2 Days in Porto Itinerary for First-Time Solo Travellers

If you are planning a solo trip to Porto, plan on staying at least 2 days in Porto so you have plenty of time to see Portugal’s second-largest city. There are tons of things to do alone including seeing picturesque viewpoints, trying delicious Porto food and port wine and roaming around the hilly historical centre that is declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

And if you have never been to Porto before, I got you covered. I included information on how to get to Porto, accommodations and of course, an efficient two day itinerary that includes all the highlights in Porto.

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Best Time to Visit Porto Portugal

You can visit Porto throughout the year. It is hot in summer, snowy in winter and comfortably mild in spring and fall. 

However, shoulder seasons (spring and fall) might be the best time to visit Porto because of the milder temperature and cheaper prices for flights and accommodations. Plus, the city is less crowded. Also consider going during summer for the biggest festival in the city.

Porto Festivals & Events

Besides considering the weather, plan your visit to Porto with these exciting festivals and events:

• Queimas das Fitas do Porto (first week of May) – a week of concerts and events for the Porto Burning of the Ribbons festival while university students celebrate the end of the school year
• Serralves em Festa (June 2-4) – the largest contemporary arts festival with non-stop dance and performances
• Festa de São João (June 23) – the biggest event in Porto. The celebration of summer solstice and São João, the patron saint of Porto, includes plastic hammers, lanterns and fireworks. It’s been celebrated for over 700 years.

How to Get to Porto Portugal

Plane

Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (also known as Porto Airport), is an international airport located 11km northwest of Porto. 

To travel to city center, the easiest and cheapest way is to take Metro do Porto. Line E (purple) will take you from the airport to Trindade station where you can transfer to line A, B, D or F for other stops in the city centre.

Get an Andante Azul ticket (€.60) and buy a Z4 title (€2.25) ticket for a trip to the city centre. Make sure to validate your Andante ticket when you start your trip and when you change to another line. And keep the card for future trips.

Train

Porto has two train stations: São Bento Station, which is in the city centre and Campanha Station, which is at the east end of the city.

Travellers can take either the Alfa Pendular or AP (fast train) or Intercidades or IC trains from many places around Portugal. Check the Comboios de Portugal website for train schedule and cost.

Long-Distance Bus

FlixBus has a massive network of buses in Europe. And in Portugal, you can take a FlixBus from Lisbon Oriente to Porto Campanha bus terminal. Book your bus ticket on the FlixBus website and then use the QR code to board the bus.

Rede Expresso buses depart from Lisbon Sete Rios, Lisbon Oriente and other Portuguese cities for Porto Campanha bus terminal. Check the Rede Expresso website for the bus schedule and cost.

Where to Stay in Porto as a solo traveller

Whether you are following my itinerary or planning to stay for a while in Porto, I highly recommend staying in the city center so you can easily explore the city. Central areas such as Baixa and Ribeira are excellent. You can also choose trendy neighbourhoods like Cedofeita or the quieter neighbourhoods like Bonfim.

But if you’re not sure where to start, take a look at my recommendations below. I included a budget, mid-range and a luxury option.

• Gallery Hostel Porto ($) – choose a bed in shared dormitory or a private room in this high-end hostel. Check prices & reviews: Agoda and Booking.
• The Editory Garden Baixa Porto Hotel ($$) – a newish contemporary hotel in the Bonfim neighbourhood. Check prices & reviews: Agoda and Booking.
• Casa da Companhia ($$$) – the 5-star hotel located on Rua de Flores has luxurious rooms, amazing breakfast buffet and an outdoor pool. Check prices & reviews: Agoda and Booking.

What to do Porto in 2 Days: Summary & Map

Porto is a compact and hilly city where you can see everything in the city in two days. But if you can stay longer than two days, definitely stay and explore more of the city and take day trips outside of Porto.

Here is a quick summary of all the Porto attractions you will see in two days:

Day 1 in Porto

1. Capela das Almas 
2. Rua de Santa Catarina
3. Mercado do Balhão
4. São Bento Railway Station
5. Rua de Flores
6. Largo da Pena Ventosa
7. Miradouro da Rua das Aldas
8. Sé do Porto 
9. Luis I Bridge
10. Jardim do Morro

Day 2 in Porto

1. Livraria Lello
2. Igreja do Carmo 
3. Igreja dos Carmelitas
4. Torre Dos Clérgios
5. Jardins do Palácio de Cristal
6. Cristal & Jardim dos Sentimentos
7. Palácio da Bolsa 
8. Ribeira do Porto
9. Port Wine Tasting
10. Cais de Gaia

Below is an interactive map with all the highlights for my Porto itinerary. To learn more about these attractions, follow the numbered pins and read the description for each attraction. Red pins indicate the must-see attractions on the first day in Porto, while purple pins indicate activities for day 2. And I also included places to stay (yellow pins) so you can book your accommodation easily.

Porto Itinerary Day 1

1. Capela das Almas

One of Portugal’s trademarks is azulejo which is the blue and white glazed tiles that decorate many churches in Portugal. And one of the best examples of that is the Capela das Almas (Chapel of Souls).

When you walk up Rua de Santa Catarina, you will see this 18th century chapel where blue and white tiles wrap the entire facade. These tiles tell stories of the lives of various saints including Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Catherine. Don’t try to count because there are over 16,000 tiles!

Even though the exterior is the most impressive part about this church, definitely take a look inside because there are other azulejo tiles too.

Address: R. de Santa Catarina 428, Porto | Hours: 7:30am-6pm Monday to Friday; 7:30am-12:30pm & 6:30-7:30pm Saturdays & Sundays | Admission: free

2. Rua de Santa Catarina

And while you are on Rua de Santa Catarina, one of the best pedestrian shopping street in Porto, enjoy the pedestrian street scenery, especially the traditional-style pavement made out of small pieces of black and white stones arranged in a specific pattern.

This is also where you can find all the popular retailer brands, including Zara, Massimo Dutti, United Colors of Benetton, Pull & Bear, Tezenis, and many more. And there is a shopping mall called ViaCatarina, where you can buy a prepaid SIM card and buy groceries.

Plus, you can find many places to eat. The famous Majestic Café is on this pedestrian street and cafes specializing in pastel de nata like Fábrica de Nata and Manteigaria are both here as well.

3. Mercado do Bolhão

Next, walk over to newly built Mercado do Bolhão. The market has rows and rows of food including pastries, cooked food, fresh seafood, fruits and much more. You can buy food from individual vendors, try it on the spot or find a table nearby.

For wine lovers, you can even buy a glass of wine or port and walk around the market. When you are done, return the glass to the vendor.

Prices are quite reasonable considering the variety and quality of food you get. If you have never tried Portuguese food before, this is a great place to start.

Address: R. Formosa 322, Porto | Hours: 8am-8pm Monday to Friday; 8am-6pm Saturdays

4. São Bento Railway Station

If you haven’t seen São Bento Railway Station yet, then you are in for a treat.

When you enter the French Beaux-Arts-style building, you can see the large panels of azulejo tiles in the main hall. Over 20,000 blue-and-white tiles tell stories of everyday life in different regions of Portugal and major historical and cultural moments.

Besides the grand decorative details, São Bento is also a functioning railway station. You can catch a suburban train to other parts of northern Portugal including Aveiro, Espinho, Braga and Guimarães here.

Address: Praça de Almeida Garrett, Porto | Admission: free

5. Rua de Flores

Cross the street and walk over to Rua de Flores, another popular pedestrian friendly street in Porto. The street is filled with historical buildings, restaurants, cafes, and souvenir shops where they open early and stay open til late.

When you are looking for accommodations in Porto, find one that is close to this street or area. It is a bit touristy but you’ll be in walking distance to everything.

6 & 7. Largo da Pena Ventosa & Miradouro da Rua das Aldas

There are many ways to walk uphill near the riverside but my favourite is to go through Largo da Pena Ventosa, a picturesque open-square with colourful houses.

At the end of Rua de Flores, walk east and meander a few narrow streets until you see the small open-square. There are two cafes if you want to stop for a quick drink and linger around longer.

Then continue to walk up Rua de Aldas and it will lead you to the Miradouro da Rua das Aldas. At this viewpoint, you can see Igreja de São Lourenço in the foreground and the riverside in the background. This is one of my favourite views of the city!

8. Sé do Porto

Not far from the viewpoint is Sé do Porto (Porto Cathedral). The Roman Catholic church is one of the oldest churches in Porto and is the start of the Camino Portuguese.

Even if you’re not hiking the pilgrimage trail, you can pay a small fee (which I think its worth it) and see the fortress-like interiors. Visit the Romanesque church, walk around the Gothic cloisters with blue-and-white murals and climb up the tower to see the panoramic view overlooking the Douro River.

Address: Terreiro da Sé, Porto | Hours: 9am-6:30pm | Admission: €3

9. Ponte de Dom Luis I

Not far from Porto Cathedral is Ponte de Dom Luis I (Dom Luis I Bridge). It is an impressive double-deck metal bridge that can take pedestrians across the river from the top and from the bottom.

For day one, walk across the top part of the Dom Luis I Bridge and end your day in Vila Nova de Gaia. As one of the best viewpoints in Porto, the views from the top part of the bridge certainly do not disappoint. Make sure to take in the views from both sides of the bridge – they both look drastically different.

10. Jardim do Morro

Day one of Porto has finally come to an end. I included a lot of things to do in one day which means you could be very tired by this point. But there’s one more thing to do before finishing the day.

Jardim do Morro is a small picturesque park that is perfect for relaxing and watching the sunset. It gets quite busy around late afternoon when people gather around to listen to performers and wait for sunset. And the sunset is quite spectacular so hopefully, it will be a clear night when you end your first day in Porto.

Porto Itinerary Day 2

1. Livraria Lello

Start bright and early on day two if you want to see Livraria Lello, Porto’s oldest bookstore and possibly the world’s most beautiful bookstore.

The 111-year-old bookstore was the inspiration for the staircases at Hogwarts from the Harry Potter movies. Every bit of the interior is designed well and very detail-oriented.

Many people travel to Porto to get a glimpse of the famous interiors. That’s why it is best to visit the bookstore first thing in the morning (the queue gets extremely long later in the day). You have to pay €10 to see Livraria Lello but when you buy something at the bookstore, you can redeem your entrance fee for your purchase.

Address: R. das Carmelitas 144, Porto | Hours: 9am-7:30pm | Admission: €10 (can be used for purchase)

2 & 3. Igreja do Carmo & Igreja dos Carmelitas

It might not be obvious but Igreja do Carmo (Carmo Church) and Igreja dos Carmelitas (Church of the Carmelites) are actually two churches standing side-by-side. For one entrance fee, you can see both.

The Carmo Church (on the right) has an interesting interior including a hidden house, the Auditorium, and old catacombs. And you can even walk all the way up to the roof. The Church of the Carmelites is not as impressive but you can still check out the single-nave church with decorative side chapels.

I think it’s up to you if you want to pay €7 to see the interior. But whatever you do, you have to check out the azulejo tiles on the exterior wall. Out of all the places in Porto with blue-and-white tiles, I think this is one of the best azulejo spots in Porto.

Address: R. do Carmo, Porto | Hours: 9:30am-5pm | Admission: €7

4. Torre Dos Clérigos

Walk across Praça de Lisboa, a quaint little park with a green lawn and a few retail stores and cafes, and soon you will arrive at Torre Dos Clérigos (Clérigos Tower).

Built in the 18th century, the tower and church was built in the middle of the city, making it a spectacular landmark in Porto. When you’re inside the Baroque-styled church, take note of the oval-plan nave, gilded woodwork, colourful marble and Rococo-inspired altarpiece.

Then visit the museum where you can see permanent and temporary exhibits of religious art, paintings, ceramics and etc.

And finally, walk up 225 steps to the top of the bell tower and see a 360-degree view of the city.

The Clérigos Tower is very popular with tourist. You might want to buy bell tower ticket ahead of time so you can skip the queue.

Address: R. de São Filipe de Nery, Porto | Hours: 9am-7pm | Admission: €10 for tower and museum and €5 for night pass (7-9pm during Easter, summer and Christmas)

5 & 6. Jardins do Palácio de Cristal & Jardim dos Sentimentos

Next, walk 15 minutes from Clérigos Tower to Jardins do Palácio de Cristal (Crystal Palace Gardens), the most beautiful garden in Porto.

The park has an indoor arena for events and concerts, a public library and several museums. And around the open spaces are fountains and sculptures. And you may even see peacocks in the park. I saw many of them roaming around.

But the highlight of the park is the views! When you walk south towards the edge of the park, you can see expansive views of Douro River and Vila Nova de Gaia. And you can see as far as Arrabida Bridge to the east.

Continue down the path towards the edge and you can see the coiffured gardens of Jardim dos Sentimentos (Garden of Feelings). And follow the walkway and it will lead you to the tower.

Address: R. de D. Manuel, Porto | Hours: 8am-9pm

7. Palácio da Bolsa

After a short visit to the park, go back to the centre of Porto and visit Palácio da Bolsa (Stock Exchange Palace), a 19th-century historical building that is classified as a National Monument and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Bolsa Palace can only be visited with a 30-minute guided tour. Some of the highlights include the Arabian Room, Hall of Nations and the Grand Staircase. Honestly, every room is spectacular! If you enjoy architecture, you will love the neoclassical building and all the architectural features inside.

Address: R. de Ferreira Borges, Porto | Hours: 9am-6:30pm | Admission: €14

8. Ribeira do Porto

The Ribeira is one of the most picturesque places in Porto. The riverside quarter by Douro River is part of the historic center (the oldest part of the city) and it has some of the best Porto photo spots. Walk along the riverside promenade to enjoy the view of Vila Nova de Gaia across the river and explore the smaller streets in the neighbourhood.

If you want to see Porto from another perspective, take a cruise down Douro River and see both sides of Porto on a leisurely boat tour. The 50-minute tour passes several bridges and Foz do Douro before it makes its way back to the Ribeira Quay. Not a bad way to see Porto, especially if you are a solo traveller.

9. Port Wine Tasting

Port wine is Porto’s best-known export. And one of the best activities in Porto is to try different port wines in the Port Houses in Vila Nova de Gaia.

Several years ago I did a port tasting and tour at Porto Cruz which was awesome. I also tried the port cocktails at Sandeman.

There is also a cellar tour at Cálem which includes port tasting and a Fado show. This is the perfect opportunity to combine port tasting while enjoying traditional Portuguese Fado music and performance. The package includes a guided tour of the cellar, a 45-minute Fado show and two port wines. The tour starts 6pm in winter and 6:30pm in summer. Highly recommend!

10. Cais de Gaia

When you arrive at Cais de Gaia (Gaia Pier), walk along the riverside pedestrian walkway parallel to the Douro River. There are many things to see, including Port wine houses, a food hall, many river-facing restaurants and cable car rides.

And make sure to wander around the smaller streets off the riverside. There is a unique Half Rabbit Sculpture which is made with a mix of scrap metal and recycled material.

And finally, finish the day with another gorgeous sunset in Vila Nova de Gaia. Find a spot along in the Douro River and watch the sun dips below the horizon.

Is Porto Worth Visiting?

Porto is definitely worth visiting! For solo travellers, you can find many things to do alone in the city and won’t feel out of place. Porto is also very safe for solo female travellers. I’ve wandered around the city day and night and had no issues. Plus, the city is very walkable even though it is quite hilly but easy to get around and navigate.

And Porto is one of the best places for a fun girls trip (I saw that on an Instagram reel – and I have to agree!). In fact, I saw many bachelorette or hen’s party on the weekends!

I hope you enjoyed this itinerary. I packed so many things to do in 2 days so hopefully, you won’t get burnt out! Ha! But seriously, there is so much to see in Porto but it is possible to spend two days in Porto and see all of these attractions mentioned.

Did I miss anything else in my solo itinerary? Is there anything else you want to know about Porto? Let me know in the comments below.

Ready to plan your trip to Porto? Here are some of my go-to travel planning resources:
* Book your flight: find flight deals on Skyscanner 
* Book accommodation: find the best Porto accommodations on Agoda or Booking
* Buy insurance: Safetywing is my go-to provider for travel insurance, as it covers many things. I will never travel without the Nomad Insurance Package because it protects me against unforeseen events. Get a quote today.
* Order a SIM card: order a SIM card in advance and set up your mobile phone before arriving at your destination.
* Join tours: check Get Your Guide and Klook for the best tours around Porto.

Thank you for reading my solo Porto itinerary

I have many posts on Portugal, and you might also like these other posts on solo travel in Portugal:

• Portugal solo travel itinerary: 2 weeks in Portugal by train

Lisbon region posts

• Lisbon solo travel guide for first-timers
• Is the Lisboa Card worth it?
• Best day trips from Lisbon Portugal

Northern Portugal posts

• Porto Food Guide: what and where to eat in Porto
• 7 excellent day trips from Porto
• Day trip to Guimarães from Porto: 1-day itinerary
• Day trip from Porto to Espinho: 1-day itinerary

Central Portugal posts

• Aveiro day trip from Porto: 1-day itinerary
• How to spend one day in Coimbra Portugal

Algarve posts

• Algarve solo travel guide: 13 best places
• 20 best things to do in Albufeira for solo travellers
• Loule itinerary: best things to do in one day
• Vilamoura and Quarteira: 1-day itinerary

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queenie mak

Hi, my name is Queenie, and I’ve been a solo traveller for 20+ years and currently based in Hong Kong. Follow me on my adventures through Instagram and my blog!