travel from madeira to porto santo

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Porto Santo... is right around the corner!

Our holidays start here!

Hotel Combo

(a) Price per adult, in tourist class. Value payable for Passengers registered on SIMplifica portal and with residence certificate, or, final value after SSM refund, exclusive for residents in Madeira. Rate valid from 1 to 31 May 2024.

(b) Price per adult, in double room (minimum 2 persons), for 1 night, breakfast included, at the Hotel Praia Dourada. Rate valid from 1 to 21 Jjune 2024. To these values must be added the fuel surcharge in force. (c) Price per adult, in double room (minimum 2 persons), for 1 night, breakfast included, at the Hotel Praia Dourada. Rate valid from 22 to 30 June 2024. To these values must be added the fuel surcharge in force.

Social Mobility Allowance Buy your tickets with an immediate discount of the Social Mobility Allowance (after registering at the SIMplifica portal), quickly, easily and at any time!

Porto Santo island

Traga os chinelos, nós temos o resto

Morreram navios, nasceram recifes

A fenda da D. Beja

Anoiteça no Miradouro da Portela

One day cruise

Discover Porto Santo

Cargo transport

"Excellent trip"

"Travel safely and peace of mind"

"Wonderful boat"

Extra trips: 2/6/2024 (Sun.) > FNC – PXO: 08:00 / 16:30 | PXO – FNC: 13:00 / 20:00 7/6/2024 (Fri.) > FNC – PXO: 08:00 / 19:00 | PXO – FNC: 12:00 / 22:30 10/6/2024 (Mon.) > FNC – PXO: 08:00 / 16:30 | PXO – FNC: 13:00 / 20:00 Festas de São João: 21/6/2024 (Fri.) > FNC – PXO: 08:00 / 19:00 | PXO – FNC: 12:00 / 22:30 24/6/2024 (Mon.) > FNC – PXO: 08:00 / 16:30 | PXO – FNC: 13:00 / 20:00 For more information, contact (+351) 291 210 300 or [email protected], Monday to Sunday from 9h to 19h.às 19h.

Say Yes to Madeira

Madeira to porto santo by ferry.

UPDATED: JULY 2023  ◊   ZMIEŃ JĘZYK NA: POLSKI

Thinking about visiting the beautiful  Porto Santo Island  by ferry? 

Whether you are planning to stay on Porto Santo for a couple of days, or you are just looking for a day at the beach, this post is for you.

• Ferry boarding locations

How to book?

Can you spot dolphins on the porto santo line, porto santo ferry – wheelchair/stroller accessibility and reduced mobility passengers, travelling to porto santo by ferry – our experience and tips.

• Flights from Porto Santo to Madeira

Flights to Porto Santo from other destinations

What to do on porto santo, porto santo line with the lobo marinho ferry.

On most days, the ferry leaves Funchal at 08:00 in the morning and it departs Porto Santo back to Funchal at 19:00. There are, however, exceptions. In the summer months, there are two ferries around the weekends and the departure hours are different. Please consult the official timetables .

Funchal – Madeira

If you are staying in Funchal, we recommend taking a taxi instead of a car, because there is no parking directly at the ferry terminal.

One of the best & closest options to park is the paid Parking Plaza CR7 (Around 5 minutes walk from the ferry).

Porto Santo

If you are reading this, you are probably a tourist, and a discounted rate for local residents does not apply to you. Always choose prices marked with “SEM desconto” which means “without discount”. 

A tourist class, adult, round trip ticket costs EUR 64,36 in the high season (April to September) and EUR 52,62 in the remaining months. Child ticket (5-11 years) costs EUR 32,18 and EUR 26,30 respectively. Children younger than 4 travel free of charge. 

SEE 2023 FARES

If you are thinking about taking your car/motorcycle/quad, there are different packages and the price differs depending on the month & number of passengers.  

SEE PASSENGER + CAR FARES   (2023)

SEE PASSENGER + MOTORCYCLE FARES   (2023)

If you have no right to a discount, remember to look at page 2 prices “WITHOUT immediate discount of the Social Mobility Allowance”.

The ferry company also sells ticket+hotel packages to two hotels: PRAIA DOURADA &  TORRE PRAIA  as well as ferry+ transfer packages. 

SEE ALL PACKAGES (EN)

During our first (ever) trip with the ferry in 2019, we learned a valuable lesson – sometimes you are better off buying a first-class ticket. Keep reading if you would like to know why.

Yes, pets are allowed on the Porto Santo Line, but they must be transported in a specific area reserved for this purpose or, in case you travel by car, inside the vehicle. They can not be taken with you to the main passengers’ desks.

You can purchase tickets at one of the local agent offices in Funchal, or simply online, paying with your credit card. There is no need to print tickets – showing digital scans of your QR code during boarding is sufficient. 

Yes, we were looking out for them, I haven’t spotted any, but my friends who travelled two days after us, during better weather, were accompanied for a couple of minutes by a big group of dolphins. They say it felt almost like a paid dolphin watching tour they had done a day before. 

Check out the IG account of the Porto Santo Line – where they post interesting graphics of the species of animals spotted each week. If you browse through these graphics you will see that dolphins (spotted dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, common dolphins) can be spotted on a Porto Santo cruise almost every week. Occasionally, you can also spot whales (dwarf sperm whales, sperm whales, tropical pilot whales) or sea turtles.

Check also the map available – HERE  – presenting the exact locations of species spotted on particular parts of the cruise. 

Lobo Marinho – Ferry & facilities

The ferry is called Lobo Marinho (Sea Wolf) and has a capacity of over 1150 passengers. As it serves as a short route (approx. 2 hours 15 minutes) there are no private cabins to be rented.

On deck 1 you will find a video games room. On deck 2 children’s playroom and a cinema.

The main deck is deck 5 and you will find there the reception, restaurant, shops and main lounges. On the top deck (8) you have access to the solarium.

Deck 7 is the 1 st class area – the Estrela do Mar Lounge and bar as well as the 1 st class panoramic terrace.

[HERE] you can find an easy-to-read plan of the entire ferry and photos of each room.

The boarding and especially off boarding process once we arrive in Porto Santo wasn’t the best. The gangway in Porto Santo was rather steep and I can not imagine walking it with reduced mobility.

If you have reduced mobility, if you are travelling with a stroller or an older person, please ask the crew as they will guide you to another exit with a lift.

The operator’s website states that the ferry is fully adapted to people with reduced mobility and that:

“Passengers with special needs (mobility, blind and oxygen-dependent) should contact the Carrier and the crew members before purchasing the ticket in order to be given all the support, with regard to access, escorts, guide dogs or assistance, with a minimum of 48 hours.”

SEE: [SOURCE] Article 12ª

After arrival in Porto Santo

If you haven’t organized a transfer, there should be sufficient taxis waiting by the exit of the ferry. 

As we are a couple of eager walkers and didn’t have any baggage we simply decided to walk to Vila Baleira along the beautiful beach. The distance is approx. 3 km, and we arrived at the main square within 45 minutes, including some “photo shoots” on the beach. 

We used the Porto Santo Line many times, and we had a good experience. The ferry is comfortable and has all that’s needed for a short journey like this one. The ferry always left on time.

Other ways to get to Porto Santo

Flights from porto santo  to  madeira.

There are daily, direct flights between Funchal and Porto Santo – usually one in the morning and one in the afternoon. They are operated by Binter Canarias Airlines. The duration of the flight is only 25 minutes.

You can also get to Porto Santo via Lisbon or Porto, or using one of the charter flights.

Besides relaxing on the beautiful Porto Santo Beach , discovering its viewpoints and hikes , there are two activities I love and recommend:

CAVE KAYAK TOURS

LAVA POOL SNORKELING 

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Porto Santo Line Ferry, Madeira

Booking & fares.

• Porto Santo Attractions
• Porto Santo Hotels
• Travel in Portugal

Ferries connect  Funchal  on Madeira to the island of Porto Santo . The 71 km voyage takes about 2 hours, 30 minutes. The crossing is operated by Porto Santo Line which sails the Lobo Marinho car ferry. The Porto Santo Line ferry terminal is a short walk west past the  CR7 Museum  in Funchal where cruise ships dock as well.

The ferry terminal in Porto Santo is on the south east coast near the marina.

Book a  ferry from Funchal to Porto Santo with Direct Ferries .

Reservations can be made online or in person in either Funchal or Porto Santo. The fares are seasonal. A round trip passenger-only ticket is presently 39.36 Euro April to September or 27.62 Euro January to March.

Usually there is a daily sailing at 8 am from Funchal, returning at 6 pm from Porto Santo. However, check the website below for the complete monthly schedule.

Offices in Funchal

Av. do Mar e das Comunidades Madeirenses, 20 Hours: Monday to Friday; 8.30 am to 6 pm.

Estrada Monumental, 175 C Hours: Daily; 9 am to 8 pm (closed on public holidays).

Cais do Funchal Hours: Daily; 10 am to 1 pm; 2 pm to 7 pm (closed on public holidays).

Passenger Terminal Hours: Daily; 1 hour before the ferry's departure. ( The purchase of tickets at the Passenger Terminal can only be made up to 15 minutes before the departure time of the ferry ).

Offices in Porto Santo

Rua D. Estevão de Alencastre, Store 6-7 Hours: Monday to Friday 10 am to 6 pm. Tel: 351 291 982 938

www: portosantoline.pt

There is a self service restaurant/cafe (Preia-Mar) on board the vessel serving light refreshments. There are also several TV screens in the lounge and other seating areas. In addition, the vessel has a first class lounge, a dedicated restaurant (Algas e Corais), a souvenir shop, a cinema, games room and children's room.

Attractions in Porto Santo

Besides the 11 km stretch of beach on the south coast, the main town of Vila Baleira offers the interesting Casa Museu de Cristóvão Colombo and the charming 15th century  Church of Nossa Senhora da Piedade , complete with paintings and large panels of azulejos ( Portuguese tiles ) that decorate both the interior and exterior of the church.

Accommodation in Porto Santo

Porto Santo and Madeira offer a range of accommodation options from five-star, luxury hotels and resorts to more homely and economical  residencial  and guesthouses. See some recommendations of places to stay below.

Try the recommended  Hotel Porto Santo & Spa  close to  Paraíso Dourado , the  Hotel Praia Dourada , the 4-star  Vila Baleira Resort , with outdoor swimming pool, sauna and spa and the 4-star  Hotel Torre Praia  near the ocean. Also close to Paraíso Dourado is the  Porto Santo My Love  apartments.

See a  full listing of hotels on Porto Santo , hotels in Funchal  and  hotels in Madeira  as a whole .

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Book a ferry » Ferry connections » Ferry Funchal - Porto Santo

Ferry Funchal - Porto Santo

Travel from madeira to porto santo.

Travelling by ferry from Funchal to Porto Santo

You want to travel from Funchal to Porto Santo ? Then the Ferry Funchal - Porto Santo offers you a fast and cheap option for your trip. The ferry takes you up to 2 times a day in 2 hours 30 minutes from Funchal (Madeira Islands, Portugal) to Porto Santo (Porto Santo Island, Portugal).

Table of contents

• Ferry Funchal - Porto Santo book ›››
• Info about the route Funchal-Porto Santo
• Start & Destination Port

Frequently asked questions

• Reviews & Experience

Check timetable, prices and availability & book

Enter your travel details in the connection search to check the times , the current prices and the availability of the Ferry Funchal - Porto Santo .

Information about the ferry connection Funchal - Porto Santo

Port information for your journey by ferry from funchal to porto santo.

Funchal (Madeira)

The flower island of Madeira knows how to delight visitors with its versatility. Rugged volcanic landscapes and bizarre rock formations alternate with rushing waterfalls and subtropical flora. During a hike along the old irrigation canals, you can experience their natural ...

Port address

Travel information, getting to madeira by car.

• From Santa Cruz: Drive west on the VR1 towards Funchal. Follow the signs to the port of Funchal.
• From Ribeira Brava: Take the VE3 in the direction of Funchal. At Funchal, follow the signs to the ferry port.
• From Machico: Take the VR1 towards Funchal and follow the signs to the ferry port.

Arrival by bus & train

There are no rail connections to Madeira. However, the public bus network connects many parts of the island with Funchal.

Arrival by plane

• Cristiano Ronaldo Madeira Airport (FNC): The nearest airport is Cristiano Ronaldo Madeira Airport. From there, you can take a cab or bus to Funchal to get to the ferry port.

Additional information

The island of Madeira is relatively small, which means that the journey to the ferry port of Funchal is usually uncomplicated. The public bus network offers a good alternative to the car.

Here you will find more detailed information about the harbour, addresses of the ferry terminals, information about travelling to Funchal (Madeira), as well as all Ferries to Funchal (Madeira) .

Porto Santo

Welcome to Porto Santo – an island of paradise. Enjoy the golden sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and relaxed atmosphere. Explore sights like Pico do Castelo and Museu Casa Colombo. Relax on the beaches, explore the bike paths or dive ...

Arriving by car on the island of Porto Santo

As Porto Santo is a small island, all destinations are easily accessible by car. Simply follow the signs to the ferry port, which is located near the main town of Vila Baleira.

Porto Santo has a local bus service that covers various parts of the island. There are no rail connections on the island. Buses run regularly to the ferry port.

• Porto Santo Airport (PXO): The airport is located near the town of Vila Baleira. From the airport, you can take a cab or the local bus to the ferry port.

Here you will find more detailed information about the harbour, addresses of the ferry terminals, information about travelling to Porto Santo, as well as all Ferries to Porto Santo .

Check-In in Madeira

If you are traveling from Funchal to Porto Santo, you should be at the ferry terminal at least 45 minutes before the scheduled departure to check in. As the ferry runs up to twice a day, it is advisable to book in advance to secure a place.

The ferry leaves the port of Funchal, the capital of Madeira Island, on time. The crossing begins as you leave the picturesque harbor, from where you can take one last look at the impressive coastline. The distance to the island of Porto Santo is around 73 kilometers.

On board the ferry

The Porto Santo Line ferry offers various amenities during the approximately two-and-a-half-hour crossing . You can make yourself comfortable in one of the seats or go out on deck and enjoy the fresh sea air.

Arrival at the port of destination

After crossing the Atlantic, you will reach your destination port on the island of Porto Santo. The harbor welcomes you with a relaxed atmosphere and a view of the island’s typical sandy beaches. Once the ferry has docked, the path from the ship takes you directly to the center of the small island, where you can either start your vacation or explore the local area.

This crossing is a comfortable and picturesque way to get from Madeira to the quieter and more charming island of Porto Santo.

Here you will find answers to various questions about travelling from Funchal to Porto Santo.

Which ferries / shipping companies travel from Funchal to Porto Santo?

The ferry connection from Funchal to Porto Santo is currently only served by the Porto Santo Line shipping company.

When does the ferry from Madeira to Porto Santo depart?

The ferry to Porto Santo departs from Funchal once a day from February to October .

How much is the ferry from Funchal to Porto Santo by car, caravan or motorhome?

The price of a ferry crossing from Funchal to Porto Santo depends on various factors, often from the load factor, travel time, whether you are traveling with or without a vehicle and other factors. You can check the current price here.

How often does the ferry travel from Funchal to Porto Santo on the island of Porto Santo, Portugal?

The Funchal-Porto Santo ferry service is currently offered up to twice daily .

How long does the crossing from Funchal to Porto Santo take?

The journey time (crossing time) is currently 2 hours 30 minutes .

Where does the ferry to Porto Santo depart from?

The ferry to Porto Santo departs from the port of Funchal on Madeira. Here is the address:

By what time do I have to be in the port of Funchal to check in?

You must arrive at the check-in area at least 45 minutes before departure.

Can I take my dog/pet on the ferry?

Of course, this is not a problem at all. Pets weighing less than 6 kg can be taken on board in a transport box. Pets heavier than 6 kg can be left in the car or kept in the kennels on board.

Is a day trip from Funchal to Porto Santo worthwhile?

Absolutely! The ferry from Funchal docks in the port of Porto Santo at around 10:30 am. The departure back to Funchal takes place at around 8 pm. So you have just under 9 hours to discover the small island and experience all its beauty!

Ferry Funchal – Porto Santo Experiences & Travelogues

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• Passports, travel and living abroad
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Entry requirements

This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of the current rules for the most common types of travel.  

The authorities in Portugal set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Portuguese Embassy in the UK .

COVID-19 requirements

There are no COVID-19 testing or vaccination requirements for travellers entering Portugal.

Passport validity requirements

Portugal follows Schengen area rules . Your passport must:

• have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive – if you renewed your passport before 1 October 2018, it may have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ago
• have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.

Visa requirements

You can travel without a visa to the Schengen area , which includes Portugal, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This applies if you travel:

• as a tourist
• to visit family or friends
• to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events
• for short-term studies or training

The requirements for working in Portugal are different.  

If you’re travelling to other Schengen countries as well, make sure your whole visit is within the 90-day visa-free limit. Visits to Schengen countries in the 180 days before you travel count towards your 90 days.

Make sure you get your passport stamped on entry and exit.

If you’re a visitor, border guards will look at your entry and exit stamps to check you have not overstayed the 90-day visa-free limit for the Schengen area.

If your passport is missing a stamp, show evidence of when and where you entered or left the Schengen area (for example, boarding passes or tickets) and ask the border guards to add the date and location in your passport.

At Portuguese border control you may need to show:

• an onward or return ticket
• proof you have enough money for your visit

Staying longer than 90 days in a 180-day period

To stay longer, you must meet the Portuguese government’s entry requirements (in Portuguese).

If you’re in Portugal with a residence permit or long-stay visa, this does not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit.

Read about passport stamping if you live in Portugal .

Travelling with children

Non-resident children travelling to portugal.

Children aged 17 and under travelling to Portugal alone, or with a person who is not their parent or legal guardian, must either:

• be met at the airport or point of entry by their parent or guardian
• carry a letter of authorisation from their parent or guardian

The letter must include:

• the child’s dates of arrival and departure
• the address where they will be staying
• the name of the adult in Portugal who will be responsible for them during their stay
• the full names, dates of birth, passport numbers and contact details of the parent or guardian
• signature and date from the parent or guardian

If you bring a child to Portugal without a letter of authorisation, your entry may be delayed.

Teenagers aged 17 and under who travel alone, or with friends of the same age, and who are not being met, may be refused entry if they do not have a letter of authorisation.

Non-resident children leaving Portugal

Non-resident children aged 17 and under who leave Portugal alone, or with a person who is not their parent or guardian, must have a letter of authorisation unless they are returning to their country of origin.

Resident children leaving Portugal

A child aged 17 or under who is resident in Portugal must carry a legally certified letter of authorisation if travelling without their parent or legal guardian. See more details in the Living in Portugal guide .

Vaccine requirements

For details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s guides for Portugal , The Azores , Madeira and Porto Santo.

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods that can be brought into and taken out of Portugal . You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Taking food into Portugal

You cannot take meat, milk or products containing them into EU countries . There are some exceptions such as powdered baby milk, baby food and special foods or pet feed required for medical reasons.

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8 best beaches in Portugal to surf, hike and sunbathe

W hen heading abroad, finding a destination with a beautiful beach is top of the holiday checklist for many. A short-haul trip to Europe often involves swimming, sunbathing and watersports.

As well as having hot summers and temperate winters, Portugal is second only to Spain in the number of the most Blue Flag beaches it has – with a whopping 432 in total, far more than the 104 found in England and Wales. This means that from them it is safe to take a dip in the sea, because they meet high cleanliness, safety and environmental standards.

The European country is on the Atlantic coast and some of its plentiful sandy beaches also join the mouths of rivers originating in Spain . From popular holiday spots in the Algarve to a sweeping stretch of sand off Madeira, both the mainland and islands are renowned for their clear waters and golden bays. Whether you have an upcoming trip booked or are looking for travel inspiration, keep scrolling to see the best beaches in Portugal.

Praia Dona Ana, Lagos

Best for: nearby bars and restaurants.

This popular southern Portugal beach in the Algarve is less than half an hour on foot from Lagos, and it has a sizeable length of 160 metres. You can access the beach by climbing down some steps onto the sands and here you’ll find sun loungers for relaxing, plus clear, turquoise waters and secret caves. There’s a small café on the Praia Dona Ana, and you’ll also notice plenty of bars and restaurants nearby for beach day refreshments.

Read more on Portugal travel :

• The ultimate Portugal travel guide
• Best hotels in Lisbon for partying, relaxing and sightseeing
• The best solo holiday destinations

Where to stay

Just under two kilometres away is Lagos Atlantic Hotel , and this four-star accommodation has an outdoor pool, sea views, a fitness centre and barbecue facilities.

Costa da Caparica, Almada

Best for: surfing.

Costa da Caparica is a 26km coastline encompassing pristine sandy beaches. Five miles of this coast are situated to the south of traditional fishing town Caparica, which is a 15-minute drive from Lisbon. This beach is loved by surfers thanks to the sandbanks and the clean waves. It’s just a short walk from Caparica’s centre and there are lifeguards on duty, too.

TRYP by Wyndham Lisboa Caparica Mar is a stone’s throw away from the beach and it has a bar, outdoor pool, and either mountain or sea views.

Praia Porto Santo, Porto Santo Island

Best for: an island beach.

Porto Santo Island is part of the Madeira archipelago, and its main beach is 9 kilometres in length. The golden sand offers a peaceful place for relaxing, and you’ll have easy access to both bars and sun loungers. Other areas to explore include Zimbralinho Beach, which is a stunning cove suitable for snorkelling. There are several resort hotels overlooking Praia Porto Santo, if you fancy staying by the beach.

Hotel Porto Santo & Spa is sits beside the sand, and it also boasts an infinity pool, beach bar and activities including mini golf and table tennis.

Praia de Moledo, Moledo

Best for: scenery.

Praia de Moledo is a picturesque beach set against the backdrop of Mount Santa Trega and Camarido Forest. It’s located in the north of Portugal, beside the mouth of the Minho River estuary and the Spanish border. Meanwhile, fishing port Praia de Ancora is just 5km south. The sheltered bay is popular for surfing, and there are plenty of options for eating and drinking in Moledo village itself.

If you’re looking for accommodation close to Praia de Moledo, Moledo Shoreline is an apartment just 300km from the beach with three bedrooms and chic coastal decor.

Praia da Falesia, Albufeira

Best for: watersports.

Praia da Falesia in the Algarve is instantly recognisable by its orange cliffs, and it has a 8km stretch of beach reaching from Olhos de Agua to Vilamoura. Partake in activities such as kayaking, paragliding, surfing, snorkelling and diving at this popular watersport place. Alternatively, you could follow the incredible cliff formations and take a walk along the full length of the beach.

Five-star resort the Pine Cliffs Hotel is in a clifftop spot overlooking the beach and has a whopping 11 bars and restaurants, plus five tennis courts, an outdoor pool, spa facilities and a beach club.

Praia de São Jacinto, Aveiro

Best for: unspoilt sands.

If you’d rather discover a beach which is further off the beaten path, Praia de São Jacinto can be reached by road or ferry. The beach itself is a 10-minute stroll down a boardwalk from the car park, where there are toilets and showers to clean up after a day spent on the sand and in the sea. Praia de São Jacinto is set in the Natural Reserve of São Jacinto Dunes in Aveiro, where you can spot birds and reptiles. This unspoilt stretch is near the Barra Canal and is known for being a fishing favourite, too.

Just 7km from Praia de São Jacinto is Hotel Aveiro Palace , which has been recently refurbished. The hotel is well located for exploring Aveiro and is also close to other beaches: Praia de Barra and Costa Nova.

Praia do Magoito, Sintra

Best for: a secluded bay.

Praia do Magoito is a secluded beach surrounded by cliffs, and it can be accessed by walking down some steep steps. The bay often has strong waves to suit surfers, there are lifeguards on duty, and there’s a restaurant looking directly onto the beach. Should you be looking for a quieter, more enclosed beach, follow the rocks south to Praia da Aguda.

Soak up breathtaking views of the sea from Arribas Sintra Hotel . When you’re not at the beach, there’s a saltwater pool, sun terrace, restaurant and games room to enjoy.

Praia de Odeceixe, Aljezur

Best for: hiking.

Situated in the Algarve’s northwest, Praia de Odeceixe is found at the mouth of the river Seixe and is part of the Rota Vicentina hiking trail. The beach is nestled between rugged cliffs and hilltop greenery, with Odeceixe the nearest town (look out for its beautiful blue and white windmill). There’s a surfing and windsurfing school here, and just along the coast you’ll find nudist bay Adegas Beach.

Around 30 minutes away is Praia do Canal Nature Resort , this luxury accommodation has a garden, pool, fitness centre and sauna.

Read more of our best Portugal hotel reviews

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36 Hours in Porto, Portugal

By Seth Sherwood May 30, 2024

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By Seth Sherwood Photographs by Matilde Viegas

Seth Sherwood, based in Paris, is a longtime contributor to the Travel section who has been writing about Portugal since 2006.

First Lisbon; now Porto. The whole world seems to have fallen in love lately with the nearby beaches, old churches, seafood-heavy cuisine and historical UNESCO-listed streets of Portugal’s second-largest city, where the number of tourists has doubled in a decade. (The circus-like atmosphere along the Douro riverfront and outside Livraria Lello , a neo-Gothic 19th-century bookstore, are only the most obvious signs.) And the home of port wine is keeping pace with a slew of new offerings. Recent years have seen the opening, upgrading or expansion of museums , art centers , food markets , food halls and hotels aplenty — along with the inauguration of World of Wine, a dining and entertainment district .

Recommendations

• Cozinha das Flores , a classy nouveau Portuguese restaurant led by one of the country’s most successful international chefs, features design elements from a Pritzker Prize-winning architect, the Porto-area native Álvaro Siza Vieira.
• The Serralves Museum , a collection of contemporary art on the park-like grounds of the Serralves Foundation — a decades-old private institution that works closely with the Portuguese government — has a new wing by Mr. Siza.
• Mercado do Bolhão , a 19th-century food market, reopened two years ago after a total renovation.
• The World of Wine district, like a theme park for epicureans, features several food- and drink-themed museums, a wine school, and numerous restaurants and bars.
• Jardins do Palácio de Cristal , a 19th-century park, features fountains, ponds, peacocks, an art museum and views of the Douro River.
• The exterior of Capela das Almas church is covered with blue-and-white azulejos (painted and glazed ceramic tiles, brought to Portugal and Spain during the Middle Ages from Moorish North Africa) depicting biblical scenes.
• A Pérola do Bolhão is a fine-food boutique that sports an authentic Art Nouveau exterior.
• Café Majestic , opened in the 1920s, houses a soaring Art Nouveau dining room and serves everything from pastries to pastas to steaks.
• Igreja de Santo Ildefonso , an 18th-century church, features a facade covered with azulejo tiles.
• Batalha Centro de Cinema , an Art Deco movie theater, was renovated and reopened in 2022 with a bookshop and bar.
• Igreja de São Francisco is a church that dazzles with its gilded Baroque woodwork.
• Labels of Tomorrow is a two-level emporium with contemporary unisex fashion by Portuguese and international designers.
• Coração Alecrim specializes in vintage clothing for women and has its own retro-inspired line.
• Musubu Porto , a Japanese vegetarian cafe, operates from a niche in the back of Coração Alecrim.
• Apego jazzes up Portuguese cuisine with French ingredients and techniques.
• Fiasco serves creative cocktails and sells a wide range of vinyl albums.
• Terraplana Café channels an old-time urban saloon and has a backyard where you can enjoy the bar’s craft beers and signature cocktails.
• Capela Incomum is a wine bar inside a former 19th-century chapel.
• Genuíno is a lively bar that draws oenophiles for its natural wines from local vineyards.
• Design savvy and art-filled, the Rebello opened last year in Vila Nova de Gaia and offers knockout views of Porto, across the Douro River, from many of its 103 apartment-style rooms. A roof bar, pool, spa, restaurant and cafe are also in the converted 19th-century stone building, which is near the Ferreira port-wine house. Rooms from around 450 euros, or about $488, in June.
• The six minimalist white rooms of the Babel guesthouse, tastefully furnished with vintage and modern furniture, offer an excellent city-center base. Its lively downstairs restaurant serves local Portuguese ingredients with splashes of flavor from North Africa, the Middle East and beyond. Rooms in June start around €138.
• Roughly a mile east of the city center, a drab residential street hides Outsite Porto-Mouco , a modernist white building with 12 apartments, a coworking cafe, a library, a pool and grassy grounds. Apartments from around €123 in June.
• For short-term rentals among the central districts, Ribeira is rich in historical buildings and lies closest to the picturesque riverside, while Clérigos abounds with dining and nightlife.
• An efficient bus system and ever-expanding modern metro network cover much of Porto and surrounding areas, from the airport to the city center to the nearby coastal towns. An Andante card, available in metro stations, allows travel by bus or train in central Porto for €1.40 per ride. (Zones farther from the center have higher fares .) A three-day card for the entire bus and train network costs €16. Taxis are abundant and fairly cheap, as are trips with the ride-hailing app Uber.

Jardins do Palácio de Cristal

Gazing at the bridges and passing ships on the Douro River is a favorite Porto pastime. For sublime views far from the dense crush of the waterfront walkways, the Jardins do Palácio de Cristal , a manicured 19th-century park, is a relaxed, bucolic alternative and a favorite with locals. In addition to tree-shaded lookout points, the park includes ponds, fountains, lawns, flower beds and rotating art exhibitions in the free, multilevel Galeria Municipal do Porto . As you stroll, keep your ears open for the calls of the park's resident ducks and peacocks.

Cozinha das Flores

After decades abroad, cooking alongside international legends (Wolfgang Puck, Ferran Adrià) and helming kitchens of beloved London restaurants (Viajante, Chiltern Firehouse), the chef Nuno Mendes has planted his flag once again in his native land, overseeing the precise neo-Portuguese cuisine at Cozinha das Flores , a year-old restaurant along the pedestrianized Rua das Flores. Try tasty tiny snacks (crunchy sourdough crackers with razor clams), elegant comfort food (Azores squid sliced into pasta-like strands with a zesty stew of chickpeas and cod tripe) and unusual desserts (ice cream, made from and resembling egg yolk, on ribbons of sugary, fried egg-yolk, sprinkled with ham shavings). Note the abstract drawings on the pink-and-green mosaic wall: the Pritzker Prize-winning architect (and Porto-region native) Álvaro Siza Vieira contributed both. Dinner for two costs about 120 euros, or about $130, without drinks.

If you’re keen to avoid thronged streets and blasting music — hallmarks of the Mardi Gras-like Clérigos nightlife district — head east to Bomfim, a laid-back bohemian neighborhood of art galleries and indie boutiques. Sporting red walls and red banquettes, Fiasco is both Porto’s sultriest new cocktail bar and a mecca for vinyl record collectors, thanks to numerous racks of rock, rap, indie, electro, world-beat and other albums for sale. A Lusco Fusco Groove cocktail (Ysabel Regina brandy, Campari, fortified Portuguese wine and coffee) runs you 9 euros. Down the street, Terraplana Café channels an old-time urban saloon (tin ceiling, checkerboard floor) while dispensing original cocktails. The back garden is perfect for a Tropicalia cocktail: ruby port, sparkling rosé and guava-hibiscus syrup, brightened with salt (€11).

The Super Bock Arena, also known as Pavilhão Rosa Mota, seen from the Jardins do Palácio de Cristal.

Álvaro Siza Wing

Now 90 years old, Mr. Siza, the architect whose touches you spotted at Cozinha das Flores, has been keeping busy. This year, the Serralves Museum — a world-class contemporary art museum that he designed in the 1990s — added a splashy new wing that he also designed. Known as the Álvaro Siza Wing , the jagged white addition displays plans and models from the architect’s long international career, as well as works from the permanent collection, including strange fairy tale-like paintings from Paula Rego and abstract lithographs by Gerhard Richter. An apocalyptic installation by the Thai artist Korakrit Arunanondchai and a haunted playerless piano from the French artist Philippe Parreno are particularly potent. Admission to all buildings and grounds is €24.

Mercado Bolhão

Bearded and bespectacled, Joaquim Lucas resembles a scholar as he carefully slices presunto (€65 a kilo) from aged hocks of Alentejo ham. His stand, Charcutaria Princesa , is one of dozens inside Mercado Bolhão , a recently upgraded 19th-century covered food market in the city center that reopened in 2022. The smorgasbord also includes spice dealers, fruit sellers, cheese specialists, wine stands and more. Raw surf-and-turf comes courtesy of Casa das Ostras — which cracks open sea urchin (€5 each) and shucks Algarve oysters (three for €7) — and Talho do Toninho , a butcher stall serving toast slices topped with beef or deer tartare (€1.50). For dessert, Doçaria Portuguesa does a chocolate-rimmed pastel de nata (€2), the classic Portuguese egg tart. For a sit-down meal, several restaurants occupy the upper level. And a short walk south is a new food hall from Time Out, opened in May.

Strolling nearby Rua Santa Catarina, a car-free shopping boulevard, provides both a digestive walk and an architectural exhibition. Start at Capela das Almas , an 18th-century church covered with blue-and-white azulejos (added in 1929) depicting divine episodes filled with saints, apostles, magi and cherubs. Heading south, you can admire the Art Nouveau façade of A Perola do Bolhão , a fine-food shop dating to 1917, and the grand Belle Epoque interior of Café Majestic , which opened in 1921. Finally, stop in Praça da Batalha, home of the azulejo-covered Igreja de Santo Ildefonso , an 18th-century church, and the Batalha Centro de Cinema , a 1940s Art Deco movie theater that was restored and reopened in 2022. In addition to an eclectic roster of films, the center offers a library, bookshop and bar.

Coração Alecrim

Your Saturday night wardrobe awaits inside Labels of Tomorrow , a two-level international fashion emporium a few blocks north of Livraria Lello in the Cedofeita neighborhood. Portuguese labels take center stage, from button-up blue maritime jackets for men from Sanjo (€149.90) to gauzy takes on 1950s ladies’ bowling shirts (€130) by Mustique. After your fitting-room adventures, a terrace cafe-restaurant and a backyard bar provide refreshment for shopping fatigue — or fuel for another spree. If you prefer threads with history, the nearby Coração Alecrim shop sells vintage clothing — fur coats (€70), sheer paisley dresses (€40) — and its own line of retro-inspired jackets, shirts and more. A Japanese vegetarian cafe, Musubu Porto , is tucked in back.

If France is too far away, you can enjoy Gallic flavors at Apego , a homey little restaurant in a quiet street north of Trinidade train station. Global music echoes off the high stone walls and yellow banquettes as the Franco-Portuguese chef Aurora Goy reinvents local cuisine with dishes like a savory tarte tatin (which replaces apples with eggs and mushrooms) and a bed of pomme paillasson — a crispy-fried cake of shredded potato — topped with mackerel and leeks in white-wine sauce. Desserts include a French-style sablé biscuit with pear and custard-like sabayon incorporating Madeira wine. A three-course dinner for two, without wine, costs around €90.

Gallery district by day, the zone around Rua Miguel Bombarda morphs into a destination for wine lovers as night falls. Occupying an elegantly repurposed 19th-century chapel, Capela Incomum allows acolytes of the grape to sip vintages likes Lapa dos Gaivões (€4.50 a glass) — a smooth red blend from the Alentejo region — in its burgundy-painted lounge or tree-shaded front yard. A block away, Genuíno is a lively Brazilian-owned restaurant and natural-wine bar outfitted with a disco ball, playful wine-themed posters, and vintage tables and chairs. Most wines come from small regional producers, including an agreeably dry, concrete-aged orange wine from Folias de Baco (€5.50 a glass).

A view over the museums in the World of Wine (WOW) district, with the Dom Luís I Bridge in the distance.

Igreja de São Francisco

By now you have noticed: Old churches beckon from nearly every corner. If you venture inside only one, Igreja de São Francisco pays off in gold — literally. Erected in the medieval period, the church’s soaring stony interior was enriched in the 1700s with talha dourada — elaborately carved and gilded wood. The effect is a dazzling symphony of radiant decorative themes — spiral-twist columns, swirls, floral patterns, coats of arms, cherubs and disembodied faces that burst from every surface. Downstairs, in the crypt, a transparent floor panel reveals a sea of white bones lurking below ground. Admission €10.

The Chocolate Story museum in the WOW district.

Did you know that the Chinese village of Jiahu might have produced the world’s first wine, several millennia before Christ? That Muscat from Alexandria was Cleopatra's favorite wine? That the signing of the Declaration of Independence was celebrated with a toast of Madeira? Educational nuggets fill the Bridge Collection (entry €25), a museum with a staggering array of historical wine information and antique drinking vessels in the World of Wine (WOW) entertainment district. Opened in 2020, WOW encompasses several museums — including ones devoted to chocolate, cork and rosé wine — as well as boutiques, a wine school, and numerous restaurants and bars. Root & Vine serves up a classic international brunch — eggs on toast, salmon bagels, waffles — and panoramic views of the city for a final snapshot. Museum admission €25 each.

Have a weekend to explore a destination? We’ve got the perfect travel itinerary.

Colorado Springs: ​​Colorado’s second-largest city, which brims with outdoor activities , is enticing visitors with a new museum and revamped hotels.

Minneapolis: Springtime is best for exploring this Midwestern city’s lakeside trails, robust arts scene and top-notch restaurants .

Maui: The beauty and hospitality of this Hawaiian island, still recovering from last year’s wildfires, remain as vibrant as ever .

Toronto: Savor the diversity of this lakefront city through its hidden bars, small-but-fascinating museums and vibrant restaurants .

Cape Town: Take a food and storytelling tour, cruise one of the world’s most beautiful coastal drives and see contemporary African art in this city with stunning views in every direction .

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