Porto's Longest Night:How to Live São João to the Fullest

Green Tours
Jun 22
2 min read

Once a year, Porto does something wonderfully strange. The entire city floods into the streets, the sky fills with glowing paper balloons drifting upwards, and strangers cheerfully tap each other on the head with squeaky plastic hammers. This is São João, Porto's most beloved festival, and one of the most unique nights in all of Europe.

Créditos de imagem: https://portosecreto.co/lancamento-baloes-sao-joao-porto/

To truly experience it, the secret is simple: start the day slowly, and save your energy for a night that doesn't end.

10:00 AM: Discover Porto in style

A classic day deserves a classic ride. Starting at Largo de Vimara Peres, this 2-hour tour takes you through Porto's best viewpoints, iconic bridges, and the soul of the riverside — all before the heat and the festive crowds take over. Book your spot here.

https://www.greentours.pt/porto-tours?re-product-id=311610

1:00 PM: Grilled sardines: the real symbol of São João

Forget everything else — on São João, the sacred dish is grilled sardines straight off the charcoal, served with roasted pepper salad. The smell of sardines drifting from street grills is, in itself, part of the celebration. Porto: https://www.tripadvisor.pt/ShowUserReviews-g652092-d2412490-r180690913-Restaurante_Teresa-Matosinhos_Porto_District_Northern_Portugal.html

Créditos de imagem: https://www.oportoencanta.com/2013/06/sardinha-tradicao-sao-joao-no-porto.html

3:00 PM: Rest like a local

The night ahead is long, so the afternoon is sacred. The Crystal Palace Gardens offer breathtaking views over the Douro River. Jardim do Morro, across in Gaia, gives you the whole city skyline as a backdrop. Bring a book, take a nap: you're doing exactly what every portuense would do.

Créditos de imagem: https://www.city-guide-porto.com/en/tourism/discover/viewpoints/south-of-porto-5/jardim-do-morro-10.html

11:00 PM: The night Porto never forgets

As midnight draws near, the sky fills with hundreds of glowing paper balloons rising above the rooftops. The Ribeira, the Fontainhas, the streets of Cedofeita, the whole city becomes one giant open-air party. Join the locals, accept the rubber hammer someone will inevitably hand you, and understand why this is, without question, the best night of the year in Porto.