How I Spent 2 Days in Porto

Some cities win you over instantly. Others take their time. Porto, for me, falls somewhere in between. It’s not a show-off—but the more you look, the more it has to offer.After two full days wandering its sloping streets, sipping its wine, and chasing light across tiled walls, I left Porto with full memory cards, a few prints from a street artist, and a deep appreciation for a city that balances nostalgia and edge. So here’s how my friends and I spent two days in Portugal’s second-largest city.

Day 1 – Wandering, Tiles & Sunset Drinks

Our first morning started with some wandering through the old town in search of breakfast, spotting bold graffiti and pastel-painted corners before landing at Floresta Café, on one of the city’s most popular streets, Rua das Flores, for a hearty brunch.

While waiting in line—this is a popular spot—we noticed a local artist named André selling small paintings on the pavement across the street. Even though I usually wait a bit before picking up travel memorabilia, I knew I had to buy something. I really liked André’s work and, even more, his charm and charisma. Long story short—yes, my sister and I both bought some of his sketches.

After our hearty brunch (the portions were quite generous), we walked to Igreja de Santo Ildefonso, which was closed, but its iconic blue-tiled façade was more than enough for some great shots.

From there, it was just a short walk to Capela das Almas, where every single tourist had the same idea: snap a photo in front of its famous wall of azulejos. And yes—we joined them. It took us a while to get the shot because the area was crowded and a bit chaotic, with cars, buses, and trucks passing dangerously close to the pavement.

The chapel’s entire exterior consists of 15,947 azulejo tiles covering around 360 square meters of wall. They depict scenes from the lives of Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Catherine, including his death and her martyrdom. Interestingly, until 1929, the chapel’s exterior was just plastered and painted white.

After our little photoshoot, we reset with a stop at Manteigaria for a freshly made pastel de nata. The place is quite large, and you can even watch the staff preparing the pastries in real time. Even though it was packed, we managed to find a spot and enjoy a cold coffee with Portugal’s most iconic dessert. To be honest, I wasn’t sure I’d like it at first—it looks quite simple—but as much as I hate to admit, I was so wrong. I loved every bite.

Pastel de nata (pastéis in plural) dates back to the 18th century, when monks at the Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon began using leftover egg yolks—left from starching clothes with egg whites—to create pastries. After the dissolution of monasteries following the Liberal Revolution of 1820, the monks began selling the pastries at a nearby sugar refinery. In 1834, the recipe was sold to the refinery, and the rest is delicious history. In 2009, The Guardian listed it as one of the “50 best things to eat” in the world.

Back to Porto: from Manteigaria, we walked down Avenida dos Aliados, admired the imposing Porto City Hall, and headed to Oprheu for a light lunch with a view. Tucked into a narrow street at the top of a staircase overlooking Rua Mouzinho da Silveira, the location gave us another perfect view of Porto’s hilly streets, crowned by the Torre dos Clérigos.

Later that afternoon, we climbed up to the Porto Cathedral (Sé do Porto), located just behind Oprheu, and were rewarded with one of the best panoramic views of the city. We didn’t have time to go inside, but the buzz around the square and the river views were more than enough. We descended through a labyrinth of colourful alleys to reach the Ribeira riverside—one of Porto’s most atmospheric areas. Locals and visitors alike filled the riverside cafés and stone steps relaxing by the water.

After a much needed break at our Airbnb, we headed to Brasão Bistro for dinner—a cozy, atmospheric restaurant offering updated takes on Portuguese classics. We ended our night with cocktails at The Royal Cocktail Club: amazing drinks, dim lighting, and a perfect final touch to our first day in Porto.

Day 2 – Gardens, Lello & Sunset on the Douro

We started early at Mercado Bom Sucesso, a modern food hall filled with trendy bars, cafés, and food stalls—but most were still closed. So we moved on to Rosi Café, a bright and stylish brunch spot that also happened to be close to the areas we wanted to explore later in the day.

After a satisfying brunch, we walked downhill to the Jardins do Palácio de Cristal, which turned out to be one of my favorite spots in the city. Perched on a hill, these gardens are a peaceful blend of hidden pathways, fountains, and panoramic terraces. We were surrounded by quiet moments: art students sketching, peacocks parading, and couples wandering among giant trees and exotic flowers.

Our next stop was a more modern kind of garden: Jardim das Oliveiras, an elevated park with 50 olive trees planted above a shopping and café complex. It’s part of Praça de Lisboa, just next to the Torre dos Clérigos, and was the perfect stop for some beers under the old olive trees before our 16:00 visit to Livraria Lello.

Lello is one of the most famous bookstores in the world—and definitely one of the most crowded. Even with pre-booked tickets, there were visitors everywhere, snapping selfies on the red staircase or filming TikToks beneath the stained glass ceiling. Despite the chaos, the space itself is absolutely stunning: carved wooden details, winding staircases, and high ceilings make it a dream for any booklover.

There’s a myth that J.K. Rowling was inspired by Lello while writing Harry Potter, but in 2020 she publicly denied any connection. Regardless, it still feels like a magical place. I’d love to return early in the morning one day, when I guess it’s more quiet and more friendly to bookworms such as myself.

Next on our list: Cálem, one of the most iconic port wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia (just across the bridge from Porto). Our pre-booked tour included a walk through the cool, dark cellars and a premium wine tasting, where I learned that port isn’t just sweet and red—it also comes in dry, semi-dry, and white varieties.

A little tipsy and very happy, we walked along the Gaia waterfront, with street musicians playing and the Dom Luís I Bridge towering above us.

We ended our Porto adventure with a sunset cruise on the Douro River, drifting under the city’s six iconic bridges with yet another glass of wine in hand. Golden hour on the water was the softest, most beautiful goodbye we could have asked for.

Two days aren’t enough to explore every corner of Porto, but they were enough to understand why this city has such a strong soul—and why its locals are so proud of it. Until next time, Porto. 

Porto Highlights

From tiled chapels and hilltop gardens to cozy brunch spots and riverside sunsets, here’s a quick look at the places that made our two days in Porto unforgettable.

Art, Architecture & Culture

• Rua das Flores – Colorful street with cafés and local artists
  
• Igreja de Santo Ildefonso – Blue-tiled church (photos from outside)
  
• Capela das Almas – Iconic azulejo-covered chapel
  
• São Bento Station – Famous azulejo tile murals inside
  
• Porto Cathedral (Sé do Porto) – Hilltop cathedral with panoramic views
  
• Livraria Lello – Historic bookstore with magical interiors
  

Food & Drink

• Floresta Café – Brunch spot on Rua das Flores
  
• Manteigaria – Must-try for pastel de nata
  
• Oprheu – Light lunch with a view in the old town
  
• Brasão Bistro – Cozy Portuguese dinner
  
• The Royal Cocktail Club – Stylish cocktail bar
  
• Rosi Café – Aesthetic brunch café near Bom Sucesso
  
• Cálem Wine Cellars – Port wine tour and tasting in Gaia
  

Gardens & Views

• Jardins do Palácio de Cristal – Botanical gardens with city views & peacocks
  
• Jardim das Oliveiras – Urban olive grove above Praça de Lisboa
  

Streets & Squares

• Avenida dos Aliados – Main boulevard with Porto City Hall
  
• Rua Mouzinho da Silveira – Popular hilly street with cafés and views
  
• Ribeira District – Charming riverside with cobbled streets and restaurants
  
• Vila Nova de Gaia Waterfront – Cellars, sunset walks, and street music
  

Must-Do Experiences

• Pastel de Nata tasting – Especially at Manteigaria
  
• Port wine tasting at Cálem – Book in advance
  
• Sunset Douro Cruise – Six bridges, river views, golden hour glow