The Quintessential First Timer’s Guide To Porto 2025

After years of having Porto as a base, it’s easy to forget some of the ‘touristy’ things that makes the city so charming for local and first time visitors alike. These days, I rarely go down to Ribeira or cross the Ponte Luís I unless I’m showing someone a friend around. But every time I do, I’m reminded of why Porto is one of the most beautiful cities I’ve ever seen – especially on a warm and sunny day.

When friends visit for the first time, I forward them the two list I jotted down in my Notes app. This is the first one and I’ve made it easily accessible on my website. It includes the essentials. The things that are often called touristy, but for good reason. And basic information to get them acquainted with the city.

The Classic List Of Things To Do In Porto

1. Sunset at Jardim do Morro: It’s one of the busiest spots in the city during golden hour, but for good reason. The view of the Ribeira and the bridge is unmatched. Grab a drink, sit on the grass, and take it all in. Don’t be shy to join in when everyone claps at sunset. That said, there are stairs leading down to the river front. Plenty of good spots along the way that’s nowhere near as crowded.
2. Walk across the Ponte Luís I bridge (top and bottom): The Luís I bridge is the most iconic part of the Porto landscape connecting Porto to the Gaia side. The pathway is shared by pedestrians and the D line metro. Just remember to get out of the way when the metro passes. The double-decker bridge also has a lower deck for cars and cyclists, and you can also walk across there. On the way back, return along the lower level right next to the river.
3. Ribeira in the late afternoon: A glass of wine by the water, music from street performers, the lights of the bridge reflecting on the river. This part of the city is exactly what most people picture when they think of Porto. It’s the most tourist-filled spot, but that doesn’t take away from its appeal. I prefer the Gaia side. Tip: If you want to do a river cruise, skip the big cruise boats. You get a much better experience with this smaller speedboat.
4. Sao Bento Train Station: It’s one of the most photographed places in the city. The murals made from over 20,000 blue and white make the entrance to the train station just something else. I always pop in whenever I’m close by. The Time Out market is also accessible from the train station, but it’s not worth it in my opinion. There are better options.
5. Visit The Renovated Market Bolhao: This used to be the most important market in Porto. It underwent considerable renovation and modernization and re-opened in 2022. The offerings are more for tourists now, but it’s a beautiful place and still fun to snack around the stalls on the bottom floor or have a nice meal in one of the restaurants upstairs.
6. Livraria Lello: The J.K. Rowling Harry Potter connection is a myth, but this stunning library is still worth visiting. They do charge a 10€ admission fee, but it’s also a credit towards a book purchase. Big Tip: Trust me here. Avoid the long lines by buying the golden voucher online. It cost €15.95 and includes one of their beautiful Livraria Lello edition books from the classic Collection and there’s basically no line with this opinion.
    
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7. Cervejaria Gazela for Cachorrinhos: The local version of a hot dog was one of Anthony Bourdain’s favorite meals in Portugal. Perfect for a quick snack to be washed down with a cold beer. Gazela was where Bourdain went for it. Still worth visiting even if it’s become a bit of a tourist draw.
8. Eat A Francesinha: Porto’s famous calorie-ignoring take on the Croque Madame. Everyone swears by their favorite place. Many list will tell you to go to Café Santiago or Lado B. For me, the sauce is everything and my money goes to Camada in Boavista or Matosinhos.
9. Portuguese Center of Photography: Housed in an old prison, which makes the haunting visit worth it on its own. The museum has great exhibitions as well as a permanent collection of old camera equipments. I might be a little biased here as a photographer, but it’s completely free and there’s a great view of the city from the higher floors.
10. Sit at a café and enjoy a local pastry: A simple pleasure. Order a Bolo de Arroz or a Queque and sit outside with a coffee. It’s a ritual for Porto I enjoy, even when I can just make my own coffee at home.
11. McDonald’s Imperial: This is perhaps the most beautiful McDonald’s in the world. The chandeliers and art deco design of the former Cafe Imperial are preserved, even if you’re here for the fries instead of a coffee. There’s a special Portugal-only item on the menu – the McBifana.
12. Visit An Anti-Museum: Porto has no shortage of museums. Two of my favorites are the Porto Tram Museum and the Neonia, which is Porto’s take on neon-lit interactive experiences like TeamLab’s Borderless in Tokyo and Meow Wolf’s House of Eternal Return in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
13. Have a drink on the grass at BASE: Right behind Clérigos Tower, this open-air garden bar is lovely spot to relax in the afternoon with a view of the church. It feels like a garden escape right in the center of the city.
14. Take the vintage Tram 1 to Foz: Hop on near the riverfront and ride out to the ocean. It’s a slow ride on a historic tram and one of the most scenic ways to leave move along the river towards the beach. Ride it out to see the Lighthouse at the Foz or stop halfway for the Porto Tram Museum.
15. Port tasting in Gaia: Walk across the bridge and choose from one of the port cellars for a tasting of Porto’s celebrated port wine. Grahams, Cockburn, and Calém, and are good options with short tours of the cellars and affordable tastings.
     
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16. Clérigos Tower: Climb to the top for panoramic views of Porto. The cathedral is beautiful inside, but the climb to the top gives you an incredible view all around Porto. Try going early or right before sunset for the golden hour light.
     
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17. Lighthouse at Foz: I stay a few km away, so it’s one of my go-to sunset walks on a weekly basis. Walk along the river to Farolim de Felgueiras and watch the sunset over the Atlantic.

Getting Around Porto

Porto is compact and walkable, especially within the city center. If you’re venturing out to other neighborhoods or to the beaches, public transportation system is efficient and easy to use. Two cards are worth knowing about.

Andante Card

This is the standard rechargeable card for metro, bus, and some regional trains. You can load individual rides, 24-hour passes, or buy in sets of 5 and 10+1 to load onto the card. Most visitors will only travel within zone Z2, which covers most of the city. Matosinhos is Z3.

It’s best to buy and load the card at the airport and at metro stations. You pay €0,60 for the card. There’s also a ‘tourist’ version for 24 hours or 72 hours, but you’re probably better off buying the normal card.

SIGA Card

Used for CP regional trains when you want to travel outside of Porto. This includes popular day trips to Aveiro, Braga, and Espinho.

Tip: It is cheaper to load rides in advance onto your card, especially if you’re using the bus system. Metro machines and train stations usually accept card and cash. Some machines have tap functionality, but not all

Getting to and from the Airport

The airport is about 25 to 30 minutes from the city center. The city center is easily accessible by metro and or through ride share apps.

Metro

Line E (purple) connects the airport directly to Trindade Station. Buy a Z4 ticket. It runs regularly from early morning until just after midnight. A ticket is around €2.25 with an initial €0,60 card fee. Tip: You can load up with Z2 rides when you get to your metro destination to use around the city.

Uber or Bolt

Both are widely used in Porto and typically cost less than taxis. For short rides with 2-3 people, this is often cheaper and faster than taking public transport. I can usually get into the city for about 10-15€.

Best Time to Visit Porto

Porto is surprisingly visitable all year around. It never gets too cold or too hot.

The best time to visit Porto is from May to early October. The weather is sunny and warm but not overly hot like in the south of Portugal.

From November to February, expect gray skies and rain. It’s still warmer than most other places in Europe. And the city has a quiet beauty during the winter months, especially when the fog rolls in over the river.

Best Lunch Menus In Porto

One thing I take advantage of staying in Porto are the lunch menu offers on weekdays, especially the ones at beautiful upscale places with a pricier a la carte menu. If you wander around, you’ll find many spots, but here are a few that I’ve dined at. The easiest way to use The Fork and search for restaurants with lunch specials or an executive lunch.

Tokkotai

K.O.B By Olivier

Le Palais

OMA

Royale Pão Paixão

This is not an exhaustive list, but it will get you started.

The Fork is the local restaurant reservation platform. Completely free and restaurants offer no-strings attached discounts of between 30-50% to encourage new visitors. As a user, you also earn points with every reservation that you can use to get between €25-€50 off your bill.

If you haven’t used it before, you can sign up with code 83EBDDE8 to get an additional 1000 points sign up bonus.

Summer Events in Porto

Porto really comes alive in the summer with several big festivals and many free events organized by the city.

São João Festival

This is the biggest celebration of the year celebrated in June and the city is packed. Expect fireworks, music, grilled sardines, and crowds of people hitting each other on the head with plastic hammers. It sounds chaotic, but it’s so much fun if you happen to be here for it.

Open-air concerts and movies

Throughout July and August, the city hosts outdoor film screenings in places like Serralves Park and Palácio de Cristal. You’ll also find live jazz and classical music performances in public squares. Last year, I watched the horror-flick Immaculate in an old abandoned barracks. Very atmospheric.

Check out the Agenda Porto website for upcoming events.

Medieval Fair in Santa Maria da Feira

This massive fair at Santa Maria da Feira is held in August and is just 30 minutes from Porto. It transforms the town into a medieval village with parades, fire shows, and traditional food. There’s also one at the Mosteiro Leça do Balio in September.

What to Eat

1. Francesinha: Thick meat-filled sandwich covered in melted cheese with a fried egg on top before finished with a large ladle full of spicy beer-based sauce. Served with fries to pick up any excess sauce.
2. Cachorrinhos: Mini spicy hot dogs, grilled until crispy, and best paired with a cold beer.
3. Feijoada: A rich bean stew with pork. Best enjoyed in the winter but found year-round in traditional restaurants.
4. Polvo à Lagareiro: Grilled octopus with potatoes and olive oil. Simple and flavorful.
5. Cozido A Portuguesa: A traditional stew of boiled meats and vegetables. Simple but delicious.
6. Tripas à Moda do Porto: A hearty dish made with tripe, beans, and different chunks of meats. This is Porto’s namesake dish.
7. Bacalhau à Brás: Salt cod shredded and cooked with scrambled eggs and thin potatoes. Very Portuguese.
8. Arroz de Pato: Shredded duck baked with a fragrant rice with crispy bits of chorizo on top.
9. Pastel de Nata: Custard tart. Eat it warm with cinnamon. Manteigaria and Castro are two of the best places in the city to try one.
10. Bolo de Arroz and Queque: These aren’t flashy pastries, but they’re among my favorites. Soft, buttery, and perfect with a morning espresso. There are many other traditional Portuguese pastries, so choose with your eyes and nose.

Updated on May 28, 2025