Póvoa de Varzim
Póvoa de Varzim is a city in the Douro Litoral,Norte region of Portugal.
Understand
Póvoa de Varzim (/ˈpɔ.vu.ɐ dɨ vaɾ.ˈzĩ/, PAW-voo-uh d(ih) vuhr-ZEEN) is one of the oldest fishing towns in Portugal, and a beach resort since the 19th century for beach healing purposes due to large quantities of iodine in the air and seawater. The city has diverse districts, an old picturesque downtown, the old fishermen district, high rise beach districts and an emerging contemporary east district. Póvoa is a nightlife hotspot in Portugal.
Visitor information
- 🌍 Posto de Turismo (Tourist information center), ☏ +351 252 090 190.
Get in
Póvoa de Varzim is located 15 km from Porto airport (OPO IATA) and to reach the city, travelers can not only use buses, and taxis, but also Metro do Porto lightrail services (line B).
By plane
Porto Airport is the closest airport and it is easy to reach Póvoa de Varzim by public transport. You can take tram E from the Airport to tram stop Verdes and then change to tram B towards Póvoa de Varzim. To take the tram you need to buy Andante ticket Z3.
By train
Line B of the Porto Metro serves the city.
By car
The main motorways serving the city are A28 and A7.
By boat
- 🌍 Póvoa Marina.
Get around
See
- 🌍 Igreja de São Pedro de Rates (Monastery of Rates). Former Benedictine monastery, now a national monument. Medieval era Romanesque architecture.
Around the waterfront
- Beaches - several bay shaped sandy beaches
- Passeio Alegre - Entertainment district, includes amongst bars, the historic beach library/bar (Diana Bar)
- Avenida dos Banhos - Main beaches avenue, spotted with beach bars, very lively in the summer and sunny weekends.
- Póvoa Fortress - built to protect the town from pirate attacks- free entry
- The four remaining old Beach Villas of Avenida Mousinho de Albuquerque
- The seaport and the fishermen quarter with the Lapa Lighthouse-Church
Around the city center
- Praça do Almada - Central square, local traditional architecture, 16th century pillory, statue of Eça de Queirós
- Póvoa de Varzim City Hall - in Praça do Almada, 18th century architecture that mixes Portuguese tiles, English style and French engineering.
- Rua da Junqueira - 19th century shopping Street, traditional architecture and stores
- Ethnography and History Museum
- Largo das Dores Square and its churches
- Igreja Matriz - Main church of the city in the old town center with Portuguese art
Around the countryside
- Romanesque Church of Rates and Village of Rates - one of the best and oldest of Portugal's Romanesque.
- Cividade de Terroso in Cividade Hill- Celtic city ruins, houses, walls, streets. The 3 thousand year old cradle of Povoa.
- São Félix Hill - religious hill with panoramic views over the city and the countryside.
Eat
Mid-range
- 🌍 Theatro, Rua Santos Minho 10, ☏ +351 252 613 824, geral@theatro.pt. M–F 10:00–00:00, Sa 10:00–02:00, Su 12:00–15:00. Restaurant, winebar, book store, and art gallery. €15-30.
Sleep
Mid-range
- 🌍 Grande Hotel da Póvoa, Passeio Alegre 20, ☏ +351 252 290 400, reservas@grandehoteldapovoa.com.
- 🌍 Axis Vermar Conference & Beach Hotel, Rua da Imprensa Regional, ☏ +351 252 298 900, reservas@axisvermar.com. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00.