Arriving at Porto Airport Porto Airport, Porto was straightforward, and the transfer to the city center took about thirty minutes. We checked into Hotel Infante Sagres Hotel Infante Sagres, Porto, which felt a bit more formal than our usual style but was perfectly comfortable. We spent the first few hours just walking around the Baixa neighborhood to get our bearings.
The next morning, we set out to see the main sights. We visited the Porto Cathedral Sé do Porto, Porto for the views, then moved on to Livraria Lello Livraria Lello, Porto and the Clérigos Tower Clérigos Tower, Porto. The climb up the tower is a workout, but the 360-degree view of the city is worth the effort. We made a quick stop at São Bento Railway Station São Bento Railway Station, Porto to look at the tiles before heading to the Palácio da Bolsa Palácio da Bolsa, Porto for a tour. Lunch at Cantina 32 Cantina 32, Porto was a solid choice for a casual break.
“Porto is deceptively steep, so plan your footwear accordingly if you want to avoid sore feet by midday.”
Day three was focused on the riverfront. We headed to Taylor's Port Taylor's Port, Vila Nova de Gaia for a tasting, which provided a good look at how the wine is actually made. Afterward, we walked through the Ribeira District Ribeira District, Porto and crossed the Dom Luís I Bridge Dom Luís I Bridge, Porto on foot. It is a long walk, but the perspective from the bridge is much better than looking at it from below.
We spent the afternoon in Gaia, visiting the Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar, Vila Nova de Gaia for another vantage point of the river. We grabbed lunch at Café Santiago Café Santiago, Porto and later found dinner at Taberna Barbeira Taberna Barbeira, Porto. Ending the day at Tasquinha da Sé Tasquinha da Sé, Porto kept our total spending well within our five-hundred-euro budget, proving that you can eat and drink well here without overextending.