I was fortunate recently to receive a travel bursary to present at a conference in Rio de Janeiro. While I was away from Friday 24 April to Saturday 9 May (15 days), the trip only used 10 days of annual leave thanks to a bank holiday. I flew with TAP Air Portugal, which has one of the best stopover programmes in the world. For free, I was able to edit my flights to include a stopover in Lisbon on the way to Rio and another stopover in Porto on the way back to London. I have already written posts about my Lisbon stopover, travelling around Brazil, and my time in Rio de Janeiro, so this post focuses on our short but very enjoyable stopover in Porto.
Getting to Porto
On 8 May, we flew from Rio de Janeiro (GIG) to Porto (OPO), leaving at 8:40pm and arriving at 10:45am the following morning. The flight took around 10 hours.
One of the great things about this stopover was that we did not need to collect our checked bags at Porto Airport. They were automatically transferred through to our final destination in London, meaning we could head straight into the city with only our hand luggage.
From Porto Airport, we took the E Metro train into the city centre. The journey to Trindade station took around 35 minutes, with trains running approximately every 30 minutes. The ticket cost around €2.20, making it a very easy and affordable way to reach the city.
Things We Did in Porto
Chapel of Souls (Capela das Almas)
Our first stop was the Chapel of Souls, one of Porto’s most recognisable churches thanks to its beautiful blue and white azulejo tiles. The outside is completely covered in these traditional Portuguese tiles, making it a perfect first glimpse of Porto’s famous architecture.
Mercado do Bolhão
Next, we headed to Mercado do Bolhão, Porto’s historic food market. This was one of my favourite stops of the day.
We grabbed a cone of cheese and created our own mini port tasting experience while wandering around the stalls. I would definitely recommend visiting the market, as it was reasonably priced and there were so many delicious treats available, from local cheeses and meats to pastries and drinks.
Church of Saint Ildefonso
After exploring the market, we walked to the Church of Saint Ildefonso, another stunning blue-tiled church. Porto is full of these beautiful tiled buildings, and each one feels slightly different despite sharing the same traditional style.
Trying a Francesinha
No visit to Porto would be complete without trying a Francesinha, the city’s famous sandwich. This is a seriously indulgent dish made with layers of different meats, covered in melted cheese, drenched in a rich sauce, and often topped with a fried egg.
We tried one at Inês Diniz in Time Out Market Porto. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t recommend it. The food was expensive, and it took almost an hour for our order to arrive.
Next time, I would like to try Café Santiago instead. It is one of the most famous places for a Francesinha, although there was a very long queue when we visited.
McDonald’s Imperial
Our next stop was a slightly unusual tourist attraction: McDonald’s Imperial. This is often described as one of the most beautiful McDonald’s restaurants in the world, thanks to its historic interior, stained glass, and grand design.
Livraria Lello
We then walked past Livraria Lello, one of Porto’s most famous landmarks and often listed among the world’s most beautiful bookshops. Unfortunately, the queue was far too long, so we decided to leave it for another visit.
Igreja do Carmo
Our final stop was Igreja do Carmo, another spectacular church decorated with blue and white azulejo tiles. It was the perfect final stop before we sadly had to make our way back to the airport.
What I Want to Do Next Time in Porto
Although we managed to see a lot during our short stopover, there is still plenty I would like to do on a future visit.
- Walk Along the River and Explore Vila Nova de Gaia: I would like to visit the area around Croisière 6 Ponts for the pretty riverside houses and views across the water.
- Cross the iconic Dom Luís I Bridge: Views over Porto from above.
- Visit a Port Wine Cellar: potentially Real Companhia Velha for a more traditional port tour experience or perhaps Kopke for a chocolate and port tasting.
- Livraria Lello: The famous bookshop.
- Church of Saint Francis: The catacombs beneath the Church of Saint Francis.
- Porto Cable Car: To see the city and the river from a different perspective.
- Parque das Águas: I would like to visit Parque das Águas for views across the river. I have also heard there are small bars nearby where you can buy takeaway beers and enjoy the scenery.
Final Thoughts
Porto was the perfect stopover destination. Even with only around 7h in the city, we managed to see beautiful blue-tilled churches, eat local food and had a blast at a food market. I would happily return for a longer visit, as there are still so many things left to discover.
