A Stylish Day on the Douro

Porto is slow mornings and golden light. Stone steps and tile work. Wine at noon and walking just because. But if you’re wondering what to actually do when you’re there, here’s how we spent a perfect few day in Portugal’s most soulful city.

Started with Tiles at São Bento Station
Before you’ve even had your first espresso, Porto shows off. São Bento Station is a living art piece—20,000+ azulejo tiles telling stories of Portugal’s past. The space feels still and cinematic, like something from a dream. It’s worth the visit, even if you’re not catching a train.

Stepped Back in Time at Igreja de Santa Clara
Hidden just behind the main buzz of the city is Igreja de Santa Clara—a church covered in intricate, gold-leafed woodwork that makes you stop. It’s ornate and deeply peaceful, a total contrast to the sunlit streets outside. This was my favorite part of Porto, in addition to Palacio da Bolsa.

Walk Across the Dom Luís I Bridge
Porto’s most iconic bridge connects the city to Gaia, and walking across it gives you the best of both worlds—views of the stacked orange rooftops on one side, and the wine cellars and hills of Gaia on the other. It’s an easy walk with a huge visual payoff. Highly recommend doing it around golden hour, which is about when we went.

Cruised the Douro + Sipped Port Onboard
We took a Douro River cruise. It’s slow, breezy, and gives you a front-row seat to the layered beauty of the city. Even better? We had port wine and chocolate onboard. Drinking Porto’s namesake wine on the river it was named for? A moment. A vibe. A memory, even if I found out in that moment that I’m not a fan of Port wine. Too strong tasting for me.

Visited Palácio da Bolsa
This building was once the stock exchange, but today it’s pure grandeur. The Arab Room alone is a jaw-dropper—walls, ceiling, and chandeliers in full gilded fantasy. It’s one of those places that makes you feel small, in the best way. We did a guided tour and it was very worth it.

Porto is textured, worn in, and wildly photogenic. It’s not about checking things off—it’s about leaning in and meandering.

Style Notes
We wore comfortable shoes (there are stairs everywhere), light layers, and crossbody bags for easy exploring. Porto is chill but chic—think effortless neutrals, lived-in denim, and one statement piece. We walked A LOT.

Final Thoughts
I liked Porto and there were beautiful aspects of the city, however if you had to choose between Porto and Lisbon, I would choose Lisbon. Porto was quite cold and a little rainy when we went and I bet it’s a nice experience in the Spring or Summer. However, if you love Port wine, and the history of it, this city is definitely for you. If you’re into cities with soul, stories in every tile, and sunsets that feel like poetry, put Porto at the top of your list.