After a few days in Porto, it was time to move on. We decided to
explore more of Porto before dropping down to the Douro River and out to
the coast, where the Douro River flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
Today we were heading to Matosinhos, where we would spend the night
before continuing up the coast to Mindelo. The weather was perfect, and
the walking was easy, with plenty of little cafés to stop for some
refreshment or a bite to eat along the way.
Even though our backpacks were tiny, we managed to pack swimsuits and
dry robes, so as we walked along the beachside paths, we were hoping to
find a spot we could swim. Being the Atlantic, the swell and waves were
pretty big!
The large sandy beach of Praia de Matosinhos was our last opportunity
for a swim, so we decided to brave the big waves and have a dip. The
beach was busy with surfers, but Susan and I were the only swimmers,
along with another couple.
Matosinhos is a port city with a sizeable municipal fish market. Most
of the restaurants are fish restaurants that grill fresh fish outside,
on the street, on large charcoal BBQ’s. We are not big fish eaters and
found it challenging to find an alternative. We eventually found a 100
Montaditos restaurant and decided to eat there before retiring for the
evening.
The Route
Distance : 8 Miles
We intended to walk from Porto up the coast to Mindelo over a few
days, but you can also walk to Matosinhos as a day walk from Porto and
return via the Metro, a mostly overground tram that runs right up the
coast. We decided to walk through the streets of Porto, but you could
easily follow the river if you prefer.