How To Spend A Weekend In Porto

“Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.”

 Ibn Battuta

Crossing the border from Spain into Portugal, I couldn’t help but feel super excited… mainly because I was driving on the right side of road, something I never though I would muster, but mainly because I just knew Portugal was going to be a truly incredible experience. We weren’t disappointed when we arrived in Porto, Portugal’s second largest city.

The vibe of the city was unreal. It was completely laid back and effortlessly cool. Something I noticed straight away was just how damn lovely and helpful the Portuguese are. It’s the perfect attitude that you would wish from people who’s country you are visiting… and we encountered it everywhere! From our hostel owner, the staff at restaurants (who would be just thrilled if you chose a traditional Portuguese dish to eat) to the everyday people on the streets.

The Portuguese sure know how to live and how to enjoy life. They seem to have mastered the art of it, and take pride in enjoying the little things life has to offer! It’s reflected in many aspects of their culture, but my favourite is in the time you eat dinner there. The Portuguese dine at around 9.30pm, eat slowly, finish at around 11.30 and then relax, have a drink and spend time with friends. Bec and I only managed to have dinner that late if we had a nap in the afternoon… but we managed it in the end!

The city comes alive in the late evenings and it’s full of laughter, music and friendship. We extended our stay in the city by two nights, and on our way back through Portugal we ended up staying in Porto again for a further three nights… the city had that much of an effect on us.

How To Spend A Weekend In Porto

1. Take a walking tour of the city to orient yourself

2. Dine at 9.30pm

3. Take a drive out to the coast

4. Go on a port wine tour

5. Eat a Francesinha – a traditional sandwich originally from Porto

6. Take a walk along the river Douro

7. Visit the third most beautiful bookshop in the world – Lello & Irmao

8. Eat a pastel de nata – a traditional Portuguese pastry

9. Explore the streets at night with an ice cream

 Have you been to Porto? What would you recommend doing there?