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Matosinhos (pronounced “ma-toh-ZEEN-yos”) is a major port, fishing area, and beach town in northern Portugal a few kilometers away from Porto. It is known for its abundance of tasty fish and seafood restaurants as well as for its long stretch of beach. Matosinhos can get quite busy with locals and tourists during the summer months, making warmer off-season months like May, September, and October perfect.

How to Get to Matosinhos

Matosinhos can be accessed via metro, bus, and tram from Porto. If you take the metro, you’ll hop on Line A heading north (away from the city center) and alight at the “Matosinhos Sul” stop. From there, the seafront is a 5-10 minute walk. Alternatively, bus 500 towards Matosinhos (Mercado) can be boarded at São Bento Station. The tram is a third public transportation option. You can take Line 1 of the Porto Tram from the Ribeira to the mouth of the Douro River and then towards the Foz neighborhood. From the last stop in Foz, walk north to get to Matosinhos or take a cab from there. All public transportation options take approximately 30-60 minutes and cost between 2-4 EUR one way.

What to do in Matosinhos

Matosinhos is a beautiful town to visit if you enjoy the sun and sea; walking along the oceanfront, swimming and surfing, and relaxing on the sand are all excellent activities. There are several spots to definitely see while in Matosinhos, most of which are located near the seafront and within close proximity to one other. Some notable things to do include:

Mercado de Matosinhos: This market is more for observing and watching the vendors in action. On the lower floor you will find the fresh fish vendors while the top floor is host to fruit and vegetable vendors, herb vendors, and meat vendors. There are a couple of restaurants to eat at in the market, such as Mafalda’s. However, if you wish to purchase fish you will need to visit Mercado de Angeiras.

Seafood Restaurants: Fish and seafood are highlights of this beachside town, so eating a sit-down meal at one of the many restaurants is highly recommended. Most of the places that serve fish price what they serve by weight, so by grams or kilograms. With that in mind, it is wise to order food with one or more persons.

Praia de Matosinhos: Visit the gorgeous sandy beach, Praia de Matosinhos. Spend the entire day sunbathing and dipping into the beautiful blue water or simply stay for a quick moment then continue walking along the seafront.

Avenida Brasil: With the Atlantic Ocean as your backdrop, you can stop at spaces and places—historical sites, Molhe de Carreiros, and Pérgola da Foz for example—while walking down Avenida Brasil. This long main street connects Matosinhos and Foz do Douro along the coast and features an array of eateries, bars, and shops.

Matosinhos Day Trip Itinerary

Below is a sample itinerary for how you can spend a half-day or full day in Matosinhos if you’re staying in Porto.

Start your day around 10 am by catching the Metro in the northernly direction from the Historic Center or wherever you are staying within Porto. Alight at the “Mercado” stop and walk to Mercado de Matosinhos to snap some photos while you watch the vendors in action. From there, walk west to São Valentim for an early lunch. This is a well-known seafood restaurant that chargrills fresh-caught fish to order directly outside of the establishment. They are known not only for their fantastic food but also their excellent service. I recommend selecting a fish that you see others eating, as the locals are keenly aware of which is best and in season. The meal should come with bread, cheese, and a side of potatoes. If you’re sharing with multiple people, the server can suggest how much fish to order in addition to other sides you may prefer.

After a delicious meal, you can begin your journey down Avenida Brasil (the entire walk from Matosinhos to the Foz do Douro neighborhood is approximately 4 kilometers and takes around one hour to complete if you did not make any stops along the way). You’ll more than likely pass by Jardim Senhor do Padrão, a small local park and green space, on your way from São Valentim to the top of Avenida Brasil where several historical statues and monuments live. As you walk west, you’ll see the beautiful blue water of Praia de Matosinhos. This is the perfect time to find a spot on the beach to sunbathe, splash in the water, or people watch for as long as you’d like!

Forte de São Francisco Xavier (also referred to as Castelo do Queijo, which translates to “Cheese Castle”) is a fort that was built in the mid-17th century during the War of Restoration of Portuguese independence that can be explored as you continue south on Avenida Brasil. Alternatively, you can take time to visit SEA LIFE Porto, the local aquarium, which is visible from the road. Parque da Cidade do Porto is behind the aquarium or you can continue down the coast to relax in the grass at Jardins da Avenida de Montevideu, stopping at Passadiço das Ondas on your way out of the gardens to walk towards the water along the rocky shoreline. Bar Plaia do Aquário is only a few minutes away, where you can grab a drink and snack as you sit on bean bags or beach chairs while listening to the crashing waves.

Molhe de Carreiros and Pérgola da Foz are two final sites near Foz do Douro. Molhe de Carreiros juts into the ocean while Pérgola da Foz is a pretty yellow structure over a walkway. From here, you can either enjoy a glass of wine and slice of Melhor Bolo de Chocolate do Mundo (a notable brand of Portuguese chocolate cake) at Botella Food & Wine or trot inland a bit to relax at Brasão Foz Brewery before taking the tram (or taking an Uber or taxi) back into Porto.

May your meandering in Matosinhos bring you joy and include lots of sunshine!

Peace & happy travels,

Tay xx