Planning a trip to Porto? Discover reasons to visit Matosinhos. Find out why I think Matosinhos is worth visiting. Plan a Porto day trip to Matosinhos
I recently had the opportunity to visit Porto on a business trip. The meeting venue was outside the city near the airport. One of my Portuguese colleagues suggested staying in Matosinhos rather than at the airport.
Did you know that about 172,000 people call Matosinhos home? This small city (a suburb of Porto, really) sits right on the beach. I couldn't have envisioned a better place to visit for work especially after just returning to Portugal from a trip to Copenhagen in winter).
Is Matosinhos worth visiting? Read on for reasons to consider stopping by whether you are visiting on a business trip or planning a day trip from Porto while on vacation.
Reasons to Visit Matosinhos
I spent about 48 hours in Matosinhos for work and was pleasantly surprised by a number of cool things to do. Below you'll find nine hand-curated reasons to visit Matosinhos based on my personal experience.
1. Walks on the Beach
Matosinhos is nestled right up against the Atlantic Coast of Portugal. I especially enjoyed walking along the water. I found the winter wind and waves when I visited in January to be invigorating.
2. Sit and Sip at a Beachside Cafe
What better way to conclude a walk on the beach than with a visit to a beachside cafe. I stopped for a tosta and a glass of wine at Lais de Guia.
Steep in the winter sunshine and watch surfers catch a wave. I found that the sound of the waves and wind gave my Matosinhos cafe experience an especially calming vibe.
3. Matosinhos has a Fortress - Castelo do Queijo
Matosinhos has an atmospheric fort called Castelo do Queijo. At first, I thought, "why is there a cheese castle here?!"
Then, I learned that Castelo do Queijo is so named because it was built on a cheese-shaped rock in the 17th century.
For just 0.50 EUR you can go into the fort and have a look around. There is a small museum exhibit (in Portuguese). I found that the best part was the views you'll find from the top of the fort.
4. Passadiço das Ondas
I spotted Passadiço das Ondas (Walkway of the Waves) on Google Maps just south of Matosinhos town. A precarious wooden boardwalk (with no handrail, so be careful) juts out into the sea. If you dare, walk to the end of Passadiço das Ondas and feel the power of the sea.
If you aren't feeling brave enough (or if the waves are too large to make a walk to the end of the boardwalk a sensible undertaking), have a seat next to the rocks where you can watch the waves crashing in and birds flitting about. It's a lovely spot with a unique raw energy.
5. You Can Walk from Matosinhos to Foz
Visiting Foz where the Douro meets the sea is a popular thing to do on a trip to Porto. If you are feeling ambitious, you can walk from Matosinhos to the iconic Farolim de Felgueiras in Foz in a little over an hour.
I was feeling extra ambitious and walked the round trip between Matosinhos and Foz. It was such a lovely day in January that I couldn't resist! The path between Matosinhos and Foz runs along the coast and is a beautiful stretch.
6. Seaside Sunsets
I found that another great reason to visit Matosinhos is the seaside sunsets. I returned to Passadiço das Ondas to watch the sun go down over the Atlantic. Another tranquil activity to add to your visit.
7. Craft Beer Breaks
I was pleased to discover that Matosinhos actually has a craft beer scene. I popped into HopTrip Craft Beer Shop near my hotel for a sneaky pint in the early evening. I loved that they had custom taps made to resemble the staff and owners.
8. Nosh Amazing Seafood
One of the most popular reasons to visit Matosinhos is the amazing seafood. I found a lovely array of local seafood restaurants in the area bounded by R. Heróis de França, Rua de Brito Capelo, Rua Godinho, and Rua 1º de Dezembro.
I sampled traditional Portuguese Bacalhau at A Chalandra and grilled sardines at Petisqueira Godinho.
Petisqueira Godinho is run by a local man and I think he was working both the kitchen and front of house when I visited. He was the only person we saw working the entire time we were there.
I was skeptical that he could do it all, but found that both the service and food was excellent. Petisqueira Godinho doesn't take credit cards so make sure to bring cash.
9. Matosinhos Doors
Of course, I am an avid door photographer. My regular readers know that I tend to judge whether a place like Matosinhos is worth visiting based on the quality of its doors.
I am pleased to report that Matosinhos and the residential streets between Matosinhos and Foz had some amazing doors. I especially loved the blocky transoms decorated with ornate metalwork. For those of you less familiar with door architecture, check out my explainer on the anatomy of a door.
Make sure to budget time for a photowalk if you visit Matosinhos.
Is Matosinhos Worth Visiting?
As you can see, there are many reasons to visit Matosinhos. That said, is Matosinhos worth visiting? I think that Matosinhos is indeed worth considering as an easy day trip from Porto, perhaps combined with Foz.
If you are a budget-minded traveler, consider staying in Matosinhos and commuting into Central Porto on your vacation.
For me, the classic Portuguese architecture, delicious and affordable cafes, and beachside setting make Matosinhos worth considering even if you are spending just 3 days in Porto.
Getting to Matosinhos
Matosinhos is about a 12-15 minute drive from Porto Airport. For less than 10 EUR, catch an Uber or Bolt from the airport to the coast. Porto's Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport is well served by both TAP Portugal and is also a popular Ryanair destination.
If you are visiting Matosinhos on a day trip from Porto, the A line of Porto's modern tram system terminates in Matosinhos. It takes about 45 minutes to get from Senhor de Matosinhos to Trindade station in Central Porto.
Where to Stay in Matosinhos
I stayed at Eurostars Matosinhos Hotel which is just a 5 minute walk from the beach. In January, I paid less than 75 EUR a night for a clean comfortable double room (not including breakfast).
I found the Eurostars Matosinhos to be a good value for money. The hotel even had mini pastel de nata available for guests near the elevators.
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