Porto has surprising nightlife for a city its size: young thanks to its universities and Erasmus students, cheap and concentrated in a few central streets, where at weekends people drink and chat in the street until late. It is part of the Porto guide.
Galerias de Paris and Cândido dos Reis
The heart of the night is the area between the Clérigos Tower and Praça de Carlos Alberto: Rua da Galeria de Paris, Rua de Cândido dos Reis, Rua da Conceição and Rua da Picaria. Here dozens of bars, many in old 19th-century shops and warehouses with original fittings, fill up from 11pm, and the crowd spills into the streets glass in hand. Music of every kind, low prices, a mixed crowd of students, tourists and locals.
The river
The Ribeira is calmer and more romantic in the evening, with bars and restaurants overlooking the illuminated Douro. Across the river, Cais de Gaia and WOW have bars and terraces with the best views of the city. In summer, kiosks and terraces along the river stay open late.
Rooftops and viewpoint bars
Several hotels and buildings in the centre have rooftop terraces overlooking the Clérigos, the Sé or the river: perfect for a Porto tónico at sunset. Jardim do Morro in Gaia and the Miradouro da Vitória are free viewpoints where many young people gather with a beer.
Fado in Porto
Fado was born in Lisbon, but Porto also has a few casas de fado in the centre and the Ribeira, with evening shows and dinner. Some Gaia lodges offer fado evenings with port tastings. Coimbra fado, sung by university students, has its own distinct tradition.
Clubs and live music
Clubs are in the centre, around Galerias de Paris, and in some outer and riverside areas, with electronic music, hip hop and pop until dawn. For concerts there are the Casa da Música, with a programme ranging from classical to jazz, rock and electronica, Hard Club in the restored Ferreira Borges market, the Coliseu do Porto and the Super Bock Arena at the Palácio de Cristal.
Festivals
- Primavera Sound Porto, in June, in the Parque da Cidade, twin of the Barcelona festival, with big rock and indie names.
- São João night, 23 June, the city's biggest festival, with crowds in the streets until dawn (see the São João festival).
- Serralves em Festa, in early June, with forty hours of free events.
- Fantasporto, the fantasy film festival, in February-March.
Hours, transport and safety
- Bars stay open until 2am on weekdays and 4am at weekends; clubs until 6am.
- The metro closes around 1am; then there are night buses, taxis and cheap ride-hailing apps.
- Porto is safe at night, but watch for pickpockets in the central crowds.
- Streets are steep and cobbled: comfortable shoes in the evening too.
See also eating in Porto.