Three days in Porto, on foot from Cedofeita
Porto is a city you walk. From the house, almost everything worth seeing is within half an hour on foot — downhill on the way there, and with a tram or metro to bring you back up.
Day one — the historic centre
Walk down Rua de Cedofeita — it becomes pedestrian as it approaches the centre, lined with local shops and galleries. In fifteen minutes you reach the Clérigos Tower; climb its 225 steps early, before the queues, for the best view of the city's rooftops.
From there it is all downhill: the Livraria Lello (book a slot online if you must see it), the cathedral, and the tangle of alleys that drops to the Ribeira. Spend the late afternoon on the riverfront, then cross the lower deck of the Dom Luís I bridge to Vila Nova de Gaia and taste Port wine where it has always been aged. Cross back over the top deck at sunset — the view is the postcard.
Day two — Cedofeita, Boavista and the sea
Start in our own neighbourhood: the galleries of Rua Miguel Bombarda open late morning, and the Mercado Bom Sucesso is a good early lunch. From there walk to the Casa da Música — Porto's boldest building, with daily guided tours — and on to the gardens of the Palácio de Cristal, hanging over the river.
In the afternoon take the historic tram nº 1 from Infante down the river to Foz, where the Douro meets the Atlantic. Walk the sea promenade to the Felgueiras lighthouse, have a drink at a esplanada, and come back by bus or taxi (fifteen minutes).
Day three — the Porto of the Portuenses
See São Bento station's azulejo hall before the crowds, then the renovated Bolhão market — the stalls at the back still sell to the neighbourhood, not to tourists. Walk Rua de Santa Catarina past the Majestic Café and the Capela das Almas, tiled head to toe.
For your last lunch, do what everyone here argues about: a francesinha. Brasão Coliseu, fifteen minutes from the house, makes one of the best. You will not need dinner.
Good to know
Porto is hilly: comfortable shoes matter more than a car. The metro (Lapa station, 650 m from the house) and the buses at the door cover anything beyond walking distance. If you visit in winter, most of the walking above stays pleasant — this is a city best seen at street level, in any weather.