tower entry: 8 euros
• Dinner at Bilha Nova: 30 euros
• Wine bar drinks: 10 euros
• Day 1 Total: 98 euros

Day 2:

• Douro Valley tour: 89 euros
• Tip for guide: 5 euros
• Light snacks/dinner: 8 euros
• Day 2 Total: 102 euros

Day 3:

• Port tastings (2 cellars): 40 euros
• Lunch at Taberna dos Carris: 25 euros
• 6 Bridges cruise: 15 euros
• Dinner at Venn Canteen: 60 euros
• Evening wine bars: 15 euros
• Day 3 Total: 155 euros

Food & Activities Total: 355 euros

Accommodation Total: 240-300 euros

3-Day Total per Person: 595-655 euros (approximately 200-220 euros per day)

This is not a budget trip – this prioritizes experiences over saving money. If you want to cut costs, skip Venn Canteen (save 60 euros), take the train to Douro independently instead of a tour (save 40-50 euros), and stay in Bonfim instead of Baixa (save 60-90 euros total). You could do Porto in 3 days for 400-450 euros per person.

For detailed Porto costs, read my full budget breakdown from 5 weeks in Porto.

Practical Tips for 3 Days in Porto

Book Restaurants in Advance: August especially (and July-August generally), good restaurants fill up. Book 2-3 days ahead for dinner, especially Friday-Saturday. Bilha Nova, Porta4, Taberna dos Carris, Folios de Baco, and Venn Canteen all require reservations.

Learn Basic Portuguese Phrases: English is widely spoken in tourist areas, but basic Portuguese (obrigado/obrigada, por favor, bom dia) goes a long way with locals.

Get an eSIM for Data: I used Airalo eSIM for Portugal (5GB for 6 euros, valid 7 days). Essential for Google Maps, restaurant bookings, and checking tour meeting points.

Bring Earplugs for Baixa: If you are staying in central Porto, earplugs are essential. Streets are lively until midnight or later in summer. I brought Loop earplugs and they saved my sleep.

Porto Card Worth It? No, not for 3 days. The card includes public transport and museum discounts, but Porto is walkable and this itinerary prioritizes experiences over museums. Save your money.

August = Hot: If you are visiting Porto in August like I did, pack light clothing, sunscreen, and a hat. The Douro Valley especially gets extremely hot. But evenings in Porto are lovely – late sunsets and streets buzzing until midnight.

Is 3 Days Enough for Porto?

Yes. Three days is the sweet spot. You see the highlights, experience local food and wine, take a day trip to the valley, and do not feel rushed.

Two days feels too short – you either skip the Douro Valley or skip Porto’s experiences. Four-five days is great if you have time, but diminishing returns set in. After three days, I started repeating experiences rather than discovering new ones.

I spent five weeks in Porto and still think 3-4 days is ideal for a first visit. You can always come back.

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Related Porto Guides

• Porto Travel Guide: 5 Weeks Living in Portugal
• Where to Stay in Porto: 5 Best Neighborhoods
• Douro Valley Day Trip: Is It Worth It?
• Porto Cooking Class: Pastel de Nata from Scratch
• Best Restaurants in Porto
• Best Pastel de Nata in Porto
• Port Tasting in Porto
• Porto on a Budget: 5-Week Breakdown

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Last Updated: November 2025