Why not both, Lisbon and Porto? (Why not have it both ways?)
If we're being honest, we couldn't decide between Lisbon and Porto because we loved them both so much. The ideal conclusion is to include both cities in your Portugal travel schedule, but if you're short on time and must choose between Lisbon and Porto, our Lisbon vs Porto guide is for you.
Attractions and Activities
When it comes to attractions and activities in the city, Lisbon comes out on top. You won't be rushing about either city trying to see everything, as you might in Barcelona, because neither city has an abundance of attractions. This adds to their allure. After seeing the places listed below, you'll have more time to relax, slow travel, and take in the sights. Lisbon is the better of the two.
Attractions and Activities
When it comes to attractions and activities in the city, Lisbon comes out on top. You won't be rushing about either city trying to see everything, as you might in Barcelona, because neither city has an abundance of attractions. This adds to their allure. After seeing the places listed below, you'll have more time to relax, slow travel, and take in the sights. Lisbon is the better of the two.
Lisbon
Alfama
Alfama is Lisbon's oldest neighbourhood, and it was our favourite spot in the city. Cobbled streets, pleasant cafes, breathtaking sunsets from the miradouros, and wonderful wine bars, as well as a positive vibe.
Belem
Belem is a half hour rail or tram ride from the centre of Lisbon, and seeing all of the sights will take a full day. The Jerónimos Monastery, the Belem Tower, and the Culture Centre and Art Gallery are all worth seeing. Pastéis de Belém, Lisbon's best pastel de nata shop, is another reason to visit.
So Jorge Castle
This castle in Lisbon is perched on a hill with panoramic views of the city. Although the €10 entry price is a bit high, the castle and grounds are a fantastic spot.
Porto
Ribiera
Ribiera is a popular tourist and local hangout in Porto's riverbank region. Restaurants and wine bars border the river, albeit they were a little too crowded for our taste. Cycle west along the river to a series of little beaches and rocky overlooks.
Porto Cathedral
Porto Church With the Gothic style cathedral behind you, climb to the top of Porto Cathedral for the greatest views of the river and city. It's even better if you can arrive during golden hour.
São Bento Station
So Bento Station Known across the city for its gorgeous blue and white tilework, this 20th century train station is a must-see. You won't be here for long, but it's worth a look and a photo.
Lisbon's Jerónimos Monastery
Porto's So Bento Station
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Getting Around and Accessibility
When it comes to accessibility and moving around, which city is better: Lisbon or Porto? It is simple to go to both Lisbon and Porto from the United Kingdom. Daily direct flights operate from London airports, and we were able to book flights between London Gatwick and Lisbon and Porto at a very reasonable price.
Both Lisbon and Porto are hilly cities, with Lisbon being the more so. If you have problems walking, Porto is a better alternative because it is flatter and smaller, allowing you to see more on foot or in a shorter amount of time. Both Lisbon and Porto have excellent tram systems, with the tram in Lisbon taking you up and down the steepest hillside in the Alfama neighbourhood.
Lisbon's Alfama district
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Food & Beverage
The culinary content of Lisbon and Porto is very similar. If you like sweets, Lisbon is the clear winner, but because I don't have much of a sweet tooth, I think Porto comes out on top.
Lisbon is known for having a lighter and more delicate cuisine. Perhaps it's because of pasteis de nata, a delectable egg custard tart. For vegetarians, however, bread, cheese, and olives were the primary foods, just as they were in Porto. We couldn't remark on the tabernas in Barrio Alto because many of them were closed due to Covid when we went.
At newcomer Plant Base, we can certify that Lisbon is the best city for vegan pizza. Copenhagen Coffee Lab (there are a few in the city), O Gambuzino (book ahead!) and Cafe O Corvo were our top dining picks in Lisbon (the best salads and good house wines)
nata de natas (nata de natas) (egg custard tarts)
Porto's cuisine is considered to be heartier, but as we don't eat meat, we can't say we found it to be true of the vegetarian stuff. Perhaps in anticipation of the francesinha, a local sandwich speciality grilled sandwich with steak, sausage, and ham, topped in melted cheese and a tomato and beer sauce. Luke had a vegetarian version, confirming my suspicions that these sandwiches aren't for vegetarians.are as vile as they appear (sorry, Porto!)
However, the majority of the best food we ate was in Porto, which is home to a plethora of excellent cafés and restaurants. Manna Cafe, Kind Kitchen (their Thai bowl is to die for), Taberna Folias de Baco, and Esporo No Porto (their Esporo Colheita red wine is to die for).
Friendliness and a good time
We had to say that Lisbon had the more 'fun feel' of the two cities. There were no parties going on during our September 2020 visit due to lockdown restrictions on nightlife in the cities, but Lisbon had the better evening atmosphere. We spent evenings in both cities tucked away in lovely wine bars, but Lisbon has an evening and nighttime magic that Porto does not.
Porto is supposed to be the more amicable of the two urban communities and we'd concur that just barely it is. Be that as it may, during our outing to Lisbon we discovered everybody there to be very agreeable as well. Maybe this was on the grounds that there were scarcely any sightseers because of the UK eliminating Portugal from the protected travel list during our time in Portugal, and local people had more tolerance for British vacationers!
The Most Beautiful Scenes
A good city break isn't complete without stunning views, and Lisbon reigns supreme in this category. Every evening, Lisbon's miradouros (viewpoints) are engulfed in the golden glow of sunset. The majority of Lisbon's miradouros also have a charming al fresco wine bar outside. Miradouro de Graca and Miradouro das Portas do Sol were our favourites.
The setting sun over Lisbon
Porto, on the other hand, has fewer miradouros than Lisbon due to its lower elevation. Most people in Porto go to the Ribiera (riverside) for sunset, though this is frequently marred by heavy cloud in the city.
Porto's Ribiera district___________________________________________________________________________________
Day trips and weekend excursions
When it comes to day trips and weekend getaways in the Lisbon vs. Porto debate, we'd have to go with Porto. Lisbon has some fantastic excursions, but the Douro Valley (the wine region adjacent to Porto) stole my and Luke's hearts.Nothing beats the sensation of riding a scooter through a valley among rolling vineyards and spending the evenings tasting delicious local wines.
Budget
While the cost of living in Porto is supposed to be lower than in Lisbon, as travellers, we found the costs to be roughly equal in both cities. We stayed in the Alfama district of Lisbon and the city centre of Porto, both of which have reasonably comparable Airbnb accommodation costs.We also felt that lunch cafes in Porto were more overpriced, whereas lunch cafes in Lisbon were more reasonable for the size of your lunch. Overall, the cost of living in Lisbon and Porto was about the same.
Porto or Lisbon?
Why Should You Choose Lisbon Over Porto?
1. You enjoy living in a bustling capital city.
2. You prefer places that have a strong tourism infrastructure and make you feel at ease.
3. .You're a sucker for beautiful sunsets (Lisbon is teeming with'miradouros' where you can watch the sun set).
.4. You'd like to spend some time at the beach.
Why should you choose Porto over Lisbon?
1. You prefer less well-known or unusual destinations.
2. You're a wine connoisseur (Porto is just a short drive from the stunning Douro Valley wine region).
3. You want a smaller city that you can explore in a short period of time.
Is it possible for me to visit both Lisbon and Porto?
If you have a week or more, we believe you can fit in both Lisbon and Porto. It would be ideal to have more time so that you could fully immerse yourself in both cities without feeling rushed.
Travelers can fly into one city and out of the other because both Lisbon and Porto have airports that serve London and most major European cities. The cities are linked by a train that takes about 3.5 hours (make sure to take the fast train!). If you have time, break up the journey with a night in the charming Coimbra for a perfect triad of city breaks.
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