DominguesVisiting the best beaches in Porto is a must for anyone who wants to get to know the area around the mouth of Douro River, in northern Portugal. The water can be cold, as is common in much of the Portuguese coast, but the landscape is beautiful due to the immense rock formations that are found next to the sea, and which in certain places can form small coves protected from the waves. The sunset is magnificent!
Porto region has some of the most beautiful beaches in Portugal, such as Miramar beach, in Gaia, where the famous Chapel of Senhor da Pedra is located, have you heard of it?
In this article I will write a top 10 of the best beaches in Porto and surroundings, with 2 beaches in the municipality of Matosinhos, 5 in the municipality of Porto and 3 in Gaia. 😉
MORE ARTICLES FROM THE NORTH OF PORTUGAL: - Porto Itinerary - Things to do in Porto - Best Museums in Porto - Best Churches and Cathedrals in Porto - Best Parks and Gardens in Porto - Best Port Wine Cellars in Porto - Best Day Trips from Porto - Best Matosinhos Beaches - Things to do in Matosinhos - Things to do in Vila do Conde - Things to do in Póvoa de Varzim - Things to do in Vila Nova de Gaia - Things to do in Espinho - Minho | Northern Portugal Itinerary - Things to do in Viana do Castelo - Things to do in Ponte de Lima - Things to do in Monção - Things to do in Valença - Things to do in Caminha - Things to do in Braga - Things to do in Guimarães - Things to do in Barcelos - Things to do in Esposende - Things to do in Arcos de Valdevez - Peneda Gerês National Park Itinerary - Best Hikes and Trails in Peneda Gerês National Park - Best Peneda Gerês National Park Waterfalls and Lagoons - Douro Valley Itinerary - Douro Valley Wineries - Best Douro Viewpoints - Things to do in Peso da Régua - Things to do in Lamego - Things to do in Pinhão - Best beaches in Northern Portugal - Trás-os-Montes Itinerary - Things to do in Bragança - Montesinho Natural Park Itinerary - Douro International Natural Park Itinerary
Hotel tips to visit the best beaches in Porto
I’ll start by leaving you some accommodation tips in this region, located mainly along the coast of Matosinhos, Porto and Gaia. Don’t forget to do your own research too. 😉 I find particularly interesting the possibility of sleeping aboard a sailboat, near the mouth of Douro.
| Accommodation | Score | Location |
|---|---|---|
| João Beach House | 9.7 | Leça da Palmeira |
| Love Sea Apartment | 9.3 | Leça da Palmeira |
| Four Points by Sheraton | 9.2 | Matosinhos Beach |
| Harbour Inn Townhouse | 9.5 | Matosinhos Beach |
| Porto Sea Apartments | 9.7 | Matosinhos Beach |
| Vila Foz Hotel & Spa | 9.1 | Homem do Leme Beach (Porto) |
| Bartolomeu Beach Apartments | 9.3 | Carneiro Beach (Porto) |
| Lighthouse Apartment | 9.1 | Carneiro Beach (Porto) |
| Liiiving in Porto Luxury Apartments | 8.7 | Carneiro Beach (Porto) |
| Habitatio Foz | 9.5 | Carneiro Beach (Porto) |
| Casa das Laranjas | 9.4 | Mouth of Douro (Porto) |
| Casa da Belavista | 8.7 | Mouth of Douro (Porto) |
| Vila na Praia Foz | 9.5 | Mouth of Douro (Porto) |
| Apartamentos Céu Azul | 8.7 | Miramar Beach (Gaia) |
10 Best Beaches in Porto | Portugal
Porto has many beaches to visit, especially if you add some that are part of Gaia and Matosinhos. My recommendation is that you rent an electric bike and discover the coast with it, at your own pace, stopping for a swim where the landscape really impresses you. 😉 There are bike paths on almost the entire coastline!
- While in Porto, you can rent an electric bike with Civitatis.
- In Gaia, you can get a free one from CEAR – Centro de Educação Ambiental das Ribeiras de Gaia. You need to schedule it with them.
- You can also use the electric scooters available along the coast, which have an associated cost.
Below you find all the best beaches, from north to south.
Map with Best Beaches in Porto
1. Leça da Palmeira Beach
Leça da Palmeira is located north of Matosinhos and Porto, with an extensive stretch of sand strongly cut by rock formations, which form small coves along the coast. It is a beach much sought after by young people, with plenty of nightlife nearby.
I also recommend Piscina das Marés in Leça da Palmeira, an excellent alternative for those who like the beach, but don’t appreciate the sea waves. It consists of a swimming pool by the sea, and dates back to the 60s, designed by the famous architect Siza Vieira. Did you know that it is considered a national monument in Portugal? Note that this swimming pool is paid, but the beach is not.
2. Matosinhos Beach
Matosinhos Beach has excellent infrastructure and its waters are very popular for surfing and bodyboarding. It is also north of Porto, but has a nearby metro station that connects it to the city centre.
Next to the beach stands a monument in honor of one of the greatest maritime tragedies of the mid-20th century (more precisely 1947), in which 4 ships sank off the coast of Matosinhos, causing the death of 152 fishermen, leaving about 70 widows and 150 orphans. The monument’s sculptures represent the affliction and despair of the women and children who saw their families destroyed.
There are many good fish and seafood restaurants in Matosinhos if you are interested.
3. Porto International Beach
The International Beach is very close to several essential tourist attractions for those visiting Porto. I already mentioned all of them in this article:
- Porto City Park, the largest urban park in the country.
- SEA LIFE Porto, the city’s aquarium.
- And São Francisco Xavier Fort (Castelo do Queijo), important during the restoration wars and also during the Liberal Wars. You can get the best view over the beach from its top.
4. Homem do Leme Beach
Further south, there are two other beaches: Praia do Homem do Leme and Praia do Molhe. They have beautiful gardens and terraces around them, and spaces such as the extraordinary Pérgola da Foz, excellent for the sunset on the coast of Porto.
With regard to Homem do Leme Beach, the waves walkway stands out, ideal for a short walk at the end of the day through an area full of rocks in the sea. Don’t forget the monument to Homem do Leme in honor of fishermen, and also the two playgrounds, which make it very popular for families with children. This was the first beach in Porto to achieve the blue flag.
5. Molhe Beach
Molhe Beach, in turn, served in the past as an anchorage for boats, whenever the mouth of the Douro was inaccessible for some reason. It is, for me, the most romantic beach in Porto due to its Pérgola da Foz, already mentioned.
6. Carneiro beach
Carneiro beach is very close to Foz do Douro and São João Fort. It owes its name to the lamb that can be found at the top of the Swiss Chalet, in Passeio Alegre garden.
7. Shepherdesses Beach
If you are traveling with children, how about enjoying the calm waters of the small beach of the shepherdesses, located next to the previous one. You can see both of them on the picture below.
8. Praia do Cabedelo do Douro
Cabedelo do Douro beach is about 1 km long, right next to the mouth of the river. I believe the next picture will convince you in visiting at least the viewpoint.
9. Canide Beach
Next is Canide Beach, one of the best places for surfing and other water sports on the coast of Gaia. It has a small pool of heated water, improvised in the sand, which is available to the general public free of charge. However, it is only 1 meter deep, ideal for children or people with reduced mobility. There is also a limit of 30 minutes inside, so everyone can enjoy it even on the busiest summer days.
10. Miramar Beach
The last beach has a famous chapel by the sea, called Capela do Senhor da Pedra, built on giant boulders and dating from the 18th century (1763). People believe that it had pagan origins, being later converted to Christianity. Nearby, you can walk along pleasant wooden walkways towards Arcozelo.
Tours to visit Porto + Tickets
If you want to visit more in the area than the best Beaches in Porto, check the following guided tour tips by Civitatis and Get Your Guide, all over the city. How about renting an electric bike for your stay in Porto?
Examples of Porto Tours: 1 - Porto Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour 2 - Porto Card + Public Transportation 3 - Douro River Six Bridges Cruise 4 - Palácio da Bolsa Guided Tour 5 - Porto pub crawl 6 - Torre dos Clérigos Entrance Ticket 7 - Ticket to World of Discoveries 8 - FC Porto Stadium + Museum Tour 9 - SEA LIFE Porto Tickets 10 - Serralves Foundation Museum + Park Ticket 11 - Casa da Guitarra Fado Show 12 - Fado Show at Ideal Club 13 - Complete Porto Tour with Tickets 14 - Porto Jetboat experience 15 - Cockburn's Port Wine Cellars Tour 16 - Poças Port Wine Cellars Tour 17 - Burmester's Port Wine Cellars Tour 18 - Graham's Port Lodge Tour 19 - Calém Port Wine Cellars Tour with fado Show 20 - Douro Sunset Sailboat Experience in Porto 21 - Port Wine Tour | 3 Cellars | 7 Tastings 22 - Private Electric Tuk Tuk Sightseeing Tour 23 - Craft Beer & Food Tour in Porto
Day trips from Porto
You can also opt for day trips to various points of interest in the north and center of Portugal, and even Galicia, always departing from the city of Porto. Other possibility is to just rent a car with Discover Cars and do it by yourself.
Day trips from Porto with Get Your Guide: 1 - Douro Valley Tour from Porto 2 - Vineyards Tour from Porto with Lunch 3 - Braga and Guimarães day trip 4 - Surf Experience 5 - Santiago de Compostela Day trip from Porto 6 - Paiva Walkways day trip from Porto 7 - Peneda-Gerês National Park Day trip from Porto 8 - Aveiro Day trip from Porto 9 - Fátima and Coimbra Day Trip from Porto
Day trips from Porto with Viator: 1 - Douro Valley Small-Group Tour 2 - Authentic Douro Wine Tour with River Cruise 3 - Best of Braga and Guimaraes Day Trip 4 - Aveiro & Costa Nova Half Day Tour 5 - Full-Day Tour to Santiago de Compostela and Valença do Minho 6 - Peneda Geres National Park Tour from Porto 7 - Arouca Suspension Bridge and Paiva Walkway Day Tour from Porto 8 - 4x4 Porto Mountain Excursion 9 - Fátima and Coimbra Full Day Tour
Day trips from Porto with Civitatis: 1 - Guimarães and Braga Day Trip 2 - Douro Valley Wine Tasting and Tour 3 - Douro Region Full day Tour 4 - Fátima and Coimbra Day Trip 5 - Day trip to Santiago de Compostela 6 - Paiva Walkways + 516 Bridge Tour 7 - Peneda-Gerês National Park Day Tour 8 - Aveiro and Costa Nova day trip 9 - Matosinhos Surf Class 10 - Régua Day Cruise from Porto 11 - 1 Day Cruise to Pinhão
More articles about the North of Portugal
MORE ARTICLES FROM THE NORTH OF PORTUGAL: - Porto Itinerary - Things to do in Porto - Best Museums in Porto - Best Churches and Cathedrals in Porto - Best Parks and Gardens in Porto - Best Port Wine Cellars in Porto - Best Day Trips from Porto - Best Matosinhos Beaches - Things to do in Matosinhos - Things to do in Vila do Conde - Things to do in Póvoa de Varzim - Things to do in Vila Nova de Gaia - Things to do in Espinho - Minho | Northern Portugal Itinerary - Things to do in Viana do Castelo - Things to do in Ponte de Lima - Things to do in Monção - Things to do in Valença - Things to do in Caminha - Things to do in Braga - Things to do in Guimarães - Things to do in Barcelos - Things to do in Esposende - Things to do in Arcos de Valdevez - Peneda Gerês National Park Itinerary - Best Hikes and Trails in Peneda Gerês National Park - Best Peneda Gerês National Park Waterfalls and Lagoons - Douro Valley Itinerary - Douro Valley Wineries - Best Douro Viewpoints - Things to do in Peso da Régua - Things to do in Lamego - Things to do in Pinhão - Best beaches in Northern Portugal - Trás-os-Montes Itinerary - Things to do in Bragança - Montesinho Natural Park Itinerary - Douro International Natural Park Itinerary
