- Holiday Market
The Porto Christmas markets are still going strong around the 8th of January, with a variety of vendors selling unique handicrafts, regional goods and beautiful holiday décor.
Dia de Reis, or Epiphany, on January 6th, is a significant day in Porto’s final Christmas celebrations, when gatherings of families take part in the emblematic Bolo Rei, a delicious cake decorated with candied fruits.
Cantar as Janeiras, where people sing about the three kings delivering gifts to Jesus, takes place the night before Dia de Reis. - São Sebastião Festival
The São Sebastião Festival, which takes place every year on January 20 in the neighboring town of Santa Maria da Feira, is one of Portugal’s greatest celebrations.
The town’s venerated patron saint, São Sebastião, is honored during the festival by the locals through processions and religious events.
It offers a lively display of local traditions as well as a genuine window into the region’s rich religious past.
This festival is easily accessible, only 30 minutes away from Porto, and offers an unforgettable local experience. - Visit the National Park Peneda-Gerês
Enjoy a beautiful day and adventure in Peneda-Gerês National Park, which you may reach with a 90-minute drive. This area is home to stunning lagoons, mountains, streams and wildlife. Between the rainbows and the waterfalls, you may canoe, climb or swim. If you’re lucky, you might be able to see wild horses in the valley.
Later in the day, when you’re starving, you can visit the nearby towns to have a filling lunch or to meet the inhabitants. Gerês offers a lovely vantage point for a day’s finish, you definitely must visit this outstanding place! - Cultural activities
Don’t worry if you do occasionally have a rainy day- Porto’s January weather provides the perfect excuse to take advantage of the city’s abundance of indoor activities!
Art fans will be pleased with the Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art’s vast collection of well-known national and international artists.
The Soares dos Reis National Museum, Portugal’s first public art gallery, is just as impressive. Located in the grand Carrancas Palace, the museum showcases an extensive collection of Portuguese art spanning from the 16th to the 20th century. Notable works include the remarkable sculptures made by the museum’s namesake, António Soares dos Reis.
Full with fresh food and local specialties, the Mercado do Bolhão offers a true market experience for anybody interested in experiencing Porto’s culture. - Porto surfing
January may bring quiet to Porto, but the Atlantic Ocean has other amazing ideas, as this month brings a swell of winter that turns the coast around Porto, especially Matosinhos Beach, into a surfer’s paradise.
As surfers from all over the world assemble to take on the powerful waves, there’s an undeniable electricity in the air.
Watch them skillfully maneuver their boards with the powerful winter currents of the Atlantic while standing on the shore, it’s a great experience!
Though slightly smaller on the beaches near Porto, the waves in Nazaré, two hours down the coast (and much closer to Lisbon), are renowned for having some of the biggest in the world.
Enjoy the most beautiful moments in Porto with your family and friends, always counting on Porto Airport Transfers, for high quality taxi services, creating new memories and having a great time!