Porto is a city full of natural beauty, history, and incredible food, making it the perfect travel destination in Portugal. We have spent months in Portugal discovering the best places to visit, and Porto is one of our favorite places. Even with only 1 day in Porto, you can experience its picturesque streets, breathtaking views, and vibrant culture. This travel guide will help you navigate the city’s best locations. From exploring historical landmarks to traditional food, you will be surprised how much you can see in a single day. From visiting one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world to sipping on the best Port Wine. This 1 day in Porto guide shares everything you need to know from prices to addresses, and more! Let’s make the most out of how to spend one day in Porto!
1 Day In Porto Maps
This is our Google My Maps to support this 1 Day in Porto Portugal Itinerary. It maps all the locations you can visit in 24 hours in Porto. A day in Porto may look different depending on what you enjoy seeing. Therefore, we will include variations of top attractions in Porto to personally craft your ideal 1 day in Porto itinerary. For more general Porto trip planning we curated a Porto city guide you can visit.
1 Day In Porto Itinerary
We will provide a complete budget of all the costs you can expect for spending 1 day in Porto! Portugal uses the euro as its main currency. Therefore, refer to the prices stated in euros. Prices quoted in USD are for comparative purposes converted at the exchange rate when this article was written. The exact USD price will fluctuate relative to exchange rates.
Breakfast at Manteigaria
If you only have 1 day in Porto, we highly recommend starting the day early right at 8am. You won’t want to be late for the first attraction of the day, it’s one of Porto’s busiest! But first, it’s breakfast time at our favorite place to eat Pastel De Nata, Manteigaria. We’ve tried so many pastel de nata across Portugal and these are hands down our favorites. A 1 day in Porto itinerary isn’t complete without eating a Portuguese custard tart. This custard tart is buttery and crispy on the outside, with a firm, creamy, sweet vanilla custard that’s simply irresistible. Talk about starting your day in Porto on a sweet note!
Price: 1.30 euros each ($1.37 USD)
Address: Rua dos Clérigos nº37, 4050-205 Porto, Portugal
Livraria Lello
Our first attraction of the day is only a 3-minute walk from Manteigaria. We reccomend arriving 15 minutes before the store opens. Livraria Lello is known to be one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world with up to 5,000 visitors a day! Some say this bookstore inspired JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series as the famous author spent a lot of time in Porto. So you may ask, how do you visit this bookstore while avoiding long queues? Considering you may only have 1 day in Porto, you don’t want to spend hours waiting in line. We have the perfect solution to ensure you don’t waste any time.
We pre-ordered the Gold Ticket which allows us to skip the long queue of people in the general line. You could be waiting a long time and you will be surrounded by a crowd of people in the bookstore.
The gold ticket provided us with the first entrance once the doors opened. We were among the first five people to enter the bookstore. It allowed us to get unobstructed photographs of the staircase and the upstairs. 5 minutes after opening, the staff started letting people in at faster rates filling up the store.
In addition, the gold ticket gives you a voucher valued the same as the ticket cost. We used this voucher to purchase a Livraria Lello book. Honestly, it was such a cool souvenir to bring home. It was a win-win situation because we didn’t have to wait in a long line and receive a souvenir!
Price:
General Line: Free
Gold Ticket: 15.95 euros ($16.80 USD) & you receive 15.95 euros store voucher.
Address: R. das Carmelitas 144, 4050-161 Porto, Portugal
Igreja de Carmo (Quick Photo Spot)
It’s time for our first photo spot of our one-day adventure in Porto. It’s located a two-minute walk from Livraria Lello. This baroque church is known for its blue and white azulejo exterior tile wall. We didn’t spend much time here as we didn’t purchase tickets to visit the inside. This church is unique because it’s separated by two churches, Igreja de Carmo from Igreja dos Carmelitas.
Price: Outside: Free, Inside 5 euros ($5.27 USD)
Address: Rua dos Clérigos nº37, 4050-205 Porto, Portugal
Clerigos Tower (Church & Observatory)
A 5-minute walk from Igreja De Carmo is one of the best observatories in Porto. No 1 day itinerary in Porto is complete without a visit to Torre dos Clérigos. This bell tower is part of the Clérigos Church and can’t be missed stretching 249 feet in the air. Unlike the previous Igreja de Carmo Chruch, you can also visit this church for free. We mainly came here for the panoramic views.
You will have to climb 225 steps to experience the breathtaking views over Porto’s red rooftops. If you have mobility issues this attraction is likely not suitable for you. You will have to walk up moderately steep winding stairs.
Along the way, you can stop to admire the tower’s historic architecture and feel a sense of connection to Porto’s past.
Torre dos Clérigos was the fourth stop on this day in Porto. It’s efficient due to the close proximity of the other attractions. Now it’s time to explore a different area of Porto!
Price: Church: Free, Observatory: 8 euros ($8.43 USD)
Address: R. de São Filipe de Nery, 4050-546 Porto, Portugal
Sao Bento Train Station (Quick Photo Spot)
The next stop on our 1 day in Porto itinerary is Sao Bento train station. You may ask, why are we visiting a train station? São Bento is more than just a train station. It’s a work of art and one of the most beautiful train stations we’ve been to.
You will see over 20,000 blue and white azulejo tiles. The tiles feature murals of everyday life in Portugal, the evolution of transportation, and historical events. It truly feels like walking into an open-air museum. Even if you’re not catching a train, it’s a must-visit stop on your one day in Porto. We spent about 5 to 10 minutes to take a few pictures for the memories.
Hungry for a local GEM and Portuguese favorite you must try in Porto!? Let’s walk to the next stop to try authentic Portuguese food.
Planning to book travel from Sao Bento? You can find out more here.
Price: Free
Address: Praça de Almeida Garrett, 4000-069 Porto, Portugal
Gazela (Lunch Time)
If you’re spending just 1 day in Porto, you must try some traditional portuguese comfort food! From Sao Bento Train Station it’s about a 10-minute walk. Gazela is famous for its cachorrinho, the Portuguese hot dog. Imagine a crispy baguette, filled with a juicy Portuguese sausage packed with flavor and a hint of spice. It’s cheesy, crispy, moist, and delicious! It pairs perfectly with a local refreshing local beer, Super Bock.
Gazela is a great spot to visit on your day in Porto because the service is very quick. In addition, you don’t need a reservation and they accept international credit cards. You can expect to spend about 30-40 minutes here.
Price: Cachorrinho: 4.30 Euros ($4.55 USD), Beer 2.30 Euros ($2.45 USD)
Address: Tv. do Cimo de Vila 4, 4000-434 Porto, Portugal
Porto Cathedral
A 7-minute walk from Gazela you will find our next stop on this 1 day in Porto itinerary. Porto Cathedral sits atop a hill overlooking the city. This historic landmark is one of Porto’s oldest and most prominent buildings. Inside is a mix of Roman, Gothic, and Baroque architecture.
You can find stunning arches and more blue and white azulejo tile artwork throughout. We purchased tickets at the door to enter and spent about 30 minutes inside.
If you’re interested in Port Wine Tasting or a Duoro River Cruise, we would advise you not to go inside for timing purposes!
Price: Porto Cathedral Entrance: 4.30 Euros ($4.55 USD)
Address: Terreiro da Sé, 4050-573 Porto, Portugal
If you didn’t feel like climbing 225 steps at Torre De Clerigos, we have another amazing viewpoint of Porto close by. Portugal is known for its city viewpoints known as miraduoros. From Porto Cathedral, one of our favorite viewpoints is a 2-minute walk away, Miradouro da Rua das Aldas. Even for a quick peak and photo, it won’t take up too much time out of your day in Porto.
Price: Free
Address: R. das Aldas 1, 4050-026 Porto, Portugal
Cais De Riberia
From Porto Cathedral, you can walk about 10 minutes downhill to the iconic riverside street, Cais De Riberia. Cais da Ribeira is one of the liveliest and most picturesque streets to visit during your day in Porto. Take a walk alongside the Douro River, and a maze of colorful buildings. You will see many cafes and restaurants however, you’re more likely to encounter tourist traps and pay premiums here. Don’t worry, we have an incredible restaurant that we will reveal later for dinner. As you walk along the Cais De Riberia, you will notice many different Duoro River boat cruises you can board. We discuss this in detail after the Dom Luís I Bridge.
Price: Free
Address: Cais da Ribeira, 4000 Porto, Portugal
Dom Luís I Bridge
Take in the beauty of the Dom Luís I Bridge from the Cais De Riberia. The Dom Luís I Bridge is one of Porto’s most photographed landmarks, a must-see during your 1 day in Porto.
Stretching over the Douro River, this double-deck iron bridge connects Porto with Vila Nova de Gaia. Does the design resemble any other prominent landmark you may have seen in France? If you’re thinking of the Eiffel Tower, you’re correct! The designer of this masterpiece also designed the Eiffel Tower.
From Cais De Riberia, walk alongside the bottom and you will reach Vila Nova De Gaia. This is where you can find all the Port Wine caves which offer wine tastings and tours.
If you walk across the upper deck, it’s better for panoramic views and for sunset which we will discuss later!
Price: Free
Address: Ponte Luís I, 4000 Porto, Portugal
Porto 6 Bridges Duoro River Cruise
At this stage of your 1 day in Porto, you will have explored mostly the Porto side! It’s time to explore Vila Novia De Gaia. There are three very popular things to do on this side of the river. However, you likely won’t have time for all the time if you only have 1 day in Porto.
You can take a traditional 6 Bridges Cruise along the Douro River. On this tour, you will follow the path of the old wine merchants from the valley to the cellars.
The tour is 50 minutes. From the water, you will see views of Ribeira’s beautiful streets and Vila Nova de Gaia’s iconic red-roofed buildings. As the tour states you will pass through several bridges while learning about the history of Porto and the bridges. If you enjoy history and scenic views, this is for you! We walked a lot in Porto and this leisurely boat tour provided a nice rest.
Price: 15 euros ($15.89 USD)
Address: Ponte Luís I, 4000 Porto, Portugal
Port Wine Tasting - Caves Callum or Taylors Port Wine
As soon as you cross the Dom Luís I Bridge, you will notice many Port wine cellars. If you enjoy drinking wine we recommend adding this to your 1 day in Porto itinerary. We spent about one hour during this stop!
We will share two popular wine cellars you can visit for a tour & port wine tasting. The most popular is known as Caves Calem. You can explore its interactive museum, tour the wine cellar, and learn about Port production and history. You will try two signature Ports: Fine White and Special Reserve Tawny. This is a great option if you want to stay alongside the riverside. Our favorite is Taylor’s Port Wine House.
Now let’s review our personal favorite! Taylor’s Port Wine is the largest producer of port wine and one of the first founding houses. It has a self-guided tour allowing you to walk through at your own pace. Taylor’s produces over 4 million liters of Port wine annually. The tour includes numerous stops where you can learn all about Port wine, its vintages, and its history.
On the tour, you will see a VAT that holds 133,000 bottles of wine! You’ll also discover why smaller casks are better for aging than large vats. Some of the wine is even still traditionally trodden by foot. On to the tastings! We were amazed by the view from the garden courtyard and terrace at Taylor’s. It’s like something out of a storybook. The greenery and elevated view over Porto with Luís Bridge in the distance were stunning!
The tasting includes two samples: one Chip Dry white and one 5-year-aged red vintage. Plus, you will receive a Port Tonic to take home.
Price:
Calem: 19 euros ($20 USD) Book your tickets in advance.
Taylors: 20 euros ($21 USD). Book your tickets in advance.
Caves Calem Address: Av. de Diogo Leite 344, 4400-111 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
Taylor’s Port Address: Rua do Choupelo 250, 4400-088 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
Vila Nova De Gaia Funicular
After the river cruise or port wine tasting you will be near the riverside. If it’s a sunny day you won’t want to miss a sunset at our next stop, Jardim Do Morro.
Instead of walking up a steep elevated hill, you can take the funicular directly to the park. This funicular is known as the Gaia cable car at Cais de Gaia station. You can purchase tickets at he ticket office on the ground level. Ticket prices vary based on whether you take it one-way or return. Honestly, we enjoyed it more than we thought albeit it’s a bit pricey. However, you can likely have the cable car private to yourself as long as it’s not busy! The journey takes about 5 minutes. It provides a cool perspective of the Ribeira side of Porto from the sky.
Price: One Way: 7 euros (Adult), 3.50 euros (Child)
Address: Ponte Luís I, 4000 Porto, Portugal
Jardim do Morro (Sunset)
Your 1 day in Porto would not be complete without visiting Jardim Do Morro.
Porto isn’t always sunny, but if you’re lucky you can witness one of the most beautiful sunsets in Portugal. Locals and tourists all come together to grab a spot on the hill before it begins. You can buy beer, water, and drinks while listening to live music as the sun goes down.
Earlier in the day you would have walked along the lower deck of Dom Luís I Bridge. You will notice that you are a 1-minute walk from the upper deck of the bridge. It’s also a wonderful spot to watch the sunset where you can take photographs. You can walk across or call a Bolt to dinner if you’re too tired. Now for the grand finale and one of the best places you must try arguably Porto’s most iconic dish.
Price: Free
Address: Jardim do Morro, 4430-210 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
Brasão Coliseu (Dinner)
End your day in Porto with an incredible dining experience at Brasao Colliseu. It’s about a 20-minute walk from Jardim Do Morro or you can take a quick Bolt or Uber.
Brasão Coliseu is a top spot for anyone wanting to experience traditional Portuguese cuisine with a modern twist during their 1 day in Porto. It’s famous for its perfectly crafted francesinha, Porto’s iconic sandwhich. It’s a hearty sandwich layered with steak, ham, melted cheese, and a rich tomato-based sauce.
We recommend trying the truffle and meat rissoles in addition to the massive fried onion! For drinks, you can’t go wrong with the white sangria or a refreshing craft beer.
As you only have 1 day in Porto, you want to ensure you make a reservation in advance. This restaurant filled up quickly even on a week day.
Price: 15-25 euros per person ($15- $26 USD)
Address: R. de Passos Manuel 205, 4000-385 Porto, Portugal
Conclusion
Porto is a city full of history, charm, and amazing experiences. This 1 day in Porto itinerary helps you explore the best spots in both Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia. Whether it’s enjoying the views from a miradouro, climbing Torre dos Clérigos, tasting Port wine, or taking a cruise on the Douro River, there’s something for everyone.
We’ve included a mix of activities, but you can easily change things to suit your preferences. If climbing stairs isn’t for you, choose a viewpoint for the views. If wine tasting isn’t your thing, the boat cruise is a great option. It all depends on what you enjoy and how much you can fit into one day. With some planning and an open mind, you can make the most of your 1 day in Porto.
We understand that sometimes you may only have 1 day to explore which is fine! We recommend 2 or 3 days to fully explore the city without time constraints.
However, if you plan to do day tours from Porto, you will need between 3 to 5 days. Porto is known to be a hub for incredible tours to Duorro Valley, Aveiro, Braga & Guimares. We will make a 2-day itinerary, 3-day itinerary, 4-day itinerary, and 5-day itinerary showcasing all the scenarios.
