Throughout the year, the seaports of northern Portugal pulse with activity, from morning fish auctions and dockside net-mending to seafood shared with friends at sunset. Food is never just about eating — it’s a celebration of season, family and the sea’s enduring generosity.
Local festivals and communal meals — such as Viana’s Romaria da Nossa Senhora da Agonia and the rambunctious São Pedro celebration in Póvoa de Varzim — express the strong intertwining of food, religion and the Atlantic.
In Póvoa, travelers can completement their seaside experience at Estela Golf Club — ranked among Portugal’s top five courses by Golf Digest. Or unwind at standout stays like Axis Verma, a beachfront favorite, or the new Tivoli Estela Golf & Lodges Porto, a refined retreat offering ocean views, lush gardens, and access to a secluded stretch of sand.
To fully take in the coastal scenery, travelers can stay at the Pousada Viana do Castelo, situated atop Monte de Santa Luzia. This elegant hilltop retreat offers one of Portugal’s most breathtaking views — sweeping across the mountains, city, Lima River, Atlantic Ocean, and the iconic Santa Luzia Basilica, which dramatically completes the vista just below.
Alternatively, the Axis Viana Business & SPA Hotel offers a sleek, modern stay in the heart of the city, renowned for its wellness facilities and striking contemporary design.
