
How to Spend 3 Days in Porto
From strolling coastal towns and Douro Valley vineyards, to exploring museums and hilltop castles, here’s how to make the most of 72 hours in Portugal’s 2nd-largest city.
As well as designer and high-street stores, Rua Santa Catarina plays host to three of Porto’s top attractions, which secures its place on multiple sightseeing tours. Spend as much time as you like on the street by visiting as part of a hop-on hop-off sightseeing tour by bus, or opt for a more in-depth intro to Porto’s history and culture during a walking or tuk-tuk tour. Some packages also include a Douro River cruise, which covers Porto’s famous six bridges
The easiest way to reach the square is by tram; Rua Santa Catarina is serviced by tram line 22, which stops a couple of minutes from Batalha Square. From the Ribeira, you can take the funicular train up the hill, which is a non-stop service that takes 5 minutes.
Being a public space, Rua Santa Catarina is open 24 hours a day; however, most stores are open Monday to Saturday and are closed on Sundays. Cafe Majestic stays open late.
Rua Santa Catarina begins in Praça da Batalha, which itself is home to the imposing Igreja dos Congregados, embellished with traditional Portuguese tiles, or azulejos. Keep walking downhill and you’ll come across Mercado do Bolhão (Bolhão Market), famous for its fruit and flowers; the Chapel of Souls, where vivid blue tiles are best demonstrated; and end at the ornate Praca Marques de Pombal.