Hello, friend! If you're coming to visit Porto, and you only have 4h to do it, here's a super optimized route to make sure you get the most out of the city.
The city center is small and the attractions are very close to each other, so we advise you to visit it on foot. Time Estimate Duration: 4:00h
1. Avenida dos Aliados
Estimated Time: 15/20min
Just as all roads lead to Rome, in the case of Porto, all roads lead to Avenida dos Aliados, the place where everything happens in the city of Porto and where people gather for celebrations, parties and protests.
For example, it was here that thousands of people saw Portugal become European champions in 2016!!! Can you imagine thousands of people looking at the giant screen, jumping and celebrating the victory goal?
At the top of the avenue, you will find the Porto City Hall, and as you go down the avenue, you can see the set of monumental buildings of banks and the most famous brands.
If this is still not enough to spark your curiosity, know that at the end of the square, you will find one of the most beautiful McDonald's in the world, considered by the North American magazine Business Insider.
2. Livraria Lello
Estimated Time: 5min
It's almost a sin not to visit the inside of Livraria Lello, but if you only have 4 hours to visit, and taking into account the time you would lose waiting in line, we suggest you use that time to see other attractions.
However, we think that going through the Neo-Gothic façade is super worth it. Who knows, maybe there is no line and you can visit quickly?
3. Igreja do Carmo & Carmelitas
Estimated Time: 15/20min
About a 4 minute walk away is one of our favorite churches. It takes a very close look to notice that there are two churches here, not just one. In fact, two churches and a house between them, but you can find out more about it here.
In the Carlos Alberto square are the Church of the Barefoot Carmelites (on the left) and the Carmo Church (on the right).
The scenographic impact of the whole set - complemented by the huge panel of tiles - does not go unnoticed to anyone and it is a scenery that you will hardly find in other places.
Next to the churches you can see the Praça dos Leões, where the Rectory of the University of Porto is located, and also some of the most emblematic cafes in the city, including "Piolho", officially called the "Golden Anchor Café".
4. Torre dos Clérigos
Estimated Time: 20/25min
You may have already seen it on your way, but only now is the time to visit one of the most iconic attractions in the city of Porto.
The Torre dos Clérigos, built between 1753 and 1763, in baroque style, is part of the igreja dos clérigos. The bell tower is 75 meters high and has 225 steps that lead to a panoramic and privileged view of the city!
Although the panoramic view is amazing, going up to the tower would take about 45 min and even longer if you have to wait in line, so we think it is not essential since we have included in this itinerary other places where you can have a privileged view of the city.
5. Estação de São Bento
Estimated Time: 10/15min
Considered one of the most beautiful train stations in the world, São Bento Station was built in the 19th century by the architect José Marques da Silva - who made sure that, even today, no one remains indifferent to the façade influenced by the French style - Beaux-Arts.
Apart from its impressive façade, the real wealth of the station lies inside: a hall decorated with over 20 thousand tiles representing various episodes in the History of Portugal (something traditional throughout the country), as well as alluding to various moments in the history of Portuguese transport. Just to give you an idea, the tiles placed, by the artist Jorge Colaço, took about 11 years to be finally completed.
6. Sé do Porto
Estimated Time: 20/25min
When you leave São Bento station, you can see the Porto's Cathedral, high up on the hill. It is one of the oldest and most emblematic monuments of the city.
It's a place worth visiting on the inside, for its cloister and stained glass windows located inside the cathedral.
However, since you're out of time, we believe that the best thing is to make the most of the cathedral's courtyard and what it has in store for you. On one side you have a view of Gaia and the Douro river, and on the other side you have a view of the city of Porto. Want better?
7. Ponte D.LuÃs I
Estimated Time: 10/15min
Behold, the moment you have long been waiting for has arrived. Yes, about 100m from the Porto Cathedral, you can find the D.LuÃs Bridge. It is the most iconic monument of the city and when you get there you will understand why!
The bridge connects the city of Porto to the city of Vila Nova de Gaia and in the past, due to a flood of the river, it was almost demolished. Fortunately, they didn't go through with it and today you have this incredible monument to admire.
We advise you to cross the bridge from the top deck towards the city of Gaia.
8. Jardim do morro
Estimated Time: 5/10min
At the end of the bridge, you'll have the Morro garden. If you have time, sit on the grass, drink a Super Bock beer (the most widely drunk beer in northern Portugal), and enjoy the view ahead of you. Incredible, isn't it?
9. Cais de Gaia
Estimated Time: 10/15min
The next stop is Cais de Gaia - the riverside area of the city that has always functioned as a port area and is one of the most important tourist areas of the city of Vila Nova de Gaia. With a privileged view over the Douro and the winding houses of the city of Porto - on the other bank - it is a place with several cafes, restaurants, and Port wine cellars.
Many say that this is where you have the "best view of the city of Porto". We wonder if you will agree with this!
To get to Cais de Gaia from Jardim do Morro, we recommend you take a cable car ride to have the opportunity to marvel, once again, at the view of the city of Porto. The cable car is available every day from 10am to 7pm.
If you don't want to go down by cable car, you can always walk to the Gaia pier. It takes about 10 min to walk from the Garden to the pier and the route, as it's downhill, is fine!
10. Ribeira do Porto
Estimated Time: 10/15min
To get to the Porto riverfront, we suggest you cross the D.LuÃs I Bridge by the lower deck. It is the fastest way and you will experience the bridge on both decks.
Ribeira was one of the first areas to be inhabited, and the city developed from this point, naturally because of the connection to the river.
Currently, Ribeira - a prime area of the city - is full of cafes, chef's restaurants, five-star hotels and wine cellars where you can taste the best flavors of typical Portuguese and Porto cuisine.
The perfect place to relax and recover the energies of the trip! For that, nothing better than to suggest you the most typical dish of the city:
11. Francesinha
You can try this delicacy in many places (including in the Ribeira do Porto), but our suggestions are: O Afonso, Cervejaria Brasão, Lado B or Café Santiago.
This is the route we advise you to take if you only have half a day to visit the city of Porto. When you have limited time, you have to make certain choices and this suggestion came from the countless times that we, as locals, have visited our Porto and realized the best way to visit it as a local.
That is our mission, to give you the same advice that we would give to any friend planning to visit Porto, for you to have the best experience possible adapted to the time you have available. Through this route, you can be sure of one thing: you won't waste your time traveling from one place to another with no direction.