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8 Days in Porto: A Journey Through History and Culture

Kathy Viceconte

Kathy Viceconte

4 Feb 2024

Embark on an unforgettable adventure in Porto, exploring ancient marvels, indulging in local cuisine, and immersing yourself in the vibrant culture of this charming city. From historic landmarks to hidden gems, this itinerary has it all.

Trip to Porto

Day 1Monastery, Museums, and Culinary Delights
+

$133

·

$ 10

Leça do Balio Monastery
14th-century Gothic monastery with some Romanesque elements & a dramatic interior.
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
•
Free
13 - 16 min

~

Directions

FC Porto Museum
High-tech soccer museum with multimedia displays, FC Porto memorabilia & stadium tours.
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
•
$24
10 - 12 min

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Directions

Military Museum Porto
Established in 1977, this military museum features weapons, vehicles & 16,000 miniature figures.
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
•
$13
10 - 12 min

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Directions

Câmara Municipal do Porto
Neoclassical 1900s building featuring a black-marble entrance hall & a clocktower with city views.
12:30 PM - 1:00 PM
•
Free
8 - 12 min

~

Directions

Tapas Bar 24
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
•
$46
3 - 4 min

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Directions

Jardim da Cordoaria
Small, historic urban park with a serene vibe featuring a variety of trees, plants & sculptures.
3:00 PM - 3:45 PM
•
Free
3 - 4 min

~

Directions

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
•
$50
Day 2Churches, Bridges, and Architectural Wonders
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$123

Igreja da Lapa
Catholic church housing the heart of King Pedro IV & the remains of famous artists in its graveyard.
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM
•
Free
12 - 17 min

~

Directions

Chapel of Souls
Chapel famous for its exterior of blue & white tiles painted with scenes from the lives of saints.
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM
•
Free
12 - 17 min

~

Directions

Fernandine Walls of Porto
Medieval stone walls & towers built as fortifications, with scenic views of the city & river.
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
•
Free
17 - 26 min

~

Directions

Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar
Former monastery dating to the 1500s, set on a hilltop & notable for its round church & cloister.
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
•
Free
11 - 16 min

~

Directions

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
•
$46
4 - 5 min

~

Directions

Luís I Bridge
Arched bridge carrying low-level road & a high-level metro line between Porto & Vila Nove de Gaia.
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM
•
Free
8 - 11 min

~

Directions

Bolsa Palace
Huge, 19th-century landmark building with rooms for private events, a restaurant & guided tours.
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
•
$13
2 - 3 min

~

Directions

Curioso
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
•
$64
Day 3Art, Gardens, and Authentic Cuisine
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$122

National Museum Soares dos Reis
Art museum in an 18th-century palace with Flemish paintings, Portuguese sculpture & applied artwork.
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
•
$8
4 - 6 min

~

Directions

Jardins do Palácio de Cristal
Landscaped gardens designed in the 19th century offering fountains, paths & Douro River views.
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
•
Free
5 - 8 min

~

Directions

FRIDA - Cocina.Mestiza
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
•
$58
3 - 4 min

~

Directions

Curral dos Petiscos
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
•
$56
Day 4Bridges, Museums, and Coastal Delights
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$125

·

$ 7

Ponte da Arrábida
Landmark arch bridge over the Douro River, with guided climbs to the top offered by a local company.
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM
•
Free
11 - 16 min

~

Directions

Jardim Botânico do Porto | Museu de História Natural e da Ciência da U.Porto
Botanical & formal gardens with an elegant, 19th-century mansion, pond & paths through an arboretum.
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
•
$13
6 - 8 min

~

Directions

Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Serralves
Major modern art collection in minimalist white galleries, plus performances of music & dance.
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
•
$20
12 - 15 min

~

Directions

Sandhouse
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
•
$48
8 - 12 min

~

Directions

Castelo do Queijo
Turreted 17th-century fort with cannons, sitting on a prominent rock overlooking the beach.
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
•
Free
12 - 17 min

~

Directions

Restaurante Praia Homem do Leme
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
•
$44
Day 5Marine Life, Parks, and Cultural Gems
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$154

·

$ 7

SEA LIFE Centre Porto
Family-friendly exhibits with a variety of sea creatures (most offer play areas & group packages).
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
•
$30
12 - 18 min

~

Directions

Parque da Cidade do Porto
City park with sports fields, sand volleyball courts, dining options & cycling & walking paths.
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
•
Free
9 - 11 min

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Directions

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
•
$48
14 - 21 min

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Directions

Casa de Serralves
Pink 1930s art deco mansion with a contemporary art museum & expansive, verdant grounds.
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
•
$20
8 - 10 min

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Directions

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
•
$56
Day 6Parks, Music, and Romantic Museums
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$144

·

$ 7

Parque de Serralves
18-hectare park, part of the Serralves Foundation, with formal gardens, wooded areas & sculptures.
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
•
Free
13 - 16 min

~

Directions

Casa da Música
Iconic 12-floor concert hall & top floor restaurant designed by Rem Koolhaas & completed in 2005.
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
•
$25
8 - 10 min

~

Directions

Museu Romântico
House museum displaying period art & furnishings, along with gardens offering scenic river views.
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
•
$13
6 - 9 min

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Directions

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
•
$58
2 - 3 min

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Directions

Taberna Cais das Pedras
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
•
$48
Day 7Gardens, Cathedrals, and Bookstores
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$120

Jardim do Morro
A cable car leads to this hilltop green space with benches & a grove of palm trees at the summit.
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
•
Free
9 - 14 min

~

Directions

Porto Cathedral
Hilltop Romanesque cathedral, with a fortress-like interior, a rose window & Gothic cloisters.
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
•
Free
10 - 15 min

~

Directions

Portuguese Centre of Photography
Museum with an exhibition program of contemporary, documentary & historical Portuguese photography.
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
•
$8
6 - 9 min

~

Directions

Livraria Lello
Lavishly designed historic book store with an art nouveau exterior & a winding wooden staircase.
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
•
$18
12 - 18 min

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Directions

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
•
$44
2 - 3 min

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Directions

Church of Saint Ildefonso
Elegant 18th-century church whose facade is covered in blue & white tiles added in the 1930s.
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
•
Free
4 - 6 min

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Directions

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
•
$50
Day 8Cultural District, Churches, and Local Delights
+

$119

WOW Porto - The Best Cultural District
Cluster of museums, restaurants & bars in cellars, telling the story of Porto's port wine industry.
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
•
Free
23 - 34 min

~

Directions

Igreja de Santa Clara
This 15th-century Catholic place of worship features elaborate, gold-plated design work.
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
•
Free
8 - 12 min

~

Directions

Clerigos Church and Tower
Baroque church with a marble altarpiece & a 75-m bell tower that is a symbol of Porto.
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
•
$13
2 - 3 min

~

Directions

Dom Bucha
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
•
$50
2 - 3 min

~

Directions

Linha 22
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
•
$56

Budget breakdown: $1066 In total

Activities & Food:$1037
Transport:$30