Last Updated on September 28, 2026
A few weeks ago, I flew to Porto, Portugal to meet up with two of my closest friends from Berlin, Ayesha and Ying. Ayesha’s boyfriend bought a flat in Porto, so she is spending some months living there. Since neither myself nor Ying had ever been to Porto and we had free accommodation, we decided to all meet there. I really had no idea what to expect in Porto. I have been to Lisbon several times, and also to the south of Portugal. But never the North. Let me just say – I was pleasantly surprised. Porto is great! Such a foodie destination, unbelievable weather in the summer (so refreshing compared to Barcelona’s heat and humidity!). We had such a great time over the long weekend. Read below on how you too can have a fabulous girl’s weekend in Porto.
Where to Stay in Porto
Ayesha’s flat is in Vila Nova de Gaia, on the other side of the Douro River. The location was perfect for exploring the city, in just a short walk over the bridge you are in the heart of Ribeira, Porto. There are so many street performers lining the river, most musicians. We danced to one playing Mamma Mia by ABBA (my daughter’s favorite song). I would definitely recommend staying close to the Douro River when staying in Porto as it’s easily walkable and there are so many restaurants and shops to explore.
Taking Public Transportation in Porto
Porto is VERY hilly – similar to Lisbon. That being said, we walked almost everywhere. I bought a transportation ticket with 5 rides (for trains and buses), and we only took the train once. The buses are incredibly unreliable, so definitely plan accordingly. We did take an Uber a few times, which is VERY cheap. So it is probably better to skip the transport pass, or at least don’t overbuy the number of trips.
Pilates, Shopping & Lunch – How to Have a Girl’s Weekend in Porto
We took the train to get to a pilates class at Prescription Pilates studio – which I would highly recommend. We had a blast at the reformer class. The studio is located in the neighborhood Pinhais da Foz, which is a very upper class neighborhood next to the beach. There are a lot of really great boutiques over there, so we did some shopping and also stopped for lunch at a very cute restaurant called The Bird located underneath some boutique shops. The restaurant has a lunch menu that includes soup, a main, drink plus coffee for 12 EUR!! It also has a very cute garden where you can sit outside. As for shopping, Ayesha bought an outfit at a shop called Maria Gambina. Every piece there is unique. If you want to buy something you are certain no one else has, this is your spot! I would definitely recommend coming to the area if you want to see the beach, do some pilates and some shopping as well. A perfect girls afternoon!
Where to buy Ceramics in Porto
If you are like me, then when you think of Portugal, you think of beautiful handmade ceramics. I never come back from Portugal without a few new ceramics pieces. We made two stops in Porto that are definitely worth a visit for ceramics: Egg Back Home and Costa Nova. Absolutely beautiful pieces in both and reasonable prices. And if you don’t have space in your suitcase they will ship to your home country for free if you spend over 50EUR (Costa Nova) or 100EUR (Egg Back Home). Be sure to check them out!
Where to Eat Dinner in Porto – How to Have a Girl’s Weekend in Porto
We had two really fantastic dinners while in Porto. My friend, Ayesha, is a total foodie, and always knows the best spots in whichever city she is in. Our first dinner was at a restaurant called MISTU. We sat at the bar, as we didn’t have a reservation, but it was totally comfortable. The vibe of the restaurant is very cool, and the plates are all meant to be shared. They recommend 3-4 dishes for two people. We ordered the white fish ceviche, the sea bass filet and the artichoke lasagna. The portions are GENEROUS! We were full after the first two fish dishes. The sea bass filet was by far the standout dish. Prices were also good – we paid 46EUR each for the 3 dishes plus wine.
Our second dinner was at Bartolomeu Bistro & Wine. It was spectacular! The restaurant is part of a chic boutique hotel and all ingredients are locally sourced. Each dish was like a work of art. We ordered burrata with roasted eggplant, tuna tartar (phenomenal!!), japanese pancake and marinated shrimp with risotto. For dessert we had the apple crumble and lemon pie. We shared everything, though they are small plates. I would consider it gourmet dining, but at really accessible prices, since it is Portugal. We paid less than 50EUR each for food+ desserts + drinks.
Port Tasting in Porto – How to Have a Girl’s Weekend in Porto
My first night in Porto, Ayesha and I went to Cockburn’s winery and did a port wine tour and tasting. It was a really great tour, very informative. It is very interesting to learn about the process of making port wine. We saw barrels that are over 100 years old and learned the art that is making port wine. Of course, at the end of the tour we were able to taste 3 different types of port, including one 10 year old port. Definitely a must when in Porto in addition to making a trip to the Douro Valley!
Take a Day Trip to the Douro Valley
An absolute MUST when taking a trip to Porto is to take a day trip (or even stay overnight) at the Douro Valley. We booked this trip with GetYourGuide. The Douro Valley is the wine region of Portugal, specifically known for port wine. Our trip to the Douro Valley included visits to two wine regions: Vinho Verde and Douro Valley. We were transported by bus from downtown Porto and had our first stop at an organic wine farm in Vinho Verde where we were treated to delicious brunch and of course, delicious organic wines. Our second stop was in Douro Valley for lunch, and of course, more wines along with the spectacular views of the Douro Valley. We then had a one hour boat cruise on the Douro River, accompanied, of course, by more wine. After all the food and wine we drove back to Porto. The entire tour was led by an excellent tour guide and sommelier in English. We had, maybe 15 glasses of wine each throughout the day. The day started at 9 am and we were back in Porto by 6 pm, so if you have limited time it is a great option. There are other tour options available that include a train to Douro and boat back, but they take much longer. I would highly highly recommend our tour and making a trip to Douro!
And that concludes my trip to Porto and my recommendations on how to have a fabulous girls weekend there! Have you been to Porto? Anywhere you would recommend? Let me know as I definitely want to make a return trip!
