Girls’ Weekend in Porto: Food, Laughter & City Charm

If you’re craving sunshine, flavour, and a good dose of fun, Porto is calling. This small, friendly, and walkable city in northern Portugal makes the perfect destination for a girls’ getaway. I recently spent a long weekend here with three of my besties — and I honestly can’t recommend it enough.

We stayed at the gorgeous Vandoma Living Suites — a clean, modern, centrally located gem complete with a plunge pool, shared garden space, and thoughtful extras like tea, coffee, lemon water, and snacks in reception. Add 5-star service and you’re already winning.

Day One: River Strolls & First Bites

After checking in, we wandered down through the cobbled streets and past the grand town hall, soaking up the atmosphere. On the way to the riverfront, we discovered the Time Out food market — an airy, vibrant space filled with pop-up kitchens and local delicacies.

We sipped on local beer and shared small plates that delivered big on flavour — a perfect intro to Porto’s foodie scene.

Dinner that evening was a highlight: Flow Restaurant. It’s now firmly on our “must-do” list. The food was divine, the service seamless, and the vibe was effortlessly chic. After dinner, we stumbled into a nearby bar for cocktails and were treated to an impromptu drag queen performance — yes, complete with opera!

Day Two: Tuk-Tuks, Tiles & Rooftop Cocktails

We kicked off our first full day with a relaxed brunch at Combi, known for its fresh coffee and great menu. Garden Café was also high on our list but we didn’t quite get to it — Porto is one of those cities where time just runs away from you (in the best way).

We strolled across the iconic bridge into Vila Nova de Gaia, planning to hop on the cable car that runs from the lower port area up the hill — but ended up walking down instead, taking in the views as we made our way through the charming lanes.

After mooching around the local street Market and soaking up the sun with a drink and nibbles at Porto Cruz’s rooftop terrace, the cable car plans were officially swapped for a spontaneous tuk-tuk city tour — and we loved every second. The ride took us through medieval lanes, past colourful murals, JK Rowling trivia, and lively squares.

We wrapped up our day with sundowners at Bosco Garden — a hidden lush gem tucked away in the city that served up great cocktails in a dreamy setting.

Day Three: Foodie Heaven & Beachside Farewells

We made an early start to explore Bolhão Market, and it was foodie heaven. Smoothies, fruit bowls, and — of course — a glass of crisp, lightly fizzy Vinho Verde, which had become our go-to drink of the trip. (Hot tip: you can pick up a bottle in local supermarkets for under €4.)

We wandered with a glass in hand, grazing on oysters, sea urchins, bruschetta, ravioli, and the most incredible medjool dates stuffed with walnuts & creamy cheese. And no Porto trip would be complete without a few pastéis de nata to round things off.

That afternoon, we headed back over to Gaia’s beaches to catch the last of the sun. Our final dinner was in the fishing village of Afurada, where we enjoyed the freshest catch of the day grilled over open flames. Simple, local, and delicious — it was the perfect ending.

Final Thoughts & Travel Tips

It’s safe to say: you can’t do it all on a city break — and that’s okay. We toyed with the idea of a Douro Valley wine tour or a mosaic tile painting workshop, but decided to keep things flexible and relaxed. There’s always next time!

I can’t take much credit for the planning either — that goes to my lovely friend Laura, who was the organisational queen behind it all. Her top tip? Check flights and accommodation in tandem, maybe even look at flights first, then see what fits accommodation-wise. And yes — we booked well in advance, which definitely helped us secure the best places.

Bonus? Our apartment had three bathrooms between four of us. Game-changer. We’ve well and truly set the bar high now!

Porto, you gave us memories we’ll never forget — and a strong urge to return.