Foz and Matosinhos

Things to do in Foz and Matosinhos

Porto’s proximity to the Atlantic means it’s easy to punctuate your city break with a trip to the seaside and, with both Foz and Matosinhos just 15 minutes from the city centre, you’re spoilt for choice if beaches are your bag.

Foz is situated where the Douro meets the Atlantic and features beach bars, lighthouses, ocean views and botanical gardens. A gentle stroll to the north is Matosinhos, home to a superb sandy beach that’s great for surfing, historic beachside forts and scores of outstanding seafood restaurants.

From bustling bars and botanical gardens to historic buildings and high culture, both Foz and Matosinhos offer much more than sandy beaches. Here’s what we recommend if you’re in the area.

Restaurants and bars

Praia de Luz

If you need rest, relaxation and refuelling after a long walk on the beach, look no further than Praia de Luz. This seafront restaurant and bar is the perfect place to drink, dine and listen to the sound of the waves crashing against the shore. While it can get busy and you pay a premium for the view, there is no better place to kick back and watch the sunset over a glass of something chilled.

Seafood

Being next to the ocean means seafood is plentiful, fresh and sensational and Matosinhos houses some of the finest Marisqueiras in Porto.

First among these is Marisqueira Antiga, one of the most emblematic and traditional seafood restaurants in Porto. The fresh seafood display that adorns the entrance is a clue to what you can expect inside alongside friendly service and exceptional wines. It’s expensive, but worth it. We recommend the salt-crusted seabass and the arroz com marisco.

Serving simple, well-prepared seafood in a relaxed atmosphere to families for generations has been the recipe of success for Marisqueira Matosinhos, just a few metres down the road from Antiga. Another of the city’s iconic eateries, it is more understated than its neighbour and is best for those searching for simpler seafood dishes such as shrimp, oysters and crab.

Activities

If you have indulged in any of the myriad food outlets, you may feel the need to walk off some of the calories. While many will choose a promenade along the seafront, both Foz and Matosinhos have other options for visitors to enjoy the great outdoors.

One of the most beautiful places in the city is Jardim do Passeio Alegre, a 19^th Century garden at the mouth of the Douro that features fountains, sculptures, shady palm trees and even a bandstand that stages concerts in summer.

Just south of Matosinhos is Parque da Cidade, Portugal’s largest urban park. The busy city seems a world away as you wander around the tranquil, tree-lined pathways and by the ponds where ducks and swans dabble in the margins. This green haven of serenity offers you the chance to relax and unwind or take part in a wide variety of sporting activities if you’re feeling more energetic.

For those seeking culture, Serralves offers a veritable feast for the senses. The park houses pergolas, fountains and a tree-lined alley while the genuine Art Deco villa – La Casa de Serralves – has a skylight designed by French glassmaker René Lalique. If that is not enough, there is also a museum of contemporary art that has exhibited works by artists including Joan Miró, Claes Odenburg and Franz West.