I like to start the first day by getting to know the town or place I’m visiting. With that in mind, I suggest you follow the next list of places in order to get the feel of Porto.

Between landmarks and food venues, this is what I recommend:

1. Starting at Via Catarina Street

   One of the most excentric streets in Porto for a shopping spree and for beautiful coffee shops like “Majestic Café” and churches like “Capela das Almas”, you will find there’s a lot to do at this pedestrian only shopping street.

   FOTO DO CAFÉ E DA CAPELA

2. Mercado do Bolhão

   Adjacent to Via Catarina, you will find the oldest operating city market in Porto, the “bubble” market, from 1914. Now restored, it used to supply the entire city.

3. Pérola do Bolhão

   Close by Mercado do Bolhão, there is a special little shop from 1917 that started comercializing tea, coffe and spicies. Now they sell a little of everything, but what attract us is the architecture style of “Art Nouveau”.

4. Regaleira

   Depending on the time you’ve started your visit, if it’s already lunch time, I recommend visiting the Regaleira restaurant, home to the most iconic dish of the city of Porto, the “francesinha”. Created in 1952, based on a croque monsieur, the Portuguese chef added the best meat at the time, which was pork, and created the best sandwich ever in Portugal. It’s a little spicy and very tasty, it’s definitely a most.

5. S.Bento train station with 20.000 tiles

   After a beautiful lunch, just a couple of meters down the Regaleira restaurant, you will find one of the most interesting train stations in Portugal. Once an old convent, this train station took 16 years to build, from 1900-1916. The tiles came after, painted by one single painter, Jorge Colaço. Each frame of tiles tells important episodes from the Portuguese history, like the conquering of Ceuta, by Infante D.Henrique, for example.

6. Torre dos Clérigos

   Looking from way high, is the Clerigo’s tower. With 76m high and more than 200 steps, this tower is seen from everywhere in Porto and Gaia and can be climbed to the very top for a gorgeous 360º view over the city. The stairs are very thin and its very narrow, so it can be difficult when people are trying to go up and down at the same time. For all the people that are afraid of heights, don’t be discouraged, I also have that fear but up there I feel very safe.

7. Leitaria Quinta do Paço
   Since 1920, Leitaria da Quinta do Paço has been delighting Porto with its famous éclairs. Originally a dairy shop, it’s one of the few that survived from those early 20th-century days when fresh milk was delivered daily to the city. Over time, it became known for its handmade pastries, especially the iconic whipped cream éclairs, crispy outside, soft inside, and filled with pure nostalgia.

8. Igreja do Carmo
   Right next to the Carmelite Church, you’ll find the stunning Igreja do Carmo, or rather, two churches side by side, separated by the narrowest house in Porto! Built in the 18th century, this Baroque church is one of the city’s most photographed landmarks, thanks to its magnificent blue-and-white tiled façade. The tiles, added in 1912, depict scenes from the founding of the Carmelite Order and shine beautifully under the Porto sun.

9. Jardim da Cordoaria
   Just a few steps away, the Jardim da Cordoaria offers a peaceful break in the middle of the city. Shaded by ancient plane trees and surrounded by playful sculptures by João Cutileiro, it’s a favorite spot for locals, students, and artists alike. Once a place where ropes were made for ships (hence the name “Cordoaria”), today it’s where people come to slow down and enjoy the rhythm of Porto life.

10. Livraria Lello
    Often described as one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world, Livraria Lello is pure magic. Opened in 1906, its neo-Gothic façade invites you into a world of carved wood, stained glass, and a red staircase that seems to float midair. Rumor has it that J.K. Rowling was inspired by this place while writing Harry Potter, whether true or not, you’ll definitely feel the enchantment as soon as you walk inside.

11. Praça de Lisboa
    Hidden between the Clérigos Tower and the Lello Bookstore, Praça de Lisboa is a modern twist in Porto’s historic heart. Built over an underground shopping gallery, this green rooftop square blends old and new architecture perfectly. Locals love to relax here with a coffee, while students chat under the olive trees, it’s a small urban oasis right next to some of the city’s busiest attractions.

12. Judiaria do Porto
    The old Jewish quarter of Porto, or Judiaria, dates back to medieval times. Walking through its narrow alleys near São Bento da Vitória, you can still feel the traces of the community that once flourished here. It was a vibrant place of commerce, culture, and faith until the 15th century, when the Jewish population was expelled. Today, it remains one of the most authentic and lesser-known parts of the city’s history, quiet, mysterious, and deeply human.

13. Miradouro da Vitória
    One of Porto’s best-kept secrets, the Miradouro da Vitória offers a stunning view over the city’s rooftops, the Cathedral, and the Douro River. It’s not as polished as other viewpoints, but that’s part of its charm — raw, real, and local. It’s the perfect spot to take a breath, snap a few photos, and appreciate the timeless beauty of Porto’s old town.

14. Ribeira

    Down by the riverbank, Ribeira is where Porto’s soul truly lives. Colorful houses, laundry hanging from the balconies, street musicians playing fado — everything here feels alive. Once the heart of the city’s trade and shipbuilding, today it’s a UNESCO World Heritage area filled with cafés, restaurants, and endless energy. Whether you’re crossing the bridge to Gaia or simply watching the boats drift by, Ribeira is pure Porto, vibrant, romantic, and unforgettable.