My top 5 things to do on a weekend in Porto
Porto is a city with an austere and charming beauty, with pretty houses and buildings that tend to have a darker undertone compared to the ones in Lisbon, and façades that are typically decorated with blue azulejos (tiles) over a white background. I am a big fan of Portuguese façades, so I like to stop and admire every little details, enjoying how each building is full of personality and tells a different story. Every time I visit Portugal I am always utterly fascinated by the way the building are decorated and by the colorful intricacies of the tiles work.
I have been to Porto two times so far, and every time it was for a special occasion that did not leave much time to visit the city, plus we stayed just for the weekend. However, even in a short period of time, I have managed to see a good amount of things around the city. So today I would like to share my top 5 things to do in Porto if you are visiting this lovely city for the weekend:
1) Visit the Ribeira and the Dom Luis I bridge.
This bridge over the Douro river is possibly the most iconic view of the city of Porto. I highly recommend having a walk on it (there are two levels of traffic, and the top one is reserved for pedestrians), because the view from the top is so worth it. You can see the river, and the old city spreading out next to it, and it is simply stunning. The bridge was opened to the public in 1886, and it was built by a student of Gustave Eiffel. It has indeed a very similar style to the Tour Eiffel, made of iron a majestic look. Ribeira is the name of the neighborhood around this area and it is a lovely place for an evening or day stroll. It is an extremely characteristic maze of small and hilly streets, so definitely be prepared for a good walk! As it is common in Portugal, you get to enjoy the climbing up and down, which helps burning the calories of the previously consumed francesinha (see below!). This part of the city has been declared a World Heritage site by Unesco and it’s really a pleasure to visit, don’t miss it. There’s also many food and shopping spots to stop along the way, together with plenty of stunning photos opportunities (if you are into taking a lot of photos, like me).
2) Try the Port wine
A visit to Porto cannot be considered completed without trying some of this delicious wine, which is exclusively produced in the Douro valley. Port is a fortified wine with a sweet taste that varies a lot according to the specific type: for example it can be more or less fruity, intense, or dry. Amongst the ones I tried, my favorite one was the tawny variety because of its complexity of taste. There is also ruby port and white port, the latter being a softer and fresher version in my opinion. No matter which type of port you try, you need to have at least a glass when visiting the city.
3) Have a “francesinha”
After a drink suggestion, I cannot miss a food one. If you are into strong flavors and a powerful lot of meat, this is the dish for you. Francesinha literally means “little French” because it was originally developed as a variation of the French “croque-monsieur”. It is a super typical dish in Porto and it tends to create a strong emotional reaction: you usually either love it or hate it. It is made with sandwich bread, cured ham, different types of sausages, steak or roast meat and covered with a thick layer of melted cheese. Sometimes it also has a egg on top. It comes on a plate surrounded by chips and a secret sauce, usually with a brown - red color. The sauce is a secret recipe and every restaurant makes it in a slightly different way - from what I have gathered, it tends to include beer. The quality and taste of the francesinha really depends on the restaurant - last time I tried it was in a place called Cervejaria Brasão Aliados and according to the aficionados it was very good. I am personally not a fun but I had a try because I was curios and it was quite fun. Also, if you manage to finish one, you are definitely full for the day until dinner! (possibly you can also skip dinner).
4) Visit the Livraria Lello
This bookshop is a dream for book lovers and it had me geeking out real hard, I am so glad I got to see it. It is located in the road Rua das Carmelitas, in the city centre. The building is very noticeable from outside, with a beautiful façade decorated in a mix of Liberty and Neo-Gothic style. In particular, there are two figures adorning its side: on the left is an image of the Art, holding a sculpture, and on the right of the Science holding one of the symbols for anthropology. To enter, you need to pay a 4 Euros ticket which you can then get discounted if you buy a book. The building was built in 1869 with the name Livraria Internacional de Ernesto Chardron. It then changed the name after it changed owner and re-opened as Livraria Lello & Irmão in 1906. It is considered one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world. I really felt a sense of magic and awe when entering: the interior is dominated by a majestic red staircase which seems to be flowing in space and guides the visitors to the upper section. There is a sense of calm and culture in the bookshop, and just so many beautiful books together, in many languages and about a large variety of topics. I also loved to see how the bookshelves were decorated with small marble faces representing the authors. There is a section at the top floor that contains special and rare books. Another interesting thing that I learnt about the bookshop is that ceiling of the ground floor, which appears to be made of carved wood, is actually made of painted plaster.
The most striking element of the ground floor is surely the red staircase, which has a an audacious design that almost makes it look like it is about to fly. An interesting fact about this staircase is that it seems it inspired JK Rowling when writing Harry Potter, providing the inspiration for the staircase in Hogwarts and the library in Diagon Alley. Rowling lived in Porto in the 90s while teaching English and she would often visit the library.
At the top floor you can admire the elaborate architectural details in Art Deco style and a beautiful glass ceiling. Visiting this bookshop was a lovely experience and a great occasion to get lost for some time in a beautiful sea of books. Highly recommended!
5) Visit the Palacio da Bolsa
I got a chance to enter this building when I visited Porto the first time in 2016. The palace was built in the 19th century by the city's Commercial Association (Associação Comercial) in Neoclassical style. I was lucky enough to have a dinner in the marvellous Arabian room, which is incredibly full of all sorts of adornments and is decorated in “Moorish Revival” style. There are other rooms that are worth visiting in the palace, but the Arabian room is in my opinion the most striking and beautiful. The building is nowadays used as the headquarters of the Commercial Association of Porto and is open to the public for visits.
I hope you enjoyed these tips! Let me know in the comments below if you have been or plan to go to Porto, or if you would add any other not to miss places to my list.
Best,
Serena