Hen do | Porto Guide

When asked about my dream Hen-do, I’d say ”a getaway” – no hesitation.

Here you go, you ask and you get, Justyna!

Honestly, I am the luckiest person on earth to have such caring people in my life. Not to brag about how extra I am but I actually had two, super amazing hen-do’s, one in Porto and one just before our wedding in Poland and both were so dreamy!

Let me tell you about this amazing surprise getaway that my best friend planned and organised just for me. First of all, I’ve always wanted to visit Porto, but was I expecting Porto to be our hen-do destination? Hell no! I had literally zero information, zero clues, no idea where she’s taking me and was about to find out just before boarding.

It was a really quick trip but enough to make me fall in love with this city. Porto is so diverse there’s something for everyone. Whether you want to spend your stay relaxing or actively exploring Porto’s iconic nooks and crannies, you’ll find it here. It’s also a perfect place for solo or girls trip as Porto in my opinion is very safe.

We’ve stayed at this stunning, cosy flat on one of the main streets in central Porto (Rua de Santa Catarina, worth a visit!) and because it was booked by my bestie I don’t have the link to share – however I found some beautiful airbnb’s, check them out!

How to spend a perfect day in Porto?

Breakfast at Vincci Ponte de Ferro

Vincci Ponte de Ferro is a luxury, gorgeous hotel with the most spectacular views on the iconic Dom Luis Bridge. You can come and enjoy their breakfast buffet (even if you’re not their guest) for around 17 Eur. per adult. The food was great, views even better – definitely recommend!

City Stroll

Porto is so versatile you don’t really need a map or specific plan to have a great time. There’s plenty activities to choose from but I highly recommend starting with the iconic spots (they may be cliched but iconic for a reason!).

Dom Luís I Bridge – Porto’s well known gem with insanely beautiful views.

Duoro River Boat Trip – If there’s one thing I recommend you to do in Porto, it’s the boat trip. We went on a little Duoro cruise and I very much enjoyed this guided tour and the views. You can get the tickets in one of the travel agencies on Cais da Ribeira de Gaia – we purchased ours in ”Douro Cruises” (Av. de Diogo Leite 430, 4430-236 Vila Nova de Gaia) and it was around 15 Eur per adult.

Gaia Cable Car – Fancy a short ride between upper/lower part of the city with the bird’s eye views? Hop on the Cable Car and experience the city from above.

Madalena Beach – Beautiful, golden beach for those seeking seaside vibes. It’s fairly easy to get to Madalena from central Porto – depending on your location, there should be a direct bus that’d take you to this little town of Vila Nova de Gaia for as little as 2 Eur.

I highly recommend taking some water & food if you’re planning to spend a day at Madalena. Very limited shops. We ended up in Daikiri Lounge Bar and it certainly had this tropical, holiday vibes but wasn’t the best for food/drinks.

Lunch at Honest Greens

This place is a real gem, just look at this stunning decor! Loved this place so much for the kindest people and delicious food.

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