15 Things to Do in Matosinhos, Porto’s Best Beach Town

Matosinhos is one of Porto’s seaside neighborhoods, a place where you’ll find wide sandy beaches and the smell of grilled sardines fills the streets. Just a short metro ride from the city center, Matosinhos is part working fishing town and part beach escape. It’s where locals head for beach days, fresh seafood dinners, surf lessons, and sunset walks by the sea.

After years of traveling full-time, our family settled here in 2024. Matosinhos has quickly become home. Living here has given us the chance to explore not just the main attractions, but the everyday details that make this coastal town special.

In this post, we’ll share the best things to do in Matosinhos, from relaxing on the beach to eating the freshest seafood and enjoying the town’s biggest annual festival. We’ll also cover practical tips like how to get here from Porto, and what to expect if you’re planning around the market or festival days.

Whether you’re coming for an afternoon or longer, this guide will help you make the most of your time in Matosinhos.

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The city of Matosinhos includes the parishes of Matosinhos and Leça da Palmeira, and covers over 24 square miles. For this article, we’ll be focusing on Matosinhos Sul, the beachfront area that is easily walkable from the Matosinhos Sul metro station.

For much of its history, Matosinhos was an industrial hub tied to fishing, shipping, and canning. While the port is still one of the busiest in Portugal, dozens of sardine factories used to line the streets. While traces of that history remain, especially around the harbor, the city has shifted in recent years. Today, Matosinhos draws both tourists and expats, thanks to its wide sandy beach, lively restaurant scene, and relaxed seaside lifestyle.

Here are our favorite things to do in Matosinhos, both on our own and when we have guests come to visit us.

The Atlantic is very cold, even in summer, but the waves are gentle. On summer weekends, it can get busy, but it never feels overwhelming to find space. There are lifeguards on duty in the high season; look for the colored flags to indicate the area they are watching.

All year round, the promenade along the beach comes alive with walkers, joggers, and families out enjoying the sea air. You’ll also find nets set up for volleyball and other sports at the top of the sand.

You can often watch the surf classes from the sand, with rows of beginners training on the beach before heading into the water. Lessons usually last a couple of hours, and by the end, you’ll be standing on your board at least once, even if only for a few seconds.

In the summer, many of the surf shops offer week-long camps for kids. If you’re already comfortable on a board, you can just rent gear and head straight into the water. But for most visitors, booking a lesson is the easiest way to make sure you catch some waves and a few laughs along the way.

For surf lessons, check out: Fish Surf School, Surfitbox, or Onda Pura, they all get great reviews and are terrific for both kids and adults. Single classes are around 30€, and these shops also offer other water sports, from paddleboarding to windsurfing.

It looks like a floating fishing net or an underwater creature shifting and moving with the wind. The piece pays tribute to both the fishing heritage of Matosinhos and the strength of local women. To really appreciate the story behind the sculpture, check out the artist’s short Ted talk.

The fort was built in 1661, when Portugal was under threat from the Galician army. Over the centuries, it was part of the coastal defense system before being abandoned.

Today, there’s a small room of regimental regalia at the base level, then you climb up a ramp to the ramparts for views of the Atlantic. The conical watchtowers are a lot like what we’ve seen in San Juan, Puerto Rico. You’ll also find a few canons, but the main focus is the views of the rocky shoreline.

On the way down, stop in the small side room along the ramp to check out local artwork and jewelry.

Details: Praça Gonçalves Zarco, Matosinhos; open Tuesday–Sunday 10:00 AM–5:00 PM; closed Mondays. Entry is .50€ for adults, kids are free.

You’ll find a bright white building, the double-height first floor filled with tables of fish and other seafood. Be careful, the floor is often wet. Be sure to come in the morning before the day’s catch is sold out.

Upstairs, you’ll find fruits, vegetables, flowers, eggs, and even a few stalls selling live animals like chickens and rabbits. There’s also a florist and an organic market.

The outer ring of the market is filled with restaurants, from cafés where you can grab a shawarma or an organic coffee, to sit-down seafood spots that will happily grill your purchase.

Fridays and Saturdays are the busiest, with a lively hum from morning until early afternoon. Even if you’re not buying, it’s worth a wander just to soak up the atmosphere.

Details: Rua de França Júnior, Matosinhos; open Monday 7:00 AM-2:00 PM, Tuesday-Friday 6:30 AM-6:00 PM, Saturday 6:30 AM-4:00 PM; closed Sundays

On the tour, you’ll learn the history of the company, do some fun hands-on activities, and then put on protective gear to walk the factory floor and watch as workers hand-prepare the sardines.

You’ll learn about the process the fish go through, which hasn’t changed much in over a century, and then get to practice wrapping a can yourself.

The tour ends with a tasting in their small cafe. We love taking our guests on this tour, and even the most skeptical are wowed by the end. Whether you like eating sardines or not, this is an experience we highly recommend.

Details: Conservas Pinhais Factory, Avenida Menéres 700, open Monday–Saturday, they run English language tours many times per day.

Try to visit during the week to see workers in action. Standard tickets 22€ per adult, kids 5-12 are 14€, kids 4 and under are free. A family pack is 50€ (2 adults, 2 kids).

This is where we bring visiting friends and family for a simple meal with a plate of freshly grilled fish, a side of potatoes, and a glass of local wine. The portions are generous, and the prices are really good.

Every restaurant has its loyal fans, but honestly, you can’t go wrong on this street. Our favorites are Restaurante Lage Senhor do Padrão and Casa Serrão across the street. These restaurants do not take reservations, but are deceptively large, so either line up just before opening (12 noon for lunch, 7 pm for dinner), or plan to wait for a table.

Details: Rua Heróis de França, Matosinhos; restaurants generally open daily for lunch and dinner, closed mid-afternoon.

Even if you’re not a die-hard architecture fan, it’s worth a stop. The exhibitions are accessible and often interactive, and the building itself is a great example of how historic industrial spaces can be given new life. We’ve brought guests who weren’t sure it was their thing, and they ended up lingering far longer than expected.

The center also runs workshops and programs for kids, making it surprisingly family-friendly. There is also a small cafe on site with a lovely upper seating area. Stop for a coffee and a pastry, or check out their daily lunch specials.

They also offer a series of architectural tours, including a Porto Walking tour and tours focusing on the projects of Álvaro Siza.

Details: Avenida Menéres 456, Matosinhos; open Tuesday–Sunday 10:00 AM–6:00 PM, closed Monday. Admission €10 (main exhibitions), €5 (gallery only). Children under 12 are free. Free on Sunday mornings.

Guided tours take you inside to learn about the construction, see the sweeping passenger hall, and climb up to the rooftop for panoramic views of the port and coastline.

You’ll hear about the science labs located inside, as well as quirky design elements you might miss on your own. From the expansive roofdeck event space, you’ll see just how big Matosinhos’s port is- it’s the busiest in Northern Portugal.

On your way out, stop at the Titan steam-powered crane located along the road to the exit. You can climb the stairs to explore the engine room, coal house, and more.

Details: Av. General Norton de Matos, Matosinhos; open for guided tours on Sundays every hour, 10:15 to 5:15; Tickets €5, children under 12 free. You will walk through the guarded gate at the entrance (just say “visitas guiadas”) and down the long road to the terminal.

Throughout the year, there are a lot of activities on the promenade, from sports tournaments to art exhibits to surf festivals. Even when there’s nothing official scheduled, you’ll always find all sorts of people out enjoying the day, from older couples out for a stroll, to couples walking their dog, to kids learning to bike.

There are several places you can grab a gelato to enjoy on the boardwalk. Our favorite is Cremosi, which is Portuguese-owned. They have a great selection of flavors that change often. Other crowd favorites are Modi and Niva, both are close to the beach and offer excellent Italian-style gelato.

Details: Promenade runs from the information center at Av Gen. Norton de Matos 35, all the way to the Anémone roundabout. Cremosi is at R. Carlos de Carvalho 94, open 1:30 pm until late.

There are lots of informative screens in English, so it’s easy to figure out what you are looking at. The feeding demonstrations throughout the day are one of the best parts, so time your visit to include them. The staff made sure all the kids were included in the ray feeding. When you buy your ticket, you’ll get the schedule for the day.

There is also a large penguin enclosure and a small playground outside for kids to run off steam. At the end, you’ll find a gift shop and a small cafe with a terrace looking out over the roundabout and ocean beyond.

Details: Sea Life Porto, Rotunda da Anémona 1, Porto (just south of Matosinhos); open daily 10 am – 6 pm, last entry at 5:15. Weekends 10 am – 7 pm. Tickets for adults are 18.50€, and for children are 13.50€.

The park connects directly to the coast, so you can mix a little nature with a seaside ride. It is a mix of manicured areas and wild spaces, including a eucalyptus forest. On sunny weekends, when the park isn’t hosting a large festival, you’ll find plenty of families and groups enjoying the quiet.

There are a couple of cycle shops to choose from for a good selection of rental bikes (though kids’ sizes are harder to find): By Cycling, Bike Nomad, and Tecnobispo are good options.

You can also ask at Penas Surf School, as they often have a few bikes on the sidewalk to rent. For an electric bike rental, try Voltstore.

If you prefer an organized tour, you can choose this three-hour bike tour, which starts in downtown Porto and follows the Douro down to Foz, where you’ll pass lighthouses and beautiful parks.

Details: By Cycling, Rua Sousa Aroso 679; open Monday–Saturday 10 am –7 pm, closed Sunday.

Bike Nomad, R Irene Vilar 53, Sat and Sunday 9 am -1:30, and 2:30 – 5 pm; weekdays open at 9:30.

Tecnobispo, R Ló Ferreira 27, open daily 10:30 am – 12:30, and 2 – 6 pm, closed Sundays.

Voltstore, Av. da República 173, closed weekends, weekdays 10 am – 1 pm, and 2 – 7 pm.

It’s a mix of physical challenge and problem-solving, making it a great way to build confidence, flexibility, and strength. Our kids were first introduced to it during a worldschool hub in Vietnam, and have loved it ever since.

Proa Climbing Center in Matosinhos is a great option for a rainy day or if you need a break from the sun. On the main floor, climbing walls are set up for climbers ages six and up, with routes ranging from beginner-friendly to challenges for experienced climbers. Routes change weekly, so there’s always a new challenge available.

There is a separate, smaller space set up for kids aged 3 – 12. Upstairs, there’s a small café where you can grab a coffee or snack while taking a break.

Classes, monthly passes, and shoe rentals are available on site.

Details: Proa Climbing Center, Av. Menéres 858; open daily 10 am – 8 pm, Tuesday 4 pm -10 pm; day pass for adults 9€, kids 7€; Shoe rental 4€.

At the center of it all is the Church of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos, home to a 16th-century statue of Christ on the Cross. According to legend, the image washed ashore here centuries ago, missing an arm. When the arm was found many years later, it brought with it a series of miracles. You can read more about the legend here.

Pilgrims and locals come to pay their respects inside the church, which is decorated in loads of fresh flowers, while just outside, the atmosphere is more like a fairground — rides for kids and teens, markets selling everything from traditional ceramic dishes to belts and wallets, and food stalls selling grilled sardines, cheese, sausages, and of course farturas (the Portuguese version of churros).

Go early in the evening to browse the stalls. As the sun sets, the festival gets busier, but it’s also when Matosinhos feels most alive, with the whole community gathering to celebrate together.

Details: Church of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos, Praça do Senhor do Padrão 105

Pick up a brochure at the visitors center or any participating restaurant, choose a place to start, and then hop between spots, collecting stickers at each stop to fill your card and collect a prize.

Sponsored by the city, locals look forward to this event every October. You’ll find everything from fresh octopus to clams to Indian and vegetarian options. A map is included in the brochure as the restaurants are in Matosinhos Sul and across the river in Leca da Palmeira.

If you can, go at lunchtime when restaurants are less busy, and pace yourself! It’s a great opportunity to taste a signature dish and try a few new places. The brochure calls these “petiscos”, which is more like an appetizer, but you’ll find they vary a lot, from a few bites to practically a meal.

Several public buses go from downtown to Matosinhos. The 501 and 502 go through Boa Vista, and the 500 goes along the waterfront through the beach neighborhood of Foz.

We love taking guests on the 500 because it’s a double-decker- head upstairs to the front of the bus for great views. Buses take the same Anda card as the metro, or use a credit card as you board.

You can also take Uber or Bolt, driving from central Porto usually takes 15 to 20 minutes, and costs less than 10€.

Time your Market Visit

Mercado de Matosinhos is liveliest in the mornings. Go early if you want to see the best of the fresh seafood before it sells out.

Plan Ahead for the Beach

In summer, bring an umbrella or other sunshade. The sun is strong, and there is little natural shade. It can also be quite windy at the beach.

You can head to a beachfront restaurant to order drinks and use their lounge chairs, but otherwise you will need to provide your own beach supplies; there are no chairs or umbrellas to rent on site.

Arrive Early for Seafood

Seafood restaurants on R. Heróis de França do not take reservations. Line up 15 minutes before they open, or expect to wait for a table at many places.

Opening times are generally 12 noon for lunch and 7 pm for dinner.

Expect Evening Crowds

If you visit during the Feast of Senhor de Matosinhos in May or June, expect big crowds, traffic restrictions, and a festive atmosphere that runs late into the night. The later you go, the heavier the crowds.

FAQ

There You Have It

Matosinhos is our local neighborhood, and we love sharing it with guests. There is so much to do here, you could spend a few days. Come relax on the wide sandy beach, take a surf lesson, wander the market, or tour Pinhais to see sardines packed by hand.

If you are here for the Feast of Senhor de Matosinhos, you will see the city at its most festive. There’s always a new festival popping up, most commonly in the summer months. Keep an eye on the city website for a current calendar of activities.

Planning the rest of your time in Porto? Check out our 1 day in Porto itinerary and our 3-day Porto itinerary for ideas of how to spend your time. for your first visit we recommend staying in the downtown area.

Make sure to check out our travel tips for Portugal and our quick guide to Portuguese phrases. We also have a full guide to using the metro and other transportation around Porto.

Don’t miss the tops things to do in Porto! Once you’ve done the highlights, check out more options on our rainy day activity list!