Lisbon vs Porto – Which City in Portugal Should You Visit?

If you’re planning a trip to Portugal then you’re probably wondering if you should visit Lisbon or Porto.  The two biggest cities in Portugal are only a few hours apart by high speed train, but they are both very different.  I recently spent more than one month traveling in Portugal, and spent more than a week in both Lisbon and Porto.  In this guide I will talk about what makes each city special and which one is better for your travel style.

Lisbon vs Porto: Essential Information

Before we start comparing Lisbon and Porto as tourist destinations in Portugal, here’s some background information you need to know about each city:

Lisbon

• 📍 Location: Lisbon is located in central Portugal, at the mouth of the Tagus River. It is about 20 kilometers inland from the Atlantic Ocean.
• 📈 Population: About 215,000 live in Porto.
• ✈️ Airport: Most intercontinental flights to Portugal land in Lisbon’s international airport, along with many other flights from around Europe and within Portugal. The airport is only a few kilometers from the city center and connected by metro.
• 🚎 Public Transportation: It’s easy to get around Lisbon using a variety of public transit services including metro, bus, tram and funicular. However, many stations and vehicles are not accessible.
• ☀️ Climate – Lisbon has a Mediterranean climate where even the coldest days are rarely below 0° Celsius and summers are very hot.
• 💭 Good to Know: Lisbon is becoming more expensive each year, both for locals and for tourists. House prices here have increased by more than 120% in the last decade, and some locals blame Airbnb and other vacation rentals for the housing crisis.

Porto

• 📍 Location: Porto is located in northern Portugal, where the Douro River meets the Atlantic Ocean.
• 📈 Population: There are almost 2.5 million people living in the Metro Vancouver area.
• ✈️ Airport: The Porto Airport is located about 11 kilometers north of the city center, and primarily welcomes budget airlines from European countries.  The airport is connected to the city center by metro.
• 🚎 Public Transportation:  Porto has a good metro and bus network.  The metro system is barrier-free and fully accessible for travelers in wheelchairs (at publication time in May 2024).
• ☀️ Climate – Porto has a Mediterranean climate. In the winter, temperatures rarely drop below 0° Celcius and summers are hot.  Porto has about 50% more rainy days per year than Lisbon.
• 💭 Good to Know: Although it’s only steps away from downtown Porto, the south side of the Douro River is actually a separate city, called Vila Nova de Gaia.

Lisbon vs Porto: Key Differences

Lisbon vs. Porto: The Vibe

Probably the most important thing to consider in the Lisbon vs Porto discussion is the vibe, or atmosphere, in each of the two cities.

It’s important to remember that Lisbon and Porto are both relatively big cities that see large numbers of tourists every year. If you’re looking for something less touristic, I’d recommend looking at smaller towns in Portugal like Obidos, Coimbra and Guimaraes.

What is Lisbon like?

Lisbon is the biggest city in Portugal, but compared to other European capitals it is quite small. In the high season, it feels like the city has more tourists than locals, but in the low season you can still get a glimpse into a more authentic side of Portuguese life. People here can be brusque with visitors, as they are constantly dealing with the impacts of over-tourism on their daily lives.

Despite its small size, it can be challenging to get around Lisbon thanks to its hilly landscape.  Walking in Lisbon can be inconvenient due to the steep ascents and slippery descents on the famous Portuguese tiles, and the public transit network isn’t the most reliable. However, Lisbon’s weather is generally quite good, so walking around Lisbon can be an enjoyable experience if you avoid the hills.

Lisbon has a vibrant nightlife scene, and you’ll find both locals and tourists packing the bars of the famous Pink Street (and its surroundings) every evening before heading to dinner and maybe a nightclub.

What is Porto like?

Porto definitely has a more authentic vibe than Lisbon, even in the height of the tourist season. As a smaller city (some people even say it feels like a village!), Porto feels calmer and quieter. You’re more likely to see locals going about their daily lives here, even in the historic center, and along the waterfront Porto can still feel like a small fishing community.

I thought that Porto had a higher concentration of beautiful heritage buildings than Lisbon, so I enjoyed walking around Porto more than walking around Lisbon.  Yes, there are some hills (you can see the city rising from the riverfront in the photo above) but if you start your day at the top of a hill you can generally walk in a downwards direction for most of the day.

One thing that surprised me about Porto was the weather: even in July, it was chillier than I’d expected and there were quite a few rainy evenings.  The rain helps keep the city green, however, and I wasn’t bothered when I had to duck into some local wine bars to wait out a shower or two!

Lisbon vs. Porto: Things To See & Do

In my opinion, both Lisbon and Porto have something in common: perhaps the most memorable parts of your visit will take place outside the official city limits. Let me explain.

Can’t-Miss Sights in Lisbon

When I think about the week I spent in Lisbon, the highlights for me were actually the places I visited outside the city center, in the coastal towns just outside Lisbon. 

For example, Cascais a beautiful beach town about one hour outside Lisbon by commuter train. Here, you’ll find beautiful Art Nouveau villas, calm beaches with turquoise waters, and a number of interesting museums.

Shown above, Belem is another beautiful day trip from Lisbon. Only twenty minutes away by tram, Belem is the birthplace of pastel de nata and is home to a number of spectacular buildings, like the Monastery of Jeronimos and the Tower of Belem. Just make sure to go early to beat the queues!

Within the city limits of Lisbon proper, a few of the highlights for me included:

• History of Lisbon Walking Tour – I didn’t know much about Lisbon before I visited, so taking a guided walking tour really helped me understand the city’s history and current context
• Tram 28E – I rode the historic yellow tram from start to finish, taking in the city views along the way
• Miradouro de Sao Pedro de Alcantara – Lisbon has beautiful miradors, or viewpoints, where you get a panoramic view of the city and river beneath you
• The Fado Museum – I’ve loved Portuguese fado music for years, and this is the best place to learn more about it
• Time Out Market – I highly recommend staying in Santos, a waterfront neighborhood just a few blocks from this contemporary food hall where you can sample Portuguese dishes made by top local chefs

Can’t-Miss Sights in Porto

As with Lisbon, the highlight of my visit to Porto was one of the several days I spent outside the city. Specifically, it was the day I took a Douro Valley wine tour with a local, family-run tour provider that visited independent wineries and small producers. Since then I’ve referred more than 100 other travelers to the tour and many have come back saying that it was the highlight of their time in Portugal – just read the reviews to see for yourself!

There are several other lovely day trips from Porto that I would also recommend, including Guimaraes (the first capital of Portugal) and Aveiro (known as the Venice of Portugal). These two destinations are easily accessible by regional train from central Porto.

Within Porto, a few highlights of my visit were:

• Livraria Lello – One of the world’s most famous bookstores, this ornate boutique looks like it’s straight out of Harry Potter
• Capela das Almas – I was staying just a block away from this beautiful blue-and-white tiled church
• Walking to Foz do Douro – It’s a beautiful one-hour waterfront walk from central Porto to the Atlantic Ocean.
• Port Tasting at Calem Cellars – If you don’t have a full day to go to the Douro Valley, this is an excellent two-hour alternative in Porto

Lisbon vs Porto to Visit

One of the best things about Lisbon and Porto is that they are connected via affordable high-speed train in just three hours. With that in mind, I think that as long as you have at least four days in Portugal, it’s worth visiting them both! In my mind, the perfect Lisbon-Porto itinerary would look something like this:

• Day 1 – Arrive in Lisbon and take a walking tour of the historic center
• Day 2 – Visit Belem or Cascais
• Day 3 – Early morning train to Porto and then a walking tour of the historic center
• Day 4 – Full day excursion to the Douro Valley wineries

And of course, if you have more time then you can add on more exploring inside each city and/or more day trips to the surrounding cities and towns. I spent more than one month in Portugal and didn’t get bored!

However, if you have three days or less in Portugal, I’d recommend choosing either Lisbon or Porto:

⭐ Choose Porto if you’re into quaint towns, historic architecture and wine. ⭐

⭐ Choose Lisbon if you’re into nightlife, museums and beach excursions. ⭐

Hopefully this guide helps settle the Lisbon vs Porto debate once and for all!  If you still have questions leave a comment below, or click through to all my Portugal travel guides for more information.

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