Porto Entertainment

After a full day of sightseeing, you will be ready to hit the town. Whether you take it easy and enjoy the quieter parts of the city at night, or lose yourself in the myriad of bars and clubs on offer; the decision is yours. The city’s main theatre is a stunning example of Portuguese architecture, while the bars and clubs offer a good night out for everybody. If you are lucky enough to be in Porto during one of the numerous annual festivals, the best advice is to let your hair down and party as the Portuguese like to do.

Nightlife

There is a wide selection of nightlife choices in Porto, and whether you want to dance the night away in a trendy nightclub or simply enjoy a nice meal before leisurely strolling around the quaint little streets of the Old Town, you will find something that suits your mood.

Even the nightclubs all offer something different. You will find dance clubs, with loud music and heavy bass lines; clubs playing music suited to an older generation; gay clubs; live music clubs; and art galleries that transform into trendy night spots.

The streets located around rua de Santa Catarina are home to some excellent bars and clubs. You will find many bars offering live music and many that stay open until the early hours; this area is perfect for bar crawls and for those looking to let their hair down. Rua de Santa Catarina is always busy when the sun goes down and there is an exciting atmosphere, especially at weekends.

The Barredo quarter of Porto houses some excellent restaurants, colourful riverside cafés, lively bars and some great shopping opportunities at the local markets. Barredo is a mix of old and new and offers some form of entertainment for everyone, regardless of age or preference.

Theatre and music

The Sao Pedro Theatre first opened its doors in 1858. It is built in a Portuguese neoclassical style and is regarded as one of the most beautiful buildings in the country. The plays performed here are mostly in Portuguese, but are still great entertainment, especially for culture buffs. There is a theatre restaurant located on the second floor, which is open to the public for lunch or afternoon tea.

Festivals

Porto is home to a number of annual festivals, either religious, art or simply fun-based. The main highlights include:

• Dia de Reis is considered to be the end of all Christmas celebrations. The city celebrates with parties and feasts and in particular, a ‘King’s cake’ is baked, which is a theatrical part of celebrations (January).
• Porto Film Festival is a very popular event, drawing in visitors from all over the film-making world to celebrate films and promote up-and-coming directors (February).
• Festa de Sao Goncalo takes place on the first weekend of the month and celebrates fertility. It is an incredibly romantic festival, which is made up of fun events, suitable for all the family (June).
• Assumption Day is celebrated on August 15th each year. It is celebrated with parades, street festivals and fancy dress. Once the sun goes down, an impressive fireworks display is presented (August).