Porto or Lisbon: which of Portugal's coolest cities should you visit first?
For years, Lisbon had it all its own way on the Portuguese city break front. The capital was proud of its place on the map, emerging as one of the world's great cities when its ships sailed the world's ocean during the Age of Discoveries.
This fame continued into the 20th century when it became a popular city break destination but over the last few decades, Porto has been gaining in popularity since it was crowned European Capital of Culture in 2001.
Both cities are UNESCO World Heritage-listed and long gone are the days when people presumed you must be going to Lisbon if you're taking a city break in Portugal*. Which, then, stacks up as the winner in a direct head-to-head?
Getting to Portugal: find great value city breaks* to both Porto* and Lisbon* with TUI.
Vibe
Lisbon is the mother lode, the Portuguese capital alive with influences from across the world. The tantalising tastes, sounds and sights of the lands from the old Portuguese Empire have left their intoxicating traces across this hilly city overlooking the River Tagus.
Woven around the historical legacies that lace Lisbon* is the ultra-modern, with gleaming glass and steel skyscrapers and the striking modern architecture of the Parque das Nacoes. This is a smorgasbord of a city with a palpable, cosmopolitan energy driven by its eclectic heritage.
Porto is, in contrast, less grand, less eclectic and a shade less buzzy. But it wears its second-city status with gritty grace and is not content just to play second fiddle these days. It too lies on a river, the Douro, which it straddles with its famous bridges.
It's also worked hard to break free from its industrial city tag. The fact it is not quite as touristy as Lisbon yet suits some visitors. Those glorious porthouses help. Were it not up against Lisbon, Porto's vibe would trump many other cities, but for the sheer energy, driven by its global heritage and influences, effervescent Lisbon's vibe wins out.
Sights
The historic delights of Belem catch the eye in Lisbon with towers, memorials and monasteries to explore, with the vaulting Torre de Belem the highlight.
Culturally the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum is one of Europe's great art galleries and the National Azulejo Museum opens up those beautifully painted tiles. Lisbon's castle is the unmissable historic draw, with the stately cathedral an essential stop en route.
In Porto*, the sweeping bridges over the Douro are attractions in their own right. Then there are the port houses of Vila Nova de Gaia. Elsewhere, look out for the baroque Torre dos Clerigos, with its epic views.
Then there is the Casa de Serralves Contemporary Art Museum, with its remarkable modern works, the building by Alvaro Siza a work of art in itself. There is more greenery in the 18 acres of the Parque de Serralves. Porto is a deeply cultural city with a collage of Portuguese and international talents gracing the striking Casa da Musica.
Looks
The ornate legacy of Portugal's Age of the Discoveries is writ large across Lisbon with a wealth of Manueline-graced buildings. This dreamy style graces most dramatically in the Belem district.
The wild raffish Alfama brings more rugged styles, but it's alive with cute cobbled lanes and whitewashed buildings. The vaulting bridges across the Tagus add drama too, as does the chunky castle that presides over the city. Everywhere you look there is something to see and admire.
Porto is an aesthetic joy too, crowded around its lifeblood river. Its graceful bridges catch the eye; it's hard not to fall in love with the double-deck Dom Luís I Bridge especially.
The historic port houses of Vila Nova de Gaia charm across the water from the main action in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ribeira. Lisbon shades it here again.
After all, this is a city so pretty there are miradouros (viewpoints) built just so you can admire it. There is even the Elevador de Santa Justa, where you catch a lift to enjoy the view.
Hit the beach
A short, scenic 45-minute train ride away is a sprinkle of beaches in the historic resorts of Cascais and Estoril.
They are far less cheesy than some of the Algarve resorts with the period mansions adding a touch of class to the beach scene. Saying that there are plenty of cafés, bars and restaurants backing up the beach. And in Estoril, one of Europe's most famous casinos.
In Porto, ease down the Douro and you come to Foz do Douro, the suburb tucked right on the Atlantic. It trumps Lisbon as it's only a 20-minute tram ride away. A sweep of sandy coves is spread out along a handy promenade. En route, there are lighthouses, a 1930s pergola and plenty of superb restaurants. A narrow win for Porto.
Getting around
Lisbon is one of the world's most enjoyable cities for getting around; it's like an adult theme park, where electric trains whoosh around next to trundling vintage trams. Tram 28 up towards the castle is a must.
A flotilla of ferries of all shapes and sizes crisscrosses the Tagus. Then there are the funiculars and elevadores that help tackle this hilly city. The Elevador de Santa Justa is a 19th-century creation linking the Baixa to Largo do Carmo, crafted by a pupil of Gustav Eiffel.
Tram 1 in Porto is a must too. This hilly city is also fun to get around with a sprawling tram network and it also has its own funiculars. Then there is the cable car that eases over Porto.
There are river cruises too. This is a close-run thing as both cities are immense fun to get around, but Lisbon wins it with its sheer variety of ways to move joyfully.
Bars & nightlife
The hottest action in Lisbon used to be the Bairro Alto, where pumping bars and the old fado houses held sway. You'll still find the mournful strains of fado here (and in the Alfama), but the coolest bars and the hip Lisboetas have moved down to Cais de Sodre by the river.
Pink Street is alive with some of the most popular bars. For clubs head for the Santo Amaro dockland area. Look out for delicious sour cherry-flavoured ginja.
In Porto the global booze icon of port holds sway. The port houses of Vila Nova de Gaia tempt during the day, while the action moves back over the river at night to the Ribeira. The streets around the Galeria de Paris and Rua Candido dos Reis are the epicentre of the lively nightlife scene.
Prices tend to be noticeably more affordable than Lisbon. Especially for port. And the atmosphere is less touristy too. With the glory of port and its authentic vibe Porto stacks up with Lisbon, so this is a nefariously fun score draw.
Eating out
Lisbon runs the full gamut of restaurants, from shiny creative venues in Cais de Sodre to traditional haunts in the Alfama. Seafood restaurants tempt too and the wildly popular Time Out Market is a handy place that brings all the city's foodie elements together.
Sweet-toothed visitors may opt for Lisbon over Porto just for the famous pastéis de nata, aka custard tarts, best procured still warm at legendary Pasteis de Belem.
Porto has a better range of good value restaurants and there are fewer out-and-out tourist haunts. A comfort food delight is the calorific meat and melted cheese Francesinha sandwich, with tripe another speciality. A foodie haunt is the covered Mercado Beira-Rio in Vila Nova de Gaia.
Foz do Douro is the place to head for seafood by the sea. You'll find piri-piri chicken in both cities and the salted cod bacalao. In 2024, Michelin hailed both cities with its first dedicated Portugal-only guide. As Porto and Lisbon are real foodie cities, this is a high-scoring draw.
Porto may have come on leaps and port-infused bounds over the last decade to emerge as a serious city-break contender, but Lisbon is still Portugal's urban star. Indeed, it's one of the top destinations in Europe for good reason.
What's more, if you're a devoted city slicker, you don't need to pick as you can fly into one and catch the three-hour, high-speed train to the other and do a round-trip.
Compare weather
Use the graphs below to compare the weather in both destinations. Find out more about the climate in Porto and the climate in Lisbon as well as conditions across the region in our complete guide to the climate in Portugal.
Porto vs Lisbon
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- Hours of sunshine
- Days with some rainfall
- Monthly rainfall
- Sea temperature
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