Portugal Part I: 4 Perfect Days in Porto

Part I: Porto - Where History Meets Hearty Fare

Portugal…perhaps the worst kept secret in the travel community. This is a country where stunning mosaics, majestic waters, and deep cultural history are matched by incredible food, world recognized wines, and those Southern European chill vibes. Its major cities, which we’ll highlight one of them in the below itinerary during our latest trip, blend the best of what makes the country great into digestible metro regions for you to experience in crash course or slow travel style.

The itinerary that we recently embarked on—an ideal blend of historic charm, breathtaking scenery, and, most importantly, unforgettable meals—can serve as a blueprint for your next European escape. If you've been dreaming of savory francesinhas, velvety Port wine, and serene sushi sunsets on the Atlantic coast, this your perfect guide to planning a Portugal foodie escape!

Porto captured my heart immediately. Our base for the first four nights was the stunning Torel 1884 - Apartments, a historic haven that felt like a true home away from home. The sights and sounds of bustling Rua das Flores oozed into our cozy apartment window just a few floors above.

The Indulgent Introduction

Our trip kicked off on a Friday with an arrival at Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO) and a swift check-in to Torel 1884. The first dinner set the tone for the entire trip: a small, modern Portuguese spot called Apego Restaurante. The atmosphere was cozy, and the wine list was exceptional—a perfect first taste of Porto's sophisticated yet unpretentious dining scene.

The Duoro Valley's Embrace

Saturday was all about wine. We started with a traditional pastry & coffee breakfast at Bella Roma—fueling up with flaky, sweet goodness before a full day of touring the majestic Douro Valley. This region, with its terraced vineyards climbing the steep hillsides, is simply stunning. The Gold Experience offered by Douro Exclusive gave us an intimate look at the home of Port wine. Douro Exclusive absolutely crushed it from start to finish. From the flawless pickup at our hotel in the morning to the guide’s intimate knowledge of the Douro region to the careful selection of small family-run vineyards, this day was special.

We got back early enough to still crave a little night out. Off to Cachorrinho Gazela—a cervejaria and snack bar most known for its traditional Portuguese hot dogs. Think melty cheese and Portuguese sausage tucked inside of hot dog size French bread roll pressed like a Cubano. A couple of these and a beer are perfect nightcap after a day of touring the Douro. If you’re really up to it you can keep the party going at The Royal Cocktail Club, a sleek and modern cocktail spot mixing some of Porto’s best libations treats.

The Day of the Francesinha

This day was dedicated to exploration and the city’s most famous sandwich, the Francesinha. After breakfast, (we chose to stay healthy, but our Porto list has a variety of traditional first meal options) our morning started with a visit to the Sé do Porto, the 12th-century Romanesque cathedral. The views from the top were simply amazing, offering sweeping perspectives of the surrounding area along with stunning mosaics inside the Cathedral walls.

After about an hour or so, we had hit our history quota. Time for some shopping. Rua do Almada is a perfect place to find unique and local crafts, especially on a Sunday, when you may stumble upon a market or two. We found the locally painted mosaics especially temping.

Okay time to stop messing around. We all know what this trip is really about…the food. The culinary highlight of the day was lunch at Brasão Aliados. Seriously, if you try one Portuguese dish, make it the Francesinha here. It’s not just a sandwich; it’s an experience: cured ham, sausage, and steak, all covered in a gorgeous tomato gravy and baked. It's hearty, rich, and absolutely essential. Depending on what time you show up, there may be a wait for a table. Trust me though, its worth the wait.

Once we’ve successfully put a brick in our stomachs, a 30-minute stroll across Porto to Mercado Bom Sucesso was necessary. This renovated market features a gourmet restaurant and produce market, but most importantly, it’s the place to find a refreshing dessert like pastéis de nata. We grabbed ourselves something sweet and trekked back to the hotel for a quick siesta.

For dinner, we made our way to Porto’s Atlantic coast. Just a 15-minute drive west along the Douro transplanted us into seemingly a completely different place. The Foz neighborhood offers a laid-back beach town feel. We were dropped off at beautiful Jardim do Passeio Alegre where we stumbled upon an outdoor crafts market filled with vendors offering handmade goods like traditional bags, essential oils, and clothing. A serene 20-minute walk up the beach at sunset brought us to Terra Restaurant, a lovely Japanese spot on Porto's Atlantic coast that we found on the Michelin Guide. There’s just something about sushi and sunsets on an idyllic terrace. Life is good.  

Market Finds and Port Tastings

Monday was a day of local immersion. We took a morning stroll through the freshly renovated Mercado do Bolhão, one of the top markets I've ever visited—it was clean, vibrant, and full of amazing-looking options. For lunch, we opted for a sit down inside the market at Culto ao Bacalhau, a modern bistro doing Portuguese favorites. We could have just as easily picked our way through the variety of produce and seafood options at the market stalls. It was a win-win decision.

The afternoon was dedicated to the star of Porto: Port wine. We went for a tasting at Quevedo Lodge in Vila Nova de Gaia. It was especially meaningful because this Port house is owned by a Portuguese family, a rarity among the larger, English-owned houses. To get there, we took the scenic route and walked across the bridge from Porto, which is a must-do for the incredible views. The 30-minute walk turned into a longer journey when every corner we turned gave way to another photo op.  

Since this was our last night in Porto, we decided to skip the siesta and head right into a hip enclave in the center of town. First stop is for aperitivos and natural wines at Gito Wine Bar. This local spot takes natural wine production seriously. They highlight low intervention wines from all over Portugal. A fun start to the night.

We celebrated our final dinner in Porto just a few block from Gito at Mito, a modern traditional restaurant with a great wine selection. The menu focuses on what’s local and in season. Depending on when you go, you could indulge in oven-baked sardine rice, an Algarve pink shrimp omelet, or smoked pork cubes with an apple salad. Mito was a perfect farewell to this incredible city.

The End of Our Journey…

This is always a tough moment. The feeling of leaving a place you fell in love with in just a few days, not knowing when you’ll be back. Porto really did surprise me. Its laid-back culture, stunning architecture and accessibility coupled with its seriously heavy-hitting food and wine scene makes this one of my top destinations to travel back to.

This trip for us did continue on to Lisbon, which you’ll be hearing about soon 😊 Stay tuned and safe travels!