Living in the south of Portugal, as I do, beaches aren’t hard to come by, but when I go up north, my friends regularly rave about how excellent the beaches near Porto are. I ask those in the know to share their favourites, and receive a multitude of responses. “What for?” Susana clarified, before she explained: “I play beach tennis at Matosinhos, as that is great for activities. I head northwards, out of the city, to Memoria if I want a full beach day and if I just have a few hours to spare I go somewhere close to the city like Homem do Leme or Leça da Palmeira.”
My friend Paula reeled off a whole host of other possibilities. She explained, “It’s hard to say what is best or a favourite – they’re so different from one another. There are small coves rich in iodine, which are highly recommended for health and wellness. There are secluded, deserted beaches if you want to read a book. Then, there are those brimming with beach bars, sun beds and sports facilities like Granja beach, which is home to a fantastic seawater pool.” Of all her tips, the one I liked the most was Aguda; still an authentic fishing village with a daily market and lots of little restaurants where you can eat the freshest of fish with your feet in the sand; the true Portuguese experience. These are the best beaches near Porto.
Praia do Homem do Leme
This beach, in Foz do Douro, is probably the one I know best, as it is an easy hop, skip and jump from the restaurants I like along here, like Flor de Lis (flor-de-lis-restaurant) for its tuna tartare and lobster ravioli. And it is perfect to squeeze in a quick dip between meetings. The whole area has a turn-of-the-century feel, as this is where and when the elite built their big villas in order to inhale the fresh sea air, and many of them still line the front. It is named after the famous bronze statue called Homem do Leme or Men at the Helm, which was created there in the 1930s by sculptor Américo Gomes to honour local fishermen. There are a couple of play areas for children, a lifeguard, cafés and walkways. It was the first beach in Porto to receive the Blue Flag certification and offers access to people with limited mobility.
How to get there: The number 500 bus from either São Bento or Aliados takes you straight to this beach with a stop right by it.