Not-to-be-missed summer plans in Porto

202

Porto is a city of 214,000 inhabitants that welcomes more than 4 million tourists every year. July and especially August are the busiest months, coinciding with the high season. The streets and squares, already lively, are filled with the life, accents and smiles of those who are enjoying their vacation abroad. Visiting Porto in the summer it is an ideal plan: the weather, the atmosphere and the reflections of the Douro will make you want to stay there forever.

If you are going to spend your summer holiday in Porto, I have compiled a series of plans and activities that I think you should not miss in your trip and that are suitable for couples, families and solo travellers.

Porto’s summer markets

I would be lying if I said that there are few the European cities or capitals that fill their strets with a variety of stalls selling handcrafts, clothes, souvenirs, food and other products for all tastes during the summer season.

Porto boasts its renovated Bolhao Market in the heart of the city, considered one of the best and most traditional markets in the country, but does not resist the possibility of surprising its visitors with a wide offer that goes far beyond this emblematic venue.

If you are passing through in the summer, these are some of the markets in Porto that you will find scattered throughout the streets and squares of the city.

Mercado da Alegria

In the neighborhood of Batalha, right in the square that rises at the end of Via Catarina, you will find successive wooden stalls that resemble those of a Christmas market, with handicrafts, souvenirs, accessories, drinks, food…

With the monument to King Dom Pedro V in the center and the Church of San Ildefonso crowning the square, the stalls of the Feira de Artesanato da Batalha mix with those of the Mercado da Alegria, offer something for everyone. You can buy handmade macramé earrings, have a sangria, take home a souvenir made of tin cans or renew your wardrobe with African proposals.

*This market is held on special dates, such as summer – from July 28th to August 25th in 2024 – and Christmas – from November 29th to December 29th – and in different places with different names: Mercado da Alegria, Mercado da Batalha and Mercado do Molhe.

Ohana Market (know as Urban Market all year round)

Right in front of São Bento Station is a small but concentrated market with all kinds of art, accessories, clothing, handicrafts and other products.

Known as the Urban Market outside the summer season, it is located in the hustle and bustle of São Bento, right where it joins Rua das Flores. With an ATM and a colorful sign as a backdrop, walking up the alley will take you to Praça das Cardosas, full of shopkeepers.

If you are looking for an original photo of Porto, candles in sexual shapes, modern and bohemian clothes and accessories, or even dofferent homemade hot sauce, you will find it here.

Stalls in Ribeira and Vila Nova de Gaia

To meet the needs and desires of tourists visiting the city, both banks of the Douro River are filled with stalls and tents with an overwhelming repertoire of souvenir: magnets, household items, clothing, complements, accessories…

In the Ribeira, you should know that it is quite crowded, since with the piers for tourist cruises and bars, the space to move around is very limited. Vila Nova de Gaia, on the other hand, offers a pleasant stroll among stalls that extend to the area where the cable car ends after descending from Jardim do Morro.

Mercado das Artes

On Sunday morning, I came across a series of stalls on Avenida Dom Afonso Henriques, the main street that runs from São Bento to the Don Luis I bridge. The excuse is none other than the desire of the Municipal Chamber of Porto to give local artists a space to promote and market their art.

So you will find another place where you can buy a special souvenir all year round: from April to September you will find them open from 10 am to 8 pm.

Mercado Ferreira Borges

Next to the Palacio da Bolsa you will find this market, located in a colorful emblematic building of Porto, dating from the eighteenth century, made of iron and glass. Inside, in addition to the usual artistic exhibits and a terrace where you can have a drink, you’ll find stalls selling sustainable clothing, handmade jewellery and leather goods, among other things.

*Although I have seen this place with stalls on other trips, I read in internet reviews that it does not always seem to have a market, so there are times when it is practically empty.

Time Out Market Porto

Next to São Bento Station, Lisbon’s most famous market has also conquered Porto. Located in the south wing of the emblematic station, a Unesco World Heritage Site, it offers an architectural and gastronomic delight in one of the city’s most vibrant areas.

It is a perfect alternative if you are looking for a market in Porto to eat at any time of the day, as it is open from morning until midnight, with options for breakfast, lunch and dinner, both inside and on its terrace.

Porto’s restaurants close early, so that this market can be a very good plan B if you are running late.

Inside, bakeries, hamburger joints, restaurants serving traditional food, rice, fish and seafood, vegetarian, modern, Asian or fusion cuisine are named after renowned and award-winning local chefs. In total, you will find 11 gastronomic offerings, two bars, a craft shop on the first floor of its tower and a Douro and Port wine tasting room on the top floor.

Beira-Rio Market in Vila Nova de Gaia

This is a gastronomic market where you can eat in Porto, have a drink or just have a snack while discovering this area of Porto. Here you can satisfy your hunger with different local and international options, but above all you can cool off a bit from the summer heat in Porto, which is manifested in the area of Vila Nova de Gaia, with few shadows.

One of the most striking features of this market is the mix of traditional fruit and vegetable stalls with modern options, such as the Super Bock beer experience that welcomes visitors as soon as they access the market.

In addition to these proposals, there are other markets that also offer a perfect getaway: Mercado Municipal de Matosinhos, Porto Belo Market – only on Saturday afternoons -, Mercado Bom Sucesso – next to the Casa da Música -, and Foz do Douro Market are some of them.

Sunsets in Porto

There are a thousand places to watch the sunset in Porto, from the most typical viewpoints to the most hidden terraces. Some of my favorite summer plans to enjoy a sunset in Porto include the quieter ones, spending the afternoon sitting in a park, but also the more romantic ones, sailing the Douro River.

The park in Jardim do Morro is perfect to sit and watch the sunset in Porto, as the sun disappears behind the Douro. In the lower area of Vila Nova de Gaia, in front of the traditional rabelos of the wineries, there are also walls and a park where it is a good plan to sit and rest your legs and watch the sunset before dinner. In both cases you will appreciate not only the sunset, but one of the best views of the Ribeira de Porto, with its mythical colorful tiled houses.

The Parque das Virtues is one of my latest discoveries, and although I have lived in the city and visited it many times, I have not had the opportunity to come here, and what a shame, because the atmosphere is exceptional! This is a unique place to enjoy a few beers and, for me, the best sunset in Porto.

Another option is to go to the terrace of a local bar, usually located in old buildings with steep stairs. Some of the ones I would recommend are the terrace of the Guindalese Football Club, which, despite being named after a football team, is a bar-restaurant overlooking the Ponte Dom Luis I, and Mirajazz, a bar located in the west of Porto, with a terrace, view and jazz music every Tuesday and Thursday night – between the beggining of June and the end of August.

The most fashionable rooftops in Porto should not be less to go to a date with the sun, so it is a good idea to point out some of the most famous: the Espaço Porto Cruz – with DJ livening up the evenings-; the George Terrace Bar; or the Terrace 6 Ponte Sky Bar.

Finally, the Douro River is probably the most special setting to witness the spectacle. With the famous Six Bridges Cruises operating until 7:30 pm, and even cruises marketed specifically to live this plan sailing the riverbed, it is not easy to resist.

There are also more exclusive experiences, such as some private yacht tours with extras to liven up the time, to enjoy the sunset over the Douro.

Bike route to Foz do Douro or Matosinhos

If there is one plan that I love, it is to get on a bike and ride along the banks of the Douro River with the wonderful views of Porto in front of you. Of course, the city’s weather doesn’t always allow it, but when the sun is shining, which is usually the case in the spring and summer months, I highly recommend discovering the city by bike.

Here’s my favourite route: from Porto to Matosinhos, passing through Foz do Douro! Starting from Porto’s Baixa and following the riverbed (you can ride on the road or on the tram tracks), you’ll appreciate Porto’s six bridges, see areas you wouldn’t otherwise see, and spend an active day in the open air. The route is flat throughout, making it perfect for the whole family, regardless of your fitness level.

It is about 6.5 km if you go to Foz and back (about 25 minutes, 30 if you stop to enjoy the view, take pictures or drink water), and add another 4.5 km (about 15 minutes) if you go to Matosinhos.

These are the five reasons why I like this route:

1. The whole route is along the river first and then along the sea. You are only separated from the sea by a pedestrian area in the section between Foz and Matosinhos, but you still have the sea just a step away.
2. The route passes through many parks and green areas, making it an ideal plan to do in Porto in the summer with children. First, you will pass through the Jardim do Cálem, where there is a bird observatory and several rest and recreation areas. A little further on is the Jardim do Passeio Alegre, and then a large square with two paraller lighthouses: the Farol da Barra do Douro and the Farol de Felgueiras.
3. Along the way, you will come across several beaches, so if you want to cool off or spend a day in the sun, you can do so at Praia do Carneiro, Praia dos Ingleses, Praia do Gondarém, Praia do Molhe, Praia do Homem do Leme, Praia International and, last on the route, Praia do Matosinhos.
4. If you go all the way to Matosinhos, you will be rewarded with some of Porto’s best fish and seafood dishes, with the local specialty standing out in the streets and on the nostrils: grilled sardinhas, cooked on street grills.
5. On your way back to Porto, you can stop for a quiet drink at one of the bars along the way. Cafetaria Barraca do Ouro is my favorite, with this incredible view.

There are other very interesting bike routes in Porto that take you through the Parque da Cidade (in a 38 km route) or through Vila Nova the Gaia and its beaches, even getting close to the Capela do Senhor da Pedra, but I can’t tell you my experience because I haven’t done them. I’m sure I’ll do it next time!

Other ways to enjoy summer in Porto on wheels are to book a guided bicycle tour, which will show you the best of the city in a few hours with a local guide, or even rent a bike for a few hours, like I did, to mark your own route and times.

Cruise the Douro River

Adding to your summer holiday in Porto a river experience is something that adds several points to the trip, so there are many people who, to take a boat ride on the Douro, do not hesitate to get their tickets in time to choose the schedule that interests them.

There are many options, although the most traditional is to take to a tourist cruise. If you want to join the cruise of the six bridges of Porto, the most famous of the city, which crosses the Douro from Ribeira or Vila Nova de Gaia through the bridges of Porto, I recommend booking early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Most of the cruises, large renovated rabelos, do not have a roof, so try to avoid the hottest hours of the day.

There are also more exclusive alternatives, with catamarans, sailboats and private yachts on the Douro that sail in a more intimate and romantic way, although these experiences tend to have a higher price tag, as they also include a private skipper for the ride, drinks, some snacks and sometimes additional activities.

If you like water sports and don’t want to miss the opportunity to do them in Porto, it is possible to rent a speedboat or a jet ski in the middle of the Douro River.

The maritime traffic on the Douro is overwhelming, so I personally think that this option is a bit forced on a tourist level to offer more and more activities, but hey, if you like adrenaline and do not want to miss the opportunity to practice some water sports with Porto as a backdrop, take advantage and enjoy!

Live music

As in any tourist city, street performers and musicians take advantage of the situation and take to the streets whenever the weather permits, flooding the streets of Porto with arts and sound. Portugal’s second city, second only to Lisbon in Fado, offers visitors a different kind of music.

Thus, it is not uncommon to find a guitarist or soloist enlivening the walks along Rúa das Flores, a singer-songwriter expressing his passion in front of the Torre dos Clérigos or a group in the Baixa.

As I mentioned when I told you about the places to watch the sunset in Porto, in Parque das Virtues Brazilian rhythms accompany the evenings to say goodbye to the sun, and in Jardim do Morro groups also gather (in this case there is even an area of the park that resembles an amphitheater, so the scenario itself is already ideal).

Aside from the street music, which can also surprise you with an exceptional fado show or some tuna in squares or terraces (morr common during the university course than in the summer), Porto enjoys having many bars, and some of them even offer live music.

Names where I have enjoyed live music are Mirajazz, Embaixada, Rua Tapas Restaurant and Music Bar, Máus Hábitus -one of my top ten bars in Porto-, Prova…

Summer concerts and festivals in Porto

If you are passionate about live music and do not want to leave Porto without attending one of the concerts during the summer months, I recommend you take a look at the cultural agenda of these concert halls, clubs and venues:

As far as destivals are concerned, the city and its surroundings offer many options, although in Porto the most important ones are Primavera Sound, Nova Era Beach Party (in Matosinhos), Elétrico Festival and Meo Marés Vivas.

Terraces with a lot of atmosphere

Praça dos Poveiros

This area stands out for being the original location of Casa Guedes, one of my favorite restaurants of Porto, as well as for having a a varied gastronomic offer in the same square. With restaurants surrounding it and countless tables on the terraces, there are many options for you and your family to enjoy.

Do not hesitate to go to Casa Guedes for an incredible bifana de pernil with queijo da serra de estrela, or to Republica dos Cachorros 2 for one of the best francesinhas in the city. End the evening with a beer, a glass of sangria or a portotonic in one of the terraces, a perfect plan for the warm summer nights in Porto.

Piolhos

Although it as a more youthful atmosphere, this square, which I got to know during my Erasmus in Porto, is pure vitamin. If you go there in the middle of the afternoon, you can enjoy Portuguese gastronomy or drinks at a very reasonable price. If you want to party, discover the nightlife of Porto, meet people or try the kind of drinks that are trendy in the city, this is your place from 22:00 hours.

Especially the bars Adega Leonor and Espaço Adega are emblematic of Porto – when I lived there, beers cost 50 cents – with ltiny places but very, very cheap prices, suitable for all budgets. You won’t see a pub crawl that doesn’t pass by here, nor a group of local friends, nor a group of young foreigners – or, as I say, especially during the school season-, Portuguese students and doing their Eramus, who pass by this square before going to a club in the nearby Rua da Galeria de Paris.

Parque das Virtues

With plenty of bars to buy something to drink – they have their own terrace, although I prefer to go to the park across the street – nearby shops for those who prefer to take something with them, and an atmosphere that unites tourists and locals alike, there is nothing better than this great plan to end a summer day in Porto.

I would like to highlight the Craft Beer Bar, right on Passeio das Virtudes, MUSA, with its own personality, DJ, beer options for all tastes and an outdoor terrace that those who are tired of sitting anywhere will find as an ally to enjoy the sunset – and yes, I mentioned this park when Italked about sunsets, because it is one of the best -. Do not hesitate!

Wine tours and Port wine tastings in the summer

No visit to Porto is complete without a visit to the wine cellars, as the city boasts one of the most special wine creations in the world. To discover its history, learn about its importance and appreciate its taste, one afternoon in Porto is more than enough.

Vila Nova de Gaia wineries

While everyone wants to visit one of the wineries in Porto, the choice of which one to visit is subjective and depends on your taste, availability and budget. Although some are more famous than others, I would not dare to say that there are better or worse ones, as the experience is similar.

If you want to do a port wine tour, I leave you a list of the main wineries in Vila Nova de Gaia:

A visit to a Porto wine cellar usually lasts between one and a half and two hours, with the first part consisting of a guided tour of the cellar, followed by a tasting of three varieties in the tasting room. Some wineries in Vila Nova de Gaia offer premium visits, with wine pairings or other experiences – such as a winery visit with a fado show.

For me, the best Port tasting is always at a winery, not only for the taste, but also for the explanations of the experts, who accompany each sip with information about the drink and its specifications.

Port wine tasting

If yo have already visited one or more Port wine cellars and know all the secrets of the most international local product, you can enjoy the incredible taste of Port wine without paying for a guided tour; just look for the sign indicating ‘Port wine tasting’ on a board along the road to make it possible.

For me, the guided tour with wine tasting is always the best option, but on this occasion I preferred to take advantage and try other possibilities around Port wine, so I looked for tasting options in the city. To soak up the best wine atmosphere, I went to Vila Nova de Gaia area, and in the bars overlooking the river they offer Port wine tastings.

Usualyy, five wines are served and prices range from 5€ to 12€.

Both on the terraces of these bars and inside the Beira-Rio Market you will find Port tastings, some of them even with wine pairings. Is it worth it? No doubt, but from my point of view only if you have already visited a winery in Vila Nova de Gaia.

---

I hope that all these summer plans in Porto complete your trip to the second most important city in Portugal, the one that I fell in love with from the day I set foot in it and that continues to surprise me every time I go there. If you want to expand on any of the plans or have any questions about what I have suggested here, do not hesitate to write to me. Enjoy your summer in Porto!

---