How to Make the Most Out of a Day in Porto

Baca Juga

Porto is a beautiful city in Portugal, filled with interesting and intricate architecture, delicious food and wine, convenient public transportation, and a beautiful river. If you’re heading into Portugal, be sure to add this lovely and old city to your itinerary for at least a part of your trip.

However, with adding new cities to your plans comes a bundle of difficulties and logistics that must be accounted for, no matter how big or small the inconveniences may seem. 

Is there convenient luggage storage in Porto? And is the luggage storage in Porto even safe? How walkable is the city? And what’s something you absolutely must do?

Continue reading to figure out how to make the most of your trip to gorgeous Porto, Portugal.

Keep Your Luggage Safe

While it may be tempting to keep your bags with you while you’re in the city, finding some luggage storage in Porto might actually be your best bet for convenience and overall luggage safety. 

After all, why would you want to keep your eyes on your bags when you’d rather let your mind wander to the architecture and other beautiful sights all around you?

In addition to keeping your luggage safe by utilizing some of the luggage storage in Porto, Portugal, you might be remiss if you didn’t also invest in other cool gadgets to keep your bags safe. 

The main “gadget” that I’m referring to is tamper-resistant or tamper-proof luggage bags.

Especially when these tamper-resistant bags are paired with the correct size and type of luggage locks, even if you decided that you wanted to keep your bags with you there would be several layers of protection between your belongings and the outside world. Regardless of this, I would still try to keep your bags within your sights at all times, as well as within an arm’s reach.

However, I should really emphasize that your luggage could likely be even safer if you reserve a space for luggage storage in Porto. Why?

Beware of Pickpockets

While the city is relatively safe and the crime rate is comparatively low to many other cities of its size, there is still a sizable amount of worry to be had for the presence of pickpockets.

If you choose to keep your bags with you to save a little bit of money, I would strongly advise your executing some other precautionary measures than just keeping your bags on you. I’ll reintroduce the fact that you can reserve luggage storage in Porto from some trusted and certified third-party companies, as this might be the most cost-effective and convenient way for you to explore the city.

This may even be the case because luggage that is tamper-resistant can be a little bit pricey, and all of the locks that you’ll need to properly secure your belongings will only add to the cost.

Of course, leaving your luggage with a third-party company does still require a level of trust. But in that case, I would recommend doing your research and making sure that the business is reputable for your particular location.

How to Travel Around Porto, Portugal

I wouldn’t recommend renting a car if you’re only visiting Porto while you’re in Portugal. Porto is one of the cities of Portugal that has a very strong public transportation system, and the fare for these rides is generally pretty inexpensive.

However, if you’re traveling to areas of Portugal that don’t have the best public transport, some foreign driver’s licenses are valid, including American Driver’s licenses. According to Travel Tips, you can rent cars if you have an American Driver’s license, as long as you’ll only be renting for six months or less.

It should also be noted that Porto, Portugal has very narrow roads compared to many American roads. So, as noted by Auto Europe, you may have a bit of a difficult time if you choose to drive in Porto and aren’t used to driving along more narrow streets.

In the case that you still decide to rent a car while you’re in the city, your vehicle could theoretically serve as a sort of luggage storage in Porto. But I certainly wouldn’t make this a personal dealbreaker, based on the costs associated with car rental.

Porto is also very walkable, so if you decide that you would rather not use a lot of public transportation or if you don’t have a car with you, you’re still in luck! There’s certainly no harm in traveling around the city by walking, allowing your eyes and adventurous feet to lead you where you may go. Just don’t get lost!

Go for a Boat Ride

An article by The Kittchen suggests going for a boat ride if you’re ever in Porto, as the city has gorgeous river views. Many companies in Porto also offer boat rides, and taking in the city from the river’s point of view cannot be easily beat.

Take some time to take in some of the history, look at the bridges, and people watch as you use this alternate way to explore the city.*