A Perfect Day in Porto

Porto may be a small city, but it’s packed with incredible experiences. My best advice is to
wear comfortable shoes and climb plenty of stairs before getting here - get the legs in shape.
You will be climbing a lot of hills but it will be worth it! If not for everything else, for the
beautiful views!
To start off the day as a true Portuense you need to have a Café and Pastel de Nata. I
always suggest going on a Pastel de Nata rally, trying a few from different places and
creating your own ranking. Here are my top three:

• Castro: R. de Mouzinho da Silveira 61, 4050-420 Porto
• Fábrica da Nata: R. de Santa Catarina 331 335, 4000-451 Porto
• Manteigaria: R. de Santa Catarina 357, 4000-446 Porto
  

If you are not a fan of Pastéis de Nata (which I find extremely unlikely), you can also go for
an Éclair. Nothing beats ‘Quinta do Paço’ in making éclairs and so if you are in for a
delectable experience, pay them a visit and taste the best cream you’ll probably ever have.

Now that you feel a bit more energized, I suggest tying up your shoe laces and exploring the
city by foot. Roam along the Aliados Avenue, get lost in the shopping strip of Rua de Santa
Catarina, stare at the beautiful tile work at Capela das Almas de Santa Catarina and taste
some Portuguese delicacies in the traditional Mercado do Bolhão.
Some key sites of Porto to visit.

• Torre dos Clérigos: 75-meter-high baroque tower was designed by Italian architect
  Nicolau Nasoni.
• Mercado do Bolhão: Porto 's traditional market.
• Palácio da Bolsa: 19th-century neoclassical building that once housed the city's
  Stock Exchange.
• Sé do Porto: Romanesque-Gothic cathedral located in the heart of Porto, Portugal.
• Jardins do Palácio de Cristal: Beautifully landscaped gardens offering amazing
  views of the city.
  

When you are done exploring the historical centre of Porto, I would walk along the riverfront
in Ribeira and cross Ponte D.Luis I: the most iconic bridge in Porto, designed by one of
Eiffel’s partners. You will then end up in Cais de Gaia, where the delicious Port Wine is
produced. If you are looking to visit one of the Port wine cellars, I would suggest visiting the
ones that are still family run, which unfortunately are not so many. Quinta do Bom Dia, is
still a family operated wine cellar and one I would recommend visiting.

As the day draws to an end, I would head up to Jardim do Morro to catch a beautiful sunset
surrounded by an amazing environment with street performers creating a soundtrack for one
of nature’s most beautiful delights. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can go for the Oporto’s
Bridge Climb, and climb the once World’s biggest concrete arch in Ponte da Arrábida and
watch the sun setting from up high!

Now after all this walking you must be feeling quite hungry! It’s time for a Francesinha: a
true Porto classic, it’s the most traditional dish of the north. A sandwich stuffed with all sorts
of meat and soaked in a delicious sauce. Here are my top places to taste them:

• Lado B: R. de Passos Manuel 190 Frente, 4000-382 Porto
• Brasão: R. de Ramalho Ortigão 28, 4000-407 Porto
• Verso em Pedra: R. da Arménia 16, 4050-066 Porto
• Santiago: R. de Passos Manuel 226, 4000-382 Porto

Alternative things to do:

• Visit Serralves: contemporary art museum with beautiful gardens to explore.
• Take the tram to Passeio Alegre: get on the tram from Ribeira to Passeio Alegre,
  and enjoy a scenic ride along the riverside all the way to Foz do Douro.
• Explore the coastline: In terms of convenience it’s easier to reach the coastline in
  the Porto side, however, Gaia has some stunning beaches to visit as well. So here
  are my top picks from both coasts:
  in gaia:
• Praia da Madalena
• Praia do Senhor da Pedra: an iconic beach with a chapel in the middle of it!
  in Porto:
• Praia dos Ingleses
• Praia de Matosinhos: iconic spot for surfing, excellent for beginner surfers