Pedro DominguesPóvoa de Varzim is very popular for its beaches on the north coast of Portugal. Those who visit the municipality are usually looking for sun and sea, and here they find good places to spread their towels. Fewer visitors decide to explore the interior, and I believe this is due to some lack of knowledge of the attractions available.
Have you heard of Cividade de Terroso? What about Monte de São Félix? In this article, I’ll introduce you to the pleasant historic center, the beaches, and a handful of other tourist spots and things to do in Póvoa de Varzim. Are you ready?
Where is Póvoa de Varzim located, in Portugal?
Póvoa de Varzim is a city in the district of Porto, in northern Portugal. Its borders are Esposende, Barcelos and Vila Nova de Famalicão, in the district of Braga. To the south is Vila do Conde.
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 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
When to visit Póvoa de Varzim?
Undoubtedly, the best time to visit Póvoa de Varzim is the summer, to enjoy the beaches of the Atlantic coast. It is also at this time that the main festivities and festivals take place, such as the county festivities in honor of São Pedro, at the end of June.
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 Póvoa de Varzim
As in any coastal region of Portugal, fish is the best option when it comes to what to choose for a good gastronomic experience. There is one dish that stands out as the most traditional of Póvoa de Varzim: pescada à poveira (hake)! It is served with potatoes, carrots, savoy cabbage, eggs, onions, olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper.
For dessert, Rabanada is undoubtedly the most traditional sweet of Póvoa de Varzim. It is even called Rabanada à Poveira, made with bijou wheat bread.
Restaurants in Póvoa de Varzim
- Restaurant Bodegão
- Casa Cecília
- ÉleBê Póvoa
- Restaurant Theatro
- Restaurant O Marinheiro
Accommodation tips to visit Póvoa de Varzim
| Accommodation | Score | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Varzinn Hotel | 8.9 | Póvoa de Varzim |
| Hotel Costa Verde | 9.0 | Póvoa de Varzim |
| Hotel Avenida | 8.5 | Póvoa de Varzim |
| ó póboa Guesthouse | 9.2 | Póvoa de Varzim |
| São Felix Hotel | 8.8 | Monte de São Félix |
| Siglas & Runas | 9.4 | Póvoa de Varzim |
| Rêve d’Or | 8.7 | Póvoa de Varzim |
| Junqueira76 Guesthouse | 8.7 | Póvoa de Varzim |
| StayInn City | 9.3 | Póvoa de Varzim |
Things to do in Póvoa de Varzim | Portugal
Póvoa de Varzim can be a great destination for a weekend getaway. Take a walk through the historic center, relax on its beaches, and then go explore the surroundings. Below is a map with all the sights I will mention in this article.
Map | Things to do in Póvoa de Varzim
Visit Póvoa de Varzim – City Center
In the center of Póvoa de Varzim I parked easily next to the Fishing Port. It was from there that I started the walk along the waterfront and then through the main squares of the city.
1. Póvoa de Varzim Tile Wall
The first place I mention is exactly next to the Fishing Port. It is a giant tile panel, with representations of various moments in the history of the people of Póvoa de Varzim, with emphasis on fishermen and their families.
2. Marginal and Marina of Póvoa de Varzim
The Marginal is the promenade that goes around Póvoa de Varzim Marina by the sea. I recommend that you walk along it until at least the Church of Nossa Senhora da Lapa. You will be able to stop at the small fish beach and pass by several monuments with the theme of the sea, such as the Monument to the Fisherman or the Monument to the Women of the Sea.
3. Church of Nossa Senhora da Lapa
The Church of Nossa Senhora da Lapa dates from the 18th century and was built by fishermen. At the back of the church is a lighthouse, facing the sea, which although now deactivated, demonstrates the church’s connection with the fishing community.
4. Fortress of Nossa Senhora da Conceição
The Fortress of Nossa Senhora da Conceição is also located near the waterfront of Póvoa de Varzim and was built in the first half of the 18th century. It is possible to access the interior, visit its small chapel in honor of Nossa da Conceição, and climb the walls composed of four bastions.
5. Rua da Junqueira, Republic Square and São Roque Chapel
Leaving the seafront towards the city center, the first stop should be Republic Square, where you will find the Chapel of São Roque (or Chapel of São Tiago), of 16th century origin. This is a very busy square in Póvoa de Varzim, where some of the main streets of the city converge, such as Rua da Junqueira.
6. Almada Square in Póvoa de Varzim
Almada Square is a short distance from Republic Square, and is undoubtedly the largest and most important square in the city of Póvoa de Varzim. Here you will find several points of interest, such as the Pillory and the City Hall itself. It is a very large space, with lots of garden benches, a bandstand and many interesting architectural buildings.
7. Monument and House of Eça de Queirós
From Almada Square, a monument to Eça de Queirós stands out in the background. He was born in Póvoa de Varzim in 1845, exactly in a house in this square, today signaled with a bronze plaque not far from the statue, on the right. Eça de Queirós was a very famous writer in Portugal.
8. Pillory and City Hall of Póvoa de Varzim
The pillory of Póvoa de Varzim dates back to 1514. What you see today in the square of Almada is only a reconstruction of the nineteenth century, being the armillary sphere at the top, the only original element.
Without a doubt, the building of the City Hall of Póvoa de Varzim is the most beautiful in Almada Square. It is an early 19th-century building, but the tower and the tiles that decorate it resulted from interventions in the early 20th century.
9. Fountain of São Sebastião
To finish Almada Square I also mention the Fountain of São Sebastião. Although no water flows in the fountain, its tiles require a stop for contemplation.
10. Póvoa de Varzim Aqueduct
Póvoa de Varzim also had an aqueduct, from the 18th century. I recommend that you take a detour to Rua Padre Martins Gesteira, which crosses one of its arches. There you will find it mixed in with the houses. This is also where the cycle path that connects Póvoa de Varzim to Vila Nova de Famalicão begins.
11. Mother Church of Póvoa de Varzim, Church of Nossa Senhora das Dores and Church of Misericórdia
Even further inland you’ll find 3 churches to visit. They are the Mother Church itself, the Church of Nossa Senhora das Dores and the Church of Misericórdia. The royal coat of arms next to the main portico of the Mother Church and the various chapels inside the Church of Nossa Senhora das Dores, are to be admired. The Church of Misericórdia is the most recent of the three and has a very imposing façade.
12. Municipal Museum of Ethnography and History of Póvoa de Varzim
Don’t forget to visit the Municipal Museum of Póvoa de Varzim. Since this city is very much connected to the sea and fishing, it is natural that many of the exhibitions are on this theme, giving you an insight into the art of fishing, and how fishermen and their families lived in the past.
You will also find sacred art and archaeology exhibitions, with several pieces collected in excavations in Cividade de Terroso.
13. Cineteatro Garrett and Church of São José de Ribamar
Before returning to the waterfront of Póvoa de Varzim, you must pass by Cineteatro Garrett, recently recovered, but with origins in the late 19th century. This is one of the most important cultural spaces in the city. In the surroundings, also stop at the Church of São José de Ribamar.
14. Passeio Alegre and Póvoa de Varzim Casino
The visit to the city ends by the beach, at Passeio Alegre and next to Póvoa de Varzim Casino. Highlights include the lakes and the various statues, such as the monument to Cego do Maio, in honor of José Rodrigues Maio, a local hero: he was a 19th-century fisherman from Póvoa de Varzim who saved many lives from the sea.
Visit the best beaches in Póvoa de Varzim
Right next to the city you will find Leixão beach, also known as Praia Redonda. Due to its proximity to the city center, it is clearly the one with the best support infrastructure.
To the north, I also highlight Coim, Aguçadoura, and Estela beaches. There are many rock formations by the sea in some spots along the coast.
Visit Póvoa de Varzim City Park
On the outskirts of the city of Póvoa de Varzim, there is also a relatively large park to visit. It has several sports facilities and also spaces dedicated to children. Of course, the lake stands out, where you will find several species of birds.
Visit Cividade de Terroso
Cividade de Terroso is what remains of an ancient Castro settlement in the region, occupied from the 8th century BC to the 2nd or 3rd century AD. It is the main archaeological site in Póvoa de Varzim, and one of the most important in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula. Although it is possible to visit the ruins at any time, you can also visit an interpretive center from Tuesday to Saturday, during the day. Much of the artifacts discovered here are exhibited at the municipal museum, as I mentioned earlier.
Visit Monte de São Félix
Monte de São Félix is the highest point of Póvoa de Varzim, at 202 meters above sea level, so the views from its belvedere are absolutely fabulous, for the entire coast of the municipality. There you’ll also find some mills, a chapel and a good hotel where you can stay: São Felix Hotel, which I recommended above in this article.
Also noteworthy is the huge staircase from the base of the hill, and the Monument to the Emigrant.
Visit the Romanesque Church of São Pedro de Rates
In São Pedro de Rates you’ll find an old Romanesque church built in the 12th-13th centuries. You can find out more about its history in the adjacent museum center, where some sculptural and architectural elements recovered during archaeological excavations carried out around the church are also preserved.
In the small village you should also pass by Forais Square, where you will find the old pillory of Rates, dating from the 16th century, and the Chapel of Senhor da Praça, from the mid-18th century.
Visit the House Museum of Blessed Alexandrina de Balazar
Finally, I would like to highlight the House Museum of Blessed Alexandrina de Balazar, a religious woman who was also known as Santinha de Balazar, and who was beatified in 2004 by Pope John Paul II. In the museum you will find a faithful representation of the various rooms of her house, including her bedroom, where she lived most of the time due to the paralysis she suffered since her youth.
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 Póvoa de Varzim was useful for you! Please send me your feedback in the comment section below.
