Summer in Porto can be scorching, with temperatures often exceeding 30°C. At this time of year, locals and tourists alike seek out refreshing outdoor spaces to escape the heat.
The city’s public swimming pools offer the perfect solution — combining leisure, sport, and social time. Discover six outdoor pools where you can make the most of summer in Porto.
Tidal pools of Leça da Palmeira
Located in Leça da Palmeira (Matosinhos), Piscina das Marés, also known as the Tidal pools of Leça da Palmeira, is a saltwater pool complex designed by the renowned architect Álvaro Siza Vieira and opened in 1966. Built into the coastal rocks, the site includes two pools — one for adults and one for children — and offers a safe alternative to the beach. It has been classified as a National Monument since 2011 and features a main pool around 33 metres in length.
Open daily from 1 June to 15 September, between 9:00am and 7:00pm, entry prices vary by age and day of the week. On weekdays, adults pay €8 for a full day or €5 for a half day, while children pay €5.50 and €3.50. Prices increase on weekends and public holidays.
Facilities include changing rooms, a bar, sun loungers and parasol rentals, and a wristband that allows free movement in and out of the pool area. The location is well connected by public transport, including buses (lines 105, 106, 507, 105N, 104) and Metro line A.
Quinta da Conceição Pool, Matosinhos
Also located in Leça da Palmeira, this pool is another iconic design by Álvaro Siza Vieira, opened in 1965. It sits within the Quinta da Conceição Municipal Park — a historic site that once housed a 15th-century convent.
In addition to the pool, there are changing facilities and a bar with an outdoor terrace where visitors can enjoy snacks, ice creams and cold drinks.
The pool is open daily during the bathing season (June to September), from 9:00am to 7:00pm. Weekday ticket prices are very affordable: €7 for adults (full day) or €4 (half day), and €4.50 and €2.50 for children aged 2–13.
Getting there is easy via public transport, with access via buses 111 and 601 and Metro line A. This pool offers a memorable day out in Matosinhos where design, history and relaxation come together.
Granja Municipal Pool, Vila Nova de Gaia
Located in São Félix da Marinha (Arcozelo), in Vila Nova de Gaia, this saltwater pool complex boasts stunning views over Granja Beach. It features two outdoor pools — a large one (25 metres long by 16.6 metres wide) and a smaller one for children — as well as a heated indoor saltwater pool used in the winter.
The pools are open daily during the summer season (June to September), from 9:00am to 7:30pm. The ticket office closes at 6:00pm, with the last swim at 7:00pm. Entry costs around €7.50 for adults, €5 for children under 12, and €5 for seniors (65+). Children under 2 enter for free, and each ticket includes a sun lounger and parasol.
Public transport access is excellent — Granja train station is directly opposite the pool, and local buses also serve the area.
Quinta da Gruta Pools, Maia
Situated in Santa Maria do Avioso (Maia), these pools are part of the Quinta da Gruta Municipal Complex, a space that promotes environmental education in a relaxing, semi-rural setting.
The treated-water outdoor pools include a large adult pool and a smaller children's pool with a paddling area. The complex is surrounded by lawns, gardens, educational allotments and two tennis courts.
Open daily during the bathing season (typically 9:00am to 7:00pm), tickets can be purchased online or onsite. Prices vary for residents and non-residents. For non-residents, adult tickets range from €3.53 (morning only) to €7.06 (full day), with discounted rates for children and seniors. Maia residents benefit from lower prices.
The site is about a 15-minute drive from Porto and is accessible by public transport.
Piscina Verde, Paredes Urban Park
Located in Paredes Urban Park, the Piscina Verde (Green Pool) is a modern open-air municipal facility that opened in August 2021. It includes eight swimming lanes and a children’s pool, both filled with treated (non-salt) water.
The pool has male and female changing rooms and is equipped for people with reduced mobility, including adapted chairs and lifeguard supervision. It's open daily: Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 7:30pm, and on weekends and public holidays in two sessions — morning (9:00am–1:00pm) and afternoon (3:00pm–7:30pm).
Weekday admission is free for children under 3 (when accompanied), €3 for ages 4–16 and seniors (65+), and €4 for adults (17–64). At weekends, each session costs €1.50 for children and seniors, and €3 for adults.
Canidelo Norte Pool, Vila Nova de Gaia
Located right on Canide Norte Beach, this pool in Vila Nova de Gaia was inaugurated in 2022 as Portugal’s first heated seawater pool on a beach. Measuring 25 metres long and 20 metres wide with a depth of 1 metre, the pool offers a unique beach experience with saltwater heated to 28–29 °C using sustainable solar panels.
Open daily during the bathing season (from June onwards), the pool is free to use for all ages. However, each person is limited to 30 minutes per session to allow fair access, and the pool holds a maximum of 50 people at a time. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
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