4 days in Porto with @gracegrangetravel

If you don’t like sightseeing, urban beaches and great food, you definitely won’t like Porto… I was lucky enough to spend a short-and-sweet four days there, and I fell in love! There’s so much to see (and taste) in the city, as well as some beautiful nature you can escape to just outside. If you need help planning your trip to Porto, here’s what I got up to…  

Day 1 – arriving in Porto  

We didn’t land in Porto until late evening, so I tried to see as much as I could in the dark as we travelled from the airport to our hotel to get a feel for what the few days ahead of us would be like! When we checked into our hotel, Vincci Ponte De Ferro, we were handed a glass of fizz – and it was then I knew I was going to love it… The hotel was beautifully designed – it’s all Art Deco vibes, and I could tell the views were amazing even in the dark. We were shown to our room and were ready for a good night’s sleep before our first full day. 

Day 2 – Sao Bento Station, Mercado do Bolhao and the coolest McDonalds…   

The next morning, we got to see how centrally located we were, as well as the incredible views of the iconic Dom Luis I Bridge and the stunning rooftop terrace. We fuelled up on the hotel breakfast before heading out to explore the city.  

We started the day visiting the famous Sao Bento Station, followed by pastel de nata from the nearby Manteigaria (which were 10/10, btw!) We spent some time wandering the streets of the Ribeira area – which I love to do when visiting a new city – and had to pop into what’s known as the most ‘beautiful McDonalds in the world’. It was definitely the boujiest McDonalds I’ve ever seen, featuring chandeliers and stained glass windows plus a giant eagle outside!   

Next up was Mercado do Bolhao, which is now up there with my favourite markets in Europe (and that’s saying something because I consider myself a market connoisseur!). We passed by the Chapel of Souls on the way, which is covered in the beautiful blue azulejos tiles that Portugal is known for. In the market, we grabbed a glass of vino verde for €2.50 and a plate of fresh seafood, and wandered around looking at all the delish produce like tinned sardines, charcuterie and flowers.   

That evening, we went to a lovely, low-key restaurant called Cantinho do Avillez, which serves Portuguese food – we had to book a table because it was busy! Then, we finished the day off with cocktails on the terrace at Digby. It’s super stylish with retro decor and an unreal rooftop view – I would highly recommend!  

Day 3 – swimming and hiking in Peneda-Geres Natural Park 

On the third day, we swapped the city for nature on a First Choice Experience, a guided tour to Peneda-Geres Natural Park. And wow, was it beautiful! We hardly saw any tourists all day and spent our time swimming in the lake and hiking to a waterfall – my favourite bit was an fun kart cross tour. We also had lunch in a sleepy hillside village, which our guide recommended. The park truly is a hidden gem and well worth the journey out of Porto city in the summer.   

If you’re after a more relaxed trip out of the city buzz, check out Restaurante Praia da Luz, a beach club just 10 minutes’ walk from the centre. Go for a late lunch or early dinner, but make sure you stay for sunset when the DJ picks up and the sun goes down – the vibes are amazing!  

Day 4 – empanadas, port tasting and final-day feels 

On our last day, we did a looot more exploring and eating – the empanadas at Bom Sucesso market were delicious and any itinerary should include the Gaia district, where you can visit the port houses for tastings, as well as watching the sunset at Jardim do Morro. This was the best way to end the trip and reflecting on what a vibrant city it is. Until next time, Porto! 

If @gracegrangetravel’s trip sounds like a bit of you, have a look at our Portugal holidays and you can find all her picks on our Insiders Hub.  

Keep an eye out for the ‘Insider pick’ tag when you’re browsing our best deals and in your holiday search results, too. 

Looking for more articles? You’ll find them on the Inspire homepage.  

Author: @gracegrangetravel
Last updated: 28/08/2024