Are you planning a trip to Portugal and debating Porto vs Lisbon? Luckily, I have visited both cities numerous times. I will take you through what each destination offers and which will best check your vacation checkboxes!

Lisbon is frequently the first city tourists flock to when visiting Portugal. Understandably, Lisbon is the capital. It is uncomplicated to get to with non-stop flights worldwide. Special offers are often for worthwhile day trips with some of Portugal’s most prominent sights and attractions.

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Why is Porto Gaining Attention?

While previously Porto was ignored, it has gained notoriety in recent years. Porto presents access to the breathtaking Douro Valley wine region. The city is also home to a famous bookshop Harry Potter fans will swoon over.

Porto offers an excellent hotel and restaurant scene and boasts breathtaking views.

Since you are exploring Porto vs. Lisbon, I will accept you either do not have a significant amount of time. Visiting both cities can mean there are limits to what you can see in either town. Therefore, you are probably trying to decide which city warrants more precious vacation time. 

I understand this dilemma! I was in a similar situation with my first scouting trip to Portugal. 

Unfortunately, there was not much information comparing the two cities before I planned my trip. I left wishing I had flip-flopped which city I flew into so I could focus my time. 

Overall, I want to ensure you do not make the same mistake. 

The purpose of this post is to provide you with an honest take on both cities and discuss which is best depending on the type of traveler you are and what kind of trip you are looking. If you are Googling Porto vs. Lisbon and finding empty answers, continue reading below as I will discuss which city offers the best options for different types of travelers.

Can you do both Porto vs. Lisbon?

If You Can Do Both, Why Decide Between Porto or Lisbon?

Before I discuss my opinion on Porto vs. Lisbon, let’s first examine trying to do both. It is easy and possible to do both cities, even if you are short on time. Each town has unique attributes to offer you as a traveler. Each has a different vibe. 

Visiting both places makes sense if you want to gain a whole experience of Portugal. You might even want to see some of the rural locations nearby.

Ideally, I would suggest three or four nights in Lisbon. Making a day trip to Sintra and two nights in Porto is a great idea. I would prepare two nights in each city on the shortest itinerary. 

Flying into one of the two cities and out of the other is a great idea. You might spend slightly more on a ticket, but you will not have the cost of time and money on a train back to the opposite city. 

Traveling by Train from Porto and Lisbon

Traveling between Lisbon and Porto takes approximately three hours by train or car.

Technically, you could do Porto as a day trip from Lisbon. Therefore, when I flew to Lisbon, I took the train straight to Porto. Since I heard very little about Porto, I had not included it on my original itinerary. 

At the last minute, I decided to go to Porto. However, this cost me traveling to Braga. 

After three days in Porto, I was ready for a change in scenery and went to Coimbra. Afterward, I spent five days in Lisbon, checking out the city and surrounding towns.

While I am a big fan of traveling on the train, it does take time to get from point A to point B. So if there are some smaller towns like Coimbra, you should plan to visit as you head towards the other city. 

After a few hours of exploring Lisbon, I preferred my time in Porto to Lisbon. I know I will be 100% sure I will focus more of my time in Porto for future travel.

However, there are still places in Lisbon I still want to visit. 

Porto vs. Lisbon: The Short and Sweet Answer

You will have a great time if you decide on one or the other. If you can make it to both destinations, you will still have a great time, but you might feel like you missed some critical locations within the city. Therefore, fitting both goals into your itinerary is not an option. 

If you want a quick answer on Porto vs. Lisbon, I would say Porto should be your first pick. Yes, Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and holds more prestige. However, Porto packs a lot into the smaller city.

Porto is 100% walkable and is the entrance to the stunning wine region of the Douro Valley. Many believe this city offers better restaurants and hotels, feels safer, and provides a significantly more charming atmosphere.

I am not the only one who thinks Porto is more interesting. I recently did a poll on Instagram. Therefore, I compared whether travelers would prefer to visit Porto or Lisbon. The poll results show that 61% would choose Porto. 

People believe Lisbon is cool. People were not overwhelmed. Voting for Porto will provide a more unique and memorable experience.

Porto vs Lisbon- Who Should Pick Porto?

Porto is a solid pick for travelers who desire a walkable city, love port wine, and explore the Duoro Valley. Harry Potter fans also are lured here by the bookstore, which inspired the series of books. 

When people ask, “if I prefer Porto or Lisbon,” my answer is wholeheartedly Porto. I was allotted five nights in Lisbon on my first trip to Portugal. I did not know anyone who had been to Porto. Therefore I did not have much information or opinions about the city.

After landing in Lisbon, I quickly realized how large Lisbon was and had a trip to Porto planned. I was impressed with Lisbon’s train and metro lines. If I had planned my trip better, I would have flown into Porto, but I prefer the Lisbon airport to the Porto airport. 

Under normal circumstances, I don’t recommend a day trip back and forth. The reason is that you will be on the train for a minimum of 6 hours a day.  

Granted, you can take a nap on the 3-hour trip. 

I was not 100% convinced Porto was my favorite because I wouldn’t want to make final opinions on a city until I have visited it twice.

My second trip to Porto verified that Porto fits my travel style more than Lisbon. On my second visit, I visited museums and did a few more touristy things.

Living in Portugal, I will visit Lisbon, but primarily, these trips will be based on need. However, I expect to see some of the surrounding areas in Lisboa.

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Porto is 100% Walkable.

Lisbon and Porto both have some serious hills to climb. However, Porto is smaller and a little easier to walk. Both cities have excellent bus and metro services. However, in Porto, the accessibility to metro services is much easier.

Porto Provides Old World Charm with Stunning Views 

Porto has some incredible views facing Villa Nova de Gaia. The Douro River splits the city into two sections. The buildings shoot straight up from the river, lending unique backdrops.

Unlike Lisbon, Porto survived the destruction of the 1755 earthquake and maintained many of its historic buildings and original layout.

Fantastic Food and Lodging at a Reasonable Price

The Porto vs Lisbon debate is simple if you are a budget-friendly food enthusiast. Lisbon is more expensive to eat and find lodging.

Porto appears to have a tad more luxury than Lisbon. Porto has some excellent luxury hotels, and the prices are not bad. Maison Albar Le Monumental is a fantastic 5-star hotel that will exceed all expectations.

Granted, there are more budget-conscious places to stay. However, I figured I would highlight the level of luxury available. 

I felt the foodie scene was better in Porto. Possibly, the platings looked better because this is the wine region. Places tend to focus on great food when the wine is nearby. At least, this has been my experience when traveling the world. 

 High-end multicourse experiences in Portuguese sandwich stalls can provide the needs of every preference and budget. However, Lisbon does seem to have more diverse food choices. 

Your dollar or euro will give you a better experience in Porto than in Lisbon. Compared to Lisbon, I discovered that you would find higher quality hotels and restaurants in Porto for a similar price.

Lisbon used to be more affordable, but I have found it challenging to find a decent hotel in an ideal location at a reasonable rate in the last few years. It’s not the ultra-cheap destination it used to be.

Therefore, to get into the areas of town in Lisbon where I wanted to stay, I utilized AirBnB. 

Harry Potter Fans will love Porto.

Porto housed JK Rowling for nearly two years as she gained inspiration for Harry Potter. She repeatedly visited the bookstore, Livraria Lello, and says it functioned as motivation for the Hogwarts library. 

Most likely, the bookstore will have long lines of tourists. However, it is magical to visit.

If you travel back and forth from Porto and Lisbon, stop in Coimbra, especially if you are interested in Harry Potter. This smaller city also inspired JK Rowling, and you will quickly realize this as you watch the students walk around.

Porto Feels Extremely Safe

Porto easily wins the debate about whether you should visit Lisbon vs. Porto. The popularity of Lisbon is to go to the party scene and nightlife. I often had to note the people in my surroundings mentally.

While I never felt unsafe in Lisbon, crime does still happen.

Sidewalks and streets would overflow with massive groups of people out for a night of drinking. Alcoholism, drug addiction, and mental illness are observations I frequently witnessed at night in Lisbon.

During the day, you will rarely observe these things.

Another strange item about Lisbon is how often I was asked if I would like to buy drugs on the street. I never had this experience in any other place in Portugal.

Port, Wine, and the Douro Valley

One can not talk about Porto and not mention Port! While I do not drink alcohol, port drinkers and wine enthusiasts will appreciate the Port lodges and tasting rooms. Many have adorable patios and terraces offering amazing views. 

If you’re in Porto, visiting the Douro Valley is a must. You can easily rent a car and spend a day or two in the Douro Valley. It takes approximately two hours to reach the heart of the Valley from Porto. 

Therefore, the drive may seem extended, but the beautiful adventure of driving into this area is well worth the experience.

If you decide to stay one or two nights, consider a wine estate or Quinta. Ventozelo Hotel and Quinta is a highly recommended place to procure lodging with fantastic views. 

The food here is unbelievable. After all, National Geographic Traveler voted one of the best gastro hotels in the world. 

Atypical Last Thoughts

In summary, solo vagabonds, couples looking for a romantic getaway, solo travelers focused on safety, port and wine enthusiasts, and visitors who value scenic views in walkable smaller cities packed with character will prefer Porto. 

I was on a solo trip when I first explored Porto and Lisbon. So, my first experiences were raw as I processed these cities independently. I also learned more about the Portuguese culture with each passing day.

My Decision Between Porto vs. Lisbon

In the long debate between Porto and Lisbon, I would choose Porto if I could only go to one city. Porto is a fantastic city in itself, with plenty to explore. If you want to explore other towns around Porto, there are many places. Not only can you explore the Douro Valley, but the cities of Braga and Guimares are fantastic places to explore. You can also train to Evora in Lisbon if you have extra time.

When planning your trip to Porto or Lisbon, you should consider the seasons, too. While I prefer Porto, the northern cities experience much more rain than Lisbon. So if the rain will dampen your spirits, you might want to travel to Porto in the Summer or give Lisbon a more substantial consideration.

Whichever city you decide to visit will provide many possibilities for adventures. However, if I were to make these trips again for the first time, I certainly wish I knew more about the rich History of Portugal. 

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