Explore Porto & Portugal with Cooltour Oporto

Cooltour Oporto, a renowned tour operator in Porto, Portugal, has won the 2024 Viator Experience Award for the third consecutive year. This recognition highlights their exceptional small group tours in the Douro Valley, offering personalized experiences that include winery visits, wine tastings, traditional lunches, and boat trips. The family-owned business continues to excel in showcasing the beauty and culture of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Oporto, the second-largest city in Portugal, is renowned for its rich history, its historic architecture and Port Wine industry, achieving the UNESCO World Heritage status in 1996. It is also home to FC Porto, a prominent football club founded on September 28th, 1893, by António Nicolau d'Almeida. The club began playing at Campo do Prado and later moved to Estádio das Antas in the 1950s, with the modern Estádio do Dragão opening for Euro 2004. Under leaders like Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa and José Maria Pedroto, FC Porto gained international acclaim. Visitors to Oporto can explore the club's extensive history at its museum, inaugurated in 2013, showcasing over 300 trophies and notable artefacts.

The Serralves Foundation, or Fundação Serralves, is a prestigious cultural institution in northern Portugal renowned for its contributions to art and landscape. The Foundation encompasses several notable sites: the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Art Deco House, the Manoel de Oliveira Cinema House, and Serralves Park, which includes an 18-hectare area with a Treetop Walk offering panoramic views.

The Festival Marés Vivas, is helding from July 19th to 21st at Recinto MEO MARÉS VIVAS between Madalena Beach and Canide Sul Beach, features an impressive lineup of artists. On July 19th, enjoy Syro, D.A.M.A, D'ZRT, and the renowned English pop band Take That. July 20th showcases Marisa Liz, Rag'n'Bone Man, James Arthur, and Ben Harper. The final day, July 21st, includes António Zambujo, Ornatos Violeta, Louis Tomlinson, and Snow Patrol. Tickets range from €45 to €90. 

The São João festivity in Porto is one of the city's most traditional and vibrant celebrations, held between June 23th and 24th, coinciding with the summer solstice and dedicated to St. John the Baptist. This municipal holiday blends Catholic and pre-Christian pagan rituals, initially focusing on religious processions and masses. Participants engage in unique traditions like teasing with plastic hammers, releasing hot air balloons, and lighting bonfires to ward off evil spirits, while "manjerico" plants symbolize love and friendship. The festivities culminate in a spectacular fireworks display along the River Douro, with the city bustling with concerts, outdoor dining, and a lively communal atmosphere.

Discover northern Portugal's culture, history, and gastronomy with day trips from Porto. Visit Guimarães, "The Cradle of the Portuguese Nation," with its UNESCO-listed historic center; explore Braga's ancient sites like the Santuário do Bom Jesus do Monte; enjoy Aveiro's canals and moliceiros boats; see Coimbra's historic Universidade de Coimbra and Biblioteca Joanina; and experience Pinhão's terraced vineyards and Port wine in the Alto Douro Wine Region. For in-depth experiences, consider Cooltour Oporto's tours.

June 10th marks the Day of Portugal, Luís de Camões, and the Portuguese Communities, celebrating the famed poet Camões and his epic "Os Lusíadas." Once associated with the Estado Novo regime, this holiday now emphasizes global Portuguese unity. This year’s events will occur in areas affected by the 2017 fires and at the University of Coimbra, commemorating Camões' 500th birth anniversary.

Primavera Sound Porto stands out as a beacon of musical diversity and cultural celebration. Its ability to draw an international crowd and feature a broad spectrum of musical genres makes it a must-visit event for music lovers. With its rich history and continued evolution, the festival not only highlights the vibrant music scene in Portugal but also cements its place as a significant event in the global festival circuit. Whether you're a fan of pop, rock, indie, or electronic music, Primavera Sound Porto promises a truly unique and memorable experience in the city of Porto.

The Fundação de Serralves hosts Serralves em Festa, one of Europe's largest contemporary culture events, featuring hundreds of activities over 50 hours from May 31st to June 2nd. Initiatives like the "Grande Porto" project further promote the region's unique appeal and investment potential.

As June approaches, Porto transforms into a vibrant hub of cultural and artistic activities, highlighted by numerous festivals and events. Key events include Serralves em Festa, Primavera Sound Porto, Portugal Day, Festival of São João, the Rabelo boat race, Nova Era Beach Party, and the São Pedro da Afurada festival, ensuring a lively and festive atmosphere throughout June 2024.