What to see in Porto in 1 day

The São Bento Station lends itself well as a first stop: the atrium is covered by over twenty thousand tiles of azulejos that tell Portugal's history, one of the most surprising entrances a railway station can offer.

From here you reach the Cathedral of Porto (Sé), the Romanesque fortress-church that dominates the historic center, before descending toward the Ribeira quarter, UNESCO heritage with its colored houses tightly packed along the river.

Crossing the Dom Luís I Bridge, the iron bridge with a double deck designed by a student of Eiffel, you reach Vila Nova de Gaia, on the opposite shore of the Douro.

For lunch, the Ribeira restaurants offer typical dishes like francesinha, the sandwich stuffed and gratinéed become one of the city's gastronomic symbols.

Crossed the Dom Luís I bridge, Vila Nova de Gaia hosts the historic cellars where Port wine has aged for centuries in oak barrels: almost all offer a visit with tasting, and the panorama over the Douro from their terraces is worth the crossing alone.

Back on Porto's shore, the Livraria Lello attracts those seeking its double-helix red staircase, among the world's most photographed, while the Torre dos Clérigos right next allows a climb for views over the red-tiled roofs of the old city.

Restaurants facing the river, toward the Ribeira, are the most scenic choice for dinner, with the Dom Luís I Bridge lit in the background.

São Bento, the Cathedral, and the Ribeira explain Porto's historic soul on their own, while the afternoon choice between Vila Nova de Gaia's cellars and Livraria Lello adds its enological or literary side.

A boat trip along the Douro to the wine valley and Foz do Douro beach, where the river meets the ocean, remain chapters for a second trip. Seeing Dom Luís I Bridge illuminate on the river, viewed from the Ribeira, remains Porto's most memorable detail.