Travel Diary: Porto, Portugal

Portugal -- the place that started it all for me! Portugal was the very first country in Europe I ever visited and the first international trip I planned that wasn't an all-inclusive or through a study abroad program.

After visiting Portugal, I was hooked on travel -- the history, the food, and the general excitement of exploring somewhere new and learning about other cultures.

And this trip almost didn't happen for me! One of my best friends was attending a wedding in London over Labor Day, and when she mentioned that she may spend a few days traveling throughout Europe before the wedding, another friend and I quickly decided to invite ourselves to join her :-)

I really wanted to make the most of my time across the Atlantic (especially with Labor Day being a holiday), so I decided to tack on a few days in other countries after Portugal -- and since my then-boyfriend had never been to Europe, either, it was the perfect way to have a girls trip, a couples trip, and experience Europe for the first time. After our time in Portugal ended, I flew with my friend to London, where my boyfriend met us, and then he and I went on to explore London, Rome, and Paris. It was the most incredible 2-week trip!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. That means that if you make a purchase after clicking on a link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

tips and general info:

  • Portugal is an increasingly popular tourist destination -- and for good reason! It's relatively affordable; the weather is nice and sunny for much of the year; it's only 5 hours ahead of America's East Coast and a shorter nonstop flight than most countries in Europe; and the country offers multiple types of picturesque views, from rolling hills to orange rooftops to dazzling cliffs and glittering water. 
  • We visited Porto, Lisbon, and Lagos in Portugal, and I personally would rank Porto higher than Lisbon (which felt a bit more familiar because it feels more typical of a city).
  • I once read that Porto has old world charm with new world energy, which seems pretty accurate to me (although I felt Porto was quieter than Lisbon, while others feel Porto has more energy).
  • Take advantage of all the fresh seafood!
  • Consider purchasing the Porto Card depending on the length of your stay and your planned activities. (Click here for more details.)
  • There are many good opportunities for day trips:
    • Douro Valley (for scenic views, wine tasting tours, and river cruises)
    • Fatima (which is home to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima)
    • Peneda-Geres National Park (which is the only national park in Portugal)
    • Guimarães (a UNESCO World Heritage Site with medieval buildings, as well as "the cradle of the nation" where the first Portuguese king was born)
    • Braga (the "religious capital of Portugal")
  • We spent no more than 4 days at any location (often arriving on Day 1, exploring the next day or 2, and departing to the next location on Day 3 or 4). At the time (in my mid-20s), I felt as though this was a sufficient amount of time -- it kept us on the go so we didn't waste any time, we saw all the must-sees, and we had more than enough energy. Now (at 33 years old) I'm a bit more conflicted -- it'd be nice to have more time at each city, but I always want to go back to visit again no matter how much time I spend, and I still feel like there's so many places I want to see and so few days to see them, so I don't know -- I guess it'd be nice to slow down a day or two and not pack and unpack so much!

itinerary:

  • We visited in late August, and the weather was perfect for tank tops, shorts, and dresses.
  • We left New York City on Friday night and landed early Saturday morning; spent Saturday and Sunday exploring Porto; and left for Lisbon on Monday morning via train.
  • We stayed at an Airbnb. I am very much pro-hotels, so I think this was my first experience with an Airbnb -- and I forgot that there might not be elevators or smooth entrances, haha! I think our Uber driver panicked when he saw my giant suitcase and thought he'd have to help me manage it.
  • We noted some of the key things we wanted to do (Liveraria Lello, Dom Luís I Bridge) and then mostly just wandered the city, taking in the sights.

photo diary:

These photos were taken with an iPhone in 2017, I'm sorry they're not better quality!

Our first day in Porto! I ordered octopus at lunch, my first time ever eating it.
Sunglasses: Ray-Ban Mirrored Clubmaster sunglasses in green mirror (affiliate link) | Tank top: J. Crew

View of the Arrábida Bridge from our Airbnb


In front of the Clérigos Church

At the Livraria Lello & Irmão (the Lello Bookstore). The rumor is that this bookstore inspired J.K. Rowling to write Harry Potter -- even though it's not true, the bookstore definitely looks straight out of Harry Potter!


And the bookstore leans into the myth with its very own Platform 9¾

Sadly, I must have gotten locked out of the platform, just like Harry and Ron in The Chamber of Secrets.
Dress: Lulus (affiliate link) | Purse: Kate Spade | Sunglasses: Illesteva (affiliate link)

The tile in Portugal is so beautiful, and it's incredible to see the tiled exteriors and interiors of so many buildings! I loved this one because I matched it :-)

I believe this is the exterior of the Igreja do Carmo.


Exploring the Jardins do Palacio de Cristal

This man told me that he liked my dress and missed the days of people dressing up, haha



where to eat and drink:

what to do:

  • Walk the Ponte de Dom Luís I (Dom Luís I Bridge)
  • Explore the Jardins do Palacio de Cristal
  • Visit the Liveraria Lello (Harry Potter bookstore) -- expect a long line, and you will need to purchase tickets!
  • Go to a soccer game
  • Take a wine tour -- since port is made exclusively from grapes grown in Portugal's Douro Valley!
  • Tour the Palacio da Bolsa (Stock Exchange Palace)
  • Take a boat cruise
  • Porto Bridge Climb -- I loved the Sydney Bridge Climb!
  • Walk along the Cais da Ribeira pier
  • Take public transportation to Foz do Douro to see the ocean
  • Visit one of Porto's churches, like the Church of Sao Francisco (with its Gothic architecture), the Porto Cathedral (Sé do Porto) and/or the Clérigos Church (Igreja dos Clérigos). You can enter Clérigos for free, though you'll need to pay admission if you want to climb the steps to the top of the Clérigos Tower.
  • Shop on Rua de Santa Catarina
  • Visit the Bolhão Market (Mercado do Bolhão)
  • Wander the Sao Bento Station -- it's a beautiful train station, with lots of azulejo tiles.

links I used or recommend:

After Porto, my friends and I made our way south, taking the train to Lisbon, and then to Lagos, to complete our journey around Portugal. 

I am hoping to convince my family to plan a family trip to Portugal, since my parents, siblings, and husband have never been, and during my visit I didn't know about the bridge climb or have time to visit the Douro Valley... and I'm dying to spend some time in the Azores or Madeira, which are Portuguese islands in the Atlantic! 

Click here to read my travel diary of Lisbon and click here to read my travel diary of Lagos!

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