hen Activities porto

Over the last few years, Porto has quietly (and then not so quietly) transformed into one of Europe’s most exciting small city nightlife scenes. What was once a fairly low key kind of place now has loads of cocktail bars, divey hangouts, natural wine spots, late night dance floors, and everything in between.

Start in Baixa, the city’s traditional nightlife core. This is where most nights begin, and often where they end (whether you planned that or not). The streets around Galerias de Paris fill up early, with people spilling out of bars and onto the pavement, drinks in hand. It’s manic in a good way. Expect cheap beers, crowded dance floors, and lots and lots of people.

Cedofeita, which feels like Baixa’s cooler, slightly more grown up sibling. It’s less about packed streets and more about finding a place to settle in for a few rounds. The crowd leans a bit more local, a bit more relaxed, but still very much up for a late night.

Head downhill and you’ll hit Ribeira, where things skew more scenic than party bar. Yes, it’s touristy, but for a reason. Drinking by the river with the Dom Luís I Bridge lit up in the background is hard to beat, especially at sunset.