Porto

A complete visit with the best things to see in Porto in 4 days

Here we are going to tell you what to see in Porto in 4 days, taking a complete tour of the city and even being able to take an excursion to nearby places almost as beautiful as Porto.

With a 4-day visit you will be able to get to know practically all the most important places to see in Porto in an easy, relaxed way, without being overwhelmed, this being a perfect duration for a trip to this city.

Here you have our tour with the best things to visit in Porto in 4 days, the first 3 being similar to our 3-day tour suggestion.

What to see in Porto in 4 days

First day in Porto. What to visit

On our first day of the four to see Porto we can start next to the São Bento Station, one of the most visited places in the city. Well, better yet, we start inside the station.

Because the lobby of São Bento Station is impressive with its 20,000 wall tiles that narrate different episodes in the history of Portugal and Porto. Its facade is also essential.

After the visit we will go walking to the Porto Cathedral, in the highest part of the city, to enjoy its main façade, with its large rose window and its two towers, with the appearance of a fortress that gives access to a temple that is also we must highlight its cloister. Next to it, the Church of San Lorenzo dos Grilos.

The Mysteries and Legends of Porto Free Tour starts from here, an excursion in which they will tell you very curious stories about this city and that we recommend.

We go to Rua Santa Caterina, the main shopping street to visit in Porto in four days, where in addition to its shops and restaurants we must admire the Café Majestic, a meeting place for famous people, and the Capela das Ánimas, with the characteristic white tiles and blues that predominate so much in Portugal. The Bolhao Market, and its special charm, completes the visit to this area.

Porto - Clerigos Tower - ViewsFrom there to the most modern part of the center of Porto there are only a few meters. This is Avenida dos Aliados, which we must walk to admire its neoclassical buildings, the Porto City Hall and the Monument to Garret that is next to it.

Behind the town hall do not forget to visit the Church of the Holy Trinity. The Porto Free Tour starts from here and takes you to the best places to visit in this city and that we recommend.

After retracing our steps and arriving at Liberty Square, we’ll head to the Clérigos Church, one of the symbols of the city and the best thing to see in Porto in 4 days. It is essential to climb your great tower to have the best views of the city. There are more than 200 steps with wide corridors that will not require too much effort.

We cannot leave this area without visiting the Lello e Irmao Bookstore, one of the most beautiful in the world thanks to its interior, its stairs and its shelves. It is said that JKRowling was inspired to write the Harry Potter novels here while he lived in Porto. You have to pay a small entrance fee that helps to preserve it, which is discounted if you buy a book.

Our first day in Porto ends at the Iglesia do Carmo and the Mirador de Vitoria, before going to the Ribeira neighborhood for dinner and tasting the famous cuisine of Porto.

Second day in Porto

Porto - Stock Exchange PalaceThe second day in Porto begins, which we are going to dedicate to discovering the lowest part of Porto, the one closest to the river. Even so, we will start again at the top, São Bento Station, to go down Rua das Flores, one of the most atmospheric pedestrian streets in Porto.

At the end of the street we find the Ferreira Borges Market and next to it the Palacio de la Bolsa, another of the best places to visit in Porto in four days. Its neoclassical façade is beautiful, but its interior is much more so, with its spectacular rooms and patios, such as the Arab Room, its main jewel. Remember that the visit is guided and the first person who makes the reservation chooses the language.

Next to it is the Church of San Francisco, which you must visit thanks to an amazing interior that will not leave you indifferent. Its walls and ceiling are covered in gold and the ostentatiousness is such that it was closed for many years so as not to offend.

Again, like the day before, we arrive at the Ribeira neighborhood, the most genuine of Porto, located next to the Douro River and where we can walk through the narrow streets of what was an old fishermen’s neighborhood.

The Ribeira neighborhood, always full of people and full of restaurants, has its central point in the Plaza de Ribeira. Very close by is the Cruise of the Six Bridges, which takes you to know the bridges of Porto. After the cruise you can walk along the banks of the Duero River admiring another of the symbols of the city, the Don Luis I Bridge.

This bridge is also a delight at night thanks to its lighting. Thus ends our second day in Porto.

What to see in Porto on the third day

We have been in Porto for two days and we already know a good part of the city but there is still much to see and that is what we are going to dedicate the third day to.

We can start this day next to the Don Luis I Bridge to cross it at the bottom and go to Vilanova de Gaia, a town that is on the other side of the Duero River. There are two reasons. One, to see Porto from another perspective. Another, visit one of the wineries where Port Wine is made.

There are several wineries and they are quite similar so visit the one you prefer so they can tell you the history of this wine, its production process, anecdotes and you will even have a tasting.

After the visit to the winery, we recommend taking the Cable Car that takes you to the top of the Don Luis I Bridge, also having great views of Porto. At the top do not forget to visit the Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar and the Morro Garden, from where you will have beautiful views.

Now it’s time to cross the bridge at the top seeing the river from the heights and the buildings of the Ribeira neighborhood. Head back to the Stock Exchange Palace and take the tram that takes you to Foz do Douro, our next destination. The tram ride itself is already a beautiful experience, as it is also a historic tram.

Once in Foz do Douro we will find ourselves in the area of ​​the city’s beaches and its promenade. It is a very exclusive neighborhood where many famous people live. It is also well known for its nightlife, so if you want to end the day here and enjoy your night, we recommend it.

On the way back, your destination should be the Mirador de Cristal Gardens, where in addition to being able to enjoy the gardens themselves, you will also be able to see the city from another of the most famous viewpoints to visit in Porto in 4 days.

End the day. It will also be the last time we are in Porto. Because for the next day, what we recommend is to make an excursion to the surroundings.

What to do in Porto on the fourth day

The last of our 4 days in Porto arrives. It has been 3 intense days, but without rushing, to get to know the city. And today what we recommend is to make an excursion to the surroundings. There are several options we have.

One of them is to go north to visit two of the most beautiful cities in Portugal, Guimaraes and Braga. In Guimaraes you can enjoy the cradle of the country, where everything was born. Strolling through its streets, knowing its castle, its churches and its squares is the great objective. Find out what to see in our article on Guimaraes.

Nearby is Braga, where in addition to the charm of its streets and the Cathedral, what you should not miss is the Church of Bom Jesus do Monte, famous for its stairs and a pilgrimage destination. Both cities can be visited in a single day.

Coimbra - UniversityAnother option is to go to the south, specifically to Aveiro, one of the main destinations in the north of Portugal thanks above all to its canals and moliceiros, traditional boats converted into small cruisers with which you can explore the canals. A few kilometers away is Costa Nova, by the sea where you can admire its curious colored houses and its splendid beaches.

A little further away is Coimbra, which was the first capital of Portugal and where the oldest university in the country is located. Its streets are quite reminiscent of those of Porto, although with its own charm and with no less than two cathedrals. Taking a walk around Coimbra is also a good option.

This is how our 4-day tour of Porto ends, with excursions included, which we hope will be useful to you. You can find more information on the official Porto tourism page.

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