The colorful city of Portugal does not rival the busy and bustling capital Lisbon– and that’s exactly what makes this northern city the perfect place to spend the weekend. Add a third or fourth day and you’ll be happy you did– a long weekend is the perfect amount of time to take in all of the sights without feeling rushed.

Being next to the sea, I would have preferred to visit the nearby beaches since Miss Corona chose to close down the nightclubs for the year… but the rainy and cold weather suggested I explore the surrounding nature (and rooftop bars) on a warmer day.

 

What to Do and See

1.) Tour the Palácio da Bolsa

If you can see, I chose this fuzzy, pink outfit specifically to visit the Palácio da Bolsa and live out my princess fantasies. I’m not too sure when the palace will open up for individual tours, but as of now, you have to take a guided tour, which is only 10 euros.

2.) Get witchy at the Livraria Lello

Visiting the famous library that inspired J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter was the first thing on my itinerary when arriving Porto. I purchased the 5 euro voucher online because I thought it would grant me permission to skip to the front of the line… no. Line up early (and bring an umbrella) because the average wait time is almost two hours.

3.) View the Sé Catedral

Honestly, I don’t like going inside cathedrals because I’m anti-organized religion– and I also feel it’s disrespectful to take photos inside. But of course, every city in Europe has it’s own grand cathedral, so visiting Porto’s is an obvious for lovers of architecture and history.

4.) Watch the sunset from the Dom Luís I Bridge

The sunset didn’t exactly paint the city orange and pink like I thought it would due to the cloudy weather, but nonetheless, crossing Porto’s most famous bridge will give you spectacular views of the Douro river and entice you to venture into Vila Nova de Gaia.

5.) Go wine tasting along the Douro River

Crossing the Dom Luís I Bridge to the beginning of the Vila Nova de Gaia side of Porto, you will discover lots of wine cellars and bars to sip Porto’s famous port wine– wine the Portuguese claim is the best in the world. I personally drink wine priced no more than 2 euros because I am of low class, so my wine expertise is to be taken with a grain of salt. But, for 11 euros (that I was initially told was free), I was given four glasses of differently aged wines and a brief history of Satan’s sexy and seductive water.

6.) Marvel at the Azulejos tiles

All of the beautiful blue and white ceramic tiles you see on all of the buildings in Porto are called azulejos, tiles that illustrate their own unique stories of daily Portuguese life, religion, and history.

7.) Wander the Old Town

Just before the Dom Luís I Bridge is Porto’s colorful and rustic Old Town. Don’t be fooled by the pricy eateries facing the river, getting lost in the small, cobblestone streets furthering the bridge will lead you to hidden, yet traditional restaurants and shops that embody the Portuguese soul.

8.) Climb the Torre dos Clérigos

If you want something to do, you can climb the Torre dos Clérigos, the bell tower of the Clérigos Church. I didn’t do it because heels, but of course, climbing the tower will give you better views of the city.

9.) See the São Bento Railway Station, the prettiest train station in Portugal

Porto’s railway station has the traditional azulejos tiles that characterize the city. It also seems to be one of the most Instagrammable places in Porto– and it’s small enough to get your picture and go without getting bothered by crackheads.

10.) Try the Francesinha

And lastly, trying Portuguese cuisine will leave your belly satisfied and cultured. Again, as no food expert, I didn’t exactly know which seafood dish to choose that I hadn’t already tasted in some other form, so I decided on the Francesinha. This may look like an oddly-textured blob of nothing, but it’s really a sandwich made of ham, sausage, and beef floating in a somewhat spicy tomato and beer sauce, that is then drizzled with a copious amount of cheese. This dish originates from Porto, so every restaurant will recommend you order this as your main course.

 

Hostel Review

PILOT Design Hostel & Bar

I stayed at PILOT Design Hostel & Bar, which was an excellent choice given its thirty-second proximity to all of the busy bars and restaurants. Fortunately, Porto is a walkable city, so everywhere you go will be no more than a twenty-minute walk. Of course, COVID-19 times isn’t bringing in many travelers, but the hostel itself was still quite social. It is not ginormous, which is what makes it easier to interact with others. If the world hasn’t ended any time soon, I’d definitely stay at this hostel again because they have pub crawls, surf lessons, and other organized tours.