Don't have plans for today? Well, come meet the land of horizon and sea - Matosinhos! ISCAP is located in the municipality of Matosinhos, so dare to get to know and explore this city with the 10 suggestions we have for you!
As our school is not only about Porto, today we show you the city where ISCAP is located - full of activities for all tastes and times of the year. You don't have to get lost on your trip, we'll help you discover the best our city has to offer!
Take a swim at Piscina das Marés
Matosinhos is known as “The city of the sea”, but that doesn't mean that the only thing you can do is go to the beach! So, this first suggestion has a twist: what if you could plunge into a saltwater pool? Piscina das Marés is located in Leça da Palmeira and is the ideal plan if you like to swim in the sea, but in a safer way and without the trouble of getting sand everywhere! We bet you know someone who can relate to this, right? The space is open from 9am to 7pm, whether you want to go the whole day or just half a day - the price varies according to that, although it won’t exceed 10€ per day!
You can also take a walk by the sea, sunbathe or have a refreshing ice cream on a hot afternoon!
fonte: https://2022.openhouseporto.com/places/22-piscina-mares/
Enjoy an old-fashioned musical evening
If 70's, 80's and 90's music is your thing, we also have the perfect plan for you! Less than 10 minutes away from Matosinhos Beach, you’ll find one of the best known and international bars in Matosinhos - Mary Spot Vintage Bar - a place devoted to rock and pop music concerts from the 70s to the 90s. This bar has one particularity: all concerts are given by local tribute bands!
So, if you like ABBA, Pink Floyd, Queen or Tina Turner, you have found the most “Instagrammable” place to spend an evening accompanied by good music!
fonte: https://maryspot.pt/
Enjoy a Sunday afternoon at Quinta da Conceição
Sundays don't have to be boring, especially if you enjoy them at Quinta da Conceição. Quinta da Conceição is a public and multidisciplinary park, where you can enjoy nature while taking a walk through the various spaces available, explore 15th century monuments, play tennis at the Quinta da Conceição Tennis School or even swim at the pool!
We have a tip for you: don't forget to bring a picnic basket, a towel and a deck of cards to enjoy the park's large, green spaces.
fonte: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parque_Municipal_da_Quinta_da_Concei%C3%A7%C3%A3o
Play a game of Padel
Padel is a very trendy sport here in Portugal, so take advantage of this wave of exercise and experience it with your friends. Quinta de Monserrate has an Indoor Centre in Matosinhos with more than 5 indoor padel courts, great for you to have healthy fun any time of the year, with no excuses!
This space is easily accessible by several means of transportation and closely located to the city centre, so use Padel as a way to exercise, to learn a new sport and to socialize.
fonte: https://www.quintademonserrate.com/index.php/clubs/view_page/57
Doing a canned fish tasting
Matosinhos is also known for its gastronomic delights, mainly dedicated to fish canned food! If you think that conserves have to be synonymous of basic and low-quality food, then at Conservas Pinhais & Cia you’ll have the opportunity to taste 100% handmade and premium conserves!
The Conservas Pinhais & Cia factory and museum is one of the oldest and most original sardine factories in the world and in addition to tasting, you can also visit the factory and see the production in real time.
fonte: https://www.conservaspinhais.com/
Travel back in time with Museu da Memória de Matosinhos
The best way to get to know a city is to travel back in time, thus if you add a touch of interactivity, it becomes even more fun! So, we present you the Matosinhos Memory Museum: a museum out of the box where you can browse through various archaeological, artistic and documentary materials and at the same time enjoy the interactivity of multimedia and even visit emblematic places through special 360º glasses!
The price is symbolic, therefore a great opportunity to learn in a didactic and interactive way!
See art exhibitions at Casa do Design de Matosinhos
The Matosinhos Casa do Design is a project in partnership with the Matosinhos City Hall and IDEA ESAD (School of Art and Design) research centre. Here you can see an endless list of exhibitions in the most variable domains of contemporary design, such as art, communication, editorial, multimedia, fashion and product, focusing mainly on national artists!
Culture has never been so accessible - visit and get inspired!
fonte: https://rpacnorte.pt/museu/casa-do-design/
Strolling or going to concerts in Parque da Cidade
Are you looking for a quiet place to read a book, have a picnic, go for a walk or just lie in the sun? Then Porto's City Park is the ideal place go! This public park, especially during spring and summer months, also hosts major festivals and concerts, such as Primavera Sound Porto or even the academic festival of the Academic Federation of Porto - Queima das Fitas.
Keep an eye on the schedule to catch the best events or just take the opportunity to rest and do some of your favourite activities!
Explore the aquarium SEA LIFE Porto
Did you know the Porto Oceanarium has more than 3000 animal species, being considered the second largest aquarium in Portugal? Do you think this aquarium is just for kids? Forget that, this is for kids and grown-ups, with tunnels, sharks and streak fish, interactive boards and lots of learning along the way! SEA LIFE Porto's goal is always to rescue and protect species, as well as to spread good animal husbandry practices.
Dive into this experience, learn and have fun!
Climb to the Lighthouse of Leça da Palmeira
Matosinhos, being a city highly dedicated to water activities, has the second tallest lighthouse in the country - about 46 meters (150,92 ft) high! The view from the Leça da Palmeira Lighthouse is breathtaking and, of course, we are suggesting it because you can go all the way to its top! Visits are exclusive to one day of the week, only in the afternoon, and cost 4.50€, with prior booking required.
Do you have the courage to go up there? Then, dare... you will thank us later!
fonte: https://2022.openhouseporto.com/places/22-farol-leca/
Now that we've given you 10 genius ideas to spend your stay in the city of Matosinhos, I don't think you'll ever have a dull day here again!
To study and live in Matosinhos is to have the opportunity to explore a city rich in memories, culture and entertainment - the options are endless!
See you around?