Porto is the center of a big urban area. It has beautiful beaches, casinos, golf courses, and also medieval castles, rivers, mountains, and much more at the reach of a small trip.
TO THE COAST
Beaches
Being a coast city Porto has many beaches, specially on Gaia side.
Gaia has a 15 kms line of wonderful beaches. White sand, blue sea, small villages, fishing ports, mild coves. They are perfect for surfing and kite surfing. And also to sunbathe, swim and rest away from the crowd. They are not crowdy in the summer. Imagine on the rest of the year.
Some of the beaches are famous resorts since the XIX century, with Granja being, in those years, the most famous. It was a resort for the wealthy people of Porto. Other are more popular like Lavadores or Saint Felix. And there is even one that has a church sailing into the sea (Senhor da Pedra, in Gulpilhares).
Whatever beach you decide to choose, all of them are very suitable for the health with clean sands and waters rich in iodine. Enjoy!
Castles, Cathedrals and monasteries
Historical Cities
Around Porto, you have historical cities, castles monasteries, cathedrals, palaces, and many other points of interest. 50 kms north from the Flats, there are two very old cities with a great historical heritage: Braga and Guimarães.
Braga, called the city of the Archbishops, was the capital of the Roman province of Gallaecia. In medieval ages, the city became an important peregrination site, laying the roots of Portuguese Catholicism. Braga has a vast cultural heritage, the highlight of which is the Bom Jesus do Monte Sanctuary, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Guimarães is historically associated with the foundation of Portuguese nationality and identity. It is known as “The Cradle of the Portuguese Nation”. Its historic center is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage.
Furthermore, you have castles (Vila da Feira, in the picture), monasteries (Grijó), beautiful churches (parish church of Válega), to name a few, in Porto surroundings.
Golf, soccer, Volleyball and roulette
Sports and Luck
Some kilometers far from the Flats there are several golf courses, like Miramar Golf Club in Gaia, or Oporto Golf Club in Espinho, the oldest in Portugal (founded in 1890). The last has a reservation page in its site.
Soccer lovers can go to the world class FC Porto Dragon Stadium, 10 kms far from the Flats, to see a game.
Also, if you like beach volleyball, you can practice it on every beach. Just join the locals. There will always be a place for you.
And if you feel lucky, you can try Solverde Casino in Espinho or Póvoa Casino in Póvoa de Varzim. Both 20 kms far from Porto: one south and the other north from the city.