PHOTOS: Weekend itinerary in Porto, Portugal

With cheap flights into Porto, Portugal, I thought, “why not?”

Exactly. Why not.

There are no reasons to withhold from yourself the pleasure of spending your days under the Portuguese sun. I didn’t know I had a desire to go to Portugal, but now after teasing myself, I can’t snuff my burning craving to return to Porto, and explore more of the rich country.

Porto represents its country mighty well, and I’m itching to return and see more.

Day 1:

My delicious goat cheese, apple and walnut sandwich with honey on the outside.

Some beautiful buildings near my AirBnb

I arrived Friday afternoon, my flight arriving a little after noon. With excellent directions from my gracious AirBnb hosts and straightforward public transportation, my accommodation was easy to find. I arrived at about 1:30 p.m., and walked across the street to an organic grocery and cafe for a mesmerizing goat cheese, apple, walnut and honey sandwich.

The buildings are so charming, I didn’t want to leave.

We couldn’t go inside the Church of Saint Ildefonso, but loved the exterior.

Praça de Gomes Teixeira, near Livraria Lello

I loved walking around and finding beautiful squares.

A welcoming committee of colorful buildings near Church of Saint Ildefonso

Once full and happy, I met up with my friend and we went on a 8-hour walk around town. Our first stop was a local market where we picked up some special, handmade goods for ourselves and friends, then continued, admiring the striking tiled facades and charming town.

We walked through Igreja do Carmo, past Igreja Paroquial de Santo Ildefonso (Church of Saint Ildefonso) and Igreja de Santo António dos Congregados (Saint Anthony’s Church Congregados), and finally passed the Muralha Fernandina when we headed to the stairs, down to the water’s edge.

The weather was perfect for a stroll along the promenade.

A delicious crepe while listening to music and watching people enjoy their afternoon.

Old and newer buildings together: so charming.

The cruise took us under the 6 bridges leading to the Atlantic.

First view of the river before taking the steps down to the water.

Loved exploring this city.

I couldn’t get enough of the colorful buildings.

The Luis I Bridge is extremely large in comparison to the river and town.

The cruise lasted a little less than one hour.

Porto from a different prospective and a different bridge.

We took a boat cruise and loved it.

A beautiful day for a boat ride, although the wind wasn’t idyll.

The buildings along the river are the most beautiful view.

Little restaurants and cafe line the waterfront.

The markets were everywhere– it took everything in me to not spend every penny to my name.

Once on the water front, we took the 6 Bridges Cruise on the Douro River, then enjoyed a hot crêpe (not very Portuguese of us) and coffee at a cafe overlooking the water and listening to local street artists play lively tunes.

After taking in enough time, we crossed the bridge (first on the bottom) and enjoyed the view from the other side, but immediately crossed back, and began meandering up the hill (make sure to pack good walking shoes) in slow pursuit of dinner but quick pursuit of discovering the town. We ended up at Igreja Paroquial da Vitória (Church of Nossa Senhora da Vitória) where a sweet, petite old lady stood at the gates welcoming all the tourists walking in.

A delicious traditional Portuguese dinner of beans and rice, cod and white sangria.

The blue and white tiles are everywhere and iconic.

The outlook spot before dinner, looking across the river at night.

Gorgeous lights illuminate the city.

The tiles are so elegant. I want them on my house (one day, maybe!).

A peek into everyday life in Porto.

I love climbing up and seeing cities from above– the views are everything.

We also took time to enjoy the amazing panorama of the park next door, of both sides of the river lit in the dark, night sky.

A hop, skip and a jump up from the church and lookout, we had dinner at Taberna d’Avó. We stumbled upon it by happenstance, and decided the menu on display outside was enough to lure us in. Large portions, good service, great prices, and a long, relaxing evening (with sangria, of course).

Day 2:

An inexpensive breakfast at Cafe Célia got us off on the right foot: a generous cafe with a sweet, almost-brioche Portuguese croissant. First thing, we set out for Jardins do Palácio de Cristal, or the Cristal Palace Gardens.

I imagine the park is breathtaking in full bloom.

Views of the river from Crystal Gardens.

A charming little church with a small sign of spring.

The peacocks were a fun surprise– I wasn’t expecting them!

A scenic lake in Crystal Gardens.

Portuguese croissant and cafe to start my day. I bought a second croissant for a snack later on.

I can only imagine their stunning beauty in the springtime and summer, with full trees, colorful flowers and warm sunshine (although it was plenty warm for me coming from freezing temperatures). We enjoyed a leisure meander amid the turkeys and peacocks, along the pathways and ahead of the striking river panorama.

Soaking in nature’s gardens and admiring the diverse terrain, we snapped photos before continuing to one of the world’s most beautiful bookstores. Livraria Lello’s decadent staircase and rich, intricate walls and ceiling have inspired countless authors, such as JK Rowling and her famous Harry Potter stories. Entrance is €4, but the price is deducted from any book purchase you care to make, an opportunity I took-up as a souvenir for my niece.

The glare from the lights made the interior difficult to photograph without a proper camera.

“They don’t make bookstores like this these days,” I said.

The exterior of the bookstore.

The majestic staircase is spectacular. The wood’s rich brown color is so sophisticated.

The wood detail is incredible.

A rare photo of the bookstore without a tourist.

Escaping the rain at the perfect moment, the rain both began and ceased during my time inside Livraria Lello, and I reentered the outdoors just in time for a little sunshine and dry skies: perfect conditions for a lot more walking across the bridge (the top this time), to the train station, an unlikely tourist destination.

For a stunning view and breathtaking experience, down the road, don’t miss the Sé do Porto, or Porto Cathedral. I didn’t go inside, but the most magnificently charming views of Porto from the terrace would’ve made me fall in love with the city if I weren’t already. We stopped by and took a nice, long look before crossing over the Lúis I Bridge, and I could’ve stayed for hours.

More meandering lead us to Bunitos Garrafeira for free port tasting (a small shop we happened to pass after failing to find free port tastings at the wineries, contrary to what my earlier research has suggested), Munchie the Burger Kitchen for lunch, Majestic Cafe (unfortunately just for a peek through the window), and finally to the old trolley (line 1) for a ride along the river until we landed near the open ocean waters and darling lighthouse.

View of Porto from the cathedral plaza.

The tiles cover the walls as spectacular art.

The exterior of the cathedral even has blue and white mosaics.

The clotheslines add so much character.

Porto from the other side of the river (also Porto).

This bird has no idea he lives in an incredible place.

While the wind was cold, the walk across the bridge was high on my list and worth it.

View of the river from the cathedral plaza.

Crossing over the top of the bridge.

The streets are so charming, I couldn’t contain myself.

The red roofs against the blue sky is a sight for sore eyes.

I want to walk down every little road.

A train station is only a bizarre tourist sight until you go to the one in Porto.

After spending about an hour on the beach, we caught the tram back to town, and climbed back up the hill to our AirBnb, where we picnicked for dinner. We made one stop at a small park to watch the sunset, per the suggestion of our AirBnb hosts; unfortunately, it was too overcast and there wasn’t a show that evening.

Day 3:

While my friend packed up and left before I woke up, I spent all morning wandering around, enjoying the last bit of sun, and views from the patio at Confeitaria Primar with a coffee, traditional pastry, and fresh-squeezed orange juice.

Porto chimes carols of joy, curious, darling and simple joy. Constructed on a hill, the rolled rooftops, laundry lines and ambrosial tiled facades profiles the most charming and love-inspiring views at every vista.

While it looked like rain was brewing, there was never a single drop.

I hope to return to Porto soon, and hopefully more places in Portugal.

The crooked, narrow streets and crumbling structures whisper stories and don more character and magic than I could absorb while breathing. I couldn’t stop smiling.