Is Porto Worth Visiting? My honest review in 2026

I was born and raised in Lisbon, a city I absolutely love and still call home. But after visiting Porto for the first time, I’ll admit the city earned a special place in my heart and quickly became one of my favorite trips to take within Portugal.

In this guide, I’ll answer one simple question: is Porto worth visiting or is it overrated? I’ll also share the things I personally loved, if it’s safe for solo female travelers, my favorite things to do, and practical tips to help you plan your trip.

100% yes.

Portugal is one of the best travel destinations in Europe, especially if you’re planning a European summer trip. And no trip to Portugal feels complete without visiting Porto.

Let me show you why.

What I loved about Porto

Porto is pretty easy to love. There’s history around every corner and people are so welcoming that it’s honestly hard for me to name all the things I love about this city.

So here are just three things — otherwise this post will turn into a 5000-word love letter to Porto.

1. Tourist Friendly

Let’s be honest — not all destinations are tourist friendly, especially when places become extremely popular and locals start getting tired of tourism.

But Porto still feels welcoming.

Not only are locals generally friendly and helpful, but the city itself is very easy to navigate. Most attractions are within walking distance from each other and public transportation is simple to use, making Porto a really stress-free city to explore even for first-time visitors in Portugal.

2. The Food

I might be a little biased on this one as a Portuguese person, but I absolutely LOVE Portuguese food and still think it’s one of the most underrated cuisines in Europe.

The food looks simple, but somehow everything tastes amazing.

And while in Porto, you absolutely cannot miss trying a Francesinha — Porto’s most famous sandwich. It’s heavy, messy, covered in sauce and one of the ultimate comfort foods in Porto.

3. Not Expensive

Even though Portugal is a western European country, it’s still considerably cheaper than many other popular destinations in Europe.

Prices have definitely increased over the last few years, especially after Portugal exploded in popularity, but Porto still feels affordable compared to cities like Paris, Amsterdam or London.

And between Lisbon and Porto, Porto is usually the cheaper option.

Is Porto Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

Not only is Porto safe for solo female travelers, but Portugal in general is one of the safest countries to visit in Europe.

I’m not gonna pretend it’s perfect, and like anywhere else, you still need to pay attention to your surroundings and keep an eye on your belongings — especially since pickpocketing has increased in many big European cities over the last few years.

But overall, Porto feels extremely safe, welcoming, and easy to navigate.

It’s also a fantastic city for solo female travelers because it’s so tourist-friendly. The city is easy to explore both on foot and using public transport, locals are generally warm and welcoming, and it’s actually quite easy to meet other travelers and make friends.

My Top Things to do in Porto

Watch the sunset at Jardim to Morro

One of my favorite things about Porto is how social sunset feels here.

Every evening, especially in summer, locals and tourists gather at Jardim do Morro to watch the sunset over the Douro River. People bring drinks, music starts playing, street performers appear, and the entire place turns into this really relaxed atmosphere where everyone is just enjoying the moment together. And when the sunset is good? People are literally clapping for the show. How beautiful is that? 

Take a Douto Valley Day Trip

If you have extra time in Porto, this is probably the BEST day trip you can do.

The Douro Valley is one of the most beautiful wine regions in Europe and the scenery is absolutely unreal — vineyards, river cruises, tiny villages and wine tastings all surrounded by hills.

You can either:

• do a wine tasting tour
• take a river cruise
• or book a full-day Douro Valley experience from Porto.

Do a food or wine tour

Portuguese food is one of the most underrated cuisines in Europe and Porto is the perfect place to try it properly.

Doing a local food or wine tour is honestly one of the easiest ways to experience the city beyond the typical tourist attractions — especially if it’s your first time in Portugal.

You’ll get to try typical dishes like Francesinha, Portuguese pastries (yes, the famous Pastel de Nata too), local wines, codfish dishes, and I promise your stomach will love it.

Basic practical tips for visiting Porto

Learn a few basic Portuguese phrases

Most people in Portugal speak English very well, especially in Porto and Lisbon, so language barriers are rarely a problem for tourists. So if you are worried about that, don’t be — you will be completely fine traveling around Portugal speaking English.

But learning a few local words is always a nice touch, and Portuguese people genuinely appreciate the effort.

Also, please do not come to Portugal speaking Spanish assuming it’s the same language. ‘Gracias’ and ‘Buenos Dias’ are not Portuguese, please. We are not Spanish and Portuguese people REALLY do not like that.

A few useful phrases:

• “Olá” — Hello
• “Bom dia” — Good morning
• “Obrigado” — Thank you
• “Por favor” — Please

SIM card or eSIM?

Getting a physical prepaid SIM card in Portugal is very easy. There are several providers to choose from, but overall I’d say the best option is usually NOS.

A one-month prepaid SIM card with NOS costs around €10 and includes about 55GB of mobile data, which is more than enough for most travelers.

If you want to be connected immediately after landing and avoid the hassle of looking for a SIM card store, then getting an eSIM is definitely the easier option — even though it will usually be more expensive.

Travel Insurance

As someone who has traveled to 62 countries and has had her fair share of hospital visits around the world, I always recommend getting good travel insurance before any trip.

I know travel insurance can feel like wasting money on something you hopefully won’t need, but trust me — if something does happen, you’ll be very thankful you spent those extra few euros.

Also, Portugal’s public healthcare system has been quite chaotic in recent years. Public hospitals are cheap, but waiting times can be extremely long. Having travel insurance allows you to go to private hospitals or clinics instead and get much faster care.

Where to stay in Porto

Porto has a HUGE range of fantastic accommodation options for every budget.

I personally always recommend staying somewhere central because Porto is one of those cities best explored on foot. Staying in the city center makes it much easier to walk between attractions, restaurants, cafés and viewpoints without constantly relying on transport.

Here are a few great options depending on your budget:

Budget

Urban Garden Porto Central Hostel

Mid-Range

The Log Porto Hotel by Piamonte Hotels

Luxury

Timbre Virtudes

FAQs about visiting Porto

How many days do you need in Porto?

Can you visit Porto in a day? Sure. Is that enough time? I don’t think so. I’d give Porto at least two days so that you can see everything this city has to offer. If you can do a 3-day trip to Porto that is even better because then you can visit Porto without needing to rush. 

Is Porto a good destination for solo travel?

Absolutely.

Portugal is a fantastic destination for solo travelers, even if it’s your first solo trip abroad.

Porto is safe, easy to navigate, and very tourist friendly. Most locals speak English, the main attractions are close to each other, and the public transportation system is easy to understand.

Plus, because Porto is such a popular destination, it’s actually fairly easy to meet people and make friends while traveling.

What is the best time to visit Porto?

The best time to visit Porto is between May and September.

Because Porto is in the north of Portugal, the weather is usually less reliable than in Lisbon. Outside the warmer months you’ll get more grey skies, colder temperatures and a lot more rain.

If you want to experience one of the coolest and most local festivals in Portugal, visit in June during the Festas de São João do Porto.

Lisbon vs. Porto, which one is better to visit?

My answer might be obvious since I am from Lisbon, but I do think Lisbon is a better destination. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE Porto, but I think Lisbon has more to offer, better weather, a huge selection of amazing beaches just 30 minutes away, and several possible day trips. 

Final Thoughts – is Porto worth visiting?

Porto is absolutely worth visiting and I truly hope this guide helped you decide whether this city deserves a spot on your Portugal itinerary.

And honestly? Since Porto is only about 3 hours from Lisbon by train or bus, there’s really no reason not to experience both cities while you’re in Portugal.

I have a feeling Porto might surprise you the same way it surprised me.

Read my other Porto Guides 🤍

Solo Travel Porto: Is Porto Good for solo travelers?