Joachim’s brother loves to run marathons. When he decided to run the marathon of Porto with some friends, they invited us to join them and help out with the kids. Since four out of five grown ups would be running the marathon, and there would be five kids, they could use a little help. We hadn’t been to Porto, so of course we weren’t gonna say no! After some injuries and sickness only one of them actually ran the marathon but for us it was a great excuse to visit Porto!
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Where to go and get around?
Porto is divided in two by the Douro river. The city center on the Northern side has a lot of the typical buildings and blue tiled churches. South of the river you will find all the different Port houses and caves.
Since Porto is not that big, walking is a good option. Otherwise you also have the metro and bus system that can get you anywhere. For trips to the beach we would recommend taking the tram. Biking is not a good idea. Some people do but it’s SUPER hilly! I don’t think we would be able to bike around town.
What to do?
Taste Port in the caves
Of course you can’t visit Porto without visiting one of the Port caves and tasting the delicious Port wine. Port is a DOC meaning the grapes have to come from the Douro valley, With Porto located at the base of the Douro river, it is the biggest exportation point for Port so you will find heaps and heaps of Port caves here. For some tips on which ones to visit, read this post we wrote about Porto!
Have a drink with a view
Go to the Porto Cruz Rooftop and enjoy a Port (or any other drink you like) with a spectacular view! Extra insta-points for going in the evening around sunset!
Go sightseeing on a river cruise
Next to the river you will find all the boats that offer the “5 bridges” river cruises. It is a nice way to see a little bit of the surroundings of Porto. In the busy season and on weekends they’ll be very full though, so unless you want to be cramped in with a lot of eager photo taking tourists, timing your cruise is essential. Try to score a seat on the side of the boat for a calmer experience. We took the Porto Cruz boat, which also includes a taste of Port for 11 euro.
Admire the little Port boats
Next to the south side of the river, all the authentic boats that carried Port down the Douro river are still there. Every major Port house has one. Some of these boats date back to the 1850’s.
Visit the bookstore/coffeehouse that inspired Harry Potter
When J.K. Rowling lived in Porto and was writing Harry Potter, she often came to Livraria Lello. The interior of the place will definitely bring back childhood memories. The coffee house is now changed into a tourist attraction and book store. It is still an amazing place to walk around. If there is a line, come back a little later. The first time we checked it out there was a line of at least 100 people, the second time we literally walked in. Admission is 4 euro but is deducted if you buy a book.
Enjoy the Portuguese architecture
Porto is a city of colour. A lot of buildings are covered in azulejo’s, beautiful blue tiles. Check out buildings like the church of Saint Ildefonso. If you walk around in the city you’ll see plenty of the tiles as well as impressive and pretty buildings.
Have a beach day
A lot of people forget that Porto also has a beach. There is a tram line with an old authentic tram that runs to the beach. A single run will cost you 2,5 euro. Hold tight because it is a kind of a bumpy ride! The beach itself is stunning. We went on a day that there was a lot of wind but on a sunny day you can definitely go for a swim.
Listen to a Fado Concert
If you are in Porto, you should take the effort of listening to a real Fado concert. There are a couple of restaurant that play authentic Fado. Here’s a list of places! If you want to do something extra special, check out what Calem offers for the exclusive combination of a Port tour, tasting and a Fado concerto.
Where to eat?
We were impressed with the hospitality skills of Portugese people. We always were welcomed with a lot of enthusiasm and they make you feel at home. Being in hospitality for so long ourselves has made us more aware of how restaurant staff works. The Portuguese made quite the impression!
Restaurante Beira Rio – Typical francesinha restaurant
This typical Portuguese dish is a calorieBOMB. But it is amazing! You can compare it with a ham and cheese toastie but then stuffed with three kinds of extra meat, extra cheese on top and this all drenched in a kind of tomato and beer sauce.
Saboriccia – Where we went often
This little family-owned tapas bar had some of the most amazing local produce. First of all, the family itself is amazing and SO friendly! It feels more like eating at a friend’s house than a restaurant. They serves all local produce as well. The owner travels around the area a lot to find good fresh meats and cheeses that can’t be found anywhere else. Even the Port he serves you can only taste in his restaurant. We highly recommend this place as we had two very lovely nights here. They also sell a lot of the local produce and have the cutest little store!
What are your must see’s in Porto?! Let us know in the comments!
Laura is the lead writer at BackpackBeliefs.com, where she specializes in travel guides, cultural exploration, and sustainable tourism. With over 10 years of travel experience and a Master’s degree in Cultural Anthropology, Laura brings valuable insights to her readers.
For the latest travel tips and updates, connect with Laura on Facebook at @backpackbeliefs and Instagram at @backpackbeliefs. where she has 4,622 followers.
