The best way to learn about a place is from first-hand experience! This is my City Guide for Porto to help you plan your trip. Portugal is full of photo opportunities, overflowing with palaces, cathedrals, and ancient ruins.
What to See
The Harry Potter Bookstore
J.K. Rowling was living in Porto when she wrote the Harry Potter series and was inspired by the Livraria Lello, which is still operating as a bookstore. There is a huge line to get in, and a ticket is required. I spent about 45 minutes in line and figured out how to buy tickets and had them on my phone by the time I reached the entrance, so perfect timing.
São Bento Train Station
The train station is covered in the azulejo tiles for which Portugal is famous. It’s worth a quick stop.
Views of the Douro
We took a tuk-tuk around the city and stopped at the Miradoura da Serra do Pilar for amazing views of the old city and the river. You can hire the tuk-tuk at the riverfront or near the Porto Cathedral.
Clérigos Church and Tower
This complex is very close to the riverfront and our hotel, so we did this early and saw the views of the city before taking a city tour.
Street Art
In addition to the azulejo tiles on the buildings and mosaic sidewalks, there is creative street art.
Where to Eat
Cais Da Ribeira
Generally, I avoid places on the main drag because they are expensive and touristy, with mediocre food and bad service. Unfortunately, we did not have a good dining experience. Consequently, I cannot steer you to a specific location, but you must eat along the river – good luck.
We saw a very interesting item on the menu… Laminated Fruit?
Pastel de Bacalhau
This is unquestionably the place to try cod cakes, fried balls of fish and cheese. It is an event, with an organist and chefs preparing the food before you.
Why You Should Eat Dessert First in Portugal
I’m not usually a dessert-eater, but in Portugal, I made a lot of exceptions. Learn where to find the top three most delicious pastries!
Where to Stay
Pestana Porto Hotel
This was a charming hotel located on the riverfront. Rick Steves described it as “a stylish, overpriced, and slightly snobby top-end place.” Perhaps, but if that is the case, it is what I like in a hotel. We were close to everything, and the rooms were nice, overlooking the Douro.
If you look at the photo below, to the left of the tree, you will see a yellow building with three arches. The building attaches to the four adjacent buildings facing the river, and the group of buildings is the hotel.
Getting Around
We drove the rental car from Lisbon through the Douro Region by way of the 516 Arouca Bridge. When we got to Porto, we parked the car and didn’t use it again until it was time to return to Lisbon. After that, we mainly walked but also took a tuk-tuk tour that included a glass of port.
In addition to the city guide for Porto – read more about my time in Portugal.
Portugal Travel Guide
Portugal is full of photo opportunities, over-flowing with palaces, cathedrals, and ancient ruins. Driving along the rocky coast brought us to the westernmost point in Europe, with waves that attract surfers from all over the world.
Photographs from Portugal
View my recent photographs from Portugal! Taking photographs is a huge part of my travel day. Sometimes I use my phone to document the experience, but I also have the professional gear to get images suitable for framing.
