EmPorto is one of Europe’s most charming and atmospheric cities, and it’s an incredible destination for solo travelers. Whether you’re wandering its steep medieval streets, sipping port wine by the river, or taking in breathtaking views from the Dom Luís I Bridge, there are countless things to do in Porto alone that will make your trip unforgettable. I traveled solo to Porto in April 2023, and it quickly became one of my favorite city breaks. If you’re planning a trip and wondering what to do on your own, this travel guide will help you make the most of your solo trip to Porto.
Is Porto worth visiting?
A trip to Porto really feels like you’re stepping back in time. Unlike its sister-city Lisbon, Porto didn’t suffer any major historical disasters, and as a result, the city retains it’s steep, narrow medieval streets leading down to the river. Porto is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and just wandering the streets is a treat in itself, as you come across port wine tasting shops, hidden cafes and little souvenir shops. But there’s so much more to Porto than that!
Is Porto good for solo travel?
Porto is absolutely chock-full of things to do, and many of them are great to do alone. From taking in sweeping vistas at the cathedral, to enjoying a sneaky MacDonalds (yes really!), to drinking delicious wine with new friends on a day trip to the Douro Valley, Porto is a perfect destination for solo travellers.
Is Porto safe for solo female travellers?
Porto is as safe as any other European city, meaning that your main concerns will be petty crime like pickpocketing. While pickpocketing is lower than some cities like Barcelona or Paris, make sure to keep an eye on your things.
For solo female travellers at night time, I always find Iberian cities very safe. The nightlife goes on so long that there are always people around. You are much less likely to find yourself walking down a deserted road than you are in London, for example. However, take the usual precautions as you would anywhere else.
Thinking of your next city break after Porto? Check out my guide to Brasov, Romania. A glorious fairy tale city off the beaten track filled with castles and bears.
Top 9 things to do in Porto alone
1. Wandering the streets of Porto
The streets in Porto city centre date from medieval times, and it definitely feels like it. There’s nothing lovelier than a slow wander up and down the hilly streets, to and from the river, to get a feel for the city. Take your time, enjoy the insta-friendly shops, and stop for coffee or drinks to give your legs a break from the slopes.
Make sure your wandering includes banks of the Douro River. Although crowded, walking up and down the river was one of my absolute favourite things in Porto. There’s a buzzing, holiday vibe that puts you immediately in a good mood.
If you want something more structured, there are a number of free walking tours available in Porto. Walking tours are great for solo travellers, as they give you a chance to make friends (and get you out of bed in the morning if you’re feeling lazy!). Try a tour from Porto Walkers, who are rated no.1 on Tripadvisor and have over 1.7k reviews on Google. While the tours are free, you do need to reserve a spot.
2. Taking in Porto’s stunning churches and architecture
Porto is incredibly beautiful. There’s a mix of architecture to admire, from medieval through to 18th/19th century and art-deco. Many of these spots also offer incredible views over Porto city center as well.
Some of the highlights include:
- Clerigos Tower, a 75 metre high bell tower in the centre of the city. Construction was finished in 1750 and it’s been one of the most enduring symbols of the city ever since. You can climb to the top for stunning views over the city. However, be aware that it’s extremely popular and you are likely to have to queue. It’s open every day from 9am to 7pm and the climb is free.
- Sao Bento station, the main train station in Porto, is in the centre of the city. Built in the 20th century, it’s an art deco masterpiece well worth wandering around.
- Porto cathedral is a Romanesque masterpeice primarily built between the 12th and 16th centuries. Built on a hill, it towers over the city. It’s quite a walk to get up there, but well worth it to visit the cathedral itself and enjoy the views over the city and river.
3. A trip to Mcdonalds
Yes, really! This isn’t usually on my list for a major city, but Porto is an exception. The main Mcdonalds in the city centre occupies a stunning art-deco space, and tourists flock to it to enjoy the architecture. Opened in 1995 and often called the most beautiful McDonalds in the world, it occupies the site of the former Imperial Cafe, a historic site from the 1930s named for the eagle which still stands on the entrance.
You don’t have to buy those chicken nuggets (although I certainly won’t judge if you do), you can just pop your head in and stare around in awe. You won’t be the only one.
4. Port tasting
Porto is the home of port, a fortified wine that’s slightly stronger than standard wine. While wine has been made near Porto since at least Roman times, the first shipment of port wasn’t until 1678. It sprung from the historic association between Portugal and Great Britain, which can still be seen in many port houses today.
The history of port wine
While England was at war with the French in the 17th century, import of French wine was banned, and the English needed an alternative. They weren’t a fan of traditional Portuguese wine, so a stronger, fuller bodied alternative was born: Port.
This needed a longer journey than wine from France, so a small amount of spirit was added to help preserve the wine, creating the fortified drink you’ll enjoy so much on your trip. These new wines took the name of the city they were shipped from: Oporto, or Porto in English.
Port comes as both a red and white wine, with red much more common. White port, however, is increasingly popular with tonic, as an alternative to gin. To get the best out of your port tasting experience, there are a number of excellent port houses offering tasting menus or single glasses. Many port houses also offer tours: I’d say you only need to do one or two of these, so choose wisely (and book in advance!)
My favourite port houses
Port comes as both a red and white wine, with red much more common. White port, however, is increasingly popular with tonic, as an alternative to gin. To get the best out of your port tasting experience, there are a number of excellent port houses offering tasting menus or single glasses. Many port houses also offer tours: I’d say you only need to do one or two of these, so choose wisely (and book in advance!)
As with walking tours, port tours can be a great way to socialise as a solo traveller. They give you the chance to meet like minded people and have a pressure-free drink with others. However, I also did some port tasting on my own in Porto and never felt self-conscicous. Sipping a glass of ruby-red port while watching the boats drift on the Douro, I realized how freeing solo travel in Porto can be.These were a few of my favourites:
- Calem – like many of the port houses, Calem is on the river bank, giving you the chance to take in stunning views while you drink. They offer a tasting menu as well as a la carte options and food to accompany. You can also tour their cellars, learning about their history, or combine your tour with a Fado show (see below for more on Fado).
- Taylor’s offers something completely different. It’s a long, steep walk up to the Taylor’s site, but once you’re there it’s utterly worth it. Set within beautiful gardens, a trip to Taylor’s makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time to the heyday of British involvement in Porto, right down to peacocks wandering the gardens.
- Graham’s is one of the oldest Port houses in the city, with one of the top rated tours. While I didn’t go myself (make sure you book in advance!), it has excellent reviews and a long history to draw on.
- Fonseca offer a self-guided tour through their cellars, which is also a bit off the beaten track. This is a great option if you’re a bit short on time, prefer to go at your own pace, or if you failed to book in advance elsewhere. It was also very quiet, unlike some of the bigger houses.
- Finally, Sandeman’s is one of the biggest names in port. Situated on the river, it has one of the best known and most interactive tours. However, personally I preferred to sample their port at my own pace, sitting at their waterfront bar. They also offer a limited food menu to help you line your stomach. The bar gets very busy, so grab a table when you can!
5. Take a day trip to the Douro valley
One of the best things to do in Porto is leave Porto for the day! The most popular day trip is out to the Douro valley, Portugal’s premier wine region. The best way to do this is to take a guided tour, to avoid needing a designated driver. Also, if you are travelling alone, a guided tour gives you the chance to make new friends!
I took my tour with Oporto Sensations and highly recommend it. It was a small group tour, with a minivan capping the tour at 8 guests – I always prefer to pay extra for a small group tour if possible.
The trip will take you out into stunning countryside, winding through mountain roads until you get to the Douro valley itself. There are plenty of photo opportunities along the way.
We started with a short boat ride down the river, taking in the gorgeous scenery. We then visited three wineries, and had lunch in one of the most scenic spots I’ve ever eaten – at the top of a hill, overlooking the rolling valleys. Our guide was knowledgeable about wine and Porto itself and really made the day more interesting. We visited Croft, Quinta da Gingeira and Quinta do Val Moreira, trying a mix of ports and Douro valley wines at each.
There are many tours available – if the company i used is fully booked, try these highly rated options on GetYourGuide:
Douro Valley with Boat Tour, wine tasting and lunch (10k+ reviews)
Douro Valley: Wine Tour with Lunch, Tastings and River Cruise (5k+ reviews)
6. Listen to Fado music
No trip to Porto is complete without taking in the local music, Fado. Believed to have originated in working class areas in Lisbon in the 19th century, Fado is a crucial part of Portuguese culture. Characterised by mournful lyrics and infused with a sense of fate, you should expect to feel deeply while listening.
It’s difficult to find Fado in Porto that’s not aimed at tourists. So I fully embraced that, attending a show at Fado na Baixa that mixed singing with interludes explaining the history and significance of the music. It offers two one-hour shows each day at 6.00 and 7.30pm.
Tickets are available online in advance, and it was a relatively small audience, creating a sense of intimacy. It was also a great show to attend as a solo traveller – there wasn’t the pressure of having a meal with the show.
However, if this doesn’t work for you, GetYourGuide offers a number of alternatives, including this highly rated option in Sao Bento train station, another of Porto’s architectural treasures.
7. Dom Luis Bridge and the cable car
The Dom Luis I bridge spans the river Douro. It was built by Gustave Eiffel (yes, that Eiffel) and echoes the steel construction of the Eiffel Tower. It has two levels and its worth enjoying both.
To get to the upper level, you can either walk or take a lift from the main city-side of the bridge. It goes without saying that this is one of the best views in Porto. From the port house side, you can then take the cable car/gondolas down to the end of the promenade. This was a lovely trip, and it drops you by a beautiful food market (see below).
8. Eat!
Porto has an abundance of wonderful food options. My first tip would be to have as many pastel de natas as you can while you’re there. They’re available everywhere but if you want a real Porto experience, find a side street with a local’s cafe and eat them with a coffee, standing at the bar.
There are hundreds of restaurant options for you in Porto. These range from the typical tourist offerings on the riverfront to more upmarket spots. If you want to eat on the river, your choice is likely to be guided more by table availability than food quality, but I did eat at Muro Do Bacalhau, a tiny spot with impeccable views and food. Sadly, it doesn’t take reservations, so good luck.
Eating alone in Porto – food markets
As a solo traveller, I don’t always want to sit down for a full, formal meal, and Porto had two food markets I enjoyed in the city for an on-the-go/informal bite. The first is Mercado Beira-Rio at the end of the cable car, at the far end of the river where the port houses are. This is a deeply informal food-court style spot, with a variety of food stalls/trucks and centralised seating. It’s cheap and quick and a great spot to have a quick lunch.
The second is the Mercado de Bolhao, Porto’s historic fresh food market. It still sells that fresh food (though not cheaply!) as well as a few craft stalls. It also has a number of stalls and restaurants scattered throughout offering upscale street food. This is a much more upmarket experience and a big step above the Mercado Beira-Rio in terms of cuisine. It’s a little bit out of the main tourist centre, past the train station and Mcdonalds, but well worth the walk.
9. Livraria Lello
No guide to Porto would be complete without mention of Livraria Lello, one of the most famous spots in the city. An instagram-perfect bookshop, it’s said to have been part of the inspiration for Hogwarts, and people flock to it each day.
For this reason you need to book in advance and pay the 5e fee. You’ll then need to queue for entry – people absolutely start queuing more than half an hour early, so if you turn up just before your time slot you will still have to wait a substantial amount of time to enter.
My honest opinion: it’s certainly beautiful. However, the crowds inside the shop made the experience unbearable for me – it was like the London tube at rush hour. People were pressed back to back and fighting to get up and down the winding staircases. Bear this in mind if you do want to visit. If you struggle in crowded places, this might not be the best experience for you.
Things to know about Porto before you go
The best time to visit Porto
Porto gets hot early in the year. I visited in April and it was already in the mid-20s (c.77F). The Douro valley was already hovering around the 30c mark. For me, Porto is definitely a city to visit in spring or autumn. The highs of peak summer are too hot for much effective touristing, especially given that the city is hilly. However, if you do go in summer and need a respite from the heat, do as the locals do – head to the beach on the shores of the river.
How to get to Porto from the airport
Most people will arrive in Porto by plane, with budget and main airlines offering flights from around Europe. Sa Carneiro Airport is conveniently located close to the city.
Car
Sa Carneiro Airport is about a 20 minute drive from Porto city center and taxi transfers are easily available. This will be particularly useful if your budget flights arrive very late/early (as mine did). If you want to choose this option, it’s likely that your hotel or airbnb host will be able to help you organise this.
Metro
There are also public transport options. There’s also a direct metro from the airport to the city centre, taking about 40 minutes. This takes you to Metro de Trinidade. This is a little bit of a walk from the river/main tourist area. Trains run every half an hour or so until 00.42 and cost 2e eac way. More information on schedules can be found here.
Bus
There are also two buses from the airport to the city centre. These both leave from Arrivals, take about 50 minutes and also run every half an hour. The bus costs 2e each way.
Shuttle service
Finally, there is a shuttle service from the airport to most city hotels. This takes between 30-50 minutes depending on the amount of drop offs. The cost starts from 12e, and decreases depending on the number of tickets you buy. This runs 24 hours.
Now that you’ve planned your city break, it’s time to think about a longer trip! Check out my guide to Skiathos for a typical summer break, or find out Everything you need to know about visiting Montenegro, one of Europe’s most up and coming destinations. I’ve compiled a Top 10 guide to help you plan your visit!
Porto is a city that’s made for solo travel. Whether you want to explore its historic streets, taste world-class port wine, or simply soak in the riverside atmosphere, you’ll never run out of things to do in Porto alone. Plus, with its welcoming locals and lively atmosphere, you’ll feel at ease exploring at your own pace. Have you visited Porto solo? What was your favorite experience? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear your thoughts!
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