Discover what not to miss during São João in Porto, with a practical guide to experiencing the city’s most popular night through tradition, celebration and streets full of life.

On the night of 23 to 24 June, Porto celebrates São João with grilled sardines, plastic hammers, basil pots, music, fireworks and thousands of people out on the streets. It is one of the city’s most special celebrations, and the best way to experience it is simple: go outside, walk and let yourself be carried by the atmosphere. If you are in Porto on that night, there are moments, places and traditions you really should not miss.

1.Start the night with grilled sardines

São João begins at the table  or, very often, standing beside a grill. Grilled sardines are one of the great classics of the celebration and are just as much a part of the experience as the plastic hammers or the fireworks.

The ideal is to start early, with sardines in bread, roasted peppers, caldo verde and a cold drink. You can look for restaurants offering a special São João menu, but the street festivities and food stalls are often the most typical option.

2.Pass through Fontainhas

Fontainhas is one of the most traditional places to experience São João in Porto. The area usually fills with street festivities, music, food and that popular atmosphere that makes the celebration so special. It is an excellent place to begin the evening, especially if you want to feel the most authentic side of São João, among the smell of sardines, crowded tables, popular music and views over the Douro.

3.Buy a plastic hammer and join the fun

During São João, plastic hammers are part of the landscape. Throughout the night, it is completely normal to see people gently tapping friends, family members and even strangers on the head, always in a playful spirit. At first it may seem strange, but it is part of the celebration’s character. Buy a hammer, join the good mood and be prepared to receive a few taps yourself along the way.

4.Find a basil pot with a popular verse

The manjericos are another of São João’s great symbols. Small, fragrant and often accompanied by popular rhyming verses, they appear on stalls, windows and balconies all over the city. Tradition says that you should not smell the basil directly. The right gesture is to brush your hand over the plant and only then smell your hand. It is a simple detail, but a very typical part of the night.

5.Watch the São João balloons rise into the sky

Before the fireworks, another moment closely associated with São João is the release of the balloons. Made of paper and lit from within, they begin to rise into the sky throughout the night and create one of the most beautiful images of the celebration. It is an old and much-loved tradition in Porto, but it should be experienced responsibly. In some years, releasing balloons may be restricted or prohibited for safety reasons, especially because of the risk of fire. For that reason, it is always best to check the official guidance before releasing one. Even if you do not release any yourself, it is worth looking up: seeing the balloons scattered across the sky is part of the magic of São João.

6.Watch the fireworks over the Douro

At midnight, the city turns towards the river. The fireworks over the Douro are the most anticipated moment of the night and one of the most beautiful parts of São João. Ribeira, Luís I Bridge and the riverbanks of Vila Nova de Gaia are some of the most popular places to watch the display. As these areas usually become very crowded, it is worth arriving early and choosing your spot carefully.

7.Walk through Ribeira after the fireworks

After the fireworks, the celebration continues through the streets. Ribeira is one of the liveliest areas, with crowds, music, bars and movement along the river. It is also one of the busiest parts of the city, so the best approach is not to rush. Walking, observing, stopping for something to eat and simply following the atmosphere are all part of the experience.

8.Head up to Aliados

After Ribeira, many groups continue towards Baixa. Aliados, Cordoaria, Galerias de Paris, Praça de Gomes Teixeira, Rua das Flores and the nearby streets usually remain lively throughout the early hours. It is a good area for anyone who wants to keep the night going among bars, music and streets full of people.

9.Make the walk to Foz

For many people from Porto, São João only feels complete with the walk to Foz. After the celebrations in the centre, many continue on foot towards the sea, extending the night well into the early hours. It is not obligatory, but it is one of the night’s most typical rituals. If you still have the energy, it is worth experiencing this part too.

10.Watch the sunrise by the sea

Those who reach Foz or Matosinhos towards the end of the night are rewarded with something special: finishing São João by the Atlantic. After hours of music, sardines, plastic hammers and crowded streets, the sea brings a different rhythm to the celebration. It is a beautiful, and very Porto, way to bring the night to a close.

11.Experience São João without a rigid plan

The best part of São João often lies in improvisation. You can have a rough idea of your route, but it is not worth trying to control everything minute by minute. The city is crowded, paths change, groups drift apart and the celebration happens on every corner. Wear comfortable shoes, avoid using the car, arrange meeting points with your group and keep an open spirit. On São João, the right plan is simply the one that gets you out into the street.

12.The best place to stay? Almada234

On a night like São João, staying in the city centre makes all the difference. After hours out in the streets, among sardines, plastic hammers, music and long walks through the city, knowing that a comfortable place is waiting for you just a few minutes away changes the whole experience.

Almada234, right in Porto’s Baixa district, is an ideal base for enjoying São João freely and returning at the end of the night without complications. Close to Aliados, Ribeira, Baixa and the city’s main celebration spots, it allows you to enjoy the best of Porto and then rest in the comfort of a boutique apartment in the heart of the city.

Because on a night as intense and special as this one, the best plan is to end it where everything still makes sense: in a calm, elegant and well-located space, ready to welcome you after the celebration.