Day Trip From Porto To Espinho Portugal: 1-Day Itinerary

Espinho is a quaint coastal town 20 km south of Porto. Located in the Aveiro District, Espinho is known for its white-sand beaches, delicious seafood and the biggest open-air market in Portugal.

Even though there are many beaches along Costa Verde that are ideal for a day trip from Porto, Espinho has the best beaches along the west coast. And besides the lovely beaches, the town has a few things to see as well.

In this post, I’ll show you all the best things to do in Espinho and how you can see everything in one day. The easy day trip from Porto to Espinho only requires a 30-minute train ride. So pack your beach essentials and follow my one-day Espinho itinerary.

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Day trip from Porto to Espinho: what you need to know

Before you hop on the train to Espinho, take a look at some of these useful travel tips for your day trip:

• Download the Comboios de Portugal app. You can check the schedule for the train from Porto to Espinho and back.
• Hop on the Porto to Espinho train between 9:30-10am. That will give you plenty of time to see everything in Espinho on the same day.
• Espinho is a walkable town. Wear your comfortable shoes for the pedestrian boardwalk and the beach.
• Bring your credit card as many places accept credit cards only. Also, bring cash for smaller purchases.
• Bring all your beach essentials including a towel, sunscreen, bathing suit, and water.

How to travel from Porto to Espinho

The easiest and cheapest way to travel from Porto to Espinho is by taking the urban train. You can start the journey from either São Bento Station or Campanha Station in Porto.

All you have to do is buy a ticket from the counter or kiosk. This means you pay €0.50 for the Siga reusable card and one title (means one ticket) for the cost of the train journey to Espinho.

Porto to Espinho by train

Urban train: from Porto São Bento Station to Espinho Station

• Time: 28 minutes (about 2 trains per hour)
• Cost: €1.95 (plus €0.50 for the Siga reusable card)

And remember to keep the Siga card to take the train from Espinho to Porto. And make sure to validate your card before getting on the train. FYI – this is the same train line going to Aveiro if you are interested in going there for the day.

Porto to Espinho Day Trip: Attractions Summary & Map

Espinho is a small coastal town that is perfect for a day trip. Here is a quick summary of all the attractions on your day trip:

1. Praça do Mar 
2. Capela de S. Pedro
3. Museu Municipal De Espinho & Fórum de Arte e Cultura de Espinho
4. Feira Semanal de Espinho
5. Igreja Paroquial de Espinho – Paróquia de Nossa Senhora D’Ajuda
6. João de Deus Public Park
7. Espinho city center
8. Praia da Baia – Espinho Beach
9. Praia da Frente Azul
10. Passadiço Espinho
11. Praia de Bocamar

Below is an interactive map with all the highlights for my Espinho itinerary. Red pins are all the must-see attractions in Espinho that are part of the one-day itinerary, blue pins are other things to see if you have more time and burgundy pins are all the places to eat.

Best Things to Do in Espinho Portugal: 1-day itinerary

1 & 2. Praça do Mar & Capela de S. Pedro

Your day in Espinho starts in Praça do Mar, an open square south of Espinho Station. The area is quite big it has a tall smokestack, a church and a museum at the perimeter of the square.

First, see Capela de S. Pedro, a small and humble little church. Part of the entrance facade and the lower half of the interior walls are covered with typical Portuguese azulejos (blue and white tiles).

The church gets a huge crowd especially on June 29 when the town celebrates its patron saints. The annual event is a big festival which includes music and a parade.

Address: R.41, Espinho | Hours: 24hours

3. Museu Municipal De Espinho

The other attraction in the square is the Museu Municipal De Espinho (Municipal Museum of Espinho) in the Fórum de Arte e Cultura de Espinho (Espinho Art and Culture Forum).

The museum has a permanent exhibition display collection of the former Brandão, Gomes & Co. Factory including photographs and different products from the factory including sardine cans. And the Arte-Xávega Collection showcases fishing materials, boats, baskets, ropes and various parts of the boats. Plus, it has old photographs of the daily lives of the fishing industry.

Address: R.41 & Av. São João de Deus, Espinho | Hours: 10am-5pm Monday to Friday; 2:30-6pm Saturdays | Admission: €2 (free on Saturdays)

4. Feira Semanal de Espinho

Feira Semanal de Espinho is an open-air market that has existed since 1894. Its popularity grew and it became the largest weekly market in Portugal.

The market sells almost everything you can imagine! From fresh produce, bread, meat, seafood, household items, traditional Portuguese terracotta, clothing, accessories, toys and many more.

And the market itself is massive! As I walked through the market, I thought it would be two or three blocks, but it continued for another few blocks. It extended all the way to the railway tracks.

The prices at the market are better than shopping anywhere else. And if you buy something from the vendors, you support small businesses and local farmers.

Budget tip: it is cheaper to buy produce at the end of the day when vendors are packing up to go home. When you are ready to return to Porto and the market is still open, walk back and see what fresh produce you can get for a discounted price.

Address: Largo da Feira intersection of R.31 & R.22, Espinho | Hours: 7am-7pm on Mondays only except holidays

5. Igreja Paroquial de Espinho

Continue walking north to towards the centre of Espinho. On the way, you will see Igreja Paroquial de Espinho (Parish Church of Espinho), the one of the most prominent churches in the city.

On the outside of the Catholic Church, there are characteristics of neo-romanesque architectural aesthetics. And there’s even a bell tower embedded into the entrance facade.

And on the inside, the Latin cross-shaped church has a few side chapels. In one of the side chapels, there is a large image of the Crucified Christ in polychrome wood.

Address: R.27 461, Espinho | Hours:: 7am-8pm; 10:30am-12pm & 7-8pm Sundays; closed Mondays

6. João de Deus Public Park

Continue walking north until you reach João de Deus Public Park. The spacious park has leafy trees and a huge lawn. Locals love coming here to rest, read, or enjoy the park. There are many spots with shade, which is great for hot summers in Espinho.

Before walking towards the beach, roam around the area and discover a few places. Câmara Municipal de Espinho (Municipality of Espinho) is north of the park. There is a fountain in front with a typical fishing boat. And east of the fountain is an old school that is now a historical monument.

7. Espinho city center

Directly west of the fountain is the start of the main pedestrian-friendly street. On GoogleMaps, it is called R.19. The street is filled with retail shops, restaurants, cafes, and other facilities like banks and grocery stores.

The shopping isn’t as great as in Porto but walking through the shopping street of a small town in Portugal is still fun. Plus, this is the most direct way to go to the beach.

8. Praia da Baia – Espinho Beach

Praia da Baia is one of the best beaches for surfing in Portugal. The white-sand beach is between the two breakwaters next to a wide pedestrian promenade. It is also excellent for swimming and relaxing on the beach.

This beach on Costa Verde is very popular with locals and visitors throughout the year. Plus, it draws an even bigger crowd whenever competitions are held at Praia da Baía. Athletes come to this beach to compete in beach volleyball, surfing and bodyboard championships.

It is possible to rent a sunshade on the Espinho beach. And if you want to surf, board rentals are available at one of the surf schools. And when you are hungry, there are seafood restaurants and beach cafes by the promenade.

Moreover, if you stick around until the end of the day, you can catch an awesome sunset on the beach.

9. Praia da Frente Azul

North of Praia da Baia is another beach called Praia da Frente Azul. This white-sand beach is just north of the breakwater and is much quieter than the Espinho Beach.

Personally, I like Praia da Frente Azul better than Praia da Baia because it is not as rowdy. I think it is the perfect spot for suntanning and relaxing.

10 & 11. Passadiço Espinho & Praia de Bocamar

There is a long stretch of pedestrian boardwalk along Costa Verde between Esmoriz to the south and Vila Nova de Gaia to the north.

At Espinho, Passadiço Espinho, the elevated boardwalk starts at the north end of Praia da Frente Azul, right behind the big Espinho sign.

The boardwalk is excellent for walking and cycling while seeing the Espinho coastal views and sandy beaches.

Instead of taking the train from Espinho to Porto, you can walk the entire boardwalk to the next train station, Granja Station. And from Granja Station, take the train back to Porto.

The trail is approximately 3km long. The last stretch of the path goes through a neighbourhood. Keep walking along Av. Sacadura Cabral and the road will lead you to Granja Station.

Otherwise, enjoy part of the boardwalk, walk back to Espinho Station, and catch the next train back to Porto.

What and where to eat in Espinho, Portugal

There are a few things you can eat in Espinho. Since the town is right next to the sea, there are plenty of seafood options. Here are some of the specialties you must try in Espinho:

• Espinho shrimp – shrimp in Espinho
• Lulas – squid
• Sopa de peixe – fish soup
• Caldeirada de Espinho – fish and potato stew
• Arroz de marisco – seafood rice

Many Espinho seafood restaurants line the beach promenade along R.41 (north of Praça do Mar) and some are dotted around the neighbourhood. Here are a few suggestions (see the burgundy pins on the map):

• Os Melinhos (12-3pm & 7-10pm; closed Tuesdays) – the beachfront restaurant is very popular. I waited for a table and tried the grilled prawns
• A Fidalguinha de Espinho (12-2:30pm & 7-10pm) – very popular with locals. Their grilled lulas (squid) is fantastic! (Everyone at the restaurant ordered it too)
• Cantinho da Ramboia (11:40am-2:30pm & 6:40-10pm; closed Tuesdays) – a neighbourhood seafood restaurant.
• Ritual 18 (12-2:30pm & 7-9:30pm; closed Tuesdays) – many grilled seafood and meat options on the menu

Other Things to Do in Espinho Portugal

There are other things to do in Espinho and the surrounding areas. If you have more time in Portugal and want to explore Espinho and other coastal towns and beaches, here are a few more things to see (see blue pins on the map):

1. Piscina Solário Atlântico (June 16 to September 18) – if you prefer to swim in a pool, there are two outdoor seawater pools and an indoor pool. There is also a health club with a sauna, massage rooms, a jacuzzi, and a fitness room. Popular with locals.
2. Open-air Fishing Market – near Praia do Bairro Piscatório, local vendors sell the catch of the day. I went to the market area before noon and saw a handful of vendors only. Maybe there were more in the morning?!
3. Praia de Miramar – another beautiful beach north of Espinho
4. Capela do Senhor da Pedra – oceanfront catholic church on the rocky shores of Miramar beach

Is Espinho worth visiting for solo travellers

Out of all the beaches on Costa Verde, I think Espinho is the best town to visit because you can visit a market, eat seafood and spend time on a beach all on the same day. And it is an easy day trip for solo travellers as the urban train system is efficient and affordable. Espinho is definitely worth visiting.

So I hope you will consider taking a short excursion from Porto and explore Espinho. I had such a great time visiting the coastal town five years ago and decided to go back again this year. So glad I did because I love the laidback town and of course, delicious grilled seafood.

Let me know what you think of the Espinho itinerary. Did you find it useful?

Ready to plan your trip to Porto? Here are some of my go-to travel planning resources:
* Book your flight: find flight deals on Skyscanner 
* Book accommodation: find the best Porto accommodations on Agoda or Booking
* Buy insurance: Safetywing is my go-to provider for travel insurance, as it covers many things. I will never travel without the Nomad Insurance Package because it protects me against unforeseen events. Get a quote today.
* Order a SIM card: order a SIM card in advance and set up your mobile phone before arriving at your destination.
* Join tours: check Get Your Guide and Klook for the best tours around Porto.

Thank you for reading my Espinho day trip itinerary

I have many posts on Portugal, and you might also like these other posts on solo travel in Portugal:

• Portugal solo travel itinerary: 2 weeks in Portugal by train

Lisbon region posts

• Lisbon solo travel guide for first-timers
• Is the Lisboa Card worth it?
• Best day trips from Lisbon Portugal

Northern Portugal posts

• 2 days in Porto: things to do alone in Porto
• 17 best Porto food: what and where to eat in Porto
• 7 excellent day trips from Porto
• Day trip to Guimarães from Porto: 1-day itinerary

Central Portugal posts

• Aveiro day trip from Porto: 1-day itinerary
• How to spend one day in Coimbra Portugal

Algarve posts

• Algarve solo travel guide: 13 best places
• 20 best things to do in Albufeira for solo travellers
• Loule itinerary: best things to do in one day
• Vilamoura and Quarteira: 1-day itinerary

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queenie mak

Hi, my name is Queenie, and I’ve been a solo traveller for 20+ years and currently based in Hong Kong. Follow me on my adventures through Instagram and my blog!