Where Tiles Tells Stories and Wine Flows: A Porto Love Affair

Porto, Portugal, is the kind of city that reveals itself slowly—through tiled façades, steep lanes that tumble toward the Douro, and moments of indulgence that feel beautifully, unapologetically Portuguese. With just three nights, I found the perfect balance between wandering, tasting, and soaking up the city’s unmistakable character. As I was asked by my friends whether I prefer Lisbon to Porto or vice versa it was not hard to answer. While Lisbon will show its beauty a few weeks later, Porto was my kind of city for sure.

First Impressions & Storybook Streets

There’s no better way to meet Porto than on foot. From the moment I arrived, the city felt cinematic—washed in soft light, layered with history, and buzzing with quiet energy. Almost annoying my partner, I could not stop photographing the amazingly decorated buildings with tiles of different shapes and colors. One of our first stops was "Livraria Lello", Porto’s most iconic (and most photographed) bookstore.

Yes, it’s busy. Yes, it requires a ticket reserved in advance. And yes—it’s absolutely worth it even if some reviews you will read will say otherwise. The sweeping red staircase, stained glass ceiling, and dark wooden shelves make it feel more like a literary cathedral than a shop. Whether or not you’re here for the Harry Potter connection, stepping inside is like walking straight into a fairytale. With the price of your ticket, you can use it as funding (partially) for a book of your choice.

The decision was not to overcrowd the stay with touristic stops and if I had to suggest something it would be to just wander the Ribeira district, watch the traditional Rabelo boats glide along the river, and enjoy that glass of vinho as the city eased into evening. There are many cool sunset spots - just google and go!

Pastel de Nata Perfection & Porto’s Timeless Rhythm

No visit to Porto is complete without a "pastel de nata" and I made it my mission to try one fresh out of the oven. Still warm, with blistered pastry and silky custard, it was everything it should be—crispy, creamy, and gone far too quickly. The next almost daily (!!) pastels were not the same as the first (as most things aren't :)) but I have to admit they are super yummy.

Wine Tasting in Vila Nova de Gaia (A must for wine lovers!)

Crossing the Dom Luís I Bridge into Vila Nova de Gaia feels like stepping into Porto’s liquid legacy. This is where the famous port wine cellars line the riverbank, each offering its own take on centuries of winemaking tradition. A guided wine tasting here is a must. From ruby to tawny, vintage to LBV, tasting port in the place where it has been aged and stored for generations adds a deeper appreciation to every sip. Walking by the river afterward, with Porto spread out across the water—it’s a moment that perfectly captures the gist of the city.

Three nights in Porto felt just right for us: enough time to fall for its charm, but short enough to leave /wanting more. And while this chapter ends here, the journey continues upriver. Next stop: the Douro Valley, where these wines begin their story. That deserves a post of its own.

Accommodation Tip: When in a city, in my opinion the best to set out and have an easy exploration by foot is to stay centrally. Yes you might be in the hustle and bustle as well experience some noise at night from your accommodation, but with some good research you can land on a perfect spot. My choice was the "chic & basic Gravity". With a cool twist of having items in the weirdest of places around you (such as sneakers on the room ceiling) They do keep their promise giving you that "upside down effect". With very affordable costs and prime location I was super happy with this choice.

Excursion Tips: As you may have already concluded I am not in favor of filling up the days with tourist bucket items and the choice with Porto was to limit those items to three preplanned - with the rest of the time wandering the streets and in my case taking photos at almost every corner. The first hot spot, already mentioned, was the "Livaria Lello" book store. Make sure to book your ticket online with a time stamp. While it does get crowded and perhaps due to the fact it was November off season, we managed to enjoy our visit in the store greatly. As you are thinking which book to get, I strongly recommend one that captures the essence of the beautiful shop rather than a standard souvenir.

The second, rather good choice, was a tour booked at the "Palacio Da Bolsa". Headquarters and property of "Associação Comercial do Porto", a neoclassical style building, whose construction started on the 6^th October 1842. The "Palácio da Bolsa" has been classified as a National Monument since 1982. The short guided tour takes you through some of the more beautiful rooms including the "Moorish", Arab style room. Important to note the online booking of the tour does not reserve a time slot with your preferred language therefore make sure to plan the day accordingly as you might need to wait. The third, a must in the travel books and I have to agree, was a stop at the famous Porto "Sao Bento" railway station. The tile work on all four walls is exquisite! Finally, A bonus unplanned visit included a walk up the "Clerigos Church Tower". Having a 360 view of Porto from above was for sure a highlight of our day.

Gastronomy Tip: Potro is of course all about Port wine. A trip to Porto is not complete without a tour of one of the wine cellars in the area across the river named "Vila Nova de Gaia". To be very honest there is a VAST number of cellar tours out there and while I did not try them all, I have a feeling they will be quite similar. Having said that, both my partner and myself were quite impressed by the magnitude of the wine cellar tour we chose- "Cockburn's Port" Our visit including port tasing (paired with chocolate) was booked via getyourguide and it did not disappoint.