How Many Days in Porto Do You Really Need?
Trying to decide how many days in Porto, Portugal will make for the perfect trip? I'll take you through how much time you need for every type of trip and traveler!
It may surprise you to learn that Porto is my favorite city in Portugal. Yes, I prefer it to Lisbon. And I'm not the only one. In an Instagram poll, 73% of voters chose Porto over Lisbon.
It's 100% walkable, is the entrance to the stunning Douro Valley wine region, has better restaurants and hotels (in my opinion), feels safer, and offers a lot more old-world charm paired with stunning views. Read my Lisbon vs. Porto blog post for an in-depth take.
You're a wise traveler to include Porto in your Portugal itinerary. Now the question of how many days to spend in Porto.
I have a general answer for the typical traveler, but there are some instances where I would subtract or add a day.
Short and sweet: how many days in Porto are ideal?
Two nights and two full days will be enough time for the average tourist. You'll be able get a feel for the city, explore both sides of the river, and still have time to enjoy a few port tastings.
Though, if you enjoy slow travel and aren't in a rush, I would happily spend three nights in Porto in order to take a day trip to the Douro Valley (if you're not already planning on spending the night), or have more time to shop, wander, eat, and really take in the atmosphere.
Now, let's take a deeper dive into how many days in Porto, Portugal are ideal for every type of trip and traveler.
How many days in Porto for a first trip to Portugal | 2 days
Porto deserves 2 days if it's your first time in Portugal. Yes, you'll want to carve out enough time in Lisbon (3 to 4 nights) and the coast, but don't be tempted to rush Porto.
Whereas the 1755 earthquake flattened Lisbon, Porto was spared. A large part of Lisbon was rebuilt, which you can see in the wide streets, grid-like city planning, and architecture.
Porto, on the other hand, feels wonderfully ancient. Cobblestoned streets, narrow stairways, and crooked buildings. It packs a lot of old-world charm into a small city.
While in some cities, it's best to see the sights and quickly move on, Porto is a great place to bake in extra time to enjoy the atmosphere and views.
Two days in Porto means you'll be able to see the main sights; peak at the interior of Sao Francisco Church, climb the Clerigos Tower, visit Livraria Lello (the Harry Potteresque bookstore), cross the Dom Luis I bridge, snap a picture of the tiled facade of Igreja do Carmo church, and gaze upon more tiles in the Sao Bento train station.
You'll also have time to sip a coffee or cocktail along the Cais da Ribeira riverfront, visit the port lodges in the Vila Nova de Gaia neighborhood, book a private 2-hour cruise along the Douro river, shop along Rua das Flores and Avenida dos Aliados, and book a few fantastic restaurants.
The restaurant and cocktail bar scene is wonderful in Porto. Many come with gorgeous views.
With two days in Porto, I would recommend joining at least one tour:
SEE ALSO:
BEST COFFEE SHOPS & CAFES IN PORTO | TOP 5
A DAY TRIP TO PORTO FROM LISBON | DETAILED ITINERARY
PORTO VS LISBON – WHICH CITY SHOULD YOU VISIT?
10 BEST THINGS TO DO IN LISBON PORTUGAL
How many days do you need in Porto to just see the highlights | 1 day
If your goal is to see the highlights and say you've done Porto, one day will be sufficient.
On my first trip to Portugal I actually did an unplanned day trip to Porto from Lisbon. At the time, there wasn't much information on Porto, hence why I didn't originally include it in my itinerary. Jake and I felt like we had pretty much seen Lisbon after 3 full days and decided last minute to make the trek to Porto.
To say we were disappointed that we didn't spend one to two nights in Porto is an understatement. We both left Porto saying we preferred it to Lisbon.
As a day trip, we were just able to skim the surface of Porto and get the gist of the city. We did two quick Port tastings, walked along both sides of the river, visited Livraria Lello, stopped at Cafe Majestic, and wandered the surrounding area.
While a day trip is absolutely doable, we felt rushed and would have much preferred to spend our night(s) in Porto vs. returning to Lisbon.
So, if you're extremely crunched for time you could either do Porto as a day trip or spend just one night in the city.
Douro Valley
How many days in Porto for the slow traveler | 3 to 4 days
The last time I was in Porto I spent four nights in the city. I loved being able to dig deep and get to know the city well; discover all the different areas on both sides of the river and enjoy mulitple nights filled with views and wonderful restaurants.
Now, I will admit that some of that time was spent working. Popping into cafes and actually getting my computer out. If I hadn't spent time working, 4 days might have felt like a bit much. So, if you're not the sort that's ok spending some time either working, reading, or whatever, then I would suggest three full days for the slow traveler.
A second scenario I would recommend four nights is if you aren't already planning on spending a night in the Douro Valley. Jake and I spent the night and were really glad we did.
Having the opportunity to enjoy the evening and following morning in the Douro Valley was beyond memorable. But, if for some reason you can't swing a night in the valley or just don't want to move hotels again, then I would suggest staying four nights in Porto in order to spend the day in the Douro Valley.
You can rent a car and do your own thing (what we did) or join a private tour or group tour that includes a river cruise.
Lastly, there are a couple of interesting day trips from Porto where a fourth day would make sense:
In summary
I hope this post helps you decide how many days in Porto are right for you. See the highlights in one day on the quickest of itineraries or spend two full days and two nights for the perfect mix of sightseeing and slowing down to soak in the atmosphere.
Or try the slow travel method and spend three to four days to get to know the city inside and out. This allows enough time for a day trip to the Douro Valley wine region or another day trip of your choice.
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How many days do you need in Porto, Portugal
Hi Ash
Im just planning our 3 weeks in Portugal and you have hit on a topic that is important to us we dont want to be moving around a lot so have decided on porto 4 nights 3 days, Carvoeiro for 10 nights, Lisbon 6 nights . We fly into Lisbon but will drive up and get to Porto around 9pm . You mention by doing a slow time in Porto 4 nights – 3 full days would be ideal including a day trip too Duoro Valley – it looks like its takes 3.5 hours to get to the valley so that’s 7 hours round trip how do you do this in one day or would you suggest we miss this ? Thanks in advance Jenny
hmmm, I’m not sure what maps you are using but it’s about 1.5 hours to get to the Douro Valley from Porto. 3 hours roundtrip. I highly recommend spending a night or 2 in the valley because it’s STUNNING—some of the most beautiful views I have ever seen. One of my favorite memories was enjoying breakfast on our patio overlooking the valley.
If you’re going to do it as a day trip, I would do a private or group tour. That way you save time bypassing the rental car and such.