This is a wonderful beachside run of up to 20 km one-way, from the Vila Nova de Gaia on the Gaia side of the river, all the way to Espinho. There are beach and ocean views the whole way, with the run on a mix of dedicated path, roadside bike path, and wooden boardwalk on the sand. It is one long, continuous beach, although the names seem to change every 1-2 km. One of the great features of this run is that there are numerous points you can can hop on the train back to Porto. There are km markers along the route. We’ve included a table with segment distances. There is beach the entire way, of varying widths. It is runnable, in sections, depending on tides & conditions. Praia=Beach
Chapel of Senhor da Pedra
A good spot to start is on the R. de Praia (Beach Rd.) in Afurada. Run along the river road toward to ocean, with great views of the river and Porto to your right. After 1.7 km, reach the beach along a beautiful estuary path. From there, it’s a seamless run south along a succession of beaches: Lavadores, Canidelo, Valadares, Francelos, Senhor da Pedra, Aguda, Granja. At 9 km, you’ll see the train tracks, where you can hop on the train back at a station along the way. At 11.1 km is the Chapel of Senhor da Pedra, an oceanfront chapel built on rocks offering picturesque views of the beach, water & sunsets. At 13.5 km is the aquarium.
Beach Running: The best section of beach for running is north of Castello, between the river and Matosinhos (it’s rocky south of there, but there’s a good boardwalk).
Good spots to take the train back: Francelos (9k), Miramar (11k), Aguda (13.5k), Granja (15k). From Granja to the final stop in Espinho, it’s 5 km.
This is a wonderful beachside run of up to 20 km one-way, from the Vila Nova de Gaia on the Gaia side of the river, all the way to Espinho. There are beach and ocean views the whole way, with the run on a mix of dedicated path, roadside bike path, and wooden boardwalk on the sand. It is one long, continuous beach, although the names seem to change every 1-2 km. One of the great features of this run is that there are numerous points you can can hop on the train back to Porto. There are km markers along the route. We’ve included a table with segment distances. There is beach the entire way, of varying widths. It is runnable, in sections, depending on tides & conditions. Praia=Beach
Chapel of Senhor da Pedra
A good spot to start is on the R. de Praia (Beach Rd.) in Afurada. Run along the river road toward to ocean, with great views of the river and Porto to your right. After 1.7 km, reach the beach along a beautiful estuary path. From there, it’s a seamless run south along a succession of beaches: Lavadores, Canidelo, Valadares, Francelos, Senhor da Pedra, Aguda, Granja. At 9 km, you’ll see the train tracks, where you can hop on the train back at a station along the way. At 11.1 km is the Chapel of Senhor da Pedra, an oceanfront chapel built on rocks offering picturesque views of the beach, water & sunsets. At 13.5 km is the aquarium.
Beach Running: The best section of beach for running is north of Castello, between the river and Matosinhos (it’s rocky south of there, but there’s a good boardwalk).
Good spots to take the train back: Francelos (9k), Miramar (11k), Aguda (13.5k), Granja (15k). From Granja to the final stop in Espinho, it’s 5 km.
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Essentials
Up to 20 km one-way. Numerous spots along the way to hop train back to Porto
305 feet over 20 km
R. de Praia (Beach Rd.) in Afurada, or anywhere along beach path
If you take the train back to Porto, São Bento is station in center
One of our favorite routes in Porto. This is a 6 km one-way run along the Douro River, to the beach in Foz. Great river views and worthwhile landmarks along the way. At Foz, run out to the lighthouse. The Porto Bridge Climb is a bonus!
Among the two options to run along the Douro River to the beach in Porto. The Gaia side is 6.3 km one-way, which some argue is the prettier of two options, with views of the river and Porto. Great add-on: continue on Gaia seafront path
Enjoyable 4 km beachside run, with water views and good path the whole way. The beach is also runnable. A highlight is the Castelo do Queijo, a fort overlooking the beach. This can be combined with several of our other routes in Porto.
One of the more popular spots to run in the Porto area. Wide, sunny path along the water with views the whole way. Lots of pedestrians and cyclists. One cool feature is the Piscina das Marés, outdoor swimming pools on the beach.
A 6-mile tour of Porto's historical highlights. It's a bit tough to follow, so use this as a guide to see some of the main sites while jogging -- walking tour map in hand! Best to go early as streets are narrow and there are crowds.
At 83 hectares (200 acres), the largest urban park in Portugal and wonderful for running, with some 10 km of paths stretching from the central part of Portoto to the ocean. Nicely landscaped, combination wooded and open, other good routes nearby.
One of the main commercial thoroughfares in Porto is actually fine for running. A tree-lined paved path runs along the median for about half of the 5 km route to the ocean. Out and Back or loop options.
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Essentials
Up to 20 km one-way. Numerous spots along the way to hop train back to Porto
305 feet over 20 km
R. de Praia (Beach Rd.) in Afurada, or anywhere along beach path
If you take the train back to Porto, São Bento is station in center
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Share your feedback on this route and see that of other Great Runs users. Click on the image icon to upload a photo. And please let us know if there are notes or changes we should incorporate!