DominguesI’ve always identified Espinho as a beach destination on the way to Porto (from Lisbon), and in fact, it’s Espinho’s beaches and seafront that stand out the most in the municipality, along with its dune walkways by the sea.
Visiting Espinho undoubtedly requires taking advantage of its beaches, but so that you can make a more complete itinerary of the region, I’ll leave you with a lot more information about the city and other tourist attractions in the surrounding area that I also find interesting.
For example, Espinho has part of Barrinha de Esmoriz, which is a great place for a walk in the evening, as well as a strong tradition associated with fishing, which you might want to take a closer look at.
Want to know what are the main things to do in Espinho? Keep reading, then.
Where is Espinho located, in Portugal?
Espinho is located in the district of Aveiro, on the border with the district of Porto, more precisely with Vila Nova de Gaia. It is also bordered by Santa Maria da Feira, Ovar and the Atlantic Ocean.
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How to get to Espinho?
It’s very easy to get to Espinho, as the coastal area of the country has excellent transport infrastructure. The train that connects Aveiro and Porto stops there, for example. You can also choose to take a car, and for this I suggest renting one with Discover Cars, in case you don’t have your own.
When to visit Espinho?
Choose summer to visit Espinho, if possible, so that you can enjoy the beaches properly.
1. Espinho Weekly Fair
However, at any time of the year you can visit the weekly fair in Espinho, which is considered to be the largest fair in Portugal, and which takes place every Monday from 7am to 7pm, between Rua 29 and Rua 33, more precisely at these coordinates. There you’ll find a bit of everything: handicrafts, jewelry, clothing, fabrics, flowers and fresh produce in general.
2. Espinho Peludos Fair
Another fair to consider is Feira dos Peludos, a flea market and antiques fair. It dates back to 1987 and is held on the first Sunday of every month, in the same venue as the previous one.
3. Festivities in Espinho
Another option is to consider Espinho’s main festivities. Four of them are related to the sea:
- The Festivities of São Pedro, in June, with a huge procession through the streets of the city.
- “Vir a Banhos”, usually held in July. It’s a kind of open-air theater, right on the beach, depicting the beginning of the 20th century.
- The Festivities of Nossa Senhora do Mar, in August, to honor the work of fishermen and seafarers in general.
- And the Festivities of Nossa Senhora da Ajuda, in September.
Of course, there are many other events taking place in the city of Espinho, such as:
- Espinho International Puppet Festival, to be held in March.
- The International Meeting of Living Statues, which usually takes place in June. It’s an extraordinary street show.
- The New Cinema Festival, in June.
- Espinho International Music Festival (FIME), between June and July.
- Summer’s Réveillon, on August 31st, celebrating the farewell to the vacations!
- The Festivities of Nossa Senhora dos Altos-Céus and São Mamede, in October. It has gastronomy events included.
- And Espinho International Animated Film Festival (CINANIMA), which takes place in November.
Gastronomy and Restaurants in Espinho
As Espinho is a city on the coast of Portugal, you should opt for fish or seafood. Espinho’s shrimps, for example, are very well known and appreciated by visitors, but you can also try grilled fish, a good caldeirada, or delicious seafood rice.
Where to eat? Consider the tips below:
- Fidalguinha de Espinho
- Aquário Marisqueira
- Or Casa Locas
I’d also like to mention the Sem Espinhas gastronomic event, which has been held several times in Espinho, and which I hope will continue. 😉 An excellent opportunity to get in touch with the best restaurants and food of the region.
Accommodation tips to visit Espinho
| Accommodation | Score | Location |
|---|---|---|
| MyCasa | 9.0 | Espinho |
| Guest House A&z | 8.9 | Espinho |
| Alojamento Marítimo II | 9.2 | Espinho |
| Botica GuestHouse | 9.4 | Espinho |
Things to do in Espinho | Portugal
Finally, what to visit in Espinho, and which are the best beaches in Espinho. I’m going to start with those beaches, but then I’ll also give you tips on other interesting locations. Save the map below for your trip!
Map | Things to do in Espinho
Visit the best beaches in Espinho
As far as the best beaches in Espinho are concerned, I visited the following during my time in the municipality, from south to north. There are a total of 8km of beaches:
- Paramos Beach. It’s a less crowded beach, especially if you go to the area near Barrinha de Esmoriz. 😉
- Silvalde Beach, very close to the Oporto Golf Club, the oldest golf course on the Iberian Peninsula. It is popular because it is located between two pontoons that protect it from the strongest waves in the sea.
- Fishermen’s Beach, next to the fishing district of Espinho. There you can see many fishing boats on the sand and get in touch with the traditional fishing art called Arte Xávega.
- Mermaids Beach or Bay Beach, the most central in Espinho. It’s undoubtedly the one with the most support infrastructure and has an area protected from the waves, which almost looks like a lagoon. It’s the most popular in the city.
- The Blue Front Beach, excellent for surfing.
- And Marbelo Beach, on the northern edge of Espinho and on the border with Vila Nova de Gaia.
1. Paramos Beach
2. Silvalde Beach
3. Fisherman’s Beach
4. Mermaids Beach
5. Espinho Bay Beach
6. Blue Front Beach
7. Marbelo Beach
Visit Espinho’s city center
In Espinho’s city center, of course, the seafront next to Bay beach stands out, and I really recommend that you take a walk there, taking in some of its main sights.
1. Espinho seafront
2. Espinho Marine Spa and Solário Atlântico Pool
I’ll start by mentioning Espinho’s marine spa, which offers visitors a range of thalassotherapy, aqua aerobics and hydrotherapy services, including hydromassage, immersion and algae application. There is also a solarium pool which is fed directly by sea water and is open during the bathing season. This could be an excellent place to relax when visiting Espinho, and if you want to find out more about prices and conditions, visit this page.
3. Espinho Casino
Also on the seafront by the beach is the Casino of Espinho, which opened in 1974 and is owned by Solverde. It’s an excellent place to gamble and have fun, being one of the largest gambling halls in the north of Portugal. Find out more here.
4. Sea Square and Espinho Municipal Museum
You can also visit Sea Square and the Chapel of São Pedro. This is where you’ll find the back of Espinho Municipal Museum, located in the building of the former Canning Factory Brandão, Gomes & Companhia. For some reason you’ll find a chimney in Sea Square, which used to belong to this factory.
In the museum itself, you can learn more about the history of the factory and also about the fishing art called Arte Xávega. For more information on opening times and prices, see the official website.
5. Espinho Fishing District
To finish off the seafront, there’s the fishermen’s quarter. I found some excellent street art there, for example, not far from the aforementioned Fisherman’s Beach.
6. Espinho Mother Church
The next points are no longer on the seafront, but you can still visit them all on foot. The first is the Mother Church, dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Ajuda. It has an imposing tower in the center and is decorated with some granite images. In front of the church you’ll find a small nice garden.
7. Espinho Municipal Market
If you’ve read this article from the beginning, you’ll know that I recommend a visit to Espinho on Mondays, when the city’s weekly fair takes place. However, if that’s not possible for you, you should know that the Municipal Market can be an excellent alternative, being open from Monday to Friday all day and on Saturday mornings. The building where it is located dates back to 1914.
8. Espinho Multimedia Center
Next up is the Multimedia Center in Espinho, which stands out for its elliptical shape. It’s used for various shows of music, arts, literature and cinema, even for congresses, and it has a planetarium!
9. João de Deus Park and Espinho Municipal Library
In the vicinity of the Multimedia Center you’ll find João de Deus Park and the Municipal Library of Espinho. You’ll be in the heart of the center of Espinho. The park was inaugurated in 1943 and is the city’s main leisure area (apart from the beaches), with a lawn and lots of greenery.
10. Town Hall of Espinho
Also noteworthy is the Town Hall and the square in front of it, with an excellent fountain in the center. The building has excellent tiles inside, dating from 1943.
Walk the walkways of Barrinha de Esmoriz
After visiting the center of Espinho, you can head to the south of the municipality and take the Barrinha de Esmoriz walkways, which are divided between Espinho and Ovar, around the Paramos lagoon. One of the highlights of this walking route will undoubtedly be the aforementioned Paramos beach, but you can also enjoy Esmoriz beach on the Ovar side.
In addition, Barrinha de Esmoriz will certainly enchant you as a biodiversity sanctuary, with excellent birdwatching: more than 100 species nest there.
The route is about 6km in total.
Take the Coast Ecovia in Espinho
Another option is to take the Coast Ecovia in Espinho (Ecovia Litoral), which links Barrinha de Esmoriz to Marbelo beach. It’s about 12km long and runs along the entire coastline of the municipality, as the name implies. It’s the best way to get in touch with Espinho’s dunes and walkways. How about renting an electric bicycle or scooter?
Other places to visit in Espinho
I’ll end with other places in the municipality of Espinho that I believe are also worth visiting, including Castro de Ovil and the city park.
1. Castro de Ovil
When you visit Castro de Ovil, you’ll notice archaeological ruins dating back to a few centuries before Christ, namely the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. However, you can also see the ruins of an old paper factory in Espinho, founded in the 19th century, which made use of the Riomaior stream.
At the time of my visit, there were very useful information plaques next to Castro de Ovil, and a visible sequence to visit everything through these plaques, helping you to learn about the history of the settlement and even the factory itself.
2. Oporto Golf Club in Espinho
The Oporto Golf Club has already been mentioned in this article, as it is very close to Silvalde beach. It was founded in 1890 and is the second oldest in Europe and the oldest on the Iberian Peninsula. I’ve never played golf, to be honest, so I can only introduce it to you and leave you with a link to its official website, where you can search for more information.
3. Costa Verde Aero Club and Equestrian Center
You could also visit the Costa Verde Aero Club, which has an equestrian center as well as spaces dedicated to aeromodelling and flying. Although I haven’t tried it, I know they offer horseback riding activities, for example.
4. Mother Church of Silvalde
Optionally, how about visiting the Mother Church of Silvalde, also known as Church of São Tiago?
5. Espinho City Park
Also optional is Espinho City Park, which is around 2.5 hectares in size. On arrival at the park you’ll find some information panels about it and its small trails. I didn’t take any specific route and simply set off to discover the park. I found a small path of footbridges and a small stream that runs through the forest. It makes for a pleasant walk, but it’s by no means exceptional.
Other Itineraries and Travel Guides in Portugal
- N2 Portugal Road Trip Itinerary
- Madeira Itinerary and Travel Guide
- São Miguel Itinerary and Travel Guide (Azores)
- Terceira Itinerary and Travel Guide (Azores)
- Pico Itinerary in Azores
- Faial Itinerary in Azores
- Minho | Northern Portugal Itinerary
- Porto Itinerary and Travel Guide
- Things to do In Braga (Minho)
- Things to do in Guimarães (Minho)
- Things to do in Viana do Castelo (Minho)
- Peneda Gerês National Park Itinerary
- Douro Valley Itinerary
- Trás-os-Montes Itinerary
- Things to do in Bragança
- Montesinho Natural Park Itinerary
- Douro International Natural Park Itinerary
- Things to do in Aveiro
- Things to do in Coimbra
- Things to do in Leiria
- Things to do in Fatima
- Things to do in Nazaré
- Things to do in Peniche
- Things to do in Évora (Alentejo)
- Things to do in Beja (Alentejo)
- Algarve Road Trip Itinerary
- Things to do in Lagos (Algarve)
- Things to do in Portimão (Algarve)
- Things to do in Faro (Algarve)
- Things to do in Tavira (Algarve)
I hope you enjoyed this article and list of things to do in Espinho. Have a nice stay in my country! 😉 Tell me about your travels in the comment section below.
