Beaches near Porto
The Atlantic coast from Foz do Douro to Matosinhos
Porto lies on the Atlantic. In Foz do Douro, where the river meets the sea, several small beaches line the shore, and further north is the long city beach at Matosinhos. You can reach both from the centre by tram or metro.
On this page
The coast west of the city
Porto's old town lies on the Douro, and the sea begins a few kilometres downstream. There, in the district of Foz do Douro, the river flows into the Atlantic, and the coast runs north to the Castelo do Queijo and on to Matosinhos.
This stretch has two kinds of beach. In Foz, many small beaches lie close together; in Matosinhos, a long sandy beach runs right along the town. Both are city beaches: you get there by tram or metro and are quickly back in the centre in the evening.
Foz do Douro
Foz do Douro is still part of the city of Porto. It has several officially designated bathing beaches, among them Praia do Carneiro, Praia das Pastoras, Praia do Ourigo, Praia dos Ingleses, Praia da Luz, Praia do Molhe, Praia de Gondarém, Praia do Aquário and Praia do Homem do Leme. To the north, Praia do Castelo do Queijo rounds off the stretch.
Historic tram lines 1 and 18 end at Passeio Alegre in Foz, and from there you walk to the beaches.
Matosinhos
Matosinhos is a separate town bordering Porto to the north. Praia de Matosinhos is a city beach with a long stretch of sand, the counterpart to the small beaches of Foz.
Further north, the municipality of Matosinhos has many more bathing beaches, such as Leça da Palmeira, Memória, Cabo do Mundo and Angeiras.
Swimming in the Atlantic
Currents on Portugal's Atlantic coast can be dangerous, and swimming accidents happen time and again. Always watch the flags on the beach and follow the lifeguards' instructions.
Many beaches in Porto and Matosinhos are designated bathing beaches with lifeguards on duty during the bathing season. It is best to swim only there and only during that period.
Bathing season and water quality
Portugal sets the official bathing season anew each year. On the beaches of Porto and Matosinhos it ran from 13 June to 13 September in 2026, roughly from mid-June to mid-September.
During the season the water is tested regularly, in Matosinhos every week. After heavy rain, water quality can suffer for a short time when streams and rainwater carry pollutants into the sea. In that case, a notice on the beach advises against swimming. So after rainy days, check the notices on the beach.
Getting there
Metro line A runs to Matosinhos. From Trindade in the centre you reach Matosinhos Sul station, by the city beach, in around half an hour. Coming from the airport, change from line E to line A at Senhora da Hora.
The historic tram runs to Foz do Douro. Line 1 starts at Infante near the Ribeira and follows the river to Passeio Alegre, while line 18 comes from Carmo. For more on all the lines, see Getting there and around.
The Weather page shows which months suit a beach day. For more places nearby, see Day trips.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from Porto to the beach? +
Metro line A runs to Matosinhos, and Matosinhos Sul station is right by the city beach. For Foz do Douro, take historic tram lines 1 and 18 to Passeio Alegre.
Can you swim in the Atlantic near Porto? +
Yes. During the bathing season, many beaches in Porto and Matosinhos are designated as lifeguarded bathing beaches. Currents on the Atlantic coast can be dangerous, so watch the flags and the lifeguards.
When is the bathing season? +
The official bathing season on the beaches of Porto and Matosinhos runs roughly from mid-June to mid-September. The exact dates are set each year; in 2026 they were 13 June to 13 September.
More in Porto
Getting there
You can reach Porto by air, on the Alfa Pendular from Lisbon in just under three hours, or by car. In the city, the metro, trams and buses take you around the districts.
Weather
The Porto forecast, temperature and rain for every month, the wet autumn and winter, the dry summer, severe weather warnings and what to know about swimming in the Atlantic.
Where to stay
Which district in Porto suits you: the Ribeira and old town on the Douro, Baixa and Bolhão in the centre, Boavista, Vila Nova de Gaia opposite the old town and Foz do Douro on the Atlantic, plus the tourist tax.