Porto
This was my first trip to Porto. It was a short stay, mostly centered around a family wedding, so the itinerary wasn’t jam-packed, but it gave me a good taste of what the city has to offer—and left me wanting to come back for more.
We flew from Heathrow and arrived in Porto late at night. By the time we’d grabbed a taxi and made it to our Airbnb in the historic centre, there wasn’t much to do besides unpack and get some rest. Still, even in the dark, Porto had a charm to it—narrow streets lit by the soft glow of streetlamps and the faint hum of life from nearby restaurants and cafés.
Exploring the Douro
On our first full day, we walked down to the river and into Ribeira, one of Porto’s most well-known districts. It’s the kind of place that looks like it’s been pulled straight off a postcard—colourful houses stacked tightly along the water, the paint a little weathered but all the more beautiful for it.
We crossed the Dom Luís I Bridge that connects Porto to Vila Nova de Gaia on the other side of the river. The views from the top of the bridge were incredible—you can see the Douro stretching out on either side, lined with boats and framed by the city’s terracotta rooftops. After walking along Gaia’s riverside, we decided to take the cable car back up to save our legs. It’s a quick ride but offers another chance to soak in those views.
Livraria Lello and Lunch
On day two, we headed to Livraria Lello, the famous bookshop that’s said to have inspired parts of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. As a family of mad HP fans this was definitely a fun activity and you can absolutely see where the inspiration comes from. That said, it’s become a bit of a tourist hotspot, so it was quite crowded when we visited. You had to book online for a timed ticket and even then, there was a queue. I find it hard to resist a bookshop at the best of times so it felt well worth it for me!
For lunch, we found a little tapas place. I was travelling as a pescetarian, which meant navigating Porto’s food scene took a little extra thought. Portuguese cuisine is heavily focused on meat. Seafood is also a big part of the food culture here, with bacalhau (salt cod) being a national dish, but it wasn’t always the easiest to find lighter or vegetarian options. Tapas turned out to be a good go-to for small plates and variety.
A Wedding and a Boat Ride
The main reason for our trip was a family wedding, which took place over days three and four. The venue was stunning, set just outside the city and surrounded by beautiful scenery. The wedding itself was full of drinking, dancing and way too much food, as all good weddings should be.
On our final day in Porto, we made the most of the quieter pace. After a relaxing morning by the pool, we hopped on a boat cruise along the Douro. I’d highly recommend seeing the city from the water.
Later, we headed back to Ribeira for a drink at Ribeira 50, a little riverside spot with great views, before dinner at Flor de Bragança, a cosy local restaurant. It was the perfect way to wrap up our time in Porto—a mix of good food, good wine, and that easy, unhurried vibe that only European cities seem to embody.
A City Worth Returning To
The next morning, we packed up, said our goodbyes, and caught a train to Lisbon. It was a short visit, and between the mixed weather and a bit of low energy on my part, I didn’t get to explore Porto as fully as I’d hoped. But what I did see has stuck with me—the cobbled streets, the colourful riverfront, the views from the bridge.
Porto has a quiet kind of magic that sneaks up on you. It’s not the kind of city that shouts for attention, but the more time you spend there, the more you notice its little details. I’d love to come back one day with a bit more time, a bit more sunshine, and a lot more energy to explore everything it has to offer.