Matosinhos

In the Portuguese region of Norte, only about 10 kilometres from Porto, the town of Matosinhos is located directly on the Atlantic coast. The town, which seamlessly connects to the city limits of Porto, is not only a local recreation area, but also very popular with tourists.

The region was settled early on and was also well connected with other places. For example, a Roman road led from Vila Nova de Gaia (then known as Cale) and Porto via the city to what is now Braga ( Bracara Oppidum Augusta).

From the 16th century, Matosinhos was known as a place of pilgrimage, where the Senhor de Matosinhos is venerated in the Church do Bom Jesus de Matosinhos.

With the construction of the port of Porto de Leixões, the town continued to develop. Industrial companies settled, fishing and fish processing became an important branch of the economy. In recent years, the importance of industry has declined somewhat and the service sector has developed.

The coast with its beaches and the large parks are the points of attraction for holidaymakers and of course also for the inhabitants of the nearby city of Porto. Here you can take a wonderful walk, lie in the sun, surf, swim….

Matosinhos is known for its fish restaurants. Especially in the harbour district, one restaurant follows the next. It is especially busy at lunchtime.

Excursion tips in Matosinhos

Matosinhos - a walk by the sea

The city of Matosinhos merges seamlessly into the city of Porto as you walk along the coast, there is no city boundary to be seen and no signs to indicate this.

Walk in Matosinhos   →

Canned Sardines - Visit to the Pinhais Canning Factory

If you are out and about in Porto, you will come across shops that only sell sardines in tins and even in the supermarkets there is a huge range of fish in tins. During our visit to the Pinhais cannery, we investigated the question - how does the fish get into the can?

Pinhais canning factory   →

Travel information about Matosinhos