Porto is a historic and vibrant city, which boasts an extensive selection of cultural sights, enjoyable activities and buzzing nightlife.
The city can be fully explored within two days, and this makes Porto ideal for a weekend city break or as part of a longer tour of Portugal.
This article will provide a suggested itinerary for 48 hours in Porto, and includes details about the main tourist attractions and activities.
Related articles: Introduction to Porto – 1-week in Porto - Top 10 Porto

When our friends and family visit Porto, we suggest that they follow this itinerary; they all enjoyed it, and we’re sure you will too:
• Morning day 1 – The Baixa district
• Afternoon day 1 – The Se and Ribeira districts, and a short boat cruise along the Douro River
• Evening day 1 – The bars and restaurants of the Ribeira district
• Morning day 2 – Vila Nova de Gaia and tours of the Port wine lodges
• Afternoon day 2 – The Foz district or Porto’s museums
• Evening day 2 – Big night out in the Rua Galeria de Paris (the main nightlife street of Porto)

An interactive map for the 48 hours in Porto can be seen below. The green icons and route are for day 1, and the yellow labels are for day 2. The grey markers are for the alternative route for day 2 afternoon and for Porto’s museums, and additional sights for the day.

The following section provides a detailed description of the 2-day tour.

The Baixa district is the recommended location to begin a tour of Porto, as it contains many of the city’s iconic tourist attractions. The district includes the magnificent Praça da Liberdade, the bustling shopping streets of Rua de Santa Catarina and the lively nightlife area surrounding the university.

Highlights of the Baixa district include:
• The panoramic view from the top of the Torre dos Clérigos (240 steps to the top)
• The neo-Gothic architecture of the Câmara Municipal do Porto (city hall)
• The beautiful azulejos tiles covering the exterior of the Igreja do Carmo
• The traditional market of Mercado do Bolhão
• The Livraria Lello bookshop, an inspiration for the Harry Potter books
• A coffee in the Café Majestic, which is regarded as one world’s most decorative cafes
• The Jardim da Cordoaria
• São Bento Railway Station and its wonderful tile paintings
• The Rua das Flores a charming shopping street filled with independent shops
• The “Fons Vitae” painting, exhibited in the Museu da Misericórdia do Porto (MMIPO museum)

For lunch, head to a café serving a Francesinha, the traditional dish of Porto. This incredibly filling meal, is a meat-filled sandwich, smothered with melted cheese, and served in a rich sauce of beer and tomato – delicious and ideal when sightseeing!

For the afternoon it is recommended to explore the two oldest districts of Porto; the Se and Ribeira districts.

The Se district was the religious centre of the city, and is centred around the ancient Se cathedral and bishop’s palace (Paço Episcopal). The district covers one of the highest hills of the city and provides wonderful views over Porto. Highlights of the Se district include:
• The Gothic Se cathedral
• The extravagant interior of the Igreja de Santa Clara do Porto
• The remains of the city walls
• Views of the Ponte Luís I (from the top deck)

Historically, the Ribeira district was the docks and trading centre of Porto, and today is one of the most characterful sections of the city. The district extends along the banks of the Douro River, and the labyrinth of narrow alleys follow the medieval layout of the city.
Highlights of the Ribeira districts are:
• The Praça da Ribeira with its numerous restaurants and bars
• The maze of alleys and back streets, which originate from the middle ages
• The extravagant gold gilding of the Igreja de São Francisco church
• The Neoclassical Palácio da Bolsa, constructed in the 19th century as the stock exchange for the city

An additional activity for the day is a short boat cruise along the Douro River, and this is ideal after a long day of sightseeing. These boat tours typical last for around an hour, and provide a riverside view of the city by passing beneath the six bridge of Porto.
Insight: The six bridges of Porto are (from east to west): Freixo, São João, Maria Pia, Infante D. Henrique, Luís I and Arrábida

For the evening it is suggested to have a delicious meal in one of the many restaurants in the Ribeira district and then spend the night in one of the bars of the district. For live music and late-night revelries head to, the Hard Club, housed in the former Mercado Ferreira Borges market.

There is very high demand for accommodation during the peak season, we advise to book your hotel rooms now before they sell out. To check current prices and availability enter your holiday dates in the search box below:

The city of Vila Nova de Gaia lies on the southern banks of the Douro River and is the traditional home of Port wine. The grapes are grown, harvested and pressed much further up the Douro River and the finished product is stored and matured in the vast cellars (referred to as lodges) that line the banks of Vila Nova de Gaia.

Insight: the barrels of Port were traditional transport from the vineyards to Porto by boat, that is why the port cellars are all close to the river.

All of the major Port producers (Graham's, Sandeman, Taylor, Warre and Ferreira) are within walking distance of each other, and their lodges are open for tours and port tasting. The tours and tastings are surprisingly inexpensive and are conducted in multiple languages throughout the day (popular tours should be booked in advance).

There is always a social and enjoyable atmosphere along the waterfront in Vila Nova de Gaia (the Avenida de Diogo Leite), and it is a great place to hang out on a hot summer’s day.

While in Vila Nova de Gaia, we suggest that you visit the urban art rabbit (called the Half-Rabbit, and on the side of building close to the Igreja de Santa Marinha) and the Estaleiro do Rabelo, the traditional shipyards of the Barcos Rabelos boats.

From the riverside there is a cable car that transports visitors up to the Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar, a circular church and monastery, which also offers amazing views of the Douro river.

The Foz district is situated on the mouth of the Douro River to the Atlantic Ocean. This charming district is surprisingly little visited by tourists, and has a pleasant, calm ambience. For tourists, there are two distinct areas to the Foz district; the riverside section and the area along the coastline.

The riverside area of Foz offers traditional fishing harbours, tranquil parks and grand Portuguese villas, and there is an enjoyable walking route along the banks of the Douro River. The coastline section of the Foz district faces the Atlantic Ocean and is formed of small beaches and rocky headlands, which extend all the way to the town of Matosinhos.
The Foz district can be reached by either catching the number 1 tram, which departs from the Igreja de São Francisco, or the 500 bus.
Related articles: The Foz district

The Pergola da Foz is one of Porto’s most romantic places to watch the sunset

For the adventurous: Check out “Porto Bridge Climb”, which provides a climbing tour on the arch of the Arrábida Bridge to a height of 65m above the river, their website is: www.portobridgeclimb.com

For a more cultural afternoon consider visiting the Palacio de Cristal park and the museums of Soares dos Reis and Quinta da Macieirinha. Soares dos Reis exhibits part of the national collection of art and sculptures, and is housed in the ornate Carrancas Palace.

The Quinta da Macieirinha mansion was where the exiled Italian King, Carlo Alberto, spent his final months before dying in 1849. The Quinta da Macieirinha museum has been restored to how it would have appeared during his stay. Both museums are close to the peaceful gardens of the Palacio de Cristal park.

For the final evening in Porto it is suggested to have a big night out in the bars and clubs along the Rua Galeria de Paris. This street is affectionately known as “bar street” and is close to the university.