Overview
Considerably smaller than Lisbon, Porto is a city where three days is more than enough for sightseeing, yet it struck me as a more charming place for long-term living. Many people have already shared great recommendations, so I wanted to focus more on things I think get overlooked or that we especially loved.
What to See
- The ceramic tile work that dominates all of Portugal initially creates some prejudice because of how we use tiles back home, it almost makes the buildings look like they have bathroom cladding. But especially in this city, the way tiles are used on churches and historical buildings is absolutely stunning. Chapel of Souls, Church of Saint Ildefonso, and Igreja do Carmo are some examples, and each one is worth seeing separately.
- Livraria Lello is genuinely very crowded. Getting in is one struggle, walking around is another. If you can manage to visit during uncrowded hours (weekdays, before noon, etc.), I strongly recommend doing so.
- Mercado Ferreira Borges was a lovely find we stumbled upon while walking. Because it was a weekend, there were quite a few open stalls, and the craftsmanship at every single one was outstanding, woodwork, t-shirts, jewelry, phone cases, everything. It was so beautiful we could barely restrain ourselves. Worth checking if the same setup runs on weekdays.
- Watching the sunset from Luis I Bridge on a rain-free day is truly priceless. We originally planned to watch from the hilltop at the end of the bridge as people had recommended, but the view from the bridge itself was so gorgeous that we decided to stay right there. No regrets whatsoever.
Food & Drink
- I had huge preconceptions about Francesinha, I honestly thought it would turn out to be a knockoff. After eating it at Cafe Santiago, everything changed. It's absolutely not health food, but if I lived in Portugal, I'd demolish one at least once a month. The waiter there also has a little notebook with greetings written in every language. He asks where you're from and immediately responds in your language. Clearly someone who loves his job. Very charming.
- Not Portuguese cuisine, but Ris8tto da Baixa is an excellent spot, great value. I normally don't even like risotto and find it absurd because of how similar it is to our pilaf, but this place has transcended the genre.
Tips & Advice
- For wine tasting, the Gaia side has tons of options. Due to weekend availability and lack of research on our part, we ended up at Porto Cruz and left quite disappointed. The port wines they served were pretty mediocre. If this is something you're planning, doing proper research beforehand is absolutely essential.
- Definitely dedicate one full day to the Douro Valley. If you're into wine, I'd strongly recommend staying overnight. As a wine enthusiast, I genuinely regret not spending more time there. I could easily have spent 3-4 days just there without getting bored, there are so many different wineries, and the natural beauty of the setting is magnificent. We used Oporto Road Trips for a tour with the 3-winery option and were very satisfied. They also have 2-winery + boat tour options.