Is Porto guide in two days It will help you prepare a getaway for the most interesting places in one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, known for its bridges over the Duero River and for its famous wine, as well as for a very own character, which we are sure, will make it One of your favorite destinations.
Based on the experience during our trip to Porto and Guimaraes in 4 days, we have made this route to not miss any of Porto in 2 days. We start!
How to go from the airport to the center of Porto
The best means of transport to reach your hotel or the center of Porto from the airport, located 12 kilometers from the city, are:
- Meter: For less than 2 euros you will arrive at the center of Porto in half an hour with the metro line E.
- Bus: The numbers 601, 602 and 604 will leave you in the center for less than two euros, although they take much longer than the subway. Another faster option is to take the Terravision bus, which normally links to the flight's landing time. The price of this bus is 5 euros and the journey takes about 30 minutes.
- Cab: The taxi will take you to the hotel for a price of between 20 and 30 euros, depending on its location.
- Private transport: With a price similar to the taxi, even cheaper, this is the most comfortable option, since a driver will wait for you at the airport with a sign with your name, which will take you directly to your hotel. You can book it here.
You can find more information about the transfer in this post about how to go from Porto airport to downtown.
Recommended hotel in Porto
During the days we spent in the city we stayed at the Universal Residential, an excellent hotel located in the center of Porto, just 5 minutes walk from the Clérigos Tower. The hotel also has a perfect location for visit Porto in two daysIt has spacious and clean rooms, a full quality breakfast and a great quality / price ratio. Right in front of the hotel you can find a restaurant that offers live shows of fados, live singing, piano, dance music, which can be the perfect option to end the day.
For more information you can read this complete post about the best neighborhoods and hotels where to stay in Porto.
Tips for saving in Porto
This list of tips will help you prepare your trip to this city:
- A great option to learn about the history of the city while visiting its most interesting places is to book this Free tour of Porto! Free! With guide in Spanish.
- See if it is profitable to book the Porto Card that includes public transport and discounts of up to 50% at numerous attractions in the city.
- Most places in Porto can be visited on foot, although if you need to use public transport it is advisable to purchase the card Walking, adding several routes so that you get a better price.
- If you want a more comfortable transport it is advisable to book the tourist bus, which for 15 euros will take you to all the tourist attractions of the city.
- Remember that in order not to pay commissions and always have the current change we recommend you use the N26 card to pay and the Bnext and Revolut cards to get money at the ATMs. They are the ones we use, They are free and will save you a lot.
You have more recommendations in this post about essential tips for traveling to Porto.
First day in Porto
Is Porto route in 2 days It begins arriving early in the morning at the Mercado de Bolhao, from the beginning of the 19th century, which opens at 7 in the morning and is the most famous in the city, highlighting above all, the special charm that has been taking the step of the years and that is reflected in its two floors and a large inner courtyard, full of places to eat and buy fresh produce.
Near the market is Avenida dos Aliados which includes Praça da Liberdade, an area that is considered the center of Porto, where you will find the Town Hall and large modernist buildings full of details in the form of sculptures. As a curiosity you can enter the McDonalds that maintains the modernist style of the street.
Avenida dos Aliados
The Porto in two days Continue taking a walk to the spectacular San Bento station, from the beginning of the 20th century, which impresses with its fantastic murals with more than 20,000 tiles. Near the station is the Nata Lisboa coffee, a perfect place to try the cream, some sweets very similar to Belém's cakes.
When you leave the station on Calle dos Clérigos, you will reach the Church and Clérigos Tower, although we recommend leaving this visit for a little later, since the Lello e Irmão bookstore is very close to this tower, one of the most beautiful in the world and one of the most essential places to visit in Porto.
In this library of over 100 years of history, you can see the fantastic staircase inspired by J. K. Rowling to set some scenes from his famous books of “Harry Potter”And that today has become another of the claims to visit this city.
Although it is advisable to enter early in the morning, they open at 10, in recent times it has become so famous that it is always full of people.
Libreria Lello and Irmão
After the visit to Lello and Irmão, you can visit, now, the church of the Clérigos, in the Baroque style, in which the most remarkable are the panoramic views of the city from its high tower of 76 meters high. You can book the entrance to the tower here in advance.
A good option to learn more about the history of all these places is to book this guided tour in Spanish or this one that includes the cruise and the visit to the wineries.
Views from the Clérigos Tower
Before arriving at the next stop of the Porto in 2 days, you can take the opportunity to try the typical Portuguese food based on cod in the restaurant Petisqueira Voltaria, although if you do not feel like cod, another option is to enjoy one of the best things to do in Porto, which is none other than to try the francesinha, a type of sandwich typical of the Portuguese cuisine, which is both What a delight, a real caloric bomb.
After lunch and a short walk you will arrive at the Cathedral, also known as La Sé, from the 12th century, which is one of the oldest buildings in Porto and worth entering to see its magnificent cloister decorated with 14th century tiles .
In the square that is located in front of the cathedral, you will find a decorative column and a terrace from which you will have good views of the city, the river and Vila Nova de Gaia.
Porto Cathedral
Going down from the square you will enter Do Barredo, an old neighborhood full of alleys and stairs where you will find the true essence of the city.
Its deteriorated buildings, the balconies with clothes hanging, its charming corners, all surrounded by a melancholic air, will delight any traveler, especially when you find the Torre do Barredo and the "Escadas do Barredo".
Barredo neighborhood
The next stop of Porto in two days It is the lower part of the neighborhood, where La Ribeira is located, one of the busiest areas of Porto and where, from the shore, cruise ships that cross the Duero River pass under the six bridges of the city.
This cruise is undoubtedly one of the best and cheapest excursions in Porto, where you will enjoy privileged views from both banks. It is advisable to do the boat ride on a rabelo, a traditional boat used to transport wine barrels.
You can book the cruise in advance here.
Rabelo in Porto
After getting off the ship, you can continue the Porto in two days with a walk along the banks of the Duero, enjoying the colorful facades of the buildings and the terraces full of people.
At the time of sunset we recommend you to climb the Don Luis I Bridge of 1886, one of the icons of the city and where from the second floor of this photogenic metallic bridge designed by Théophile Seyrig, partner of the well-known Gustave Eiffel, you will see a magnificent sunset Sun over the city.
Views from the Don Luís I Bridge
To finish the first day, nothing better than listening to Fado while enjoying a dinner based on traditional cuisine in one of the most recommended restaurants such as Mariquinhas House and the Guarany coffee.
Another option is to book this night tour with a guide in Spanish that includes dinner and good fado.
Map of the first day of Porto in two days
What to see in Porto in 2 days
The second day of Porto in two days It begins crossing the Don Luis I Bridge early in the morning to reach the other shore, where the city of Vila Nova de Gaia is located.
In this area near the Ribera del Duero there are some of the most famous wine cellars where you can learn about the whole process of wine making with the designation of origin of Porto, as well as a small wine tasting at the end.
Although we choose Croft wineries, there are other famous ones such as Sandeman, Graham's or Ferreira. A great option to learn about the history of the neighborhood and that includes a visit to one of the most famous wineries is to book this tour with a guide in Spanish. If you are a wine lover, it may be more advisable to book this visit to the Sandeman winery with a guide in Spanish specialized in Porto wines.
Croft wineries in Vila Nova de Gaia
After the visit we recommend you take a short walk along the shore to enjoy incredible views of Porto to cross the Don Luis I bridge again, after a short walk through La Ribeira, to the Casa do Infante, the house- Museum in which Enrique was born, one of the most famous kings of Portugal.
Near this house is one of the most beautiful and important religious centers of the city, which is none other than the church of San Francisco, where inside you will find huge carvings decorated with gold dust and the excellent wooden sculpture of the Jesse Tree.
San Francisco Church
Right next to this church is the spectacular Palacio de la Bolsa, declared a World Heritage Site, in which it is advisable to visit the interior to see places such as the Patio de las Naciones, the Golden Hall, the Courtroom, the Hall of the General Assemblies or the Arab Hall inspired by the Alhambra in Granada. The visits are guided in several languages, including Spanish.
Stock Exchange Palace
To get to the next stop of Porto in 2 days located about two kilometers you can take the bus at the Cordoaria stop to get off at the Palácio stop, where you will find yourself very close to the Gardens of the Crystal Palace, a park from the late 19th century, where you can disconnect from the city by giving A pleasant walk between fountains, lakes, rose gardens and peacocks. It also has fantastic panoramic views of the Duero River and its mouth in the Atlantic.
After the walk you must walk back or with the bus to the center, from the same Palácio stop, although if you opt for the bus you can get off at San Bento station since it is very close to the Tapabento, a charming restaurant that prepares a delicious modern style meal, which is an excellent option to make a stop.
San Bento Station
The Porto route in two days continue in the afternoon arriving at Praça da Batalha, located in the upper part of the city and surrounded by important buildings such as the São João Theater and the church of San Ildefonso, where you can also see several parts of the wall that surrounded the old city centuries ago.
From the Ricardo Jorge Institute you can climb to one of the best preserved areas of the known as Fernandina Wall, declared a World Heritage Site.
Porto Walls
When you get off the wall we recommend you take a short break entering the historic Majestic Cafe, in a modernist style, which preserves the old decoration and is a unique experience in Porto.
After having a good coffee with a cupcake, you can visit one of the most famous shopping streets in the city, the Santa Catarina rua, a pedestrian street full of shops, restaurants and a shopping center, through which in addition to the walk, you will pass by in front of some interesting places like the Chapel of Souls, one of the most unmistakable churches in Porto, with its facade full of white and blue tiles, and the A Pérola do Bolhão store, which in addition to selling quality products has a beautiful facade of tiles.
Chapels of Souls
Santa Catarina Street ends in the distant Praça do Marquês de Pombal, which is not necessary to arrive in this Porto in two days, which we recommend ending with a dinner in a good restaurant such as Droop food & Wine or book at MUU Steakhouse, one of the best in Porto, which are located near Avenida dos Aliados.
If you have more days, you can consult the Porto guide in 3 days.
Map of the second day of Porto in 2 days
Do you want to organize a trip to Porto in 2 days?
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The best offers of Flights to Porto here
The best hotels at the best prices in Porto here
Book the best tours and excursions in / from Porto in Spanish here
Book your transfer Airport⇆Oporto here
Porto guide in one day
Rent your car in Portugal at the best price here
Book your travel insurance with a 5% discount here
The best offers of Flights to Porto here
The best hotels at the best prices in Porto here
Book the best tours and excursions in / from Porto in Spanish here
Book your transfer Airport⇆Oporto here
Porto guide in one day
Rent your car in Portugal at the best price here
Book your travel insurance with a 5% discount here
