3 days in Porto: a day-by-day sightseeing plan

Porto is a compact, steep city on the Douro, made for walking between granite churches, tiled facades and the riverfront. Day one crosses the Luiz I Bridge and climbs the cathedral hill, day two starts west at Serralves and works back to the Stock Exchange and the Maria Pia Bridge, and day three runs from Livraria Lello and Clérigos down to Ribeira and back up to Santo Ildefonso.

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Day 1

Luiz I Bridge, the cathedral hill and São Bento

5 stops

09:00
Luiz I Bridge
About 20 min
Porto's two-level iron bridge crosses the Douro to Vila Nova de Gaia, with the metro on the top deck and cars and walkers below. Walk the upper deck for the classic view down over Ribeira, then head a few minutes along the old walls to Santa Clara.
Walk, 5 min
09:25
Igreja de Santa Clara
About 30 min
From outside this church beside the old Fernandine Walls looks plain, but the interior is lined with gilded Baroque woodwork. Half an hour is plenty, and the bishops' palace is just up the lane.
Walk, 3 min
10:00
Episcopal Palace, Porto
About 1 h 30 min
The long Baroque facade of the bishops' palace dominates the skyline beside the cathedral, and its grand staircase and state rooms can be visited inside. Take your time over the rooms and the views from the windows, then walk the few steps to the cathedral.
Walk, 1 min
11:35
Porto Cathedral
About 45 min
The fortress-like Sé is one of the city's oldest monuments, Romanesque at its core with later Baroque additions. Look for the Gothic cloister lined with blue and white tiles, and step onto the terrace in front for a wide view over the rooftops.
Walk, 5 min
12:25
São Bento railway station
About 20 min
Step into the entrance hall of this early 20th-century station to see around 20,000 blue and white tiles showing scenes from Portuguese history. It is a short stop and an easy one to end the morning on, a few minutes downhill from the cathedral.

Day 2

Serralves, Casa da Música and the Stock Exchange

5 stops

09:00
Museu de Serralves
About 1 h 30 min
Serralves is Portugal's leading contemporary art museum, in a white building by Álvaro Siza set in large gardens with an Art Deco villa. It is a taxi ride west of the centre, so start the day here and leave time for the park as well as the galleries.
Taxi, 6 min
10:40
Casa da Música
About 1 h
Rem Koolhaas's angular white concert hall opened in 2005 and is the city's best-known modern building. Guided tours take you inside the main auditorium, and if none fits your morning, the building and the plaza around it are still worth a look.
Walk, 23 min
12:05
National Museum Soares dos Reis
About 1 h 30 min
Portugal's first public art museum fills the Carrancas Palace with 19th-century painting and the sculpture of António Soares dos Reis, including his well-known O Desterrado. It is a calm counterpoint to the busy riverfront.
Walk, 15 min
13:50
Palácio da Bolsa
About 1 h 30 min
The 19th-century Stock Exchange Palace was built by the city's merchants and is best known for its Arab Room, an ornate hall inspired by the Alhambra. Visits are by guided tour, so allow time for the tour and any wait before it.
Taxi, 4 min
15:25
Ponte de D. Maria Pia
About 20 min
This 1877 railway bridge, attributed to Gustave Eiffel's firm, no longer carries trains and is best seen from the riverbank. Treat it as a short, optional stop for engineering fans; you can just as well stay by the river instead.

Day 3

Livraria Lello, Clérigos and down to Ribeira

5 stops

09:00
Livraria Lello
About 1 h
This neo-Gothic bookshop draws crowds for its carved wood, stained-glass ceiling and curving red staircase. Entry is ticketed and queues are long, so book ahead and come first thing; Clérigos is just around the corner.
Walk, 2 min
10:05
Clérigos Church
About 30 min
The Baroque church and its 75-metre tower make up the city's most familiar silhouette. Climbing the tower's narrow stairs is the reason to come, as the top gives you a full view over Porto and the river.
Walk, 9 min
10:45
Church of São Francisco
About 30 min
Porto's main Gothic church hides one of the richest Baroque interiors in Portugal, with almost every surface covered in gilded carved wood. Look for the Tree of Jesse altarpiece and the catacombs below the building next door.
Walk, 4 min
11:20
Ribeira Square
About 20 min
This riverside square sits at the heart of the UNESCO-listed old centre, with tall, narrow, colourful houses facing the Douro. Sit by the water and watch the traditional rabelo boats before the climb up to Santo Ildefonso.
Walk, 14 min
11:55
Church Of Saint Ildefonso
About 30 min
Just above Batalha Square, this 18th-century church is wrapped in blue and white azulejo panels on its facade. The outside is the main sight, so this is a short last stop, with the cafes of Santa Catarina street close by.

Good to know

Porto climbs sharply from the river, so wear comfortable shoes and expect plenty of steps and steep lanes.
Days one and three are short walks between neighbouring sights; day two uses a taxi from Serralves to Casa da Música and from the Stock Exchange out to the Maria Pia Bridge.
Livraria Lello is the stop most worth booking ahead, as it is busy all year.
Spring and early autumn bring mild weather for walking along the Douro; winters are often rainy, so pack a waterproof layer.
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3 days in Porto: a day-by-day sightseeing plan

Luiz I Bridge

Igreja de Santa Clara

Episcopal Palace, Porto

Porto Cathedral

São Bento railway station

Museu de Serralves

Casa da Música

National Museum Soares dos Reis

Palácio da Bolsa

Ponte de D. Maria Pia

Livraria Lello

Clérigos Church

Church of São Francisco

Ribeira Square

Church Of Saint Ildefonso

Good to know

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