10 Things to Do in Porto in Summer

Most of the best things to see and do in Porto take place during the summer. Which is logical, as this time of year has a very particular appeal when it comes to the Iberian Peninsula and specifically the northern tip of the Portuguese territory.

To make planning your trip easier, I've taken it upon myself to research activities to do and attractions to visit that will keep you busy throughout your trip. Then you can return home knowing that you have seen the best secrets that Porto has to offer to its most curious, imaginative and intrepid tourists.

Matosinhos is a city that is part of the Greater Porto Metropolitan Area. It is located right in front of the shores of the Atlantic Ocean and during the summer it is one of the favourite destinations among the locals. This is because of the beach activities it offers to all visitors who wish to spend an afternoon at Praia de Matosinhos.

If you decide to come to this point of the city you can enjoy the sea as you wish, but one thing I can recommend is to participate in the Stand Up Paddle classes that usually take place on days with moderate swell. If you don't know what this sport is all about, just understand that it's basically standing on a surfboard paddling just as if you were in a kayak.

This part of the city is worth visiting for several reasons. The first is that even though it is far away you can get there quickly by metro through the blue line, getting off at Matosinhos Sul station or at Camara de Matosinhos if you want to walk a bit more around this beautiful neighbourhood.

The second reason is that Matosinhos is very close to Parque da Cidade do Porto and this public space is one of the most beautiful to spend an afternoon picnic after having spent a whole morning having fun among the waves of the nearby kilometre-long beach.

The Festa de São João is a festival held annually in Porto on the eve of Saint John's Day. It is a festival that combines Catholic traditions with other pagan traditions, as it began as a celebration of the summer solstice, but with the arrival of Catholicism it became a religious festival.

It is a celebration that begins during the afternoon of 23 June and lasts until the morning of the 24th. In Porto it is celebrated in various ways, although the most common is to attend the crowded gatherings that form in the streets of the city centre. Some people will be beating each other with plastic hammers and garlic flowers while there are all sorts of street concerts as people dance and drink to traditional Portuguese music.

Wine is drunk, canned sardines are eaten and it is quite common for people to start a sort of pilgrimage from the city centre to the shores of the Douro Gorge or the suburb of Matosinhos to welcome the sun by singing on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. The following day of this celebration is a good opportunity to embark on one of those day trips from Porto, as many of the city's tourists will be hungover and that means that other destinations will be a little more free than in the rest of the season.

Summer is a season of concerts and music festivals for many of Europe's top tourist destinations. Porto is no exception to this rule, as every summer there is a new edition of Primavera Sound, a 3-day festival held in Porto's Parque da Cidade. It is an event that combines world-famous international artists with other representatives of the best-known Portuguese music scene of the moment.

It is a good idea to attend if your stay coincides with this event, which is usually held during the first weekend of June. Although you should also bear in mind that this event tends to change its schedule every year depending on the other editions of the festival, as it also takes place in Barcelona, where it originally came from.

If you attend this festival it is advisable to stay in the areas of Foz do Douro or Matosinhos. They are beautiful, quiet, safe and very close to this famous park of Oporto. If you feel like getting to know a bit more about authentic Portuguese music, you also have the option of attending some of the best Fado shows in Porto. These are usually held in the city centre in all sorts of historic taverns such as the Casa da Mariquinhas.

The Jardim do Palácio de Cristal is a public park that was designed in the mid-19th century and has a very special place in the hearts of the locals. Visiting it in summer can be an excellent idea due to the fact that the rose gardens will be at their best and the Arrábida Bridge Viewpoint can be a perfect escape from the tourist crowds and the strong sun that characterises the season.

Another positive aspect of coming to this public park is that it is not located in the tourist epicentre of Porto and is actually part of the residential areas that are already on the outskirts of the city centre. That means you could spend a beautiful summer morning or afternoon as the locals do, while also touring one of the Victorian secrets of a city that for centuries had a very significant English influence.

The Arrábida Bridge Viewpoint is also one of the city's best kept secrets, as it gives you a full perspective of the Douro River from a beautiful hill. It is not usually as crowded with tourists as the city's other tourist attractions during this time of year.

The Foz do Douro is the western end of the city of Porto. It is located right at the mouth of the river in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the neighbourhood that has formed in this geographical corner is one of the most beautiful in Porto's residential environment. There are cafés, restaurants, bars and all kinds of gastronomic establishments that are accompanied by a very vibrant cultural and commercial offer.

The interesting thing about visiting this part of the city during the summer is that you could go to some of its beaches to sun bathe. This is one of the favourite activities for those who want to get a tan in the best style of the south coast of Portugal, without having to leave the beautiful capital of the north, as this city is known throughout the country.

If you decide to go to this place you can also benefit from family entertainment activities with children in Porto, as it is no secret that running and playing in the sand is something that can amuse the little ones of the house as well as the adults.

Be sure to visit the Felgueiras Lighthouse at sunset. You will enjoy a spectacle of nature that combines a significantly strong swell, while crashing against a breakwater. This creates small rainbows if the light conditions are right.

As you may have noticed from the recommendations I've given you, many of Porto's summer attractions are just outside the more touristy parts of the city centre. Of course, you will visit the must-see spots such as the Clérigos Tower or the Ribeira district, but places like the Jardim do Morro, located on the south bank of the Douro River, are also worth experiencing when in Porto during the summer.

It is a park that belongs to the city of Vila Nova de Gaia and from this hill you can see a complete perspective of the centre of Porto. Just as if you were looking at yourself in a mirror. It is a good place to include in your summer tourist itinerary, because you can enjoy several plans in the same part of the day and without having to waste so much time in queues and waiting for the tourist influx.

For example, the cable car that takes you down in less than 5 minutes to the banks of the Douro River at the height of the centre of Gaia can be an entertaining activity, as well as the visit and tour of the Monastery of the Serra do Pilar which is located just opposite this beautiful park.

Walking across the high level of the Don Luis I Bridge can be an ideal way to return to Oporto. You can also take the metro from Jardim do Morro and get off at the famous Sao Bento station, which is just as worth a visit. Especially after sunset when the tourist crowds have died down.

The Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art is one of the most important modern art institutions in the far south of Europe. Its facilities are the work of the architect Álvaro Siza Vieira, one of the leading exponents of Portuguese modernism. It receives an estimated 5 million visitors annually according to the local tourist office and it is an excellent idea to make it part of your itinerary of plans and activities in Porto if you are spending the summer in the city.

The first reason has to do with comfort and convenience, as during the summer this is a space that lets you escape from the crowded streets and offers a more intimate and sincere look at the cultural identity of this city. Going beyond the architectural details of Portuguese baroque and neo-Gothic.

You also come away understanding that Porto is a modern and cosmopolitan city that has nothing to envy to Lisbon or any of the Mediterranean capitals of Europe. Especially when it comes to cultural offerings that go beyond the monuments of a glorious past.

Keep in mind that this museum is located in the urban complex of the Serralves Park and by visiting it you are also having access to the beautiful gardens that connect to the Serralves House. Which is an Art Deco property that is one of Portugal's greatest modern architectural treasures.

As an art museum that is less connected to the city's historical past, you are also guaranteed that it will be one of the less crowded attractions during the summer. This is ideal for you to enjoy the museum and the surrounding suburbs in complete peace and quiet. Any of the other best museums in Porto are a recommended activity if you are visiting the city during the summer months.

Speaking of food, you should know that northern Portugal and southern Portugal have very distinct culinary identities, and this gap widens during the summer, as each region wants to showcase the best of its gastronomy to the millions of tourists that flood both ends of the country. Arroz de Cabidela, Posta a Mirandés and Caldo Verde are some of the stars of Porto's culinary scene.

At the same time, Portugal's strong fishing culture means that there are plenty of seafood recipes and if you want to return home with a real taste for the summer flavours of this city then it's a good idea to try some of Porto' s best gastronomic tours. Some will take you to the most iconic corners of the local culinary industry such as Folias de Baco or Casa Guedes, but others will focus on more informal and unknown aspects of Porto's street food.

Keep in mind that this is a good activity for the summer as you can get to know the kind of food that characterises this time of year, as there is a significant contrast to what is eaten in Porto in the winter. It is also an opportunity to gain access to restaurants that will be inaccessible by reservation particularly due to the significant volume of visitors at this time of year.

Porto's Stock Exchange Palace is undoubtedly one of the architectural gems that the city has to offer to tourists interested in seeing the beauty of a city with more than 1500 years of history. This building was built for more than 50 years in the 19th century and today is the headquarters of the Commercial Association of Porto.

It has several rooms among which the Arab Hall with a direct inspiration from the Alhambra and the beautiful granite and marble staircase that is located right in the reception of the place. The Ferreira Borges Market and the Church of San Francisco are other worthwhile sites that are less than 50 metres away from this beautiful and famous palace.

Keep in mind that this can be an ideal place to visit in summer, as it is a safe escape from the overwhelming heat that defines the Iberian Peninsula at this time of the year, while you can also enjoy one of the most important monuments in the historic centre of the city.

The Douro Valley is a small wine-growing region located about 70 kilometres from the centre of Porto. Historically, it is a place that has been perfecting wine production for 2,000 years and the famous Port Wine is produced in this region of the country.

Taking a guided tour to the Douro Valley wine fields from Porto can be a good plan for your summer visit to the region. Firstly for the fact that it is something you can perfectly do in one day if you are looking for a break from the intense tourist movement that defines this city during the summer.

Secondly for the fact that this season is especially beautiful for appreciating the beauty of this area full of vineyards that sit on meandering hills on the banks of the Douro River.

In fact, it can be the perfect farewell to your stay in the city, as it is common to want to tour the surroundings of a place. Especially when you're getting ready to set off for a new destination.

Summer in Portugal is quite strong and Porto is no exception to the rule. On your trip you will encounter temperatures that can easily range between 30 and 25 degrees Celsius in a single week, but the average temperature for these months is around 26 or 24 degrees Celsius if there is no heat wave developing.

The busiest months for the tourist industry in Porto are the summer months and therefore you can expect a significant influx in each and every one of the most famous corners of the city.

In fact, it is with this in mind that I chose many of the activities on this list of recommendations, as they are equally beautiful, but are a little off the typical tourist trail that millions of people will be following throughout the season.

The highest prices of the year for consumer services in Porto are in the summer. This is logical, as the whole of Europe makes the most of its tourist attraction during this time of the year, and Porto is no exception.

However, one thing I can point out is that on average Portugal is a cheaper destination than other European alternatives, at least if you book your big expenses well in advance.

During the summer in Porto you will urgently need three things. The first one is comfortable and breathable clothes that will help you feel cool among the sunny streets of the city.

The second one is a pair of shoes that will also favour the long walking sessions you will have on the steep streets of this city full of hills and stairs. The third must-have in your suitcase is sunscreen, as the sun in Portugal is quite strong at this time of the year and it is essential that you take care of your skin health to continue enjoying your trip.