Weekend Trip: How to Spend 48 Hours in Porto, Porto, Portugal

So, you’re traveling to Porto and only have a weekend to squeeze in everything. You’re in the right place! I love organizing trips, and I’ve been to Porto at least six times. Read on for the ideal 2-day Porto itinerary.

Porto is a relatively small city in the north of Portugal, along the river Douro. Although it’s possible to walk almost everywhere, there are quite a few hills, so be prepared. The second biggest Portuguese city is also one of the oldest European centers, being recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old name of Porto, Portus Cale, is supposedly at the origin of the country name, Portugal.

All this to say that it’s quite an important city to discover. There is a lot of history, and you can experience an authentic immersion into Portuguese culture, probably more than the now multicultural Lisbon. It is also quite a romantic city in my opinion. Maybe it’s because of the river, bridges, and lovely sunsets you can enjoy along the Ribeira, but I’ll let you judge for yourself.

Porto has its own airport, Francisco de Sá Carneiro, about 15 kilometers northwest of the city. There are several low-cost flights from most European capitals, and they are often cheaper than flying to Lisbon, so that’s a plus. I always use Skyscanner to find the most affordable flights. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).