A Perfect Day: Porto in One Day

As a purser, I see a lot of the world, but there are very few other cities where I pull out my camera as often as I do in Porto. There's just so much exciting stuff to see: buildings with colorful tiles on the façades, ceramic mosaics on the streets, and the most beautiful bookstore in the world. Livraria Lello dates back to 1906 and attracts tourists from all over the world due to its resemblance to Hogwarts in Harry Potter. It's best to go first thing in the morning when it's still a little quiet. Tickets should be booked online in advance.

Just around the corner is Padaria Ribeiro, a traditional bakery dating back to 1878, where I often order a typical Portuguese breakfast: a brioche croissant with ham and cheese, accompanied by coffee and freshly squeezed orange juice. Delicious! For pastéis de nata, the classic Portuguese custard tarts, I recommend Fábrica de ​Pastéis de Nata Manteigaria: there, the puff pastry is still made in an open kitchen according to the original recipe and tastes neither too sweet nor too lemony.

From the bakery, I stroll on to Praça Carlos Alberto, a central square with many galleries, cafés, and ​craft shops in its side streets. It's the perfect place to buy souvenirs like hand-painted ceramic tableware, which is typical of Porto. In the shopping street Rua de Santa Catarina, I recommend stopping to take a photo in front of the Capela das Almas. The chapel's façade is covered with around 16,000 blue and white azulejo tiles and looks simply spectacular.

In the historic halls of the Mercado do Bolhão, elderly ladies sell handicrafts and locals stock up on fruit, vegetables, ham, and cheese. If you're feeling hungry, you can try petiscos here: small, traditional Portuguese dishes that are often shared as appetizers. Why not try the fried cod cakes or octopus salad?

At Café Santiago on Praça dos Poveiros, they serve the local specialty francesinha: a grilled cheese sandwich filled with various types of meat, served in a sauce made from tomato paste, beer, and mustard. It's substantial, but oh so delicious.

The next photo stop is just around the corner on Rua de Santa Catarina at Café Majestic – a magnificent Art Nouveau building from the 1920s. It's usually very crowded inside, but the entrance alone looks so glamorous that it's worth taking a photo. 

Just a short walk away, the next surprise awaits at the town hall: the most beautiful McDonald's in the world. No joke! It is located in a historic Art Deco building from the 1930s that used to house the Imperial Café. Today, Big Macs and fries are served there under the glow of chandeliers. Right next door is what I consider to be the most beautiful train station in the world: the entrance hall of Porto São Bento is covered with ornate tile murals and looks like a movie set.

Next to the train station is the Time Out Market with many food stalls. I like to stock up there for a picnic later in the evening.

We continue to Rua de 31 de Janeiro with its many small shops. The best time to visit is in the late afternoon, when the setting sun bathes the steep alleyways around the street in a reddish glow. ​The light in Porto is unique.

My tip for the early evening is to cross the Douro River via the Dom Luís I Bridge and enjoy the panoramic view of Porto from the other side in the port wine town of Vila Nova de Gaia. The bridge was built by Gustave Eiffel's company – the same man who built the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

The best spot for sunset is in Vila Nova de Gaia on a hill in front of the historic Serra do Pilar monastery. From here, you have a 180-degree view of the Douro River and Porto's old town. The best thing to do is to follow the locals' example and have a picnic on the lawn in front of the monastery. There is always a lively atmosphere there: street musicians perform, everyone chats away, and in the background, the sun sinks into the sea like like you see in the movies.

Purser Flávio Branco Geraldes has been working for Lufthansa since 2012 and enjoys commuting between time zones. “It's always breakfast time somewhere in the world,” says the Portuguese native. His favorite destinations include Rio de Janeiro, Hong Kong, Seoul, Paris, and Porto.

1. Take a boat trip on the Douro: for a truly special view of Porto and the wine regions along the Douro River, we recommend taking a boat trip. There are various tours that take you along the river and offer beautiful perspectives of the city and its bridges. 
2. Stroll through Parque da Cidade: Parque da Cidade, Porto's largest park, is the perfect place to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city. Here you can stroll through large green spaces, relax by the lake, and simply enjoy nature – a great place to unwind.  
3. Insider tip for the best view: also worth a visit is Miradouro da Vitória, a lesser-known viewpoint that offers a fantastic view of Porto's old town and the river. The small square is often quieter than the more famous viewpoints and is ideal for taking photos.