Porto in 3 Days: Best Things to Do + Day Trip to Aveiro
- Irene
- Mar 23
- 5 min read
If you're looking for a relaxed yet culture-rich escape, the north of Portugal is an incredible destination that combines charming cities, stunning coastal landscapes, and amazing food. This 3-day Porto itinerary covers the best things to do in Porto, including hidden gems, iconic landmarks, and a perfect day trip to Aveiro. Perfect for a long weekend based in Porto, with a mix of sightseeing, local experiences, and a beautiful day trip to Aveiro. Expect picturesque streets, traditional architecture, and plenty of opportunities to enjoy delicious Portuguese cuisine along the way.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival in Porto
Day 2 – Exploring Porto
Day 3 – Day Trip to Aveiro
Best time to go: If you're wondering when to visit Porto for the best weather and fewer crowds, summer is ideal—especially for combining city exploring with nearby beaches. July and August are the best months to visit the north of Portugal as the area in general is cooler than the rest of the country. Take in to account that the temperature during the nights drops substantially so a jacket will be handy!
General advice: For some reason it was quite challenging to pay with credit card so make sure you take with you some cash.
Top tip: Porto is very walkable, but comfortable shoes are a must due to the steep hills and cobbled streets.
Recommended hotel is “Descobertas Boutique Hotel Porto”, amazing location and a beautiful and well decorated hotel.
Day 1: Arrival at Porto
Day 1 in Porto is all about soaking up the atmosphere and getting your first taste of the city’s charm. Have a walk around the Ribeira if you have time so you can see the lights of the city during the night.
Recommended dinner to taste Portuguese food at “Voltaria”, make sure that you try the cod! The place is quite small with only few tables so you will have to book in advance.
Day 2: Porto
The centre of Porto is small and therefore very easy to get around, however take into account that the city is very steep. The best thing to do in Porto is to get lost on the beautiful streets filled with blue tiled buildings, however there are also few things to see.
Livraria Lello: First thing in the morning is the best time to visit the famous book shop. This is often considered one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world and a must-visit in Porto. The queues to get into it are absolutely insane so make sure you get there early. You will have to get a ticket to get in but the price of the ticket will be deduced if you buy a book.
Church do Carmo: A beautiful church built in the 18th century with a magnificent panel of blue and white tiles, representing the Brown Scapular imposition on Mount Carmel. It is in my opinion one of the most beautiful buildings in Porto.
Clerigos Tower: This eighteenth century complex was commissioned by the Brotherhood of the Clérigos in the old town, on the “hill of the hanged men”, where the executed prisoners were buried. You can walk to the Clerigos Tower which is just 3 minutes from the bookshop.
Rua das flores: Have a walk around this pedestrian street that is surrounded by very nice buildings. At the end of the street there is a square with few nice terraces and a very nice atmosphere to have a quick drink or to come back in the evening after dinner.
São Bento Station: the station holds 20,000 magnificent azulejo tin-glazed ceramic tiles depicting Portugal’s past, its royalty, its wars, and its transportation history.
Porto Cathedral: On the top of a quite steep hill you can find Porto Cathedral. On the way up to the cathedral there are few points where you can see a nice view over the city. The Cathedral is in Batalha, very close to the walls that once protected the city. The building looks a bit like a fortress with crenels from the outside. I found other churches around the city more impressive than the cathedral to be honest...
Bolsa Palace: The next stop is at the Bolsa Palace, an impressive building particularly in the inside neoclassical style that is currently the headquarters of Porto’s Commercial Association.
Ribeira: After visiting the Bolsa Palace you are almost at the Ribeira that is an absolutely great place to have a walk and a drink. Ribeira is one of the most picturesque areas in Porto and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Luis I bridge: Cross the most famous Porto bridge to get to the Porto Cellars side of the city. The view of the city from this side as absolutely stunning! The double-decker Dom Luis I bridge is an icon of the city of Porto. It spans the River Douro linking the Port wine houses of Vila Nova de Gaia with the bustling downtown Ribeira district of Porto. Construction took place between 1881 and 1886 with the bridge being built adjacent to an existing bridge which it replaced. This is one of the best photo spots in Porto, especially at sunset.
I would recommend to stop here for lunch at the market (Mercado Beira-Rio) where you will have the opportunity of trying some Porto wine as well as delicious Portuguese dishes.
After lunch there are 2 main activities that you can try:
Porto wine cellars tours: this is a bit different than a normal wine tour given that the vineyards are not actually there in the city. It is more similar to a museum guide tour where they explain you how Porto is done.
Taking the funicular to one of the highest points to see the spectacular views of the city.
It sounds crazy to recommend this restaurant given how good the Portuguese food is but... “Belos Aires” is a fantastic Argentinian restaurant to have an amazing steak for a great price! Try as well their empanadas with the best chimichuri sauce ever!
Day 3: Aveiro
If you have extra time in Porto, this is one of the best day trips you can take in northern Portugal. Often called the “Venice of Portugal”, Aveiro is known for its canals, colourful boats, and charming atmosphere. It’s very close to Porto (just one hour by car) so it is perfect and easy. You can also get there by train, which takes around 1 hour and runs frequently throughout the day. Trains depart from São Bento or Campanhã stations and are affordable, reliable, and very convenient.
In Aveiro the most typical thing to do is to walk around the canals or to take a tour boat. It is very nice to walk around the colourful houses and neighbourhoods surrounding the canal. One great place to try good local wines and beer with a very nice terrace is “Trás os Montes”.
If you want to have lunch or dinner the 2 favourite options are “O Bairro”, Portuguese food with a modern twist and “Tasquinha da Ria”, that serves very very generous dishes that are really tasty. Make sure that you book as both places get very full.
If you are lucky and the weather allows you, you can go to the beaches of Costa Nova or Barra Beach. To get there you would need a car but these are just 15 min drive from Aveiro. There are super long beaches with amazing white sand!
Overall, this itinerary offers a perfect balance of city exploration and a scenic escape beyond Porto. From wandering through historic streets and admiring iconic landmarks to enjoying incredible food and discovering nearby coastal gems, the north of Portugal has so much to offer. It’s an easy, rewarding trip that feels both relaxed and full of character — one that I would absolutely recommend and happily repeat.
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