Best Beaches Near Porto Portugal to Relax in the Sun

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There are numerous beaches near Porto you can reach by public transportation within an hour. What the best beach near Porto is, depends on what your priorities for a day at the beach are. Here’s my list of the top beaches for different moods.

One more thing before I start: Porto is next to the Atlantic, which means the water is freezing. It never gets warmer than 17°C and there might be some bigger waves, which is great for surfing but not so much for swimming.

Table of Contents

Best Beaches Near Porto Portugal

1. Praia do Carneiro: Most Popular Beach in Porto

Probably the most visited beach in Porto by tourists is Praia do Carneiro. It’s very easily accessible by public transport from Porto. It’s the first of many beaches, you can simply go there and keep walking until you find your favorite beach.

Inside the historic tram in Porto — Inside the historic tram

You can either go there by bus or by the historic tram. The historic tram is quite an experience on its own and is often listed as a recommended thing to do in Porto.

You need to get a special ticket from the tram driver, your usual public transportation card is not valid on this tram. I would recommend taking the tram to the beach, walking north next to the beach until you find a spot you like, and then catching the bus back.

A lot of people on a beach in Porto — Praia do Carneiro: The popular Porto beach gets crowded

The beaches here can get very crowded. If you walk north for a while you’ll come by the Pérgola da Foz, a structure on the beachfront walkway. Don’t worry about walking back, you can just get the bus from there to get back to the city.

2. Praia Cabedelo do Douro: Most Quiet Beach Near Porto

A long stretch of beach with a city in the far back and some grass in the front — Praia Cabedelo do Douro, the most quiet of the Porto beaches

Praia Cabedelo do Douro is in Vila Nova de Gaia. You can get there easily by bus, it just takes quite a long time. From the bus stop, it’s still about a ten-minute walk north.

The beach is massive and there are almost no people there. At least it feels like there are almost no people because the beach is so big. You can relax, and enjoy the ocean view and the quiet.

Now to the negative parts of this beach: there are no public toilets, no shops, restaurants or what so ever. The lack of toilets results in everyone peeing into the field nearby, yeah, I don’t think I need to say more about that.

Another thing you might want to consider is that the weather can be quite different here compared to the city. When I set off once in Porto center it was blue sky and sunshine and at Praia Cabedelo do Douro it was so foggy I couldn’t even see the ocean.

3. Praia de Matosinhos: Best Beach Near Porto for Surfing

Ocean and the Matosinhos beach and skyline of Matosinho

Matosinhos is a port and fishing town just north of Porto. Because it is a fishing town I was a bit sceptical at first regarding their vegan food options, no reason for that though. There is a selection of vegan and vegetarian restaurants within walking distance from the beach.

I only tried out the vegan restaurant Ginger, you can read about it in my guide to vegan restaurants in Porto. The beach itself is very busy since it’s so close to the town.

There are a lot of surfing schools at the beach, so if you want to try that while you’re in Portugal Praia de Matosinhos is the best beach near Porto for you.

4. Praia de Miramar: Most Instagrammable Beach Near Porto

best beach near porto — Quiet beach at Miramar, one of the best Porto Portugal beaches

Praia de Miramar is the only beach where you have to take the train to get there. But if you haven’t taken the train from São Bento train station yet, I would recommend doing that anyway.

From the train station, it’s a short walk to the beach. You’ll be able to see the Capela do Senhor da Pedra in the distance immediately when you get to the beach. Head there to look around and take some pictures.

This charming little chapel on the beach makes Praia de Miramar one of the best places to visit in Northern Portugal.

A little chapel on a beach near Porto — Capela do Senhor da Pedra

To relax I would recommend heading south from the chapel, there are not so many people. There are a few little cafés where you can get something to drink or ice cream and you can use the toilets.

Final Thoughts: Best Beaches in Porto

Whether you’re up for a lively day amidst the crowd at Praia do Carneiro, seeking the tranquil expanses of Praia Cabedelo do Douro, ready to catch some waves at Praia de Matosinhos, or eager to snap that perfect Instagram shot at Praia de Miramar, Porto has a beach for you.

Just remember, the Atlantic’s embrace is chilly, so brace yourself for a refreshing dip!

Looking for more adventures beyond the beach? The area around Porto offers enchanting day trips, from quaint towns to lush landscapes. Check out our guide on day trips from Porto for your next adventure.