Porto was the first stop on our month-long Euro trip this February, and it couldn’t have been a better place to kick things off. Think charming streets, vintage tiles, strong coffee, riverside vibes, and lots (LOTS) of walking. Here’s how we spent our 3 days exploring this beautiful city:

1. Day 1: Blue Tiles and Beautiful Streets
2. Day 2: Parks, Tiles & Riverside Wanders
3. Day 3: Tiles, Peacocks & Golden Hour Magic
4. Accomodation
5. Onward to Lisbon 🚆

Day 1: Blue Tiles and Beautiful Streets

We kicked off our Porto trip with a slow morning — croissant and coffee at a café near our Airbnb in Campo 24 de Agosto. Simple and perfect.

The rest of the day was spent exploring on foot. We wandered through the charming streets near Porto Cathedral and around the Livraria Lello area. There was a massive line outside the bookstore, so we skipped going in but the streets around it were gorgeous and full of photo spots.

We passed by Igreja do Carmo, took in the iconic blue tiles, and made our way to Avenida dos Aliados and Liberdade Square. The architecture here is stunning.

Ended the day with dinner near McDonald’s Imperial, which (fun fact!) is called the most beautiful McDonald’s in the world.

Day 2: Parks, Tiles & Riverside Wanders

We kicked off the day at Jardim da Cordoaria, a peaceful little park with quirky sculptures and shady spots — perfect for a slow start.

Then headed to the Porto Cathedral, explored the area around it, and made our way to the Dom Luís I Bridge for those classic Porto views. We also stopped by Clérigos Tower but skipped the climb this time.

The afternoon was all about getting lost in the Ribeira District — colorful buildings, narrow lanes, and riverfront charm. We wrapped up with a quick visit across the bridge to see the famous Half Rabbit mural in Gaia.

Day 3: Tiles, Peacocks & Golden Hour Magic

Started the day at the Chapel of Souls — those iconic blue tiles still had us stopping for photos. We wandered through Bolhão Market, then headed to Jardins do Palácio de Cristal, which totally stole the show.

The park was full of peacocks (!), and the views were beautiful. We ended up spending quite a bit of time there — reading, napping, just soaking in the peace and sunshine. One of those unexpectedly perfect travel moments.

Lunch at Nola 2.0 was another win — laid-back vibe, great playlist, and the food? So good.

We wrapped up the day (and our Porto stay) with sunset at Jardim do Morro and a night stroll along the riverside in Gaia. A dreamy finish to a lovely three days in the city.

Accomodation

We stayed in an Airbnb near Campo 24 de Agosto — super convenient, with easy metro access and a quiet local feel. We stayed at Travessa C3 – House in Porto center. The place was beautiful, had all the amenities, super clean and very cozy vibes. I will recommend this one!

Onward to Lisbon 🚆

On Feb 24th, we hopped on a train to Lisbon — a smooth ride with beautiful views. But Porto definitely left its mark on us. It’s laid-back, full of character, and the kind of city you want to linger in just a little longer.

One last look at Porto’s magic before we move on.