Things to do in Matosinhos and Leça da Palmeira | Portugal

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Matosinhos is one of the main beach destinations in the north of Portugal, and has the advantage of having excellent transport infrastructure, with a direct metro from the center of Porto, for example. But it’s not just for the beaches in Matosinhos that you should visit this region, and in this article I’ll tell you about many other spectacular places to discover!

  • Have you ever heard of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos or the Monastery of Leça do Balio?
  • Did you know that the Port of Leixões is the largest artificial port in Portugal, after the Port of Sines in the Alentejo?
  • Have you visited MuMMa, the Matosinhos Memory Museum? And what about Quinta da Conceição Municipal Park in Leça da Palmeira?

In this article I’ll write about all these places and many more. 😉 Are you ready to find out all things to do in Matosinhos and Leça da Palmeira? Keep reading!

Leça da Palmeira Tidal Swimming Pool
Leça da Palmeira Tidal Swimming Pool

Article Content

Where are Matosinhos and Leça da Palmeira located, in Portugal?

Matosinhos is on the north coast of Portugal, in the district of Porto, bordered by Maia, Vila do Conde and the municipality of Porto itself. Leça da Palmeira, in turn, is a parish of Matosinhos, immediately north of River Leça.

As a curiosity, below is a list of other articles on the north of Portugal (with links), in case you’re planning a longer trip there. 😉

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 Póvoa de Varzim
- Things to do in Vila do Conde
- 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 Esposende
- 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
Map of the Municipality of Matosinhos
Map of the Municipality of Matosinhos

When to visit Matosinhos and Leça da Palmeira?

You should visit Matosinhos and Leça da Palmeira in the summer if you want to enjoy its beaches. However, there is plenty to do in other seasons as well, such as visiting Bom Jesus, the main religious temple in the city, or strolling through the city’s beautiful gardens, which I’ll tell you about later.

When it comes to festivities, you can organize yourself to visit Matosinhos and Leça da Palmeira during their main annual events:

  • The Festivities of Senhor de Matosinhos, which takes place between May and June, for around 3 weeks of celebrations. It is centered on the Bom Jesus de Matosinhos Church, mentioned above, and the procession that follows it to Senhor do Padrão, in the city center, next to the Port of Leixões.
  • The Festivities of the Martyr São Sebastião, in honor of the fishermen of Matosinhos. It takes place in July.
  • The Festivities of São Brás, in the parish of Santa Cruz do Bispo, in February.
  • The Festivities of Senhora da Hora, celebrating the ascension of Our Lady, forty days after Easter.
  • The Procession of Senhor dos Passos, in Leça da Palmeira. It takes place on the fifth Sunday after Lent.
  • And the Dolphin Fair, on the 4th Sunday of each month, in Basílio Teles Garden in front of Matosinhos Town Hall.
Image of Senhor de Matosinhos
Image of Senhor de Matosinhos

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 and Restaurants in Matosinhos and Leça da Palmeira?

Moving on to the fantastic gastronomy of Matosinhos, you should definitely go for the fish. In fact, if you search for this topic on google, you’ll certainly see a reference to the best fish in the world being from Matosinhos. 😀 Whether or not it’s the best in the world, I’ll let you decide for yourself by suggesting the typical grilled sardines, fish stew, monkfish rice, sea bass, grouper, sole, hake, octopus or cataplana / seafood rice.

There is also no shortage of excellent restaurants in Matosinhos where you can try fish, and I would like to highlight a few located in Rua Heróis de França: Bom Peixe, Meia-Nau, O Valentim or Tito. When you walk down this street at certain times of the day, I’m sure you’ll be delighted by the smell of grilled fish. 😉

If you’re visiting Leça da Palmeira, how about trying Restaurant O Alves? With quality, but very expensive, is the Boa Nova Tea House. The latter’s building is a national monument and was designed by one of the city’s famous architects: Siza Vieira.

Seafood rice at one of the restaurants in Matosinhos
Seafood rice at one of the restaurants in Matosinhos

Accommodation tips in Matosinhos

To sleep, I recommend staying near the beach in Matosinhos or Leça da Palmeira. I’ll give you some tips below, but you can find out more directly on Booking.

AccommodationScoreLocation
MyStay Matosinhos9.4Matosinhos – Center
Four Points by Sheraton9.2Matosinhos – Beach
Harbour Inn Townhouse9.5Matosinhos – Beach
Porto Sea Apartments9.7Matosinhos – Beach
Terrace Matosinhos House9.4Matosinhos – Center
Apartamento Matosinhos Mar9.6Matosinhos – Beach
Sea & Fish9.5Matosinhos – Beach
Matosinhos Palace9.1Matosinhos – Center
João Beach House9.7Leça da Palmeira
Love Sea Apartment9.3Leça da Palmeira
Sea & City9.1Leça da Palmeira
Agudela Vista Mar9.5Agudela Beach

Things to do in Matosinhos and Leça da Palmeira

And now, I’m going to introduce you to the sights you can’t miss, in other words, everything to visit in Matosinhos and Leça da Palmeira in a 3-day itinerary, or even longer, as it depends on your own pace and travel style.

I’ve decided to organize this section into 6 different tabs, which appear in the same way on the map below:

  • Visit the coast of Matosinhos and Leça da Palmeira
  • Visit the center of Matosinhos
  • Visit Leça da Palmeira
  • Visit Perafita
  • Visit Leça do Balio
  • And visit Santa Cruz do Bispo.

Map | Things to do in Matosinhos and Leça da Palmeira

Visit the coast of Matosinhos and Leça da Palmeira

When it comes to the coast of Matosinhos and Leça da Palmeira, I’m not going to write much because there’s already an article on this blog with lots of information about it. That article is about the Best beaches in Matosinhos.

1. Best Beaches in Matosinhos

My top 11 beaches in Matosinhos is what you’ll find below, and you’ll find all the details I think you need in the article mentioned.

  1. Matosinhos Beach, near the city center.
  2. Leça da Palmeira Beach.
  3. The Tidal Swimming Pool, next to the previous one.
  4. Fuzelhas Beach.
  5. Senhora da Boa Nova Beach.
  6. Blue Beach, also known as Conchinha Beach.
  7. Aterro Beach.
  8. Cabo do Mundo Beach.
  9. Memória Beach (Memory beach, in English).
  10. Agudela Beach.
  11. And Angeiras Beach.
Leça da Palmeira Beach
Leça da Palmeira Beach
Blue Beach (Conchinha)
Blue Beach (Conchinha)

2. Other places to visit on the coast of Matosinhos and Leça da Palmeira

I also highlight other must-see spots in this coastal area in the Best beaches in Matosinhos article. They are:

  • Leça da Palmeira Lighthouse, which is 46 meters high and began operating in 1926. It can be visited every Wednesday afternoon.
  • The Boa Nova Tea House, built by Siza Vieira and a national monument since 2011. It dates back to 1963.
  • The Chapel of Senhora da Boa Nova, next to the sea and remarkable rock formations.
  • The Obelisk of Memory, marking the landing place of King Pedro IV in 1832, together with a huge army to confront his brother Miguel, in the context of the Liberal Wars.
  • And also the Roman Tanks of Angeiras, used in the past for salting fish, which are one of the most important archaeological sites from Roman times in the north of Portugal (4th to 5th century).
Chapel of Senhora da Boa Nova
Chapel of Senhora da Boa Nova
Obelisk of Memory
Obelisk of Memory
Roman Tanks in Angeiras Beach
Roman Tanks in Angeiras Beach

3. Surf Experience when visiting Matosinhos and Leça da Palmeira

As well as getting to know the best beaches in Matosinhos, and the other places along the coast also highlighted, how about trying a surf lesson in this municipality? Click on the links below to find out more. 😉

Visit the center of Matosinhos

In the center of Matosinhos, I recommend that you leave your car in Senhor Bom Jesus parking lot, which is completely free and has plenty of space. That’s what I did, and it was from there that I began to discover the city.

1. 25th of April Park

The first place you’ll want to visit is the 25th of April Park, which is right next to the parking lot. It has at one end an old palace restored by Siza Vieira, which is home to the Youth House of Matosinhos. This park is very green, with lots of trees, and a gorgeous fountain in the center.

Youth House of Matosinhos
Youth House of Matosinhos
25th of April Park to visit in Matosinhos
25th of April Park to visit in Matosinhos
25th of April Park to visit in Matosinhos
25th of April Park to visit in Matosinhos
25th of April Park to visit in Matosinhos
25th of April Park to visit in Matosinhos
25th of April Park to visit in Matosinhos
25th of April Park to visit in Matosinhos
25th of April Park to visit in Matosinhos
25th of April Park to visit in Matosinhos
25th of April Park to visit in Matosinhos
25th of April Park to visit in Matosinhos

2. Church of Senhor Bom Jesus de Matosinhos

Next is the 18th century Church of Senhor Bom Jesus de Matosinhos, the work of the Italian architect Nicolau Nasoni, who was also responsible, for example, for the construction of the Clérigos Tower in Porto. Senhor de Matosinhos is the city’s patron saint and his image has been venerated there for a long time. It is known that this image is a wooden sculpture that originated between the 12th and 14th centuries, but there is a legend that places it at the time of Jesus’ crucifixion.

Legend of Senhor de Matosinhos

Legend has it that the author of the image is Nicodemus, the biblical character who took Christ down from the cross and placed him in the tomb. Due to the persecution of Christians at the time, Nicodemus ended up throwing his work into the Mediterranean Sea, and the image sailed to Matosinhos Beach, where it was discovered without one of its arms. The locals kept it in Bouças Monastery.

Decades later, a woman was gathering firewood by the beach and found the missing arm. Not knowing what it really was, she tried to light a fire with it, but every time she threw it into the fire, the arm immediately popped out, as if by miracle. The woman only discovered that it was the arm of Bom Jesus because her daughter, who was deaf-mute from birth, told her by speaking for the first time, which was another miracle. 

From then on, this image began to be venerated, and the arm was restored to it. In the 16th century, the image was transferred from the monastery of Bouças to Matosinhos, and in the 18th century the current church was built, as already mentioned.

It is believed that this is the oldest life-size wooden image of Christ Crucified in Portugal.
Church of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos
Church of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos
Church of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos
Church of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos
Church of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos
Church of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos
Church of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos
Church of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos
Church of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos
Church of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos

3. Museum of Sacred Art of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos

As well as visiting the church itself, which has a rich interior with gilded woodwork and an image of Bom Jesus, you should also visit the Museum of Sacred Art. It is owned by Misericórdia de Matosinhos, and its collection includes, for example, a copy of the Papal Bull of Paul V, a collection of paramentaria and goldsmithery, and various offerings to Senhor Bom Jesus.

The square around the church is very pretty, and I particularly liked the surrounding garden, with a bandstand and several fountains.

Museum of Sacred Art of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos
Museum of Sacred Art of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos
Museum of Sacred Art of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos
Museum of Sacred Art of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos
Museum of Sacred Art of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos
Museum of Sacred Art of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos
Museum of Sacred Art of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos
Museum of Sacred Art of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos
Museum of Sacred Art of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos
Museum of Sacred Art of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos
Museum of Sacred Art of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos
Museum of Sacred Art of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos
Museum of Sacred Art of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos
Museum of Sacred Art of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos
Museum of Sacred Art of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos
Museum of Sacred Art of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos
Museum of Sacred Art of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos
Museum of Sacred Art of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos
Museum of Sacred Art of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos
Museum of Sacred Art of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos
Museum of Sacred Art of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos
Museum of Sacred Art of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos
Museum of Sacred Art of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos
Museum of Sacred Art of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos

4. Guilhermina Suggia Square and Matosinhos Municipal Market

You should then go down to Avenue Eng. Duarte Pacheco, which you will follow to the Matosinhos Municipal Market and then to the fishing docks. Along the way you’ll pass Guilhermina Suggia Square, in honor of the famous Portuguese cellist. Matosinhos Municipal Market has existed since the first half of the 20th century and is open from Monday to Saturday, although it is only open all day from Tuesday to Friday. It sells mainly fresh products such as fish, seafood and vegetables.

Municipal Market of Matosinhos
Municipal Market of Matosinhos

5. Matosinhos Dockyard and Fishing Docks

Along Avenue Eng. Duarte Pacheco you’ll see lots of shipping containers. You’ll also find various accesses to the Port of Leixões, but as you’ll see, they’re all off-limits to the general public.

I recommend that you head to the Matosinhos Fish Market and Fishing Docks in the Port of Leixões, where I finally managed to get in to get closer to the boats. I’m sure you’ll love it there, despite the absurd amount of seagulls, seagull droppings and the intense smell of fish. 😀 Be careful with forklifts and other transport of this kind, because although there is no ban on entering the fishing docks (at least at the time of my visit), there was a lot of cargo handling going on, which can be a bit dangerous for the less cautious.

The Fish Market is called DocaPesca and is supposedly one of the biggest in Portugal, along with Peniche and Sesimbra. It sells, for example, octopus, sardines, horse mackerel, anchovies and swordfish.

Containers from the Port of Leixões along Avenue Eng. Duarte Pacheco
Containers from the Port of Leixões along Avenue Eng. Duarte Pacheco
Containers from the Port of Leixões along Avenue Eng. Duarte Pacheco
Containers from the Port of Leixões along Avenue Eng. Duarte Pacheco
Lots of seagulls at the fishing Docks
Lots of seagulls at the fishing Docks
Lots of seagulls at the fishing Docks
Lots of seagulls at the fishing Docks
Fishing Docks of Matosinhos
Fishing Docks of Matosinhos
Fishing Docks of Matosinhos
Fishing Docks of Matosinhos
Fishing Docks of Matosinhos
Fishing Docks of Matosinhos

6. Senhor do Padrão in Matosinhos

Tip: in the vicinity of DocaPesca, how about a trip to the Municipal Theater of Matosinhos and Santo Amaro Chapel?

Also on the outskirts of the fishing docks is the 18th century Senhor do Padrão monument. It is associated with the aforementioned Legend of Senhor de Matosinhos, as it marks the spot where the wooden image was supposedly found. Until the beginning of the 20th century, Espinheiro beach was located there, and the monument in question was isolated in the middle of the sand. The city was not yet the urban environment it is today.

Senhor do Padrão is undoubtedly one of the most important places in the city, especially for the fishing community of Matosinhos, which still gathers there on November 1st to pay homage to the fishermen who died at sea by lighting thousands of candles. As far as the structure itself is concerned, the statues of the four evangelists (Mark, Luke, John and Matthew) stand out.

Senhor do Padrão de Matosinhos
Senhor do Padrão de Matosinhos
Senhor do Padrão de Matosinhos
Senhor do Padrão de Matosinhos

7. Port of Leixões Cruise Terminal and Titan

The Port of Leixões is considered by many to be the greatest engineering feat carried out in Portugal in the 19th century. It began to be built in 1884 at the mouth of River Leça. It’s gigantic, and you’ll understand that if, like I suggested, you walk along Avenue Eng. Duarte Pacheco from Bom Jesus de Matosinhos.

One of its most recent infrastructures, inaugurated in 2011, is the Cruise Terminal, which allows the world’s largest cruise ships to stop at Leixões. The Terminal is located on the south breakwater of the Port of Leixões and can be visited on request, as you can find out on the official website. Take the opportunity to visit the huge metal crane called Titan, which was essential during the construction of the Port of Leixões in the past.

Cruise Terminal of the Port of Leixões
Cruise Terminal of the Port of Leixões
Port of Leixões
Port of Leixões
Port of Leixões
Port of Leixões

8. “Tragedy on the Sea” Monument and Anemone Roundabout

The “Tragedy on the Sea” monument is located right in Matosinhos Beach and must be visited before heading back inland from the coastal area. After all, it is extremely important for the region, as it was built in tribute to the greatest maritime tragedy of the mid-20th century, when four trawlers sank off Matosinhos, killing 152 fishermen and leaving around 70 widows and 150 orphans. The sculptures on the monument represent the distress and despair of the women and children who saw their families destroyed.

Tip: if you have time, it's great to take a walk along the coast to the Anemone Roundabout.
"Tragedy on the sea" Monument
“Tragedy on the sea” Monument
Anemone Roundabout
Anemone Roundabout

9. House of Architecture and Pinhais Canning Factory

Optionally, how about stopping by the House of Architecture in Matosinhos, which hosts various events and temporary exhibitions, which you can find out more about here? It was created in 2007 as the Portuguese Architecture Center, after the conversion of the former Real Vinícola de Matosinhos complex.

You can also head to Pinhais Canning Factory, whose history dates back to 1920. You can book a visit on the official website, which includes a tour of the factory and a taste of its traditional canned sardines. 😉

House of Architecture
House of Architecture

10. Matosinhos Town Hall and Basílio Teles Park

On your way to the Town Hall, you must cross the railway line, which forms a very imposing avenue in the center of the city.

As far as the Town Hall is concerned, it dates back to 1987 and is therefore relatively new and contemporary in appearance. In the surrounding area you’ll find the pleasant Basílio Teles Park or Garden, with a fabulous linden tree avenue, a small lake, a bandstand, many park benches and a children’s play area.

Matosinhos Railway
Matosinhos Railway
Matosinhos Town Hall
Matosinhos Town Hall
Matosinhos Town Hall Square
Matosinhos Town Hall Square
Matosinhos Town Hall Square
Matosinhos Town Hall Square
Basílio Teles Park
Basílio Teles Park
Basílio Teles Park
Basílio Teles Park

11. Florbela Espanca Municipal Library and Matosinhos Design House

There are also several other interesting public spaces nearby, such as the Florbela Espanca Municipal Library and the Matosinhos Design House.

12. MuMMa – Matosinhos Memory Museum

However, the highlight is MuMMa, or Matosinhos Memory Museum, which is the main museum in the municipality and allows visitors to discover more about the past and present of the city and surrounding area. It is located in Visconde de Trevões Palace, built at the beginning of the 20th century.

MuMMa - Matosinhos Memory Museum
MuMMa – Matosinhos Memory Museum
MuMMa - Matosinhos Memory Museum
MuMMa – Matosinhos Memory Museum
MuMMa - Matosinhos Memory Museum
MuMMa – Matosinhos Memory Museum

Visit Leça da Palmeira

Moving on to Leça da Palmeira, I’ll start by pointing out that it’s on the north bank of River Leça, where you’ll find more of the Port of Leixões, as it surrounds the entire mouth of this river.

1. Leixões Port Marina and Leça’s Sailing Clubs

You should start your visit to Leça da Palmeira by its beach and tidal swimming pool, choosing to visit also Leixões Port Marina, also known as Marina Porto Atlântico. This marina has more than 200 spaces for yachts up to 30 meters, although it can berth longer vessels if necessary. In the surrounding area you’ll find several nautical clubs.

Leixões Port Marina
Leixões Port Marina
Leixões Port Marina
Leixões Port Marina
Leixões Port Marina
Leixões Port Marina

2. Fort of Nossa Senhora das Neves and Castelinho de Leça da Palmeira

Also near the sea and Port of Leixões, you’ll find other interesting buildings to visit, which I’ll identify below:

  • The Fort of Leça da Palmeira, also known as the Fort of Nossa Senhora das Neves or Castle of Matosinhos. Its construction began during the Philippine Dynasty, namely in the first half of the 17th century, although it was only completed almost a century later. Its purpose was to defend that part of the Portuguese coast against pirate and privateer attacks. In the 20th century it became the property of the Captaincy of the Port of Leixões.
  • And Castelinho de Leça da Palmeira, in the middle of Leça beach, also known as Miramar or Signal Tower. In fact, it was used to send signals to fishing boats passing along the coast of Matosinhos on days when the sea was rough. It dates from 1870.
Fort of Leça da Palmeira
Fort of Leça da Palmeira
Fort of Leça da Palmeira
Fort of Leça da Palmeira
Fort of Leça da Palmeira
Fort of Leça da Palmeira

3. Chapels of Santa Catarina and Sagrado Coração de Jesus

Be sure to visit also the nearby religious temples, namely the Chapel of Santa Catarina, which dates back to the 15th century, and the Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Chapel of Santa Catarina
Chapel of Santa Catarina
Chapel of Sagrado Coração de Jesus
Chapel of Sagrado Coração de Jesus

4. Leça da Palmeira Church and Santana Garden

Only then should you head inland, visiting the Mother Church of Leça da Palmeira and the surrounding garden, which is called Santana Garden. The Mother Church is also known as the Church of São Miguel and originally dates from the 17th century, although it was renovated in 1873. Its most important features are the images of São Miguel (patron saint of Leça da Palmeira) and Nossa Senhora da Conceição, the latter carved from ancã stone in the 15th century and which once belonged to the Franciscan Convent of Santa Maria da Conceição, the ruins of which you’ll learn about in the next section of this article.

As far as Santana Garden is concerned, its pond with fountains and Santana Chapel, built in the 18th century, undoubtedly stand out. As a curiosity, this small chapel was used as a hospital for cholera patients when, in the mid-19th century, Leça da Palmeira was afflicted by an outbreak of the disease.

Mother Church of Leça da Palmeira
Mother Church of Leça da Palmeira
Mother Church of Leça da Palmeira
Mother Church of Leça da Palmeira
Santana Garden
Santana Garden
Santana Garden
Santana Garden
Santana Chapel
Santana Chapel

5. Quinta da Conceição Municipal Park

Quinta da Conceição Municipal Park is undoubtedly the most beautiful and pleasant in the municipality of Matosinhos, and has the particularity of being located where the Convent of Santa Maria da Conceição once stood. In fact, you’ll find lots of traces of this convent as you walk around the gardens, such as the chapel of São Francisco, the ruins of the cloister, the Manueline portico, some fountains, lots of statues and even crosses.

As far as the history of this convent is concerned, it is worth noting that it belonged to the Franciscan order, which arrived in 1481 and remained there until the extinction of the religious orders in 1837.

In addition to all the free spaces in this municipal park, don’t forget the tennis courts and the swimming pool.

Quinta da Conceição Municipal Park
Quinta da Conceição Municipal Park
Quinta da Conceição Municipal Park
Quinta da Conceição Municipal Park
Quinta da Conceição Municipal Park
Quinta da Conceição Municipal Park
Quinta da Conceição Municipal Park
Quinta da Conceição Municipal Park
Quinta da Conceição Municipal Park
Quinta da Conceição Municipal Park
Quinta da Conceição Municipal Park
Quinta da Conceição Municipal Park
Quinta da Conceição Municipal Park
Quinta da Conceição Municipal Park
Quinta da Conceição Municipal Park
Quinta da Conceição Municipal Park
Chapel of São Francisco
Chapel of São Francisco

6. Quinta de Santiago

I’ll finish off Leça da Palmeira with Quinta de Santiago, where you can’t miss the fabulous viewpoint over the Port of Leixões. It also has some museum spaces to visit by reservation, which I’ll list below:

  • Quinta de Santiago Museum, located in the main building, dating from the late 19th century.
  • Irene Vilar Space.
  • And Casa do Bosque, which houses the Giant Waterfall, representing Leça da Palmeira at the beginning of the 20th century.
Quinta de Santiago
Quinta de Santiago
Quinta de Santiago
Quinta de Santiago
Quinta de Santiago
Quinta de Santiago
Viewpoint to the Port of Leixões
Viewpoint to the Port of Leixões
Viewpoint to the Port of Leixões
Viewpoint to the Port of Leixões

Visit Perafita

Perafita is now part of a parish in Matosinhos that also includes Santa Cruz do Bispo and Lavra. Cabo do Mundo beach is part of Perafita, for example, but that’s not why I decided to create this section.

In Perafita area, you shouldn’t miss the medieval grave you’ll find at these coordinates, which is part of a larger complex of graves belonging to the Medieval Necropolis of Montedouro. There are a total of 5 non-anthropomorphic graves, carved out of granite rock and dating from the High Middle Ages (7th to 11th centuries). The easiest to find is the one I’ve identified. 😉

Also stop by Perafita Church, with beautiful tiles on the main façade.

If you’re looking for an adrenaline rush, I suggest you try Cabo do Mundo Kart Track, also located in Perafita.

Church of Perafita
Church of Perafita
Medieval Grave of Perafita
Medieval Grave of Perafita

Visit Santa Cruz do Bispo

In Santa Cruz do Bispo, on the other hand, there’s a place I really enjoyed visiting: Ponte do Carro Leisure Park. You should also stop at Monte de São Brás to visit the Ecological Park, and then at the Church of São Brás and Chapel of São Sebastião.

1. Ponte do Carro Leisure Park

Ponte do Carro Leisure Park
Ponte do Carro Leisure Park
Ponte do Carro Leisure Park
Ponte do Carro Leisure Park
Ponte do Carro Leisure Park
Ponte do Carro Leisure Park

2. Monte de São Brás (Church of São Brás and Chapel of São Sebastião)

Church of São Brás
Church of São Brás
Chapel of São Sebastião
Chapel of São Sebastião

Visit Leça do Balio

It only remains for me to point out a few tourist attractions in the region of Leça do Balio, a Portuguese town that today forms another of the parishes of Matosinhos together with Custóias and Guifões.

1. Monastery of Leça do Balio

Without a doubt, the Monastery of Leça do Balio, which already existed in the 10th century, stands out. About its history, it is known that in the 12th century it was donated by D. Teresa to the military-religious order of the Knights Hospitallers, and that later King D. Afonso Henriques gave it jurisdiction over the territory that included Leça, Custóias, Barreiros, Guifões and São Mamede. The Order of the Hospital depended directly on the Pope and its mission was to protect and assist pilgrims, as well as taking part in military incursions against the Moors.

The Monastery of Leça do Balio was also a point of passage for several kings and queens, or important nobles of the kingdom, such as Queen Santa Mafalda, King D. Sancho I, Nuno Álvares Pereira, and King D. Fernando I, who in fact married Leonor Teles there. The monastery unfortunately fell into ruin after the extinction of the religious orders, and today only the church remains.

Monastery of Leça do Balio
Monastery of Leça do Balio
Monastery of Leça do Balio
Monastery of Leça do Balio

2. Varas Park and Leça Green Corridor

Next to the monastery you can take a walk through Varas Park, and then along Leça Green Corridor, for example this linear trail I found on wikiloc.

3. SuperBock Beer House and Lionesa Urban Art

If you like to drink beer and want to know more about the brewing process and Super Bock brand itself, then you really must visit the Beer House. An appointment is required!

Don’t forget to stop by an adjacent street full of amazing urban art panels! 😉 I’m talking about the Lionesa Urban Art murals, of course.

Entrance to the Super Bock factory
Entrance to the Super Bock factory
Entrance to the Super Bock factory
Entrance to the Super Bock factory

4. Abel Salazar House Museum

You can also visit the house where Abel Salazar lived during the last years of his life. This man was an important doctor, teacher and painter who worked and lived in Porto at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. Some of his personal objects are on display in this house, as well as some of his works of art and even the books he wrote. Check timetables and prices here.

5. Picoutos Park

Finally, the Picoutos Park, also known as the Ribeira de Picoutos Ecological Park. Ideal for those who like to go for walks, it has some wooden walkways and an organic vegetable garden.

Extra: Visit Porto

Since Matosinhos is so close to Porto, why not head to the city and visit its main tourist attractions, such as the Clérigos Tower, Ribeira do Porto, Porto Cathedral or Bolsa Palace?

Below are several links to excursions and tickets for monuments and museums. Consider using Porto Card if you really want to visit a lot of museums in one day, and use the city’s public transport quite often.

Porto Tours with Get Your Guide:
1 - Porto Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
2 - Palácio da Bolsa Guided Tour
3 - Porto pub crawl
4 - Buggy Off-Road Adventure
5 - Porto Tuk Tuk Tour - Historic Center
6 - Torre dos Clérigos Entrance Ticket
7 - Ticket to World of Discoveries
8 - Porto 3 hour walking tour + Livraria Lello
9 - FC Porto Stadium + Museum Tour
10 - SEA LIFE Porto Tickets
11 - Serralves Foundation Museum + Park Ticket
Porto Tours with Viator:
1 - Private boat tour in Douro River
2 - 3-Hour Food and Wine Tasting Tour
3 - Private Electric Tuk Tuk Sightseeing Tour of Historic Porto
4 - 3-Hour Tour of Porto Highlights on a Electric Bike
5 - The Best of Porto: 3-Hour Guided Walking Tour
6 - Private Food Tour in Porto
7 - Douro Sunset Sailboat Experience in Porto
8 - Fado at Ideal Clube
9 - Fado by Casa da Guitarra
10 - Craft Beer & Food Tour in Porto
Porto Tours with Civitatis:
1 - Porto Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
2 - Casa da Guitarra Fado Show
3 - Fado Show at Ideal Club
4 - Complete Porto Tour with Tickets
5 - Porto Tuk Tuk Tour + Six Bridges Cruise
6 - Porto Medieval Walking Tour
7 - Porto Jetboat experience
8 - Porto Buggy Adventure
Bolsa Palace in Porto
Bolsa Palace in Porto
Church of Santa Clara in Porto
Church of Santa Clara in Porto

Other Itineraries and Travel Guides in Portugal

I hope you enjoyed this article and list of things to do in Matosinhos. Have a nice stay in my country! 😉

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