10 Things to Do in Porto in October

Porto is a city that invites you to explore it from the moment you arrive. You'll be drawn in by its architecture, narrow streets, historical monuments, natural landscapes, local cuisine and traditional wines, among other things.

Without a doubt, during the month of October you'll find the best things to do in Porto, such as surfing on the city's beautiful beaches, climbing the Arrábida Bridge, taking scenic walks, visiting theme parks, celebrating Halloween and much more.

Make the most of your visit to Porto in 4 days or more and celebrate the anniversary of the Sao Bento train station.

You will be able to enjoy the work done on the walls of the building with tiles and discover the history of the city in a unique way. You will also have access to some exhibitions and talks.

This is a visit you can do on your own. Just head to the city centre and, near the Clérigos Tower, you will find this century-old station, which was inaugurated on 5 October 1916.

When you enter the station, you will be amazed by the more than 200,000 tiles installed between 1905 and 1906, which feature the work of the painter Jorge Colaço. These images tell the story of the people of the whole country, their daily struggles, vicissitudes and achievements.

If you're one of those people who thinks that going to the beach to surf is something you can only do in Porto in the summer, then you're wrong.

If you travel during the autumn, specifically in October, you can also catch some good waves. What's more, the sea water is warmer and more comfortable.

You can book a surfing lesson, where a specialist instructor will teach you all the theory behind the basic principles of this sport. They will also provide you with a high-quality surfboard and a wetsuit tailored to your size.

Afterwards, you will warm up your muscles a little while practising some tricks on the sand so that you can stand up and paddle. Finally, you will head out to sea to catch some waves and enjoy a unique experience tailored to your needs.

Useful information

• Price: from £25 per person.
• When: every day.
• Where: Matosinhos beach, Miramar beach, among others.

Porto in October offers a warm and cool autumn climate, inviting you to explore the city's main streets and discover its hidden treasures. All this while you contemplate the changing colours of the leaves on the trees and the tone of the light at sunset.

To do this, you can book a panoramic tour by electric bike, tuk tuk or Segway, where, with the help of a specialised guide, you will learn about the history of the city and enjoy a true natural spectacle, typical of the autumn season.

Electric bike tour

With the guided electric bike tour, you will ride through the most outstanding places in Porto: the old town, the riverfront, the longest avenue in the city (Avenida da Boavista), parks, palaces, gardens and much more. You will be able to enjoy the landscape and discover the history of the city.

Tuk Tuk Tour

Hop on a motorised tricycle with a roof to protect you from the sun and start exploring the streets of Porto. The driver will take you around the old town while you listen to the audio guide and take in the views.

This tour usually lasts an hour, so when you get off, you'll have plenty of time to join a cruise on the River Porto, go shopping, attend fado shows in Porto, and enjoy other activities.

Segway tour

The Segway tour of Porto in October is another tour you can't miss. You'll have a great time on this electric skateboard with a balancing system at the base that prevents you from falling off.

You'll be able to spend more than three hours exploring the Ribeira district in the company of a guide and a small group. You'll learn about the city's different monuments and stop to explore them.

Attending the Francesinha food festival is a great option if you are in Porto during the first few days of October. This is an annual event dedicated especially to the iconic sandwich of the same name. A true culinary delight that, over the years, has become a real tourist attraction.

The festival usually takes place in an area near the Douro River, designated by the city council in partnership with restaurants such as Alicantina, I Love Eat Francesinhas and Cufra.

This way, you can taste this traditional francesinha (bread with meat, sausages, cheese, ham, egg and other ingredients) while admiring the waters of this important river. It is truly a great activity to round off any of the gastronomic tours of Porto.

In addition, this festival offers vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free versions of the sandwich. So, you'll have no excuse not to try this dish that is loved by everyone in Porto. Of course, any of them will be accompanied by a beer or wine.

Useful information

• Price: free admission.
• When: from the end of September to the beginning of October.
• Where: selected restaurants in Porto.

Amplifest is a festival with a tradition of more than 10 years in the city, which you can enjoy during a visit to Porto lasting 3 days or more.

The event takes place on the first two weekends of October at the Hard Club. This is a historic building dating from the 19th century, generally used for exhibitions, concerts and public events.

There, you can enjoy a unique musical experience with bands of different musical styles.

The line-up of national and international artists performing at this festival is usually extensive and varies each year. Therefore, you should check the line-up for each day of Amplifest in advance. That way, you can attend on the day that suits you best.

Useful information

• Price: from £55 per person.
• When: the first two weekends of October.
• Where: Hard Club in Porto.

During your stay in the city, you may be looking for alternatives after visiting the best museums in the city or taking day trips and excursions from Porto.

If so, there is no better (or easier) plan than taking advantage of the autumn weather in October to admire the city from one of its viewpoints.

• Mirador da Vitória: from here you have a privileged view of the Dom Luis I bridge and the cathedral.
• Mirador da Rua das Alda: this small viewpoint offers a close-up view of the Grillos church and the famous Douro River.
• Mirador de Jardins do Palácio de Cristal: here you will not only find several viewpoints from which to admire the city of Porto, but you can also enjoy a peaceful and cool natural environment, surrounded by paths, flowers, fountains and sculptures.
• Mirador de la Torre de los Clérigos: considered the tallest tower in the city at 75 metres, with 240 steps and one of the best views.

You can also visit other viewpoints such as the Porto Cathedral Tower, Ponte Dom Luis Viewpoint, Mirador das Fontainhas, Miradouro da Serra do Pilar and Mirador de Comiviajeros.

If you are a fan of Japanese pop culture (anime, manga, cosplay, etc.), you cannot miss Iberanime Porto during your visit to the city of Porto.

This is a two-day convention held annually during the month of October. To attend, simply head to Matosinhos, a town in the district of Porto, just a 10-minute drive from the city centre.

There you can enjoy more than 50 different activities, including:

• J-Pop performances, including choreography and live singing.
• A noodle competition, where you can test your resistance to spicy food.
• Drawing contest, where you can show off your skills creating manga characters.
• Cosplay contest.
• Workshops, where you can learn the art of origami, as well as some techniques for creating manga and anime characters.
• Martial arts show.
• Gaming area, with a range of retro and more modern titles for you to enjoy. There will also be eSports and To To Dance.

Useful information

• Price: from £16 per person.
• When: fourth weekend in October (dates may change annually)
• Where: Exponor, in Matosinhos, Porto.

Attending a concert at Casa da Música is an excellent option if you are visiting Porto in October. During this month, the iconic concert hall located on Av. da Boavista offers a comprehensive programme ranging from classical music and piano recitals to fado and other rich musical expressions.

You will be able to enjoy the work of national and international artists who stand out for their career and interpretative quality. From the emotion of traditional fado to the majesty of a symphony orchestra or the subtlety of a piano solo, the Casa da Música offers unforgettable evenings in a venue renowned for its excellent acoustics and avant-garde design. Check out the official programme at the Casa da Música.

Useful information

Price: the average ticket price is £10 per person.
When: throughout October, with highlights at the weekends.
Where: Casa da Música in Porto, Av. da Boavista.

During your two-day visit to Porto in October, take advantage of the warm weather to go on a wine tour in the Douro Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

What's more, this month is harvest season in the region's vineyards, so you'll enjoy picturesque views of the wine estates.

Depending on the excursion to the Douro Valley from Porto you choose, you'll be able to enjoy different experiences:

• Visit one or more vineyards to learn about the history of these wineries, the production process and taste some wines in the company of an expert.
• Take a cruise on the River Douro in a traditional boat, while discovering the region's privileged landscapes and enjoying a delicious drink.
• Stop at some viewpoints and towns. This is the case in Pinhao, where you will enjoy a traditional lunch (meat or vegetarian) and have free time to explore the village at your own pace.

Useful information

• Price: from £85 per person.
• When: every day.
• Where: departure from Porto to the Douro Valley.

If your visit to Porto in October coincides with Halloween night, you can't miss out on joining a pub crawl or tour of the city's bars. You can celebrate the scariest night of the year while enjoying the nightlife of this city.

The adventure begins in the vicinity of the Clérigos Tower, where you will meet the guide and the other members of the tour. From there, the group will walk to the best bars and nightclubs in the area, such as the More Club, Eskada Porto and RendezVous Bar, among others.

You can wear your best costume, mask or make-up, meet new friends, dance, drink beer at a reasonable price and enjoy some free shots, included in the tour. In addition, the guide will take photos of you with a professional camera at no additional cost.

After approximately four hours, the tour ends at Club Perola Negra, where you will part ways with the guide and, if you wish, continue partying on your own until dawn.

October in Porto is high season, as are May, June and September. Therefore, you will find a considerable influx of tourists throughout the city.

This increase in visitors during October is due to the good weather. The days are warm, allowing you to enjoy any outdoor activity.

The nights, on the other hand, are cooler and the chance of rain is low.

During October in Porto, you will find prices slightly higher than in other months, as this is a season with high tourist demand in the city. Therefore, you may notice a significant variation in the cost of flights, hotels, airport transfers and tours or excursions.

Despite this slight difference in prices, depending on the low, medium, high and very high season, you should bear in mind that Porto is characterised by being a cheap city, which you can visit on a tight budget and enjoy to the fullest.