The Gateway to Green Wines: Porto, Portugal

Do a port tasting

Porto has countless options for tasting port, most of them located along the water. As someone who loves wine but doesn’t drink port often, this was a real treat. Each port tasting room has its own style, ranging from casual to more formal, and most places now make white and rosé ports—perfect for me, since I no longer drink red wines. Also, having a port tonico is a great option if you’re looking for something a bit more casual!

Visit Livraria Lello

This two-floor, 144-year-old bookstore is rumored to have inspired aspects of Harry Potter, particularly the grand staircase at Hogwarts. If you are a Harry Potter lover, a book lover, and/or an architecture lover, this is a must-do! It is truly beautiful, but be prepared to wait in line and pay an entrance fee since it has become very popular after the Harry Potter movies.

Stroll through Mercado do Bolhão

This market has been serving wine, food to go, and other regional goods since 1914. We loved this little market; it was perfect for a quick breakfast, a snack between activities (complete with a glass of wine), and some treats or gifts to bring back home to family and friends.

Visit São Bento Station

Even if you’re not taking the train, this is still worth a visit. It is beautiful, and the tile work is unmatched. Made with over 20,000 azulejos tiles, it is quite impressive. Admittedly, there isn’t much to do besides snap a few photos, but I became obsessed with the tiles and was always looking for more!

Dom Luís I Bridge

The country’s most famous bridge is incredibly picturesque and walkable. You can walk on the upper or lower pathway, and both will lead you toward many of the port houses. You can also walk across to the Miradouro da Serra do Pilar to catch a beautiful sunset. Be sure to grab a spot sooner rather than later, as it does get crowded.

Check out the Chapel of Souls and all the tiles

The Chapel of Souls is iconic and very popular, with good reason. It is beautiful and the tilework is exceptional. You’ll see several people taking pictures and posing in front, so be courteous of everyone taking photos and walking by. While the Chapel of Souls is absolutely stunning, Porto is full of incredible tiles, so be sure to soak them all in.

Day trip to the Douro Valley

In my opinion, this is a must-do, and there are many ways to do it. It’s not technically in Porto but it is close enough by train, by bus tour, or by car service. We chose the train (be sure to check the schedule, as it may be abbreviated), and the views along the countryside were so worth it! We also walked the property—through vineyards, olive trees, and fruit trees—at Quinta das Carvalhas. It was beautiful, educational, and fun, though admittedly more strenuous than expected. No matter how you do it, it’s worth going and visiting several wineries to taste not just port but also their still red and white wines.

Day trip to Quinta da Aveleda

A five-generation, family-run winery that produces incredible wine and has the most serene property. We took a garden tour and enjoyed a wine tasting, and it remains one of our favorite experiences to this day. We were able to try the famous “green wine,” vinho verde, but our favorite was the Loureiro. The staff member who led our tour and tasting was exceptional. She shared insights about the garden, took photos for us, brought us to the wine cellar, and even let us taste several wines that weren’t part of the original tasting. The garden is diverse and completely unique; it reminded me of an enchanted fairytale forest, complete with goats and peacocks. It’s a train ride from Porto followed by a pleasant walk through the town of Penafiel—and absolutely worth it.

Go see a Fado show

Fado is a music genre characterized by mournful, soulful songs sung in a minor key. Often the songs are about loss and sorrow, but they are incredibly beautiful. There are plenty of options in Porto, ranging from more traditional performances to livelier shows paired with a port tasting. No matter which you choose, you’re sure to have a great time.

Gruta

A simple, modern Portuguese restaurant that does not disappoint. Everything we had here was elegant, perfectly balanced, and delicious. The restaurant itself is relatively small but has a sleek, stone aesthetic. The wine and dessert selections are also very good!

Taberna dos Mercadores

This is an absolute must! This tiny (only 20 seats), almost hidden, family-owned restaurant is still one of my favorite meals of all time. The seafood-forward menu was right up my alley. The waitstaff was friendly, efficient, and made excellent recommendations for food, wine, and dessert. We came here for lunch and waited in line before they even opened to get a seat—and we barely made it on the first go around. We opted for the clams, the salted sea bass (which comes out on fire and is filleted tableside in seconds), the potato-crusted and olive-salted cod, a crisp bottle of white wine, and an apple meringue pie. I would highly recommend waiting in line for a table here.

Tapabento S. Bento

Located directly next to the train station, this cute, hip spot offers great tapas. The décor and atmosphere are lively and fun. It was a great place to unwind after a day trip to the wineries. We were able to sample many dishes and fill up for the next day!

Mercado do Bolhão

Mentioned above, but worth recommending for any meal. We got breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks, and a light dinner here during our stay in Porto. It has something for everyone and allows each person to get exactly what they want. There are some tables scattered around, but we usually got our food to go, which worked great.

Empanadas Malvón

Not Portuguese, but so good. This was a perfect quick bite on our way into town—delicious and satisfying. They had several flavors to choose from, and the empanada dough was absolutely perfect: light but crispy. We shared six different flavors, and all were top-notch.

Confeitaria do Bolhão

You can’t leave Porto without getting a pastel de nata. You can find these all over Portugal, and they are all delicious. I’m not usually a fan of custard-type pies, but something about these was just too good—the buttery yet light crust and the smooth but not-too-heavy custard, which I liked to sprinkle with cinnamon, made for the perfect breakfast pastry, midday sweet treat, or dessert. This house-turned-bakery, nestled right next to the market, is perfect for grabbing a real meal before getting something sweet.