5 Days in Porto in September 2017 (Full Travel Journal) (page 2 of 3)

Thursday, March 14.



Some cool tags... a change from the usual azulejos.



The small chapel das Almas de Santa Catarina was the most spectacular since it’s entirely covered in azulejos.







The Mercado do Bolhão is almost completely abandoned. All the galleries are nearly empty, likely for safety reasons since metal structures have been installed to support the buildings.













A nice little spot in the market to grab a drink or a bite to eat.



A typical little shop for food businesses—these places are packed with sweet and savory treats.







The Livraria Lello bookstore is a must-visit in Porto, whether you're into Art Nouveau or not—but two hours in line is too much, and entry is paid (though it’s deducted if you buy a book). For Harry Potter fans, the staircase is said to have inspired the author.



But now it’s time to eat.



The "bitoque"



Tripes à la mode de Porto.

What you identified as a "francesinha" is actually a "bitoque": escalope or steak, egg, rice, and fries. The "francesinha" is the meat sandwich (actually with multiple meats), topped with melted cheese and a beer sauce (your second-to-last photo). It’s pretty clear the nap wasn’t because of the heat... 😛

Hi Peggy, Actually, I had a doubt—thanks for the correction, especially since I have a photo of a francesinha. I’ll fix all of that. Thanks! Best regards,

I’ve got to stop following your travel journal or I won’t have any surprises left! 😉

Anyway, judging by the photos, we’re not going to Porto to lose weight. 😏

B🙂m tarde! h😉monym,

I need to stop following your travel journal or I won’t have any surprises left for myself! 😉

Maybe just focus on the text? Personally, to keep the visual surprise, I avoid photos when prepping for a trip... And hey, no disrespect to Christophe’s amazing work, but every travel journal offers a unique take on a destination. So even those that don’t quite match your vibe (places visited, travel style, interests, how you connect with others...) still have something to offer or teach—whether it’s just a single line, an address, or an impression!

Anyway, judging by the photos, we’re not going to Porto to lose weight. 😏

True that! Traditional Portuguese cuisine is, how to put it... hearty—like a big, juicy steak with fries *and* potatoes *and* rice (!!!) *and* beans (!!!). But there’s also lighter stuff like bacalhau (cod) or grilled sardines, and more and more vegetarian options following the global trend. In "cantinas," it’s also common to find homemade veggie soups on the menu. The food seemed healthy to me—Portuguese agriculture isn’t like Spain’s... So, to tackle your scale when you get back: ch😛ix!

@ Christophe: Your take on Porto is still so great. Thanks again!

Sân😎uk30.

Hi,

Maybe just focus on the text? Personally, to keep the visual surprise, I avoid photos in my trip prep...

No, I was joking—it doesn’t bother me at all. On the contrary, Christophe’s photos already make me want to be there! 😇

It’s clear that traditional Portuguese cuisine is, how should I put it... hearty, like a big juicy steak with fries or potatoes + rice (!!!) + dried beans (!!!). But lighter options include bacalhau (cod) or grilled sardines, and—following the global "trend"—more and more vegetarian menus. It’s also common in "cantinas" to find homemade vegetable soup on the menu. The ingredients seemed fresh and healthy to me—Portuguese agriculture isn’t like Spain’s....

There’s something for every taste, so it’s perfect. We love fish, so we should have a great time!

So, to face your scale when you get back: the pricetag!

Not scared at all! 😏

The Photography Museum, which is a former prison.







The students in Porto who dress a bit like the characters from Harry POTTER.





The church of Clerigos. Its tower rises to 75 meters.







Beautiful facades...





Friday, March 15th, our last full day in PORTO We’re going to walk through the different spots we loved during this trip again, and the gorgeous weather is with us.











Paintings on the staircases of Vila Nova de Gaia.





The quays along the Douro, on the PORTO side.



The houses of Ribeira.





Park facing the Photography Museum

Another nice little restaurant with a terrace.



Sorry to those who can't stand food photos!!!



I don’t remember what this was...



There we go again!!!







A shop called " A Vida Portuguesa"



A Vida Portuguesa is a shop that aims to preserve and bring back old Portuguese products. Here, you can find all kinds of items: notebooks, canned goods, soap, perfumes, shoes, or suitcases.



All the products here are of Portuguese origin. The space is also filled with the building’s old furniture, giving you the feeling of traveling back in time.



A Vida Portuguesa is a great place to find a souvenir from the country!





Saturday, March 16th, was departure day—our flight left at 1:40 PM, so there wasn’t time to do much.



We took the metro to the airport for less than 4 €.



The flight to LYON was scheduled for 1:40 PM, arriving in Lyon at 4:20 PM.





That’s it for this travel journal—I hope it makes you want to visit PORTO. In my opinion, 4 to 5 full days are enough to explore this beautiful city, where eating out isn’t too expensive. Before our trip, we weren’t big fans of port wine, but now it’s a different story.

Hi Christophe,



The students in Porto who dress a bit like the characters from Harry POTTER.



There’s definitely something to that 😉

We’re going to retrace our steps on foot to the different spots we loved during our stay, and the gorgeous weather is on our side.

You were pretty lucky with the weather overall, weren’t you?



Is visiting the rooftops also one of the must-dos in the city? 😉



Paintings on the staircases in Vila Nova de Gaia.



These paintings are really cool!



The quays along the Douro, on the PORTO side.

Is it market day, or is it always like this?

Sorry to those who can’t stand food photos!!!

No worries, I’m not too sensitive 😉

A Vida Portuguesa is a shop that aims to preserve and bring back old Portuguese products. Here, you can find all kinds of items: notebooks, canned goods, soap, perfumes, shoes, or suitcases.

All the products are of Portuguese origin. The space is also filled with the building’s old furniture, giving you the feeling of traveling back in time.

A Vida Portuguesa is a great place to find a souvenir from the country!

Good tip, noted! 😇

That’s the end of this story—I hope it makes you want to visit PORTO. In my opinion, 4 to 5 full days are enough to explore this beautiful city, where life isn’t too expensive when it comes to food.

Tickets booked, hotel reserved for 5 nights—this post just confirms my choice of Porto for a romantic getaway. Thanks for sharing! 🙂

Before our trip, we weren’t big fans of port wine, but now it’s a different story.

😏

Hello, and I'm glad you enjoyed this travel journal! Most importantly, have a great stay in Porto.

Hello, and I’m glad you enjoyed this travel journal! Most importantly, have a great stay in Porto.

Thanks! And I’ll try to post a little recap when I get back.

Good evening,

Thanks for this really nice travel journal. And all those great photos!

There you go, this story is finished. I hope it’ll make you want to stay in PORTO—4 to 5 full days is enough in my opinion to visit this city, which is gorgeous, and life isn’t very expensive for food.

Mission accomplished!

Hi there. I’ve been following this thread from the start but didn’t want to jump in before the end to avoid spoiling Christophe’s post. We were in Porto in September 2018. Without a car and without exploring the surrounding areas, 3 days are plenty.

Here’s a quick rundown of what we saw: DAY 1: - Santa Catarina Street, Santa Catarina Church Bolhão Market is in the neighborhood, but since it was under construction, we didn’t visit it.

- Liberty Square

- Ribeira District

- São Francisco Church (3 €, includes the museum and catacombs)

- Palace of the Stock Exchange (7 €, guided tours alternate between French, Portuguese, English, etc.)

- Livraria Lello (5 €, deductible from any purchase)

J.K. Rowling lived in Porto and is said to have drawn inspiration from this bookstore for her Harry Potter series.

- São Bento Train Station

DAY 2:

- Breakfast at Café Majestic. Dating back to 1921, it’s a symbol of the Belle Époque.

- Clérigos Tower

For its panoramic view of the city after climbing 240 steps.

- Then we took the hop-on/hop-off tourist bus (28 € for 2 days, commentary in French, unlimited rides) to get to Felgueiras Lighthouse.

- Return by tram for a bit of folklore (3 €).

- Sé Cathedral

- Walked across Dom Luís I Bridge on the upper level for a view of the old Ribeira district.

- Then crossed the bridge again in the opposite direction on the lower level.

- Six Bridges Cruise on the Douro (included with the hop-on/hop-off bus ticket).

- Evening in São Pedro da Afurada, known for its fish restaurants.

- Return to the Ribeira District at night.

DAY 3:

- Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art (free on Sunday mornings, accessible via the hop-on/hop-off bus).

- Carmo Church

- Saint Ildefonso Church

Cheers, Eric

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to share these travel journals!

We’re heading there as a family in early July—a short 3-day stopover before continuing to Madeira... TAP had promotions last September: round-trip from Lyon to Funchal for 150 € per person, with a free 3- to 5-night stopover in Porto or Lisbon of your choice. Keep an eye out for next September’s promotions... it might be worth the cost!

Hi Isabelle, travel journals are here to inspire people to discover so many amazing places on our planet. And since your next destination is Madeira, I also wrote a travel journal about this beautiful island on VF. Best regards

Thanks for the tip, I’ll check it out too! ;)

Hi Christophe,

Love your posts! I’ve booked a week in Porto from April 30th to May 7th. We’re also flying with Transavia for 186 € round trip for the two of us—I took advantage of the deal.

For accommodation, we always stay in a studio but not an R&B (which I don’t like). Through the PAP site, it’s 350 € for the week.

The studio is located in the neighborhood you mentioned, Vila Nova de Gaia. I got a sneak peek with the photos.

We went to Lisbon three years ago and loved it—I hope Porto will be just as great!

Thanks! 🙂

Good evening Babeth. Thank you for your comments, and I hope you have a great stay in Porto—you won’t be disappointed. Safe travels, enjoy your trip, and don’t forget to taste some Porto wine. Best regards

Thanks to all of you, and we won’t forget the port wine—especially since we’re staying in the perfect neighborhood without a car! 😉