Each week, I’ll bring you a few things worth doing, a useful expat tip, someone from the community to meet and a Portuguese word – all without having to search yourself.
01 – WHAT’S ON
☕ Porto Coffee Week – free
📍05 Oct – 10 Oct • various, Bolhão Market
A one-week festival dedicated to coffee – featuring workshops, championships, parties and plenty of immersive experiences for coffee professionals and enthusiasts alike.
🎷 Jazz à Mesa – free
📍Tuesday, 06 Oct • 21:00 • Maus Hábitos
Looking to explore Porto’s vibrant jazz scene? This Porta Jazz showcase at Maus Hábitos brings together Nuno Trocado and Deni Omeragić for a night of contemporary jazz, creative improvisation, and up-close performances.
🎦 Amor
📍Wednesday, 07 Oct • 21:30 • Cinema Trindade
Award-winning and emotionally resonant French-language drama, Amor is screening at Cinema Trindade for those who appreciate thoughtful, character-driven cinema.
🎶 Rui Veloso
📍Friday, 09 Oct • 21:00 • Super Bock Arena
One of Portugal’s most iconic musicians, Rui Veloso, will return to the stage in 2026 with a series of intimate concerts.
👶 Baby Workshop
📍Saturday, 10 Oct • 10:00 • Balleteatro
This workshop, designed for babies aged 18 to 36 months and the adults accompanying them, invites little ones to explore the musical world through songs, instruments, sounds, movement and play.
🍷 Vinhos a Descobrir
📍10 Oct – 11 Oct • Forte da Gaia
Discover some of Portugal’s most exciting wines at Vinhos a Descobrir, where independent producers and wine enthusiasts come together for tastings, conversations, and new discoveries.
🏃 Porto City Race
📍10 Oct – 11 Oct • various
The Porto City Race is part of a Portugal City Race circuit. It is an event open to people of any age, can participate individually or in a group.
02 – TIP OF THE WEEK
Spend a Day (or a Weekend) in Vila do Conde
Just 30 minutes north of Porto, Vila do Conde is a charming coastal town that perfectly combines history, culture, and seaside relaxation. Known for its golden beaches, centuries-old monuments, and vibrant food scene, it’s the ideal spot for a quick escape from the city. Whether you’re drawn by its maritime past, the traditional lace-making art, or simply the sound of waves crashing on the shore, Vila do Conde offers a little something for everyone.
03 – MEET THE COMMUNITY
Kat Popp
Kat is originally from Germany, Würzburg 🇩🇪 and has moved to Porto in April 2025. I asked her a few questions to help us get to know her better:
What brought you here? I moved here primarily for love and for a slower, more intentional life I had always imagined for myself. What I didn’t expect was that, just a few months after moving here, my Corgi girl Lily would come into my life and spark the idea for my brand. She needed a proper raincoat for Porto’s wet winter weather, so I made one for her and a matching vest and hat for myself, and that’s how Make it Popp – Made for Life with dogs started..
How can you help others? I’m here to help dogs and their mums stay dry in style: I create handmade raincoats for dogs and matching pieces for their owners, using carefully selected natural and durable materials such as Scottish oilskin and Portuguese Burel wool. Everything is made to order, thoughtfully and in small quantities, so only what’s needed gets produced.
Your Porto favorite? I love the Jardins do Palácio de Cristal for their almost fairytale-like corners, Aduela for drinks with friends, and the beaches of Gaia for long walks along the coastline. Oh, and the sunsets! I also love discovering all the little details of Portuguese architecture when wandering through Porto: the colourful tiles, beautiful façades and unexpected details.
Your best expat tip? Learn a little Portuguese – and use it, even if it’s not perfect. I still stumble through it every day, but I’ve found that people really appreciate the effort and are usually happy to meet you halfway.
What do you wish you knew before coming to Porto? How much patience Portuguese bureaucracy requires – and how much easier life gets once you stop trying to rush it.
👉 Would you like to be featured? Fill in this form!
04 – TRY THIS
Discover Authentic Porto Flavors with Eat Porto
One of the things I love most about Porto is that there is always another side of the city waiting to be discovered. For me, that journey started with a book written by the founder of Eat Porto (Experience Porto by Luís Remisio). What immediately caught my attention was the carefully curated selection of restaurants and local food spots, places that felt authentic rather than touristy. After finishing the book, I knew I wanted to experience Porto’s food scene through their eyes.
👉 For my full Eat Porto experience, check out the article here!
05 – PORTUGUESE WORD
🇵🇹 chover
🇬🇧 to rain
💬 Hoje vai chover.
👉 It’s going to rain today.
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