Porto, Portugal: Top Sights, Luxurious Locations and Romantic Activities
Full of excitement, I woke up on the 25th of January, eagerly looking forward to the adventure ahead. Since Filipe had planned the entire journey as a surprise, we headed to the airport without me knowing our destination. The only information I had was the weather forecast. Just after passing security control and checking the departure board, I discovered that we were flying to Porto — the charming city in northern Portugal, famous for its colorful buildings and the production of port wine.
We would love to share our experiences from this adventure with you and hope you enjoy reading about it.
Day 1 — Arrival Day
Upon arriving at Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO), we were greeted not only by our driver but also by the warm sunrays — a much-needed change after weeks of enduring the gray German winter.
Our driver dropped us off directly in front of our apartment, located on a narrow cobblestone street in the Ribeira district. The Ribeira district is a one of Porto‘s most historic neighbourhoods and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As we stepped onto the balcony in the living room, we were stunned by the breathtaking views of the Douro River and the Dom Luís I Bridge. The apartment itself was a true highlight, and we would highly recommend it, especially for those traveling with family or in a larger group. Out of the three apartments in the building, we were lucky enough to get the top-floor unit, featuring two cozy bedrooms, a spacious living area, a fully equipped kitchen, and a bathroom with both a tub and shower. Our favorite spot was the upper bedroom, accessible via a wooden ladder from the living room. Lying in bed, we had a wonderful view of the river — is there a better way to start the day than by watching the stormy waters and busy seagulls in the early morning hours?
views from our balcony
After unpacking and freshening up, we decided to soak up as much sun as possible by strolling along the promenade between the Douro River and the bustling cafes and restaurants serving local specialties, such as Bolinhos de Bacalhau (crispy salted cod Fratres) and Francesinha (Porto’s signature sandwich, a hearty dish filled with meats, covered in melted cheese, and smothered in a beer sauce). With a cup of coffee in one hand and a Pastel de Nata (a traditional Portuguese egg custard tart) in the other, we hiked up the narrow streets, admiring the vibrant graffiti on the houses, and crossed the Dom Luís I Bridge to the charming town of Vila Nova de Gaia.
Perhaps “hiked” is a bit of an exaggeration, as it took us no longer than 20 minutes to reach our destination — a hilltop offering an incredibly beautiful panoramic view of Porto, bathed in the pink and orange hues of the sunset. A bit weary from all the impressions, we fell into bed, already excited for the next day.
spot the seagull
Day 2 — A Stormy Exploration
The next morning, we woke up to several storm warnings on the iPhone weather app. From the comfort of our bed, the storm didn’t seem too bad, but stepping outside, it took only a few minutes for the strong winds to completely destroy our umbrella. Still, that didn’t stop us from exploring the charming streets of Porto. What kept us going were the little breaks we took for hot chocolate and Portuguese treats. And oh boy, Porto truly surprised us with its abundance of romantic cafes on nearly every corner, each offering incredible sweets.Porto is a paradise for those with a sweet tooth! Many of the city’s pastries feature sweet egg custard, such as Bolo de Berlim and the already-mentioned Pastel de Nata. This tradition originates from historical convents, where nuns and monks found themselves with an abundance of egg yolks after using the egg whites for purposes like clarifying wines or starching clothes. To avoid waste, they began creating pastries using these yolks, sugar, and local ingredients.
Fueled by a sugar rush from all the pastries, we headed to our next destination: The Yeatman Hotel — a luxury wine spa hotel. This was the perfect place to enjoy a rich glass of port wine in their elegant bar, sitting near the fireplace and watching the storm rage over the UNESCO World Heritage city. The Yeatman’s cellars house an extensive collection of Portuguese wines, which can be enjoyed in their bar or their two-Michelin-starred restaurant. But the wine concept doesn’t stop there; The Yeatman even has a wine spa!
our favourite port wine that we tried in The Yeatman’s bar: Taylor’s Tawny Port, 20 year old
On a spontaneous whim, we decided to experience The Yeatman Barrel Bath— a relaxing soak infused with plants and aromas from the Douro Valley. The spa staff was incredibly welcoming and immediately prepared the bath for us. It was truly a romantic and unique experience. We indulged in the warm, bubbling bath while overlooking Porto, sipping sparkling port wine, and nibbling on nuts and grapes provided by the spa.It is the ultimate romantic experience for couples. Afterwards, we spent some more time in their indoor pool before heading back to our apartment to recharge for Day 3.
Day 3 — Historical Café, Market Hall, and a Trip to Aveiro
The next morning, still rainy and stormy, we started our day with a visit to Majestic Café. Dating back to 1922, this elegant establishment is ranked among the most beautiful cafes in the world. We highly recommend trying their rich butter croissant and the Café Bombom — an espresso layered with condensed milk and topped with cream.
Next stop/Próxima parada: Mercado do Bolhão! One of Porto’ss most iconic markets, where vendors sell everything from locally produced food and goods to handmade crafts. Make sure not to miss this lively spot when visiting Porto. Strolling through the various stalls, savoring different kinds of snacks, is an absolute delight. One of our favorites was Delícia do Porto, a heart-shaped sweet created in 2019 through a competition among pastry chefs to represent Porto‘s history. And it is absolutely delicious!
All the snacking made us completely lose track of time, which led to a last-minute sprint to catch our train to Aveiro. We arrived at the station just two minutes before departure and quickly bought our tickets at one of the machines. Unfortunately, we made a mistake and only purchased a ticket for one person. Thankfully, the ticket inspector was understanding and helpful, selling us an additional ticket on board. In general, our experience with the locals was nothing but positive.
The train ride from Porto to Aveiro takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Aveiro is a charming coastal city, often referred to as the Venice of Portugal due to its canals and the colorful, painted boats called moliceiros. Upon arrival, our first mission was to try the city’s famous traditional sweet: Ovos Moles — a treat made of egg yolk and sugar, typically wrapped in thin rice paper or shaped like seashells or fish. According to our moliceiro tour guide, Antonio, locals are absolutely crazy about Ovos Moles, often buying them in bulk by the kilo. During our tour, Antonio also shared fascinating stories about Aveiro’s history and architecture. We highly recommend taking a boat tour through the picturesque canals. It’s a fantastic way to experience the city.
enjoying Aveiro’s colourful canals
Eager to see the ocean, we followed Antonio’s advice and took a taxi to Costa Nova to admire the iconic palheiros, the famous striped beach houses with their colorful facades. The closer we got to the beach, the harder it became to walk. The storm was raging, covering our clothes and hair in sand and rain. But it was well worth it. Neither of us had ever seen such stormy waters and towering waves before.
Costa Nova beach
We eventually discovered a cozy café on the beach with huge glass windows overlooking the ocean. Sipping on tea, we sat back and enjoyed the breathtaking views and wild, dramatic atmosphere — a perfect way to end the day.
On the train ride back to Porto, we realized that this was it — our last night in the city had arrived. Already feeling sad about having to leave the next day, we fell into bed.
Day 4 — Departure Day
The next morning we headed to the airport quite early. Of course, we had to have pastéis de nata for our last breakfast in Porto. And then, it was time to say goodbye to Porto. Até à próxima!
Conclusion
Overall, it was an amazing experience. We found Porto to be a particularly charming and romantic city, which might explain why we saw so many couples there on vacation. When it comes to cuisine, Porto has so much to offer — especially the incredible variety of sweets. Don’t even try to diet while you’re here!
It is often said that Portuguese people are very kind and helpful, and our experiences absolutely confirmed that. Almost everyone speaks English, so no worries if your Portuguese doesn’t go beyond “Bom dia” and „Obrigado/Obrigada.”
Although Porto is quite a small city, we recommend planning at least three or four days for your visit to truly soak in its charm and discover hidden gems. There were a few other activities we would have loved to do if we had more time, such as taking a ride on the Teleférico de Gaia, visiting a bar with live Fado music (a traditional Portuguese music genre known for its melancholic lyrics), or visiting the Douro Valley for a wine tasting.
Thank you for reading our Porto travel report! We hope we’ve inspired you with some ideas for your own visit.
Here’s an overview of our personal favorites:
Our Favorite Culinary Spots:
Café Majestic — A perfect place for coffee
Confeitaria Tavi — Incredible cakes!
Mercado do Bolhão — Great for snacking on a variety of local foods
Nata Sweet Nata — The best pastéis de nata
Taberna dos Fernandes — A cozy, family-run restaurant serving traditional Portuguese food
Our Favorite Activities in Porto and Beyond:
Swimming at The Yeatman’s wine spa, with breathtaking views over Porto
Taking a train to Aveiro and enjoying a Moliceiro boat tour
Sampling various Portuguese pastries
Relaxing at the beach in Costa Nova
visit Livraria Lello — One of the world’s most beautiful bookstores, said to have inspired the Harry Potter book series