48 hours in Porto

Published 18 September 2016

Porto’s on the up, people. It’s cheap, walkable and drop-dead gorgeous, making it an ideal destination for a weekend break from the UK. Here are a few suggestions for the perfect trip.

What to do and see

Livraria Lello

144 Rua das Carmelitas

Potter fans, this one’s for you. One of the oldest book shops in Portugal, Livraria Lello was often frequented by the one and only JK Rowling back when she was teaching English in the city. One look at the ornate staircase and it’s clear to see why this place is said to have helped inspire her vision of Hogwarts.

A word of warning: Livraria Lello is extremely popular with tourists. Contrary to the tips I’d read online, the shop workers were definitely not interested in letting me in before the stated opening time (10am). Travel geekery having failed me, I joined the throng. The crowds make it difficult to photograph the glorious space – but persevere and with a little magic, you might just succeed.

Clérigos tower and Ponte Luis I

4050-546 Rua de São Filipe de Nery / south of São Bento station

My habit for seeking out bird’s-eye views was satisfied in Porto; Clérigos tower is an icon of the city’s skyline and we were lucky enough to have a view of it from our terrace; while a walk across Ponte Luís I certainly blew away the cobwebs.

Azulejo spotting

These blue tiles bring otherwise average buildings to life and are a huge part of Porto’s identity. You’ll spot them all over the city – but my favourite was the 20,000-tile scene that demands attention as you enter São Bento Railway Station (Praça de Almeida Garrett). My camera lens wasn’t wide enough to take a decent shot… so you’ll have to go and see it for yourself.

Street art

It may be small, but Porto’s personality is big – and best portrayed by the wall-spanning murals and subtle splashes of colour found throughout the city. Take a wander and you’ll no doubt stumble upon some street art – quite possibly by Hazul, renowned local graffiti artist. The walk along the river to Casad’oro (see below) basically doubles as an open-air gallery tour.

What to eat and drink

Casad’oro

797 Rua do Ouro

With River Douro views and pizza this good, Casad’oro is a no-brainer for lunch. Grab a seat outside if you can - but large parties and families will be happy in the airy interior.

Miss ‘Opo

100 Rua dos Caldeireiros

Always a sucker for a good Lonely Planet review (what can I say? I’m biased!), minimalist, Scandi-cool Miss ‘Opo was firmly on the agenda for our Porto weekend. We arrived early (opening time, 8pm on the dot) to secure a spot, and sure enough we were soon brushing elbows with other hungry patrons. Despite being pretty hipster, it was surprisingly good value, at €40 total for a seafood dinner and wine for three.

Casa Guedes

130 Praça dos Poveiros

I failed in my hunt for francesinha - Porto’s ubiquitous soggy sandwich - as we left it too late and everywhere decent was PACKED. This pleased my waistline-watching companions, but not my stomach. Luckily, I found a substitute at Casa Guedes, where they serve delicious pork rolls with soft cheese, accompanied by plenty of chips. Naughty noms… achieved.

Retiro dos Carvalhos

7 Rua Estreita de Lóios

Retiro dos Carvalhos is known for its fado nights (get a sample here), held every Sunday in the cafe/bar’s basement. It has a welcoming, studenty vibe and the best bolinhos de bacalhau (deep-fried cod balls) I’ve ever tasted.

Where to stay

My friends and I stayed in this Airbnb on Rua do Almada, which is in a central location and has a roof terrace. At £42 per night between the three of us, we couldn’t have asked for a better deal. Our lovely host Paula had even bought us some pastéis de nata which made for a delicious breakfast.

Plan your trip

Both Ryanair and Easyjet fly from London to Porto. I flew with each airline one way for £34 and £40 respectively, making a grand total of £74 return. I booked the flights for mid-April in January.