MPKO Travels:
My fabulous 4 days in Porto, Portugal
WHY PORTO?
Portugal has always been on my bucket list. When my girlfriends suggested we spend time in Spain, I chose to tack on 5 days on my own. Porto spoke to me because it is so full of history and culture, and seemed more manageable than Lisbon as a solo traveler. I fell in love with the food, the glorious views and some of the nicest, most welcoming people I’ve ever encountered. Porto captured my heart and I cannot wait to return.
WHERE TO STAY
Porto A.S. 129 Hotel has a fascinating history. Originally established as Papelaria Araújo & Sobrinho - one of the oldest stationary stores in Europe. Each floor takes you on a journey back in time - dedicated to the nearly 200 years of history as a stationers. Now a 41-room boutique, this hotel is perfectly located between Rua das Flores and Largo de São Domingos, close to all cultural attractions. My room looked out over the square, where musicians perform daily and the spirit of Porto was all around.
Porto A.S. 1829 Hotel
WHAT TO DO
Walking Tour
One of my dear friends who travels all the time once said, “The first thing I do in any new city is get my hair blown out and do a walking tour!” It was great advice. I can help you find the Best of Porto Walking Tours to give you a great lay of the land. Our tour included Porto Cathedral, Sao Bento Train Station, Aliados Avenue, Clerigos Tower, and Infante D. Henrique Square.
Journey over the Dom Luis I Bridge and back!
The Dom Luis I joins together Porto and its sister city Vila Nova de Gaia. Walk across the lower level and take in the waterfronts on both sides. You can visit the Port wine lodges and fun waterfront restaurants in Gaia. Then journey up to the Serra do Pilar Monastery, and catch the Metro do Porto back across from the Vila Nova de Gaia Station.
Photo Credit: Sean Pavone Photo
Sunset at Jardim do Morro
Beautiful park overlooking the river and the incredible Pont Luis bridge. Musicians playing and people picnicking. It’s a lovely way to end the day.
Duoro Valley Port and Wine Tasting Tour
Absolutely beautiful day on a small group tour of the famed Duoro Valley. I did a small group tour which included 3 wine/port tastings, fabulous lunch in a beautiful vineyard, a boat ride on the Duoro river (be sure to bring your own beverages for that part) and a special stop in a Port wine cave on the way back. Tons of history, incredible scenery. The wine is a topic, but not the focus. Having spent a ton of time in Napa and Sonoma, I wasn’t sure I could be blown away by a wine region. I was totally wrong – Duoro is amazing!
The Spiritus Light Show at Clerigos Tower
This was a godsend at the end of a long travel day when I was trying to stay up until 9pm local time. It’s about 30 minutes, and your ticket gets you into the beautiful landmark cathedral. It could have been shorter, but given my state of mind, it worked for me!
Explore the Crystal Palace Gardens
The Crystal Palace itself is not the highlight. The gardens and grounds are absolutely magical. Incredible views of the river, lots of hidden towers, ponds, peacocks and such wonderful flowers. A great place to spend an afternoon.
Spend an afternoon at Mercado do Bolhao
Porto’s Historic Market underwent a beautiful transformation and operates every day. There is so much to see, taste and explore here – be sure to give yourself plenty of time!
Liveria Lello Bookshop (aka – Harry Potter Bookstore)
Whether J.K. Rowling ever went here is up for debate – but it is incredibly beautiful and totally unlike any bookstore I’ve ever seen. It’s a wonderful place to pick up gifts. They have a lot of small, special editions of books in many languages only sold there. Absolutely worth it to spend ~$15 on the Gold Ticket Voucher. You skip the lines – which can take HOURS – and you have a credit for the cost of the ticket towards buying books! I recommend booking ahead and going as early in the day as possible because it gets VERY crowded.
Paint your own Portuguese tiles at Gazete Azulejos
One of the loveliest parts of Porto are the incredible tiles adorning the buildings, inside and out. You can paint your own at Gazete Azulejos using traditional methods. Gazete Azulejos is “dedicated to promoting and preserving the art of traditional Portugese tile painting” and a portion of your workshop fee helps support their mission.
WHAT TO EAT & DRINK
Portugues de Gema
Tiny little spot with exceptional, traditional food. This is tucked away in the Riberia
neighborhood that is super fun to explore. They have a handful of tables inside and on their
terrace. The staff was super helpful in selecting the menu, and the food is excellent.
Chama
This was a charming night! Prix fixe tasting menu – hyper seasonal-fired menu. Their lovely
bartenders will make you a custom cocktail. I said, “Vodka, Pineapple, Festive” - it
was DELISH! The staff could not have been more welcoming and generous. It felt like I was
at a dinner in a private home. I’ll definitely be back!
Lunch at Antiqvvm
This was a BIG SPLURGE and one of the most memorable meals of my life. Every dish was a dream - and each came with it’s own stunning set of dishes. Works of art. I chose lunch because I thought that would feel a bit less lonely, but I didn’t need to worry - their attentive staff was so lovely and kind. I did the full wine pairing because – why not? My first Michelin-star meal did not disappoint!
Pastel de Nata
Listen when they tell you that you simply cannot go to Portugal and NOT have Pastel de Nata. You can find these everywhere and they are simply divine! My favorite spot was just around the corner from my hotel. Once you taste one, you’ll want them all the time. Join the locals as they grab an espresso and a Pastel de Nata at Confeitaria São Domingos.
Galeria do Largo
This lovely little spot used to be an art gallery – so cute! It’s located where I stayed in the Porto 1829 A.S. Hotel. Wonderful Portuguese food in a cozy atmosphere.
Casa da Companhia Hotel Bar
This is a great spot for a late-night drink. Right on Flowers Street, it has excellent people watching and incredibly kind staff.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Porto was a dream come true in so many ways. I fell back in love with solo-travelling, found the inspiration for this exciting new travel venture, and discovered the simple joy of a perfect pastry and an espresso.
Porto and Gaia have so many lovely sights, I cannot name them all. The best part of solo-traveling, is that you can wander until your heart is content. Follow the staircases up to a beautiful cathedral and explore the brilliantly colored alleyways in the Riberia neighborhood. My best day in Porto had no destination at all!