Pedro DominguesVila Nova de Gaia is a must for anyone visiting Porto, Douro region or even the north of Portugal. It’s from Ribeira de Gaia that you can get some of the best views of the city of Porto, and it’s also where you can visit the best Port wine cellars, the region’s ex-libris.
But there’s much more to Vila Nova de Gaia than just its riverside area close to Porto.
- There are excellent beaches along its 15 km of coastline, and many other river beaches.
- Gaia is the starting point for a Douro Valley itinerary on National Road 222, one of the most beautiful and scenic roads in Portugal.
- You’ll find excellent nature parks and even animal parks in Gaia, such as Santo Inácio Zoo and Gaia Biological Park.
- There are very interesting museums awaiting for your visit, such as Teixeira Lopes House Museum, with its absolutely brilliant plaster sculptures!
- And the Afurada area, with its ancient traditions.
Already convinced to visit Gaia in more detail? In this article, you’ll find several suggestions for things to do in Vila Nova de Gaia on your next trip to the north of Portugal.
Where is Vila Nova de Gaia located, in Portugal?
Vila Nova de Gaia is located in the district of Porto, and is one of the most populous cities in the country. It borders the city of Porto and the municipalities of Gondomar, Santa Maria da Feira and Espinho. It lies on the south bank of River Douro, close to its mouth.
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 Póvoa de Varzim - Things to do in Vila do Conde - 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 Vila Nova de Gaia?
Summer may be the best time of year to visit Vila Nova de Gaia, only if you want to enjoy its beaches or stroll along the municipality’s coastline. If beaches aren’t important to you, then you can visit Vila Nova de Gaia at any time of year, without exception.
Do, however, consider the main festivals, pilgrimages and events:
- The Pilgrimages of São Gonçalo and São Cristóvão, on the 1st Sunday after January 10th, and in the parishes of Mafamude and Santa Marinha.
- The Pilgrimage of Senhor da Pedra, on Holy Trinity Sunday (before Corpus Christi). It takes place near Miramar beach, where the chapel is located.
- The Festivities of São João, on June 24th. This is a popular festival with a traditional rabelo boat race.
- The Festival of São Pedro da Afurada, associated with fishermen and fishing. At the end of June and beginning of July.
- The Festivities of Nossa Senhora da Saúde, around August 15th, in Monte Murado.
- And the gastronomic event in Avintes, in the first half of September. It has several regional food stalls.
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 Vila Nova de Gaia
Vila Nova de Gaia is a municipality at the mouth of Douro River and on the coast of Portugal, so it’s only natural that you should opt for fish to eat, such as shad, lamprey or sardines, but any type of fish is a good bet! How about some fish accompanied by Avintes bread, also famous? 😉 Don’t forget a good Port or Douro wine as a must in this region.
If you’re not a fan of fish, then opt for a delicious francesinha, so typical of the Porto region.
For restaurants, I suggest the ones below, but of course you’ll find many other quality options.
- Stramuntana Gaia
- Magina’s
- Brasão Salgueiros
- Casa Dias
- Sancho Panza
- Mesa com Tradição
- Taberninha do Manel
Accommodation tips to visit Vila Nova de Gaia
I’ll also give you some accommodation tips for this region. 😉 You should also do your own research, as depending on your dates, you may find better options, or even promotions.
| Accommodation | Score | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Aguda Golf Vita | 9.7 | Aguda Beach |
| Apartamentos Céu Azul | 8.6 | Miramar Beach |
| House in Beach | 9.1 | Aguda Beach |
| Retiro da Praia da Aguda | 9.4 | Aguda Beach |
| Porto View by Patio 25 | 9.1 | Ribeira de Gaia |
| Vincii Ponte de Ferro | 9.3 | Ribeira de Gaia |
| The House of Sandeman | 9.4 | Ribeira de Gaia |
| The Lodge Hotel | 9.4 | Ribeira de Gaia |
| 296 Heritage Apartments | 9.5 | Ribeira de Gaia |
| 7 Gaia Roaster Apartments | 9.2 | Ribeira de Gaia |
Things to do in Vila Nova de Gaia | Portugal
Moving on to the things to do in Vila Nova de Gaia, and what to visit, I’ve decided to divide this article into different types of tourist attractions, namely beaches, Port wine cellars, main churches, parks, museums, and bridges over River Douro. I’ll also give some prominence to the Arcozelo Walkways, which are one of the best hiking trails in Gaia, and end with a list of other random places in the municipality that you might also like to visit during your trip!
Map | Things to do in Vila Nova de Gaia
The map in this article has been prepared according to the structure presented above.
Visit the best Port Wine Cellars in Gaia
Starting with the Port Wine Cellars, it really is a must to do some Port wine tasting and visit the region’s main “warehouses” when you visit Vila Nova de Gaia. I’d obviously like to highlight the ones I enjoyed the most during my own visit, Ferreira Port Wine Cellars, linked to Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira, “a Ferreirinha”, for many the most charismatic and striking personality ever associated with the Port wine business.
However, it’s impossible not to mention Graham’s cellars, Cockburn’s cellars, Burmester’s cellars and even Calém’s cellars, with a fado show included. How about a visit to Real Companhia Velha cellars, which include a tourist train ride?
If you’re not sure which ones to visit, or which ones are actually available, I recommend you read my dedicated article, where I present them all in more detail.
Visit the best beaches in Vila Nova de Gaia
As far as the beaches of Vila Nova de Gaia are concerned, I must refer you to my article on the best beaches in Porto, where I mention some of them in more detail.
- Cabedelo do Douro beach, with a stretch of sand about 1km long, is where the MEO Marés Vivas festival is held every year.
- Salgueiros beach, known for the high concentration of iodine in its waters.
- Canide beach, which has a small heated pool.
- Madalena beach, which is popular for volleyball.
- Dunas Mar beach, with excellent walkways nearby.
- Miramar beach, the most beautiful on this list, with the Chapel of Senhor da Pedra and the Arcozelo walkways starting there.
- Aguda beach, famous as an underwater fishing spot.
- Granja beach, with the best and most dramatic rock formations in the municipality.
- Areinho river beach, with unobstructed views of four of Porto’s bridges.
- The Avintes river beach, with a huge stretch of sand for a river beach.
- Azenhas river beach, very close to emblematic places to visit in Gaia, namely the Biological Park and Santo Inácio Zoo.
- Arnelas river beach, with a beautiful anchorage nearby.
- And the river beach of Crestuma, next to the dam of the same name.
Walk or cycle the Arcozelo Walkways and the Water Route in Vila Nova de Gaia
If you’re visiting Gaia by the coast, you’re sure to enjoy walking or cycling along the seafront. I have two suggestions for you: Ribeira do Espírito Santo Route (Arcozelo Walkways), and the Atlantic Route, which consists of Vila Nova de Gaia’s coastal ecovia.
Next to Miramar Beach you’ll find the Ribeiras de Gaia Environmental Education Center, which has free electric bikes available upon reservation. These bikes are especially useful for riding the Atlantic Route.
Speaking more about the Arcozelo Walkways, I’d like to highlight the green landscape of a good part of the trail, and the connection between the beach and the center of Arcozelo, where you’ll find the Museum of Santa Maria Adelaide, popularly known as the “saint of Arcozelo”, who has many believers in Portugal.
Visit the best Museums of Vila Nova de Gaia
Since I mentioned Santa Maria Adelaide Museum in the previous point, here are some other museums in Gaia that you shouldn’t miss. Teixeira Lopes House Museum stands out from them all, displaying the plaster prototypes of many of this Portuguese sculptor’s real works, and even some that were never executed. This was undoubtedly one of the best museums I visited in Porto region.
Don’t forget other options in the municipality:
- The Aguda Coastal Station, next to Aguda beach, with its fishing museum and various aquariums with marine species from the region.
- The Manor House of the Counts of Resende, much frequented by Eça de Queirós in the past (famous portuguese writer). It has a camellia garden and a collection of furniture, ceramics, paintings and sculptures inside. Reservations are required, but it was free during my visit.
- The Afurada Heritage Interpretive Center, which aims to convey more of the history and traditions of the Afurada people. It has a huge collection of miniature Portuguese ships and boats.
- And Wow Porto (World of Wine), considered to be Gaia’s new cultural quarter. The prices aren’t very friendly, but there are 7 themed museums on offer, with the possibility of tasting wines and even chocolate.
Visit the best Parks and Gardens of Vila Nova de Gaia
Next up are the parks of Gaia, and I recommend the following:
- Cantinho das Aromáticas (Aromatics Corner), an organic farm in Gaia. You can visit the productive garden for free and then buy products for condiments and infusions in the store.
- The Camellia Garden at Quinta das Devesas, which must be awesome when those flowers are in bloom.
- Morro Garden, right next to River Douro and Luís I Bridge. Obviously this is the most visited of all, specially at sunset, as it offers one of the best viewpoints to the city of Porto. I’ll leave you a photo below.
- Soares dos Reis Garden, right in the center of Vila Nova de Gaia.
- Lavandeira Municipal Park, with lots of sports facilities, large lawns and lots of trees. It is the municipality’s main free park.
- Santo Inácio Zoo, the largest in the north of Portugal, with animals such as lions, giraffes, rhinos, hippos, etc.
- Gaia Biological Park, which can be an excellent alternative to the previous one. It also has animals (but of a smaller size), and at the same time several other tourist attractions, such as museum spaces that children will enjoy for sure.
- And Castelo Botanical Park, from which the view to Crestuma Dam stands out. It’s right next to the Crestuma River Beach mentioned earlier in this article.
Visit the most beautiful Churches in Gaia
I’d like to say here that my favorite church to visit in Gaia is the Convent of Corpus Christi, for its fabulous high choir, which has a wooden coffered ceiling with beautiful oil paintings. Other equally important churches are the Monastery of Serra do Pilar and the Chapel of Senhor da Pedra, on Miramar beach.
Consider visiting also the following churches:
- The Chapel of Santa Marinha.
- The Church of Canelas.
- The Monastery of Pedroso.
- And the Church of the Monastery of São Salvador de Grijó.
Serra do Pilar monastery has an incredible viewpoint overlooking Douro river and the city of Porto, very similar to Morro Garden, which I’ve already mentioned. I also really liked the bandstand at the Church of Canelas, made of iron and with images of famous music composers.
Discover the 6 bridges between Porto and Gaia, and take a cruise on the river
It is also essential to take a cruise on Douro River, and with it get to know the 6 bridges of Porto that allow you to cross over to the municipality of Vila Nova de Gaia. These are:
- The Arrábida Bridge.
- The Luís I Bridge, the best known, as it is close to Ribeira do Porto and Gaia area.
- The Infante Bridge.
- The Maria Pia Bridge, the oldest and a national monument.
- The São João Bridge.
- And the Freixo Bridge.
As far as the cruise itself is concerned, I’ll leave you with the links below for booking, but I want you to know that it’s also possible to take longer cruises to Douro vineyards, on a day trip from Porto.
- 6 Bridges Cruise with Get Your Guide.
- 6 Bridges Cruise with Civitatis.
- Douro Valley Tour: Wine tasting, Lunch and Cruise.
Other places to visit in Vila Nova de Gaia
There are still other places in Gaia that I haven’t managed to fit into the previous tabs, but which are also destinations to consider on a trip around the municipality. In total, there are 15 different points to consider.
1. Douro Marina
The Douro Marina is located in the Afurada area, near the mouth of the river. It has mooring space for around 300 boats and is one of the largest and most important in the north of Portugal.
2. Afurada Public Washhouse
Still in the Afurada region, in addition to the aforementioned Interpretive Center, I’d also like to highlight the public washhouse by the river, where I found women washing their clothes by hand and laying them out in the sun outside. Something you’ll certainly enjoy watching!
3. Gaia Castle Viewpoint
Gaia doesn’t actually have a castle, but it did many centuries ago. If you make the effort to climb to the top of Rua do Castelo, you’ll find one of the best viewpoints in Porto.
4. Ribeira de Gaia
Naturally, you’ll have to take a walk along Gaia’s riverside (ribeira, in portuguese), from Luís I bridge to the area where Graham’s and Ferreira wine cellars are located. This is the heart of Gaia, and I’m sure you’ll be fascinated by the rabelo boats and the viewpoints to the opposite bank of the river.
5. Beira Rio Market in Ribeira de Gaia
One of the main attractions of Ribeira de Gaia, apart from the Port Wine Cellars and the viewpoints to Porto, is undoubtedly the Beira Rio Market, where you can have a quick meal, a wine tasting or even buy a piece of fruit for a snack. One thing is certain: it has a wide variety of products and is very well prepared to welcome you.
6. Gaia Cable Car
Taking a trip on Gaia cable car is an excellent way to reach the top of Luís I Bridge from Ribeira de Gaia. Normally, people only use it in one direction, always uphill, to avoid a steep climb on foot.
7. Half Rabbit – Bordallo II
If you like urban art, especially the works of the incredible Bordallo II, you should know that in the Ribeira de Gaia area you have his Half Rabbit to admire. 😉 Take a look at my photo.
8. Casa Portuguesa do Pastel de Bacalhau in Gaia
Given that Portugal is an expert country when it comes to cooking cod, it would be unthinkable not to include Casa Portuguesa do Pastel de Bacalhau on this list, also located in Vila Nova de Gaia’s Ribeira. The prices are a bit exaggerated, in my opinion, but it was worth the free music show I attended while tasting one of their pastéis with cod and cheese.
9. Infante Viewpoint
Infante Viewpoint is one of Vila Nova de Gaia’s best viewpoints of Luís I Bridge, but don’t forget the aforementioned Viewpoints of Serra do Pilar and Morro Garden.
10. Quebrantões River Pier
I mention Quebrantões river pier mainly because of the views it affords of Maria Pia and São João bridges. But there is also a beautiful riverside walkway that starts at this pier and ends at the Areinho River Beach.
11. Barbot House in Vila Nova de Gaia
If you like Art Nouveau, you must visit House Barbot, the main example of this type of architecture in Vila Nova de Gaia. It is located on Republic Avenue and dates back to 1904.
12. Altice Tower (Vila Nova de Gaia Broadcasting Tower)
I’ve never climbed to the top of the Altice Tower, but it definitely makes a mark on the landscape with its 177 meters of height. You’ll certainly see it from various points in Gaia during your itinerary, and I recommend that you do a little research during your visit to see if it’s open to the public. For example, it is usually open to the public during the Open House Porto event, which takes place every year.
13. Sardão Aqueduct
Sardão Aqueduct was built in 1720 by the maternal grandfather of the Portuguese writer Almeida Garrett, as a curiosity. It was intended to carry water from a spring in Vilar de Andorinho to the Quinta do Sardão palace.
14. Arcos da Amoreira Aqueduct
The Arcos da Amoreira or Murraceses Aqueduct also dates from the 18th century and was used to supply water to the friars of the nearby Grijó Monastery.
15. Crestuma Dam
I’d also like to mention the Crestuma Dam, where you can go to see how the Douro boats make the ascent to the upper level of the river (or descent, if they are coming in the opposite direction). This is the last dam on Douro River before it reaches the sea.
Extra: visit Porto
As the municipalities of Vila Nova de Gaia and Porto are so close to each other, how about crossing Luís I Bridge to visit the city’s main tourist attractions, such as 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
Day trips from Porto
You can also opt for day trips to various points of interest in the north and center of Portugal, and even Galicia, always departing from the city of Porto. Other possibility is to just rent a car with Discover Cars and do it by yourself.
Day trips from Porto with Get Your Guide: 1 - Douro Valley Tour from Porto 2 - Vineyards Tour from Porto with Lunch 3 - Braga and Guimarães day trip 4 - Surf Experience 5 - Santiago de Compostela Day trip from Porto 6 - Paiva Walkways day trip from Porto 7 - Peneda-Gerês National Park Day trip from Porto 8 - Aveiro Day trip from Porto 9 - Fátima and Coimbra Day Trip from Porto
Day trips from Porto with Viator: 1 - Douro Valley Small-Group Tour 2 - Authentic Douro Wine Tour with River Cruise 3 - Best of Braga and Guimaraes Day Trip 4 - Aveiro & Costa Nova Half Day Tour 5 - Full-Day Tour to Santiago de Compostela and Valença do Minho 6 - Peneda Geres National Park Tour from Porto 7 - Arouca Suspension Bridge and Paiva Walkway Day Tour from Porto 8 - 4x4 Porto Mountain Excursion 9 - Fátima and Coimbra Full Day Tour
Day trips from Porto with Civitatis: 1 - Guimarães and Braga Day Trip 2 - Douro Valley Wine Tasting and Tour 3 - Douro Region Full day Tour 4 - Fátima and Coimbra Day Trip 5 - Day trip to Santiago de Compostela 6 - Paiva Walkways + 516 Bridge Tour 7 - Peneda-Gerês National Park Day Tour 8 - Aveiro and Costa Nova day trip 9 - Matosinhos Surf Class 10 - Régua Day Cruise from Porto 11 - 1 Day Cruise to Pinhão
Go for a Road trip itinerary to Douro Valley (N222 National Road)
You can also take a car (if you don’t have one, rent one from Discover Cars) and drive along the National Road 222 to Douro Valley and beyond. After all, Vila Nova de Gaia is the starting point for this increasingly popular road for a good drive in Portugal.
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 you enjoyed this article and list of things to do in Vila Nova de Gaia. Have a nice stay in my country! 😉
