Each week, I’ll bring you a few things worth doing, a useful expat tip, someone from the community to meet, a little Porto inspiration, and a Portuguese word – all without having to search yourself.
01 – WHAT’S ON
📖 Porto Book Fair 2026 – free
Come between 21 August and 6 September to Jardins do Palácio de Cristal to celebrate the written word.
🎥 Open-air Cinema – free
Friday, 28 August – 21:30 – CRL – Central Elétrica – The Carpenter’s Son
Saturday, 29 August – 21:30 – Jardim de Sarah Afonso – Pets on a Train
💡 Creative Mornings – free
CreativeMornings Porto returns to The Social Hub on Friday, 28 August at 10:30, bringing together creatives, entrepreneurs, and curious minds for an inspiring morning of talks and networking. It’s a great opportunity to meet new people, exchange ideas, and start your day with a dose of creativity and community. Registration required.
🪦 Guided Tour of Cemetery – free
The program “XVI Cultural Cycle of Porto Cemeteries” presents 10 guided tours of the city’s two historic cemeteries. On Saturday, 29 August there is a guided tour of Agramonte Cemetery at 21:00. The tour will be conducted in Portuguese and requires prior registration.
🍸 Rooftop sessions – Casa da Música – free
Get into the rhythm of the Rooftop Sessions on the rooftop of Casa da Música. Every Sunday, from 18:00 to 22:00.
🎾 Vizinhanças – free
The Vizinhanças 2026 municipal cultural program in Porto runs across public parks and gardens on seven Sundays in the summer. Come on Sunday, 30 August between 10:00 and 19:00 to Parque Urbano da Pasteleira and enjoy the rich program including music, theater, games, sports, storytelling, and workshops.
02 – TIP OF THE WEEK
Escape the Crowds: River Beaches Near Porto
If you’re living in Porto and looking to escape the Atlantic crowds, Portugal’s river beaches offer the perfect alternative. Just a short drive away, you’ll find peaceful riverbanks surrounded by nature, often with crystal-clear water, shaded picnic areas, and plenty of space to relax.
READ THE FULL GUIDE ON PORTOEXPATS.PT
03 – MEET THE COMMUNITY
Katharina Nguyen Faber
Katharina was born in Germany, but lived in several places over the years, including the UK, the US and Canada. She is a fresh addition to the Porto expat community, having moved here in July 2026. I asked her a few questions to help us get to know her better:
What brought you here: Porto felt like the right mix of city life, ocean, good food, beautiful architecture and a pace of life that makes it easier to actually enjoy your days.
What is your profession: I’m a Social Strategy Lead at a creative agency. So if anyone has a small business and needs support with social media accounts, I am here! Outside of my day job, I write Into Many Things, a newsletter about rethinking the traditional idea of what a “good life” looks like.
Your Porto favorite: Serralves. It feels like a little escape from the city without actually leaving it.
Your best expat tip: Don’t try to recreate the life you had before you moved. The best parts of moving abroad are often the tiny routines you wouldn’t have thought to build. Also: say yes to EVERYTHING. You never know what might wait for you on the other side.
04 – TRY THIS
Daikiri Lounge Bar
Head to Daikiri Lounge Bar in Madalena for ocean views, laid-back beach vibes, and one of the best sunset spots near Porto. On Saturday, 29 August, starting at 17:00 their popular Sunset Sessions return with DJs, cocktails, and front-row seats to the Atlantic sunset.
05 – PORTUGUESE WORD
🇵🇹 PRAIA FLUVIAL
🇬🇧 RIVER BEACH
