10 Things to Do in Porto in October

Porto is a city that invites you to explore it from the very first moment you arrive. You will be attracted, among other things, by its architecture, narrow streets, historical monuments, natural landscapes, local gastronomy and traditional wines.

Without a doubt, during the month of October you will find the best things to do in Porto, such as surfing on the city's beautiful beaches, climbing the Arrábida Bridge, going on scenic walks, visiting theme parks, celebrating Halloween and much more.

Make the most of your visit to Porto in 4 days or more and celebrate the anniversary of the Sao Bento train station.

You will be able to enjoy the work done on the walls of the building with tiles and you will discover the history of the city in a particular way. You will also have access to some exhibitions and talks.

This is a visit that you can do on your own. All you have to do is head for the city centre and, near the Torre de los Clérigos, you will find this century-old station, inaugurated on 5 October 1916.

When you get inside the station, you will be amazed by the more than 200,000 tiles installed between 1905 and 1906, on which you can see the work of the painter Jorge Colaço. These images tell the story of the people from all over the country, their daily struggles, vicissitudes and achievements.

If you are one of those people who think that going to the beach to surf is an activity that you can only include among the things to do in Porto in summer, then you are wrong.

If you travel during the autumn period, specifically in the month of October, you can also catch some good waves. In addition, the sea water is warmer and more comfortable.

You can book a surfing lesson, in which a specialised instructor will teach you all the theory about the basic principles of this discipline. He will also provide you with a high quality board and a wetsuit to suit you.

Afterwards, you will warm up your muscles a bit while you practice some tricks on the sand so that you can stand up and paddle. Finally, you'll head out to sea to catch some waves and live a unique experience, adapted to your needs.

Useful information

• Price: from 25€ per person.
• When: every day.
• Where: Matosinhos beach, Miramar beach, among others.

Porto in October offers warm and cool autumn weather, which invites you to stroll through the main streets of the city and discover its hidden treasures. All this while contemplating the changing colours of the leaves on the trees and the tone of the light at sunset.

To do so, you can book a panoramic tour on an electric bicycle, tuk tuk or segway, where, with the help of a specialised guide, you will learn about the history of the city and enjoy a true natural spectacle, typical of the autumn season.

Electric bike tour

With the guided electric bike tour you will ride through the highlights of Porto: the old town, the riverside, the longest avenue of the city (Avenida da Boavista), parks, palaces, gardens and much more. You can enjoy the scenery and discover the history of the city.

Tuk Tuk Tour

Hop on a motorized tricycle with a roof, which will protect you from the sun and start exploring the streets of Porto. The driver will take you around the city centre, while you listen to the audio guide and take in the sights.

The tour usually lasts about an hour, so you'll have enough time to join a Porto river cruise, go shopping, attend Fado shows in Porto, among other activities, when you get off the tour.

Segway Tour

The Segway tour of Porto in October is another tour you can't miss. You will have a great time on this electric skateboard with a balancing system at the base, which will prevent you from falling off.

You'll be able to ride for more than three hours around the Ribeira district in the company of your guide and a small group. You will learn about the different monuments of the city and stop to explore them.

Attending the Francesinha gastronomic festival is a good option if you are in Porto during the first days of October. It is an annual event dedicated to the emblematic sandwich of the same name. A true culinary delight that, over the years, has become a real tourist attraction.

The festival usually takes place in a venue near the Douro, designated by the city council in partnership with some restaurants such as Alicantina, I Love Eat Francesinhas or Cufra.

Thus, you can taste this traditional francesinha (bread with meat, sausages, cheese, ham, egg and other ingredients), while contemplating the waters of this important river. This is a great activity to complete any of the gastronomic tours around Oporto.

Moreover, in this festival you will have a vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free version of the sandwich. This way, you will have no excuses to try this preparation appreciated by all the locals. Of course, any of them will be accompanied by a beer or a wine.

Useful information

• Price: free admission.
• When: from the end of September to the beginning of October.
• Where: selected restaurants in Porto.

Amplifest is a festival with a tradition of more than 10 years in the city, which you can enjoy during a visit to Porto in 3 days or more.

The event takes place on the first two weekends of October at the Hard Club. This is a historic building dating back to the 19th century, usually used for exhibitions, concerts and public events.

There, you can live a unique musical experience with bands of different musical styles.

The line-up of national and international artists performing at this festival is usually extensive and varies with each edition. Therefore, you should check the line-up for each of the days of Amplifest beforehand. This way, you will be able to attend the day that suits you best.

Useful information

• Price: from 55€ per person.
• When: the first two weekends in October.
• Where: Hard Club in Porto.

During your stay in the city, you may be looking for alternatives after visiting the city's best museums or taking the day tours and excursions from Oporto.

If so, there is no better (and easier) plan than to take advantage of the autumn weather in October to see the city from one of its viewpoints.

• Mirador da Vitória: from here you have a privileged view of the Dom Luis I bridge and the cathedral.
• Mirador da Rua das Alda: this small viewpoint will give you a close-up view of the Church of Grillos and the famous Douro River.
• Jardins do Palácio de Cristal viewpoint: here you will not only have several viewpoints to admire the city of Porto. You can also enjoy a quiet and fresh natural environment, surrounded by paths, flowers, fountains and sculptures.
• Torre dos Clérigos viewpoint: considered the highest tower in the city with 75 metres, 240 steps and one of the best views.

You can also go to other viewpoints such as Porto Cathedral Tower, Dom Luis Bridge Viewpoint, Mirador das Fontainhas, Miradouro da Serra do Pilar or Mirador de Comiviajeros.

If you are a fan of Japanese pop culture (anime, manga, cosplay, etc.), you cannot miss Iberanime Oporto, during your visit to the city of Oporto.

It is a two-day convention, which takes place annually during the month of October. To go, you just have to go to Matosinhos, a town belonging to the district of Oporto, which is only 10 minutes away by car from the city centre.

There you can enjoy more than 50 different activities, among them:

• J-Pop performances, both choreographed and live singing.
• Noodle competition, where you can demonstrate your resistance to spicy food.
• Drawing contest, where you can show your skills creating manga characters.
• Cosplay competition.
• Workshops, where you will learn the art of origami, as well as some techniques to create manga and anime characters.
• Martial arts show.
• Gamer area, with a series of old and new titles for you to have fun playing. Also, eSport and To To Dance.

Useful information

• Price: from 16 euros per person.
• When: fourth weekend in October (dates may change annually).
• Where: Exponor, in Matosinhos Porto.

Attending a jazz concert is a good alternative if you are visiting Porto in October. During this month the city hosts a festival dedicated to this musical genre born in the late 19th century.

All you have to do is go to the concert hall of the Casa da Música, on Av. da Boavista. There, you can enjoy the work of national artists with a long career in the world of jazz, who, with their original compositions, group improvisations and cover versions, will give you an unforgettable evening.

You will be able to listen to everything from the rhythmic notes of traditional jazz to new arrangements made by some composers (experimental jazz), which result in a series of very interesting contemporary sounds.

Useful information

• Price: the average ticket price is €10 per person.
• When: end of October.
• Where: Casa da Música de Porto.

During your visit to Porto in 2 days in October, you should take advantage of the warm weather to go on a wine tour in the Douro Valley, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Moreover, this month is harvest season in the region's vineyards, so you'll enjoy a picturesque view of the wine estates.

Depending on the Douro Valley tour from Porto you choose, you'll be able to enjoy different experiences:

• Tour one or more vineyards, to learn about the history of these wineries, the production process and taste some wines in the company of an expert.
• Take a cruise on the Douro river in a traditional boat, while you discover the privileged landscapes of the region and enjoy a delicious drink.
• Stop at some viewpoints and localities. Such is the case of Pinhao, where you will taste a traditional lunch (carnivorous or vegetarian) and have free time to explore the village at your own pace.

Useful information

• Price: from 95€ per person.
• When: every day.
• Where: departure from Porto to Douro Valley.

If your visit to Porto in October coincides with Halloween night, you can't miss joining a Pub Crawl. You can celebrate the scariest night of all while enjoying the city's nightlife.

The adventure starts around the Clérigos Tower, where you will meet your guide and the other members of the tour. From there the group will walk to the best bars and clubs in the region such as the More Club, Eskada Porto or Rendez Vous Bar, among others.

You can wear your best costume, mask or make-up, meet new friends, dance, drink beer at a cheap price and some free shots, included with the tour. In addition, the guide will take pictures of you with a professional camera at no extra cost.

After about four hours, the tour ends at the Perola Negra Club, where you will be separated from the guide in charge and, if you wish, you can continue celebrating on your own until dawn.

October in Porto is the high season, as it is in May, June and September. Therefore, you will find a considerable influx of tourists throughout the city.

This increase in visitors during October is due to the fact that it is a month with good weather. The days are warm, which allows you to do all kinds of outdoor activities.

The nights are cooler and rainfall is low.

During October in Porto you will find prices a bit higher than in other months, as this is a season of high tourist demand in the city. Therefore, you might notice a significant variation in the costs of flights, hotels, airport transfers and tours or excursions.

Despite this slight difference in prices, depending on the low, medium, high and very high season, you should keep in mind that Porto is characterized by being a cheap city, which you can visit on a budget and enjoy it to the fullest.