Porto, Portugal 7 Day Itinerary

A full week in Porto, Portugal, means you can afford to be slow, skip whatever bores you, and still leave with more than most people get in three tightly scheduled days. Here’s how I’d use it.

Day 1: Land and walk without a plan

Metro Line E gets you from OPO to Trindade in about 30 minutes, roughly 2.85 EUR for the first ride once you’ve bought the reusable Andante card at the machine. Skip taxis unless you need one; they’re metered, not flat, running 25-35 EUR with a night surcharge after 9pm. Spend the afternoon wandering Ribeira, the riverside old town, free and photogenic, and cross Dom Luis I Bridge’s upper deck before dinner for the classic view.

Day 2: Sao Bento and the Lello question

Sao Bento station’s tile hall is free, over 20,000 azulejos, and it’s genuinely one of the best fifteen minutes in the city without spending a cent. Livraria Lello, on the other hand, now runs a timed pre-booked ticket only, 10 EUR silver or almost 16 gold, redeemable against a book, and “skip the line” tickets still queue outside with everyone else. I’d rather you climb Clerigos Tower next door for 8-10 EUR and get an actual view instead of a crowded photo op. The Se cathedral nave is free; only pay for the cloister or tower, 3-4 EUR.

Day 3: Gaia and the port houses

Cross into Vila Nova de Gaia, a separate municipality across the river, not part of Porto proper despite what half the guides claim. The port lodges live here: Sandeman, Taylor’s, Graham’s, Ferreira, Calem. Sandeman’s standard tasting runs about 22 EUR for three ports and draws the biggest crowds; the smaller family houses like Graham’s or Ferreira tend to give you more for the money. End the day at the Gaia viewpoint above the lodges for the skyline shot, better than anything from the Ribeira side.

Day 4: Foz do Douro and Baixa

Head to Foz do Douro at the river mouth, quieter and more upscale than Ribeira, with a proper coastal promenade. I’d take an evening here over one on Cais da Ribeira any day. In the afternoon, work through Baixa around Bolhao market for lunch and a look at how the city actually functions day to day, away from the tourist strip.

Day 5: A single day trip

Braga and Guimaraes both sit about an hour away by train and both deserve their own day rather than being crammed together. Braga gives you the Bom Jesus do Monte sanctuary and its Baroque stairway, though it’s actually a few kilometers outside Braga’s centre, not in Porto itself, so plan for the funicular or the uphill walk. Guimaraes gives you the medieval castle and the birthplace-of-the-nation story. Pick one, and skip trying to squeeze in Aveiro, which sits in the opposite direction from both.

Day 6: Douro Valley, properly

This is the day to finally do the Douro Valley right, since a week gives you room to give it a full day without regret. The train from Sao Bento to Pinhao takes about two and a half hours each way, roughly 12.20 EUR one-way. The quintas are spread out with few taxis on the ground, so a guided tour makes tastings easier than DIY, though the train ride alone is worth it for the terraced hillsides. Don’t try to add anything else to this day; the travel time claims most of it, and that’s the point.

Day 7: Cedofeita and a slow goodbye

Spend your last morning in Cedofeita and around Rua Miguel Bombarda, the arts district with galleries, vintage shops, and street art that costs nothing to browse. If you haven’t already, try tripas a moda do Porto in a neighborhood tasca, the tripe stew behind the city’s “tripeiros” nickname, 8-12 EUR, or petiscos in Bonfim or Campanha for 15-25 EUR with wine.

For your last meal, order a Douro red or vinho verde, not port; port is a dessert wine here, and asking for it at dinner marks you as new to the city. If bread and olives show up unrequested, that’s couvert, not a free gift, usually 2-3 EUR, and it’s perfectly fine to send it back before you finish your trip.