10 Best Food Tours of Porto

Gastronomic tours are considered one of the best things to do in Porto, due to the great offer of traditional foods that exist in the city.

You will eat as if you were a local and you will be surprised with the flavors, colors and textures present in each preparation. In addition, if you are vegetarian, vegan or celiac, you will find restaurants and bakeries, where recipes are modified to suit your needs.

If you want to make the most of your visit to Porto in 3 days, join a guided tour of the old town, which combines history and delicious food. You will discover a varied gastronomic offer.

You will meet the guide at an agreed place and go to the first destination, which may vary according to the tour you connect with. While you walk, he will tell you some curiosities about the old town, the history of the restaurants, pastry shops and sausage stores.

You will taste the famous cream cake with cinnamon sprinkles, accompanied by a delicious coffee. You will also eat the spicy pork sandwich (Bifana), codfish pie, olives, smoked meat, cheeses, and other sausages. In addition, you will taste some desserts and drink a glass of wine and a craft beer.

Details of interest

• Price: from 64€ per person.
• Duration: 4 hours (Approx.)
• Means of transport: walking tour.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to taste delicious local food and learn the detailed history behind each preparation.
• Disadvantages of this option: the tour is not suitable for pregnant women.

Porto' s markets are places with a particular charm, thanks to their architectural style and the authenticity of the local people. In addition, you can taste the unique flavor of the city's traditional food and products.

The Bolhão market is a must on any gastronomic tour, as it is a place with more than 100 years of history. You will see colorful showcases, smell the aroma of fresh food and be in direct contact with them. You will also taste sausages, preserves, typical preparations such as codfish cakes, francesinha, among others.

You will also visit the São Sebastião market, which specializes in fish. You will find a variety of seafood stalls. Afterwards, the guide will take you to the Bom Sucesso market, where you will find gourmet food tastings and traditional recipes.

Interesting details

• Price: from 70€ per person.
• Duration: 4 hours (approx.)
• Means of transportation: walking tour.
• Advantages of this option: you will get to know the true essence of Porto's gastronomy in a tour of the city's traditional markets.
• Disadvantages of this option: the activity is not suitable for wheelchair users.

Porto' s bars and tascas also have a lot to offer in terms of gastronomy. Join a guided tourof the city and discover the main traditional menus available.

Once you meet the guide and the rest of the group in the city center, you will immediately go to the destinations set for the development of the tour. Among them you will be able to visit: Tasca da Badalhoca, Adega Rio Douro, Tapas Bar 24, Venham Mais 5, bar Aduela and others.

You will taste the typical meat with fried egg called prego, hamburgers, hot dogs, bifanas, green broth and potatoes with shredded pork in sauce with blood. Also, ham sandwiches, sirloin steak, roast beef, sausages, among others. All accompanied by a glass of port wine or a craft beer.

Details of interest

• Price: from 85€ per person.
• Duration: from 3 to 4 hours.
• Means of transport: walking tour.
• Advantages of this option: you will get to know the main bars and taverns of the city while discovering the culture of the aperitif in Porto.
• Disadvantages of this option: this tour is not usually accessible for wheelchair users.

If you are a dessert enthusiast, you can't miss the variety of cakes that exist in Porto. You just have to take part in a tour of the city's confeitaria (pastry shops) to start tasting leite creme, rabanadas, aletria, the popular Belém cream cake, among other delicacies.

According to the tour you connect with, the guide will take you to three or more pastry shops: Padaria Ribeiro, Confeitaria Aliança, Padeirinha Doce, among others, where you will live a true taste experience. You will taste preparations based on egg cream and other secret ingredients. All of them decorated with cinnamon, snow sugar, caramel, shredded coconut, among other toppings.

Also, while walking through the streets of downtown and tasting a maximum of 10 desserts, you will learn the historical context of each of the preparations and some curious facts about the pastry shops.

Undoubtedly, an activity that you can incorporate into the things to do in Porto with children. The little ones will have fun and learn about the gastronomic culture of the city. Afterwards, you can continue with other activities to share with the family, such as buying tickets to World of Discoveries in Porto, which is a well-known museum and theme park.

Details of interest

• Price: from 60€ per person.
• Duration: 3 hours (approx.)
• Means of transport: walking tour.
• Advantages of this option: this tour only focuses on the variety of traditional sweets of the city.
• Disadvantages of this option: drinks are not included.

Doing a gastronomic tour where you can learn the process of preparing some traditional recipes is a good idea when visiting Porto in 2 days. You will walk the streets in search of the ingredients, cook and taste each meal.

During this experience the guide will propose you a series of traditional meals: tripas à moda do Porto, caldo verde, papas de sarrabulho, bacalao fritters, pudim, arroz doce, rabanadas, among others. You will be able to select what you want and immediately go shopping at the supermarket and a local garden to pick some fresh vegetables.

You will then head to the guide's home to cook. You will prepare some appetizers with smoked cheeses and olives. In addition, you will make a main course, salad and a delicious dessert. Afterwards, you will proceed to taste the meal accompanied by wine.

Afterwards, you can continue with other activities: shopping, joining one of the Oport river cruises, attending a Fado show in the city, among others.

Details of interest

• Price: from 47€ per person.
• Duration: 3 hours and 30 minutes (Approx.)
• Means of transport: walking tour.
• Advantages of this option: the tour does not include pick-up and drop-off at the hotel, so you will have to do it on your own.
• Disadvantages of this option: you will only learn how to cook traditional recipes.

In Porto you will find vegetarian and vegan restaurants, which you can visit on a free tour. This is ideal if you are not a carnivore or just feel like trying something different during your visit to Porto in 4 days or more.

You will connect with a local guide, who will take you to a selection of vegetarian and vegan restaurants, among which Galeria de Paris, O Oriente no Porto, Da Terra, Duas de Letras, etc. are usually highlighted. He will also tell you about the history of some monuments, streets and squares as you pass by.

You will try salads, vegetable or legume soup, rice, tofu, seitan, vegetables, cous-cous and much more. Also, some desserts such as coconut pudding, banana or chocolate, pine nut and almond cakes, which should be accompanied with coffee or tea. And if you want to taste Japanese gastronomy in Porto, a mandatory destination should be Lapa Maki, with vegetarian and vegan sushi.

Interesting details

• Price: from 25€ per person.
• Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes (Approx.)
• Means of transport: walking tour.
• Advantages of this option: you will get to know the vegetarian and vegan restaurants of the city and their main recipes.
• Disadvantages of this option: tips are not included.

A guided visit to the Afurada neighborhood to taste the variety of fish and seafood of the region is a good option to incorporate among the things to do in Porto in summer or any other season of the year. You will enjoy the flavors of the sea and contemplate the scenery.

The tour starts with a pick up in downtown Porto or directly at the hotel. Afterwards, you will go with a specialized gastronomic guide to Afurada, which is located a few minutes from the city center.

Upon arrival in the coastal town, you will walk along its cobblestone streets, while heading to restaurants specializing in seafood. At the foot of the street you will see how they grill sardines and seafood, cod and other fish, which you will be able to taste. You will also eat the emblematic bolinhos or codfish cakes.

Interesting details

• Price: from 70€ per person.
• Duration: 4 hours (Approx.)
• Means of transport: bus and walking tour.
• Advantages of this option: you will taste marine delicacies, contemplate beautiful landscapes and learn about the colorful village of Afurada.
• Disadvantages of this option: this tour is not suitable for vegetarians.

If you have celiac disease, you should know that in Porto there are restaurants and cafes where the preparations are gluten-free. You can enjoy sweet and savory foods and even drink a beer without fear.

This tour is usually available all year round, so you can incorporate it into your itinerary when visiting Porto in any month. You will have a local guide, who will provide you with interesting historical facts about the city, while taking you to the scheduled destinations:

• With a wide selection of gluten-free meals, the Com Cuore cafeteria offers bifanas, tarts, among others.
• Delicious handmade hamburgers at Tasquinha Do Caco. In addition, you can accompany your meal with a beer. Both specialties are gluten free.
• Seafood, desserts and a privileged view of the Douro River, in the Celtic-themed restaurant Terra Nova, located in the Ribeira.
• All kinds of preparations made with mushroom and buckwheat flour at Endovélico.

Details of interest

• Price: from 30€ per person.
• Duration: 3 hours (Approx.)
• Means of transport: walking tour.
• Advantages of this option: you will enjoy the gastronomy of Oporto without worrying about affecting your health due to the gluten present in some ingredients.
• Disadvantages of this option: pets are not accepted unless they are assistance animals.

If your visit to Porto coincides with the month of April, then the Easter gastronomic tour is a good option, so you can get to know the preparations that for years the people of Porto have eaten during this worldwide celebration, typical of Christianity.

The activity usually takes place in several restaurants in the city, either in the historic center, in the Ribeira or in nearby towns. Therefore, when connecting with the tour you can select the area that suits you best.

Whatever the case may be, you will meet the local guide at a previously agreed location. In this way, you will start visiting the established destinations: Adega do Conde, A Loja dos Pastéis de Chaves, Oporto Bakery, A Sandeira, Mercearia das Flores, among others.

During the tour you will taste:

• Bacalhau mantecatom, this is a preparation of cod with onion, milk and butter.
• Bacalhau dos solteiros, prepared with garlic, milk cream, onion and parmesan cheese.
• Delicacies of the sea, such as shrimp paulista or luanda and stuffed squid, which are recipes with a marked colonial influence.
• Folar da Páscoa, this is a delicious sweet bread roll.

Details of interest

• Price: from 25€ per person.
• Duration: 3 hours (Approx.)
• Means of transport: walking tour.
• Advantages of this option: you will be introduced to the culinary traditions of the Easter season during your visit to Oporto in April.
• Disadvantages of this option: pick-up and drop-off service is not included.

This tour will show you which are the restaurants and pastry shops in the city where you can taste the essential meals for any local, but with a reduced budget from 7€. You will be surprised with the huge offer of specialties you will find.

When you connect with the guide assigned for this culinary adventure, you will walk together through the main streets of Porto in search of all kinds of tastings:

• Variety of preparations with tripe, at A cozinha do Manel.
• Desserts and local cuisine, at Taberna Santo Antonio.
• Francesinhas, at Café Santiago.
• Octopus and fish, at A tasquinha restaurant.
• Charcuterie boards, at A Lareira.

There are also other restaurants, pastry shops and cafes that you can visit during the tour, according to the area of the city where you are.

Details of interest

• Price: from 65€ per person.
• Duration: 3 hours (Approx.)
• Means of transportation: walking tour.
• Advantages of this option: you will get to know the cheapest restaurant options with an excellent traditional menu.
• Disadvantages of this option: generally, wine, beer or coffee tastings are not included.

Gastronomic tours are very popular tourist activities in the city of Porto, which you can take any day of the week in the morning, afternoon and even at sunset. It all depends on the company you connect with. Whatever the case may be, you will need to put into practice some tips for a successful tour.

• Wear comfortable shoes, since this type of tour is usually done on foot around the city.
• Don't say no to any tasting and discover different flavors, aromas and textures. You will be surprised with the gastronomic variety in the city.
• Eat small bites, as you will be trying new flavors (spicy, salty, sweet) and some might be too strong for your palate. You should try to get used to the seasoning of the preparations, in order to enjoy each tasting.
• Take note of the preparations, maybe when you return home you will want to recreate a sweet or savory recipe.

The gastronomic tours of Porto offer a tour of the different restaurants, pastry shops, bakeries and cafes in the city, which will allow you to enjoy a wide variety of traditional foods, desserts and even wines.

By doing this type of activity you have the opportunity to discover the history that hides each of the preparations. In addition, you will learn anecdotes about the restaurants and the city in general. All this, thanks to the guidance of a specialized culinary guide.