7 things to do in Porto during the summer

As the Beatles' song goes: “Here comes the sun, doo-doo-doo-doo, here comes the sun, and I say: It’s alright” 

In this post we recommend you how to enjoy Porto during the summer time with several great plans to acclimatise to the heat. 

1) What better than a refreshing dip in a beach on the coast of Porto. Take the bus number 500, enjoy the views along the way as you pass the mouth of the river and get off at Matosinhos beach. Sunbathe and cool off in the Atlantic waters. 

2) If the Atlantic water is too cold for you, then we recommend the river beaches of the Douro. Rent some bikes and cross the Douro River towards the area of Vila Nova de Gaia by the Luis I Bridge, take the Alameda Areinho detour and arrive at the river beach of the same name. 

3) If you want a short break from visiting monuments, we recommend you to have a small picnic in one of the many gardens and parks that this wonderful city has to offer. We have prepared a specific blog for you so you can choose which one you like best, read “7 Gardens to visit in Porto” for more information. 

4) Another of the best things to do in summer is to do the famous 6 Bridges Cruise along the Douro River. It is an activity that will take you no more than an hour, you will be able to see amazing views of both banks of the river while enjoying the breeze. On top of that, the sun reflects off the water making the Ribeira area spectacularly illuminated. We recommend the following company, you can book by clicking here, as you don't need to choose a timetable and they have plenty of boats (from 10am to 7pm, a boat leaves every half hour). 

6 bridges cruise around Douro river.

5) Visit the Serralves Foundation and enjoy its contemporary collections and wonderful gardens. 

6) Go to some of the famous summer festivals and parties around Porto: MEO Marés Vivas, which features internationally renowned artists in July, or NOS Primavera Sound held in June, concerts at WOW, neighbourhood festivities such as Santa Marinha in Gaia, or the typical São João festivity. We give you some tips on how to enjoy São João in Porto by clicking here.

7) Drink the most refreshing drink par excellence of the Portuguese summer: the Porto-Tonic in one of the many rooftops that we recommend you in our post ‘7 Rooftops in Porto’. Or if you are more interested in tasting Port wine and visiting one of the air-conditioned wineries, then we recommend the Poças winery. 

And of course the last tip we give you is to learn a bit about the history and culture of the city walking walking around and checking the best spots joining one of the 3 Free Tours we provide.

We hope these recommendations will help you enjoy a great summer in the wonderful city of Porto.