The options at a glance
| Option | For whom | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Small-group tour | Short-stay travellers | A few hours together, a drink and a pastry |
| Beer or wine tasting | Travellers and residents | A shared table |
| Surf lesson in Matosinhos | Active travellers | A group bonded by the activity |
| Hostel with tours and dinners | Solo travellers | Meetings from the first evening |
| Coworking, language exchange | Long stays | Lasting friendships |
How do you meet people in Porto? Book a small-group tour on day one, then a surf lesson or a tasting.
For short-stay travellers
A two-hour guided walk, limited to a few people, with a local drink and a pastry, is the easiest way in: see Porto solo. Craft beer tastings (craft beer in Porto) and the food tour bring together people from every country. The city's hostels offer tours, dinners and bar crawls: see which hostel to choose.
For going out in the evening
For a group night out, see Porto nightlife.
To settle in or stay long
Surf lessons in Matosinhos build bonds quickly, and a coworking space gives regular contacts. For language exchanges (Portuguese for your language) and expat groups, there are exchange apps, Meetup groups and InterNations. We did not verify which groups were active in October 2026: check upcoming event dates before signing up.
Precautions
- Keep your belongings safe in crowds and on transport: pickpocketing is the main risk quoted.
- Choose the bar yourself, look at the prices, and do not let a stranger choose for you.
- For solo travel, read Porto solo.
Which option to choose?
- Two days: a small-group walking tour.
- A week: a tour, a tasting and surf.
- Several months: coworking, language exchange and sport.
La rédaction Porto Authority, 26/10/2026.
