Beaches near Porto 

From the marvelous seafood to the love of surfing, Portugal's relationship with the Atlantic Ocean is integral to the travel experience. The country’s shores along the Atlantic are home to every major metro area along with hundreds of tiny coastal towns and former fishing villages where you'll find some of Europe's best beaches. 

With nearby beaches both near and far, Porto is the perfect place for exploring the historic city center while also being able to head out to the beach to swim or surf. And if you need to leave your bags in Porto before heading to the beach, it's easy to stop by a Bounce luggage storage location on your way. Store everything in central Porto while you head out to explore places like Leça da Palmeira Beach in Matosinhos, Praia da Aguda in Arcozelo, Praia da Luz in Porto's western Lagos municipality, or any of the beaches on our list. You'll be glad you only brought the essentials!

Our picks for the 6 best beaches in Porto

The country gets over 300 days of sunshine a year, and its position at the western-facing coastline of the Iberian peninsula makes for the perfect vantage point for watching the sunset. The Costa Verde coastline has hundreds of beautiful beaches, some of these are situated near cities like Porto, while others are more remote destinations. 

The swimming conditions can be a challenge during the winter as the Atlantic’s waters can be icy at times. But during the summer months along with much of spring and autumn, the warm weather will offset the cooler temperatures of the water. The beaches range from perfectly sandy stretches to pebbly and stony, so you'll want to do some research before you pick one. Here’s a quick guide to the best beaches near Porto: 

Beaches in Vila Nova de Gaia

Many of the most popular beaches near Porto’s city center are situated just south of the river in Vila Nova de Gaia. This district is famous for its port production, and visitors of age will want to try this delicious wine varietal that’s integral to the country’s culture. There are plenty of beach bars and seafood restaurants lining the waterfront, and there are cultural areas closer to Porrto worth exploring.

The beach is incredibly easy to reach via public transportation, and you should be able to get to the water within an hour. Bounce has luggage storage facilities throughout the district, so you’ll be able to explore Vila Nova de Gaia for shopping or hitting the beach without worrying about your bags. 

• Praia da Sereia (Mermaid Beach): This beach destination is one of the closest to the Porto city center and offers incredible vantage points of the city and nearby harbor. Sand dunes and small beach huts line the beach, and the laid-back atmosphere and manageable crowds make it an easy place to swim or even take surfing lessons. It takes only 20 minutes to get here from the city, so it's worth the quick trip to catch the sunset. 
• Praia Cabedelo do Douro: This beach offers the perfect mix of sandy shoreline across its crescent-shaped stretch along with the rugged terrain of the nearby Douro Estuary Nature Reserve. So you can take a quick hike before cooling off in the water. Its proximity to the city will be surprising, given the smaller crowds and remote feel. There aren’t facilities onsite, so this is a better destination for outdoorsy types than those who like to go to a beach bar between swims.  
• Praia do Senhor da Pedra: Most travelers end up in this part of Vila Nova de Gaia to visit the beautiful Senhor da Pedra chapel, but there’s a lovely stretch of sand nearby for swimming. Of all the beaches near Porto, Senhor da Pedra Beach is the closest to a can't-miss attraction for history buffs and religious travelers.
• Praia de Miramar: Located south of the Senhor da Pedra chapel, the main stretch of Sandy beachfront in Vila Nova de Gaia offers ideal swimming in sunbathing conditions. It's free to visit and you'll be able to make the short trek to other parts of the waterfront to visit the chapel or catch views of the city. There are plenty of rocky portions of the beach, but these are marked for safety reasons. From the city center, you'll be able to get to Miramar Beach in about 30 minutes via the Aveiro commuter train. 

Praia de Matosinhos

Situated just north of central Porto, the Matosinhos district is home to one of the most popular beaches in the area. Praia de Matosinhos is a wide stretch of golden sand that’s absolutely perfect for sunbathing and swimming. Local surfers take advantage of the short commute from the city to catch early morning waves, and the conditions are perfect for beginners.

The best feature of the beach is its proximity to Matosinhos Market, which operates every day and features hundreds of vendors and local producers selling their wares. You'll also have a number of boutiques and restaurants along the promenade worth checking out. Bounce is the most useful tool for surfers because our facilities can accommodate almost any size item, including surfboards and umbrellas for spending time on the beach.

Praia dos Ingleses

Situated at the mouth of the Douro River, Praia dos Ingleses offers stellar views of the city center. It's not a major surfing spot, but it is perfectly serviceable for swimming and relaxing on the beach.  It’s situated in Foz in the Leça da Palmeira District and features wonderful cafés, and beachside bars for enjoying seafood and cocktails. It's not a bad place to bring the kids as the soft sand is perfect for families, but there is a nightlife aspect to Praia dos Ingleses that makes it an ideal destination for students and backpackers. 

Praia da Memória

Located further north near the cruise terminal, Praia da Memória is often the first impression of Porto for cruise passengers. The swimming and surfing conditions are near perfect, and its more remote location brings smaller crowds than you'll find at Matosinhos or Vila Nova de Gaia. You will find several travelers visiting The Obelisk situated right off the beach that's dedicated to the Liberation Army that waged Portugal’s Liberal Wars in the 19th century. Visiting the Obelisk? Leave your beach gear with Bounce so you can fully enjoy your time exploring one of Portugal’s historic treasures. You'll also find a bunch of beach huts serving up ice cream and Portuguese street food, and the beach facilities make it a comfortable place to spend a full day. If you’re heading to your cruise ship and want to hit the beach, finding secure luggage storage can be helpful.

Porto’s beaches offer the perfect outlet for outdoorsy travelers who want to learn to surf or simply catch a suntan. The number of world-class beaches so close to a major city is truly impressive and it's certainly one of the main draws for visiting this part of Portugal. You'll be able to hit the beach even on a travel day, so don't let your luggage slow you down. Download the Bounce mobile app to arrange convenient luggage storage near the water so you can keep your valuables dry while you try your hand at surfing!