Pedro DominguesUntil recently I thought Esposende was just a beach destination on the north coast of Portugal, with some good viewpoints to the Atlantic Ocean.
I already knew Ofir beach, Suave Mar beach, and the sunset by the windmills of Apúlia beach. I also knew the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da Guia, Castro de São Lourenço, and the fabulous view you get from them. I did not know the rest of the Arriba Fóssil (fossil cliff).
Esposende surprised me as a travel destination. It is much more than its beaches of icy water, with several paradises to discover inland. Neiva River was one of the highlights for me when visiting the municipality, and Cávado River lived up to expectations.
Visiting Esposende can be an excellent option for a weekend getaway. In this article, however, I will propose you an itinerary with all things to do in Esposende and what to see and visit for up to 4 days.
The article is extensive, so I recommend using the index below to navigate between the different topics. If you just want to visit Esposende on a day trip, choose the sights that interest you the most based on the descriptions and photos I’m sharing below.
Where is Esposende located, in Portugal?
Esposende is located on the north coast of Portugal, being a municipality in the district of Braga. The coast of Esposende, which totals 16km, is part of the North Coast Natural Park.
To the north it borders Viana do Castelo, to the south with Póvoa de Varzim (district of Porto), and to the east with Barcelos.
MORE ARTICLES FROM THE NORTH OF PORTUGAL: - Porto Itinerary - Things to do in Porto - Best Museums in Porto - Best Churches and Cathedrals in Porto - Best Parks and Gardens in Porto - Best Port Wine Cellars in Porto - Best Beaches in Porto - Best Day Trips from Porto - Best Matosinhos Beaches - Things to do in Matosinhos - Things to do in Vila do Conde - Things to do in Póvoa de Varzim - Things to do in Vila Nova de Gaia - Things to do in Espinho - Minho | Northern Portugal Itinerary - Things to do in Viana do Castelo - Things to do in Ponte de Lima - Things to do in Monção - Things to do in Valença - Things to do in Caminha - Things to do in Braga - Things to do in Guimarães - Things to do in Barcelos - Things to do in Arcos de Valdevez - Peneda Gerês National Park Itinerary - Best Hikes and Trails in Peneda Gerês National Park - Best Peneda Gerês National Park Waterfalls and Lagoons - Douro Valley Itinerary - Douro Valley Wineries - Best Douro Viewpoints - Things to do in Peso da Régua - Things to do in Lamego - Things to do in Pinhão - Best beaches in Northern Portugal - Trás-os-Montes Itinerary - Things to do in Bragança - Montesinho Natural Park Itinerary - Douro International Natural Park Itinerary
When to visit Esposende?
Esposende is an ideal destination for the summer, so you can take full advantage of the beaches of the North Coast Natural Park or do water sports like kitesurfing. Of course, at another time of the year (spring, for example), you will find a more favorable climate for hiking on the fossil cliff, if that is what you are looking for.
It is also in the summer that the traditional pilgrimages and festivals take place in the parishes of Esposende, in which you can also participate. At the end of August, do not miss the History Festival.
Other examples are:
- Galaicofolia, recalling Esposende’s 2000-year-old past near Castro de São Lourenço.
- The Summer Sounds Festival
- The Youth Festival
- And the White Night of Esposende
Travel Insurance + Car Rental
If you don’t have a car for your travels in Portugal yet, start by comparing prices in Discover Cars, before renting one.
As far as travel insurance is concerned, it is always important to be more protected against any type of hazards. I recommend World Nomads for that. Don’t travel to Portugal without it. Be safe! 😉
Gastronomy in Esposende
One of Esposende’s best and most characteristic dishes is octopus. But you will be well served with any other type of fish, as long as it is cooked in a traditional way, for example, sea bass, sea bream or mullet.
As for dessert, the must-try are the Clarinhas de Fão (conventual sweets from Esposende). Or the Folhadinhos. 😉
Restaurants in Esposende
- Sra. Peliteiro in Barca do Lago.
- Água Pé, in the city center of Esposende.
- A Lareira, in Fão.
- A Cabana, not far from Apúlia.
Accommodation tips to visit Esposende
| Accommodation | Score | Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| InnEsposende Sports | 9.0 | Hostel |
| The Spot Hostel Ofir | 9.7 | Hostel |
| Hostel Eleven | 9.4 | Hostel |
| Esposende Guesthouse | 9.4 | Centro |
| Villa dos Corcéis | 9.7 | Fão |
| Axis Ofir Beach Hotel | 8.1 | Ofir |
| Hotel Suave Mar | 8.5 | Suave Mar |
| CMB GuestHouse | 8.9 | Apúlia |
Things to do in Esposende | Portugal
And now everything to visit in Esposende. I leave you tips for an itinerary of up to 4 days, as I mentioned, or even more, if you want to relax and let yourself visit Esposende more deeply or calmly. It can also be for just one weekend or 1 day if you choose to know only the essentials.
Map | Things to do in Esposende
Visit the center of Esposende and surroundings
Visiting Esposende requires passing through its small historic center and surroundings, namely the beach of Suave Mar and the Fort of São João Baptista. A walk or bike ride along the North Coast Ecovia is highly recommended!
1. Fonseca Lima Square: Catraia Fountain, Chapel of Senhor dos Mareantes and Esposende Town Hall
The first stop on this route to visit Esposende is Fonseca Lima Square. There you will find the Town Hall next to the Santa Casa da Misericórdia building. Be sure to pass under the arch to the small adjacent square, and visit the Chapel of Senhor dos Mareantes / Misericórdia Church on the corner, with a very beautiful interior.
At the center of Fonseca Lima Square stands the Catraia Fountain, reminding us of the traditional fishing boats of Esposende that had exactly that name. The Catraias focused on sardine fishing! 😉
2. Municipal Museum of Esposende
On one side of Fonseca Lima Square you’ll certainly notice the Esposende Municipal Museum. It is undoubtedly the most different building in the place: it is located in the former Teatro-Club de Esposende from the early 20th century, which later also served as a weaving factory.
3. Esposende Pillory and Municipal Library (Casa do Arco)
The Pillory of Esposende is located at one end of the city center, and is optional to pass through. It originated in the 16th century, when Esposende acquired the title of town (charter granted by D. Sebastião, king who disappeared in the battle of Alcácer-Quibir). The Pillory you see today is already a reconstruction, but it keeps some of the elements of the first one.
4. Mother Church of Esposende and Rodrigues Sampaio Square
To get to the Mother Church, I recommend walking all the way down Rua 1º de Dezembro, one of the liveliest streets in Esposende. This street leads exactly to Rodrigues Sampaio Square, where it is located.
The two towers of the Mother Church of Esposende stand out. It is in honor of Santa Maria dos Anjos and originated in the mid-16th century. Today you can see little of the original layout, due to the successive reconstructions to which it was subjected.
5. Maritime Museum of Esposende, Monument to the Men of the Sea and Statue of D. Sebastião
Rodrigues Sampaio square is quite large. It has several flower beds, garden benches and sculptures, of which the Monument to the Men of the Sea stands out.
Beyond the monument you can cross the avenue next to Cávado River and head to the Esposende Maritime Museum. The museum is located in the old Shipwreck Relief Station, and will show you the history of Esposende linked to the sea. Find out how to book a visit on the official website, and learn more about its history and activities.
6. North Coast Ecovia, next to Cávado River
You’ll then be in the most interesting part of Esposende, next to Cávado river. Walking from the maritime museum to the fishing docks is a must, passing through some wooden walkways built over the river. At the end of the day it is a very pleasant walk!
Then there is the North Coast Ecovia.
And the best way to do it is by bike: how about renting one with PROPEDAL, for example, to do a sunset or sunrise ride?
7. Fort of São João Baptista and Suave Mar beach
The North Coast Ecovia is not only located in Esposende. At the Esposende stage, I recommend at least a walk from the city center to the Fort of São João Baptista and Suave Mar beach.
It is near the Fort of São João Baptista that you will find the letters “ESPOSENDE”, and a cold but quality sea for a dip! You will be right at the mouth of Cávado River!
Visit Restinga do Cávado and Apúlia
The 2nd stage of this itinerary to visit Esposende is my favorite. 😉 It concerns the entire region of Restinga do Rio Cávado, that is, the piece of land and sand that separates Cávado River from the Atlantic Ocean: Fão and Ofir. At the end I will also suggest a visit to the famous mills of Apúlia, these already south of the mouth of Cávado River.
1. PR2 Trail – “Between Cávado River and the Atlantic Ocean”
This trail is my first suggestion, with emphasis on the part with the wooden walkways of the North Coast Natural Park. The trail is not very long (more or less 6km), and the most interesting stage is the one that starts at Clube Náutico de Fão until the viewpoint of Restinga do Cávado.
The main tourist attractions on this trail are:
- The birdwatching posts, along the walkways of the North Coast Natural Park.
- The viewpoint of Restinga do Cávado, at the end of the sandy beach, near the mouth.
- Ofir Beach.
- Bonança Beach and Facho da Bonança.
- And the Medieval Necropolis (cemetery) of Barreiras, in Fão.
Wooden Walkways of the North Coast Natural Park
Viewpoint of Restinga do Rio Cávado
Other pictures of the mouth of Cávado River
Ofir Beach
Beach and Facho da Bonança
Facho da Bonança was erected in the 16th century to help vessels navigate the Esposende Coast. It was a surveillance post in a dangerous place to navigate.
Medieval Necropolis of Barreiras
It is a set of graves believed to date from the 11th to 14th centuries, when the Black Death claimed many victims in Portugal. When they were dug up, several bones were found that date from that troubled time.
2. Fão: Church of Bom Jesus and Church of Misericórdia
In Fão, after the trail, you have two churches to visit: Bom Jesus Church and Misericórdia Church. I clearly highlight the boulevard in front of the Bom Jesus Church.
For hiking lovers, it would even be possible to extend the previous trail to these two points and attractions of Fão, and on the way stop somewhere in a traditional pastry shop to taste the typical clarinhas.
3. Apúlia Beach and Mills
Finally, the Mills of Apulia beach.
There are several beaches between Ofir and Apúlia, for example the Beach of Fão or the New Beach. But it is Apúlia Beach that deserves to be highlighted here, mainly for its windmills by the sea. They are the trademark of Esposende, more than any other!
The windmills of Apúlia date back to the 18th century and were used for milling and storing cereals. They were implanted there to take advantage of the excellent characteristics of the wind in the region, which blows strongly there!
Unlike some beaches to the north, such as São Bartolomeu do Mar or Belinho, Apúlia still preserves its sand: the sea has not yet stolen it. You can, however, see several rock formations appearing near the coast at low tide.
It was nice to walk along the walkways next to the mills, take lots of pictures where it is absolutely mandatory to do so, and then walk by the sea. A sunset at Apulia beach is fabulous!
Explore the main sights of the Fossil Cliff of Esposende
Stage 3 concerns the hinterland of the municipality, that is, the Fossil Cliff, the great mountain that you see in Esposende from the beach and the Atlantic coast. As it could not be otherwise, it will be a day of viewpoints: the best you will find when visiting Esposende!
1. PR5 in Esposende – Trail on the Fossil Cliff
This trail is optional for me. The trail goes from Senhora da Guia to Monte Faro, and therefore runs through the entire Fossil Cliff, high up on the mountain. I didn’t do this trail, but I went to all its main highlights, as they are almost all reachable by car or through a short hike.
The trail is almost 13km long.
2. Viewpoint of Monte Faro in Esposende
The Monte Faro viewpoint is near the starting point of the trail. This viewpoint is one of the best on the fossil cliff, much better than the viewpoint you have from Castro de São Lourenço, for example. The view is wide and open to the south, towards the mouth of Cávado River. You won’t find a better place to observe it from a distance! Recently, good access to the viewpoint was created, making it easily accessible in a car.
3. Castro de São Lourenço, Chapel and Interpretation Center (Vila Chã)
Castro de São Lourenço is another of the county’s landmarks, as are the mills of Apúlia. It’s not the only “castro” in Esposende, but it is the best prepared for tourism, and the archaeological heritage found there goes back to the 4th century BC.
There is an interpretive center next to the Castro, and you can climb up to the Chapel of São Lourenço for a nice viewpoint.
4. Anta da Portelagem and Mamoa do Rapido III
These are two of the megalithic monuments of Esposende, and the ones I recommend visiting. They are in my opinion the best, but there are more, for example the Menhir of São Paio de Antas or the Menhir of São Bartolomeu do Mar, totally optional! Anta da Portelagem dates back to the 3rd millennium BC.
Next to the Church of Vila Chã you will find a garden where there is also another dolmen. I leave you a photo below.
5. Viewpoint of the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Paz and Abelheira Mills
On the way to the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Paz I came across the Mills of Abelheira. Some of them were already in ruin, but I found them being restored, so maybe you will be lucky and see the works already finished during your visit. From the top of the hill where they are located you have a beautiful viewpoint to the Atlantic coast of Esposende.
6. Viewpoint from the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da Guia
The Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da Guia is much more than its viewpoint. The panorama is truly amazing because you can see the entire north coast of Esposende from it in an unobstructed way. But I must also mention the sanctuary’s pleasant gardens, full of sculptures and places to discover.
This is the end point of the trail I suggested at the beginning of this stage. As you descend the fossil cliff towards the coast, you can optionally stop at the Church of Belinho (São Pedro Fins). It was not the church that fascinated me the most, but the fact that it has the grandiose fossil cliff at the back, and the framing is spectacular.
Visit Neiva River in Esposende
The fourth stage of this itinerary with things to do in Esposende is Neiva River. For me Neiva River deserves to be better known, as it is so, so different from Cávado river, with amazing spots to visit! The further you go up the river, and the further away from its mouth, the better it gets!
1. PR1 – Trail “Between Neiva River and the Atlantic Ocean”
If in stages 2 and 3 I suggested trails, in stage 4 I will do it again. I’ll start by recommending PR1 with almost 9km in total lenght, of which I did only the part between the Chapel of Santa Tecla and the mouth of the river. There are some wooden walkways along the route.
Estuary and mouth of River Neiva
Chapel of Santa Tecla
Wooden walkways along the trail, close to Neiva River
2. Trail of the Watermills, Bridges and River Beaches in River Neiva
Another interesting trail to do would be the Watermills and Bridges Trail, although it is not an official Esposende trail. Regarding official trails, you can search for the following:
They are both circular trails, but I don’t recommend you to do them like that! 😉 I would merge the two trails and turn them into a linear route between Sebastião Bridge and Almerinda Watermill. You can see where these places are on the map in this article. 😉
I already visited all these spots:
- Sebastião Bridge and Azenha Branca.
- The Bridge and Watermill of Minante.
- Grilo Bridge and Watermill (the best place on this list, for me!).
- Várzea River Beach
- Morena Watermill.
- And the Almerinda Watermill.
They are all places of incredible nature, very wild places! A wonder to discover, trust me and check the pictures below to see what I mean. 😉
Sebastião Bridge and Azenha Branca
Minante Bridge and Watermill
Grilo Bridge and Watermill
Várzea River Beach (Forjães)
Morena Watermill
Almerinda Watermill
Do Water Activities in Esposende
Finally, water sports and activities. Did you know that Esposende is one of the most spectacular destinations in Portugal for Kitesurfing? The water, the waves and the wind are conducive to this!
And did you know that you can canoe down the peaceful Cávado River or Neiva River?
1. Practice Kitesurf in Esposende
If you like this kind of sports, contact Go Kite School, Kook Proof, or ElementFish. Through them you can rent equipment or even pay for courses and classes to initiate the sport.
2. Canoeing or SUP on the rivers Cávado and Neiva
For canoeing or Stand Up Paddle, contact ProRiver and Dunar. During my visit to Esposende I saw several groups canoeing down Cávado River, and I know that in Neiva River it will be just as awesome to do so, as it is literally nature in the raw!
3. Take a Boat trip on Cávado River
ProRiver also promotes boat trips in Esposende. Well, it is not exactly on a normal boat, but on a type of vessel used in the past to cross the river. You can find out more on their official website.
Other Itineraries and Travel Guides in Portugal
- N2 Portugal Road Trip Itinerary
- Madeira Itinerary and Travel Guide
- São Miguel Itinerary and Travel Guide (Azores)
- Terceira Itinerary and Travel Guide (Azores)
- Pico Itinerary in Azores
- Faial Itinerary in Azores
- Minho | Northern Portugal Itinerary
- Porto Itinerary and Travel Guide
- Things to do In Braga (Minho)
- Things to do in Guimarães (Minho)
- Things to do in Viana do Castelo (Minho)
- Peneda Gerês National Park Itinerary
- Douro Valley Itinerary
- Trás-os-Montes Itinerary
- Things to do in Bragança
- Montesinho Natural Park Itinerary
- Douro International Natural Park Itinerary
- Things to do in Aveiro
- Things to do in Coimbra
- Things to do in Leiria
- Things to do in Fatima
- Things to do in Nazaré
- Things to do in Peniche
- Things to do in Évora (Alentejo)
- Things to do in Beja (Alentejo)
- Algarve Road Trip Itinerary
- Things to do in Lagos (Algarve)
- Things to do in Portimão (Algarve)
- Things to do in Faro (Algarve)
- Things to do in Tavira (Algarve)
I hope this list of things to do in Esposende was useful for you! Please send me your feedback in the comment section below.
