Portugal
Porto Vacations
Top sights, highlights, and exclusive tips by Travel Experts
Travel to Porto on Vacation
Plan a Porto vacation with your Tourlane Travel Expert and you’ll discover Portugal’s charming second city. Rather than glitz and glamor around every corner, Porto has a rustic charm that is best enjoyed during a slow stroll through its narrow streets and steep alleys that emerge onto sweeping views. Cross the Dom Luis I Bridge into the Ribeira district, where port cellars and their cosy bars offer lively conversation and Fado folk music played on traditional 12-stringed guitars.
Dom Luis I Bridge
Ribeira
Porto Cathedral
1. Dom Luis I Bridge
Porto is defined by this bridge, a monumental gate that welcomes the ships coming into harbor. Designed by Gustav Eiffel—you might have heard of his tower in Paris—the bridge follows the same design principles of latticed ironwork. Take a guided walk along the curved span of the bridge, harnessed to the metalwork, or stay on terra firma and gaze over the city from the pedestrian span.
2. Ribeira
Porto’s Ribeira district could charm you for your entire vacation. Built on a system of steep alleyways that rises up from the river, lose yourself in the winding lanes and ramshackle squares of the district. Feeling hungry? Try your hand at the infamous Francesinha sandwich, a pork medley topped with melted cheese and a fried egg.Â
3. Porto Cathedral
If you’re interested in architecture, plan a trip to this holy building that was built in 1110, testament to Porto’s long and storied history. Walk between the grey stone towers that guard the entrance before being greeted by a beautiful rose window at the western end. Stroll around the gothic cloisters, where beautifully decorated Azulejo tiles line the walls, before heading outside into the square to enjoy dazzling views of the city’s terracotta rooftops.
4. Port Tour
Port is Porto’s most famous export - so why organize a Port Tour with your Tourlane Travel Expert. Explore candlelit cellars of the port makers and pick your sommelier’s brains over ruby, tawny, and reserve ports. Enjoy the sweet, full flavors of the wine and settle in for the evening, accompanied with local Fado folk music—a perfect way to relax during your Porto vacation.  Less
If you want to stay somewhere vibrant, we recommend staying as close as possible to the city's historic and charming center, Ribiera. If you prefer something quieter, consider staying further out of town. Porto is very hilly, and so you should consider the location of your accommodation before booking. Speak to a Tourlane Travel Expert for insider tips.
Porto is approximately 192 miles north of Lisbon. The journey takes about three hours by train, bus, or car. Alternatively, there are flights between the two cities which take approximately one hour.
In order to enjoy everything that the city has to offer, we recommend spending at least two days and two nights in Porto. This will allow you to see the main attractions and to go on at least one tour.
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