Porto is simply perfect for a party weekend: it is affordable, it has great food, a lively nightlife and the weather is amazing compared to other European countries.Therefore I present you my guide for a party weekend in Porto which includes: tips & tricks for the nightlife district of Porto, places for late breakfast, free & cheap must do activities in the city and accommodation ideas. Enjoy! 🙂
No time to read a long article? Here’s a summary
These are the BEST things to do on a party weekend or a bachelor party in Porto:
- Super FUN activities: Douro river Party boat or do a Buggy ride in the hills of Porto.
- Cultural activities: Go for wine tasting at a Port wine lodge (BY FAR the best ones are Graham’s and Cockburn’s). Watch a Fado show at Ideal Clube de Fado (a traditional Fado house) or at Calém’s port wine lodge. You can also visit the Lello bookshop, also know as the Harry Potter bookshop 😉
- Free activities: check São Bento train station and the Ribeira neighborhood.
Where to stay in Porto:
- Read my guide to the best neighborhoods in Porto, to learn about the coolest neighborhoods.
- Check the best apartments in Porto.
It’s time to party in Porto!
First thing: figure out your accommodation in Porto
If you are planning a party weekend in Porto then I would recommend you to stay in Downtown Porto, as there are plenty of restaurants, bars and clubs in this area.You can start by reading my guide to the best neighborhoods in Porto, but I think you should either stay in a great hostel in Porto (they are always the most affordable option and there you can hang out with other people) or rent one of the best apartments in Porto.
Here’s my list of top hostels and guesthouses in Porto:
- The House of Sandeman
- The Passenger Hostel
- CATS Porto Hostel
- Porto República Hostel & Suits
- Pensão Favorita
Second: understand the Portuguese nightlife
Usually, we start our Saturday nights at “Leões”, a square called Praça de Gomes Teixeira. At Leões there are tons of little cafes where we get a cheap drink while we are waiting for our friends. Check the blue spots on the map.
Then, we move to what I like to call the real nightlife district of Porto. It’s basically composed of two streets, Galeria de Paris e Rua de Cândido dos Reis. There, every other door is a bar or a café.
There are some elegant bars at the nightlife district of Porto, and usually you pay a small entrance fee that is deductible on drinks. For those, check the green spots on the map below.
You can also keep drinking on the streets, as at the nightlife district of Porto there are also several cafés where you can get a drink on a plastic cup.
During your party weekend in Porto, it’s also worth exploring the bars at Rua José Falcão, Rua do Almada, Rua da Picaria and Rua de Ceuta. At the last two there are plenty of restaurants and cafés to grab a sandwich in between bars. It is the purple area marked on the map above.
The idea is for you not to stay at a place, but rather to circulate between bars, getting to know new people. It’s really fun! 🙂
What about clubs in Porto?
No party weekend in Porto is complete without a visit to one of our amazing night clubs:
- Plano B, an alternative club right at the heart of the nightlife district of Porto
- Eskada Porto
- Villa Porto
- Boîte, very close to Rua de Santa Catarina
- Passos Manuel Porto, just a few doors away from Olympia Club.
Amazing places for a late breakfast in Porto
Now that you are acquainted with the nightlife of Porto, it’s time to think about breakfast! You should start by reading my list of the best places to have breakfast in Porto as well a list of the best bakeries in the city.
I suggest you to visit Leitaria da Quinta do Paço, famous for its eclairs filled with whipped cream. Close to Leitaria is Padaria Ribeiro, one of the oldest bakeries in town, where everything is amazing (try the croissants, they are out of this world!). Both these places have breakfast menus.
In front of the famous Majestic Café there are two other great bakeries, Confeitaria Mengos and Confeitaria Império, which I find great for a late breakfast in Porto.
Last but not least, my favourite spot: Confeitaria Tavi, in front of the Atlantic Ocean! 🙂
Activites to do in Porto when you wake up
Douro River Party Boat
It is my pleasure to introduce you to the ONLY party boat in Porto, a boat that can accommodate more than 50 people on board!
The idea is quite simple: a large boat, a DJ, and a bar. Plenty of music, no places to sit down (it’s a PARTY boat, not a place to take a nap! :D) and the opportunity to mingle with like minded travellers. Naturally, you can also make the trip private, if you wish to do so.
I think this is a great, great option for large groups of friends and yes, I have included this on one of my friends bachelorette party 🙂
There is only ONE slot everyday, so hurry up and book your party river cruise in Porto online.
Drive the hills of Porto on a Buggy
Recently I rode a Buggy at Serras do Porto Natural Park with my boyfriend and we had SO MUCH FUN 😀 I was a bit worried about safety but 1) the guides are very professional but 2) the equipment is new and in good conditions.
Once I got it out of my head I got into our buggy and enjoyed the ride – we crossed some rivers and some bumpy courses with holes, always enjoying the most beautiful panoramas of the region. Moreover, they can pick you up and drop you off in Porto, which is great!
If you want to give it a go, just get your online ticket to the Buggy Ride in Porto’s hills!
Join a private tour with us
If you want to make the most of your day in Porto, why not join a private tour in the city with us? We most certainly know the most beautiful places in the city, the coolest spots for a reinvigorating lunch and, of course, the best bars and cafés for your nightly adventures.
After being with us, you will have a much better understanding of the Portuguese way of life and a list of the best places to go in Porto according to your taste. What could be better than this?
You can read the reviews of our tours on our TripAdvisor and then simply send an email to sara@portoalities.com telling us when you are coming to Porto and how many people are travelling with you. It will be our pleasure to guide you!
Other must dos in Porto
- Visit the Lello bookshop, aka the Harry Potter bookshop. The tickets cost 5€, fully deductible on books. Usually the queue to get inside is huuuuuge, so try to get there early (it opens at 10am and it closes at 7.30pm).
- Next to Lello bookshop is the Clérigos tower, one of the most famous monuments in Porto. It is one of the most important landmarks in Porto, but be prepared for long queues and lots of stairs. You get a knock out view, though – and that’s totally worth it!
- No party weekend in Porto is complete without visiting a Port wine cellar, of course! You can try a guided visit and wine tasting at Calém Port Wine Cellars accompanied by a Fado show. It’s a wonderful experience (I can attest personally!) and you can check two things off your list: Port wine and Fado. Buy a ticket for a Fado show at a Port wine cellar for a discounted price – just 21€.
- If you’re interested in a Fado show but want to watch it in a traditional Fado house, Casa da Guitarra is an awesome place to do it. You can buy a ticket to a Fado show at Casa da Guitarra, get a complimentary glass of Port wine and enjoy the perfect end to your party weekend in Porto! 😉
I also made a list of free activities to do in the city, in case you don’t want to join one of my tours (huge mistake! 😉
- Visit São Bento train station, which has an amazing atrium covered with 20.000 hand painted Portuguese tiles!
- Strolling around Rua de Santa Catarina, the perfect street for window shopping. Rua de Santa Catarina has all the international brands (such as Zara), as well as typical shops. There you’ll also have the opportunity to watch a lot of street performers, such as musicians and living statues. Another great street for you to do exactly the same is Rua das Flores. You can read more about the beautiful streets in Porto.
- Chill out at the Crystal Palace gardens, the most beautiful garden in downtown Porto (and with a fabulous view towards the douro river!). This park has free entrance, and it is really worth exploring.
- Grab a beer at Ribeira neighborhood, a Unesco World Heritage Site.
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