Before you go

Your trip to Vila do Conde.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Vila do Conde – Porto Destination Porto about 30 km from Porto

How to get there

Aeroporto do Porto (Aeroporto Francisco Sá Carneiro) (OPO) 15 km
Estação Vila do Conde (Metro do Porto, linha B) 1 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

Confirm before booking. Porto airport is about 15 km away. Porto metro line B (red) reaches Vila do Conde in roughly 50 minutes from Porto city center. By car, take the A28 motorway.

How many days

One day is enough to see the monastery of Santa Clara, the aqueduct, the main church, the Alfândega Régia with the nau, and the fort at the mouth of the Ave. Many people do a day trip from Porto. With more time, the town can be a base for the northern coastline beaches and for nearby Póvoa de Varzim.

When to go

From June to September it is usually cooler and rains less; it's the beach season, with cold Atlantic water. May and October are quieter. Winter is rainy and windy.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

No. The metro links Vila do Conde with Porto and the airport, and the center, the quay and the river mouth can be done on foot. A car is only useful to reach the more distant beaches along the coast.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Vila do Conde

Morning
Main church and old town
Start at the igreja matriz of São João Baptista, with its Manueline portal, and wander the streets of the old town down to the banks of the Ave River.
Afternoon
Santa Clara and the aqueduct
Climb the hill to the monastery of Santa Clara, visit the Gothic church with the founders' tombs, and follow the line of arches of the aqueduct.
Late afternoon
Alfândega Régia and nau
Descend to the quay, learn about the shipyards' history at the Alfândega Régia, go aboard the replica of the nau and walk along the riverside to the Forte de São João Baptista at the mouth.
Evening
Fish in the center
Have grilled fish or a caldeirada at one of the restaurants in the center or along the waterfront.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

Can you go from Porto to Vila do Conde by metro?

Yes. Porto metro line B (red) reaches Vila do Conde in about 50 minutes from Porto city center.

Is Vila do Conde worth a day trip from Porto?

Yes. In one day you can see the monastery of Santa Clara, the aqueduct, the main church, the nau on the quay, and the fort at the mouth of the Ave.

Does Vila do Conde have a beach?

Yes, the waterfront has sandy beaches facing the Atlantic, with cold water even in summer. The beach season usually runs from June to September.

Does the Camino de Santiago pass through Vila do Conde?

Yes. The Caminho Português da Costa, which starts in Porto, passes along the waterfront and through the center of Vila do Conde.

Are Vila do Conde and Póvoa de Varzim the same city?

No. They are neighboring municipalities, linked by the waterfront and the metro. Póvoa de Varzim lies just to the north.

Back to Vila do Conde