Our Surf School is based in one of the best beach break of the north of Portugal. It is located in Espinho. Espinho is a small town within 15 minutes drive from Oporto and 2.30 hour from Lisbon. There is regular public transport coming to and from Espinho. Our Surf House is at 5 minutes by car to the beach.

Around our surf base you can find mainly beaches. There are bars and coffee shops on the beach where you can watch the sunset or party at night. There are also many types of restaurants, a market, surf shops, a bakery and everything necessary for your everyday needs. More specific needs, such as banks and other public institutions, are also availabe in town.

 

Espinho

Espinho is a typical fishermen city which became a big tourist resort due to its clear blue waters and golden sands.
Take the opportunity to enjoy a wide variety of water sports (surf and bodyboard), air sports (parachuting) as well as ground sports as you have 17 tennis courts available in the Sports Complex in the city, horse riding at the Horse Riding Centre or, if you prefer, a race in the Indoor Karting.
If you are keener on calmer activities you may opt for Golf and take long walks on the path along the beach for about 15km. There are two fairs of interest in Espinho, the “Weekly Fair” (considered the biggest in the Iberian Península) which takes place every Monday and on the first Sunday of each month, the “Feira dos Peludos” where antiques, junk and handicrafts are sold.
You may also visit other attractions of the city, such as the Igreja Matriz (built in 1901) and the Multimédia Centre (building in the shape of a boat which symbolizes the tradition of the city of the sea) which hosts every year the Cinanima (International Festival of the Animation Cinema), the Music Festival, as well as other events and initiatives of the city. If you are an astronomy lover you may go to a session at the planetarium and visit the astronomy library, as well as participate in astronomy observations which occur regularly.
The city of Espinho also holds Surfing and Beach Volleyball world circuits and the meeting of the “Statue-Men” (one of the biggest in the world).
Finally and to end off well, enjoy a dinner with a show at the Espinho Casino where you can also try your luck in a game!

(In the low one of Espinho in front to the sea)

 

Porto

The Oporto city (christened by the Romans as Portus, that is, the Port) is one of the oldest cities in Europe and the second biggest city in Portugal. Situated on the hilly slopes of the River Douro, with its well-known bridges, it offers a very picturesque and original view which has been the source of inspiration for many artists.In spite of its old roots having been preserved with pride, a prosperous and efficient commerce transformed it into a modern city. Its traditional importance as an industrial centre does not diminish the charm and character of its old quarters, not even the bustling of the new avenues with its shopping centres or quiet blocks of flats.
In 1996, considering the unquestionable historic richness of the city, specially in the old quarters, Unesco conferred to the city the statute of «World Heritage City» and in 2001, together with Roterdam, it was the European Capital of Culture.
Oporto offers numerous tourist attractions to visit such as: the Ribeira, S. Bento Station, the Cathedral – Sé, the Gomes Teixeira Square (the Carmo and Carmelitas Churches), the Bolhão Market, the Palácio de Cristal, the Clérigos Tour, The Tram Museum, the Contemporary Art Museum – the Serralves Ribeira Foundation, the “Casa da Musica” designed by Rem Koolhaas, and many others.
Appreciate its magnificent churches and palaces of the Barroque and Neoclassic periods, the impressive works of art in tiles and in gold carvings. You may visit, for example, the “Palácio da Bolsa” a neoclassic jewel, the “S. Francisco Church”, with a unique work of art in Barroque gold carving, etc.
Enjoy some window-shopping along the Cedofeita and Santa Catarina Streets as well as Boavista Avenue. Go into the haute-couture boutiques, shoe shops and jewelleries or even the reputed Lello bookshop and satisfy your wishes and whims.
Visit the enjoyable parks of the city: the Botanic Gardens, the Passeio Alegre Gardens, The garden of Virtues, the Palácio de Cristal gardens, the “Quinta da Macieirinha” and the “Tait Quinta”.
Save some time for a cruise along the River Douro and while passing under the bridges that cross it you will hear the stories of the city. See Porto from a different view and cappreciate the scenery which resembles a cascade of labyrinths flowing into the river.
From the 23rd to 24th of June, the city of Oporto celebrates “S. João”, the most important celebration of the city. The people gather in the streets and have fun all night. It all starts in Ribeira with the Fireworks, every year at midnight. Then the party spreads throughout the city and only ends at sunrise. In the streets the merry-makers walk around with the garlic plant, the plastic hammers, they buy marjoram, launch balloons, jump the bonfire and eat grilled sardines.
Enjoy the most traditional regional dish, the famous “Tripas à Moda do Porto”, or try any other delicacy from the many that this city has to offer you.

(about 15 minutes journey)

 

Aveiro

Before reaching Aveiro the nature lovers should take a detour through Torreira to visit the Natural Reserve of the São Jacinto Dunes where lots of species of ducks, herons and other marine birds, in the process of extinction, can be found.
Aveiro has a modern university and is considered one of the most recent Portuguese cities due to its architecture. You may find some buildings of the New Art of the XXth Century, as well as monuments and churches, the Aveiro Museum (in the Convent of Jesus) and the Fish market. During your visit you will have the opportunity to see the canals, the salt-pits and the traditional boats (Moliceiros).
In the vicinities – Costa Nova – you may enjoy a delicious fish meal and admire the traditional and colourful houses of the region, the ”palheiros” (striped houses which sheltered the fishermen colonies).
In Ílhavo you may visit the Maritime Museum and the Museum of the oldest porcelain factory in the country, Vista Alegre.To end your visit to do not miss the opportunity to taste the famous “Ovos Moles” (egg yolk dessert) while you enjoy a trip in a “moliceiro” along the canals of the Ria de Aveiro.

(about 40 minutes journey)

 

Santa Maria da Feira

Santa Maria da Feira is today a city with an extremely varied programme of socio-cultural events.
Among its various monuments the most important is the Castle. It was built in the XVth century and has a different design from the typical Portuguese castle. You should also not miss the Interactive Science Museum – “Visionarium” and the Paper Museum.
One of the traditional events of this region is the “ Festa das Fogaceiras” (in January), in May the “Imaginarius” (international street theatre festival) and the Medieval fair which takes place at the beginning of August.
Since you are in the “Lands of Santa Maria”, continue to the city of Ovar and enjoy the traditional and famous sponge cake “pão-de-ló”.

(about 15 minutes journey)

 

V. N. Gaia

The city of Vila Nova de Gaia is situated on the left bank of the River Douro, opposite the city of Oporto, and is connected to it by six bridges. In the Modern Period, V.N. de Gaia was the land of seamen, craftsmen, merchants and business men. This was the start of a new period of development with the coming of wealthy Englishmen who bought houses and warehouses for the storage and shipment of Port Wine.
Visit the Port Wine Cellars where you will find out all about the process of producing and storing one of the most well-known wines in the world and the secrets of the oldest demarcated wine region in the world will be revealed.
Go up the Serra do Pilar to visit the Monastery and enjoy a most beautiful view of the capital of the North. Appreciate the scenery, speckled with narrow roofs and lanes and return to earth for a short journey in a tram up to Foz. End your day in a restaurant by the sea with dinner and all night entertainment.

(about 15 minutes journey)

 
Início > Fernando GraÇa > Slideshow