Portugal is a country known for its rich history, stunning landscapes, and vibrant culture. They have so many beautiful cities to explore. One of the cities you have to add to your Portugal itinerary is Porto. Porto is known as Portugal’s second largest city and located north of Lisbon. It is a Unesco World Heritage Site and filled with so much history, beautiful architecture and known for their famous Port wine. It combines incredible views and old world charm. Even though you can spend a few days in Porto, it is also a great place to explore in just one day. In this guide, I will be sharing all the details on how you can take a day trip to Porto from Lisbon and how you can see all the city’s top main attractions, historic neighborhoods, and beautiful views in one full day!
How to Get to Porto from Lisbon
Porto is a city located in northern Portugal. It is very easy to get to and is one of the most accessible places in Portugal. There are several ways to get to Porto from Lisbon. You can rent a car or take public transport. There are even flights that you can take from Lisbon to Porto, but since we are only doing a day trip to Porto from Lisbon, a flight in this case would be too much of a hassle.
If you are using a rental car on your trip to Portugal, the drive from Lisbon to Porto is around three hours. If you are not planning on renting a car, the best option and easiest way of traveling from Lisbon to Porto is by train. The travel time is around 3 hours. You can choose between Alfa Pendular trains (high speed train) and Intercity trains, which have more stops along the way.
You can take the train from Lisbon’s Oriente Station located in the city center. Train tickets from Lisbon to Porto start at $64, but it depends on other factors such as how close the date of purchase is to the departure date, availability, seating class, etc. They have daily departures and many time options throughout the day. All Lisbon to Porto trains stop at the Campanha train station, which is about a mile and half from the Porto city center. You can change trains there and take one to the Sao Bento station, which is more centrally located to the city. This train takes about six minutes.
You can purchase Lisbon to Porto train tickets here!
The cheapest option is taking the bus from Lisbon to Porto. The journey time is around three hours and thirty minutes. Buses run throughout the day. There are two bus stations in Lisbon: Sete Rios and Oriente. The bus station at Sete Rios is used by Rede Expressos. The Oriente bus station is used by FlixBus and some Rede Expressos. The average cost of the bus is around $20. The bus drops you off at the Campanha bus station so you can either take a train to Porto’s city center or call a taxi or uber.
Best Things to do on a Day Trip to Porto from Lisbon
Morning: Departure from Lisbon and Arrival in Porto
Begin your day early to make the most out of your day trip to Porto from Lisbon. Once you arrive to Porto, the best way to start your day is with a traditional Portuguese breakfast at a local cafe. I recommend trying a pastel de nata (custard cup) and an espresso to energize yourself for the exciting day!
Late Morning: Discovering Historic Ribeira
Stroll Along the Douro River
Porto lies along the Douro River. This river starts in Spain and crosses all through north of Portugal. Porto is known for its six bridges and they all cross the Douro River. You will begin your Porto day trip by exploring the historic Ribeira district and strolling along the Douro River. Ribeira is actually one of the oldest districts in Porto. You can wander through all the little alleyways and cobblestone streets and check out the colorful buildings. There are a lot of bars, cafes, and restaurants. If you have enough time, you can also take a boat trip along the Douro River to cruise beneath Porto’s six bridges.
Dom Luis Bridge
The Dom Luis Bridge is one of the most iconic landmarks in Porto. It spans the Douro River and connects the city of Porto with Vila Nova de Gaia. This bridge was actually designed by the same architect that designed the Eiffel Tower which is pretty cool!
The Dom Luis Bridge features a double-deck structure with two levels of arches. The upper deck is used for vehicles and pedestrians, while the lower deck was initially designed for trams. Currently, both levels are used for pedestrians.
Walking across the Dom Luis Bridge provides breathtaking views of Porto, the Douro River and the colorful buildings along the water.
Wine Tastings in Vila Nova de Gaia
Vila Nova de Gaia is a separate city located on the southern bank of the Douro River directly across from Porto. These two cities are interconnected by several bridges including the Dom Luis Bridge. Vila Nova de Gaia is known for their famous port wine cellars, where port wine is produced and aged. You can take a guided tour of one of the wine cellars where you can learn about the production process and enjoy some tastings.
The riverfront of Vila Nova de Gaia provides spectacular views of the city of Porto on the opposite bank of the Douro River. Even if you are not interested in doing a wine tasting, I still recommend crossing the bridge so you can check out the city views!
Afternoon: Cultural Exploration
Francesinha for Lunch
You have to try Porto’s most famous dish, francesinha. This is a sandwich filled with different meats like ham, Portugese sausage, steak or roast beef and then covered with melted cheese served in tomato sauce. It was actually pretty good. If that is not something you would enjoy, you can also enjoy a leisurely lunch at a riverside restaurant in Ribeira. You can sample fresh seafood like bacalhau (salted codfish) or other Portuguese specialties while taking in the beautiful views.
Capala das Almas
The “Capala das Almas” – known as the Chapel of Souls – is a beautiful chapel in Porto. The most distinctive feature is that the outside is covered with blue and white azulejos which are traditional Portuguese ceramic tiles. These tiles depict scenes from the lives of saints and religious figures. It is absolutely beautiful. It is a must see in Porto and makes a great photo spot!
Igreja do Carmo
The Igreja do Carmo, or Carmo Church, is a beautiful church in Porto. The church features two tall towers and similar to the Capala das Almas, the exterior is made up of azulejos. The tiles are so pretty!
Livraria Lello
Livaria Lello, also known as the Lello Bookshop, is a historic bookstore in Porto. It is known for its stunning architecture, intricate design, and rich history. It is actually considered one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world. One of the most distinctive features of Livraria Lello is its striking red staircase. The details and craftsmanship of the staircase add to the overall charm of the bookstore. You will also find a beautiful stained glass window that adds natural light into the space. And it is a must-see for Harry Potter fans since this beautiful library actually inspired JK Rowling to create the Harry Potter universe!
You should also visit Cafe Majestic for a late afternoon coffee break. It’s a charming and cute little cafe where JK Rowling wrote some of the Harry Potter books here!
Clerigos Tower
The Clerigos Tower is tall bell tower and one of Porto’s most recognizable and visited structures. Visitors can climb a narrow spiral staircase of 225 steps to reach the top of the tower. You will be rewarded with beautiful panoramic views of Porto and the Douro River. It’s such an incredible view and it was actually one of my favorite things we did in Porto.
Sao Bento Railway Station
If you didn’t get the chance to walk through the Sao Bento Railway Station, I recommend checking it out! It is one of the most beautiful train stations in the world. The walls are covered with 20,000 pretty azulejo ceramic tiles which describe Portuguese history.
Evening: Sunset, Dinner, and Head Back to Lisbon
Sunset at Foz do Douro
As the evening approaches and your day trip to Porto from Lisbon comes to an end, I would head to Foz do Douro. It is a beachfront area where the Douro River meets the Atlantic Ocean. You can enjoy a breathtaking view and sunset along the promenade with views of the ocean and the river.
Dinner at a Traditional Portuguese Restaurant
Choose a traditional Portuguese restaurant in the city center or along the riverfront for a delicious dinner!
Head Back to Lisbon
After a fun day trip in Porto, it is time to head back to Lisbon.
Do you want to see more beautiful cities in Portugal? Check out my Algarve and Lisbon Portugal travel guides.
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