Things to Do in Porto in November
November weather, activities, events & insider tips
November Weather in Porto
Is November Right for You?
Advantages
- Genuinely mild temperatures for exploring on foot - you can walk Porto's steep hills from 10am to 4pm without overheating, which is actually impossible in summer when temperatures hit 30°C (86°F). The 16.7°C (62°F) highs mean you're comfortable in a light sweater while climbing to Miradouro da Vitória or wandering Ribeira's cobblestones for hours.
- Dramatically fewer tourists than peak season - accommodation prices drop 30-40% compared to August, and you'll actually get tables at traditional tascas without reservations. The Livraria Lello bookshop, normally mobbed with 3,000+ daily visitors in summer, has manageable queues by mid-morning. You can photograph Ponte Dom Luís I without dodging selfie sticks every three seconds.
- Wine harvest season aftermath means exceptional port wine experiences - November is when lodges finish their harvest work and guides have more time for in-depth tastings. The newer vintage ports from October's harvest are being processed, so you'll see actual production happening at places like Graham's and Taylor's. Cellar tours feel more authentic and less rushed than summer's conveyor-belt visits.
- São Martinho chestnut roasting tradition peaks in early November - locals gather around street vendors selling castanhas assadas (roasted chestnuts) paired with água-pé, a lightly fermented grape drink. This is genuinely local culture, not tourist theater. You'll find vendors near Clérigos Tower and throughout Bolhão Market area, typically charging 3-4 euros for a paper cone of chestnuts that'll keep your hands warm while you walk.
Considerations
- Rain genuinely affects outdoor plans about one-third of the month - those 10 rainy days aren't gentle drizzle, they're proper Atlantic storms that make the Douro River tours miserable and turn Porto's marble sidewalks into skating rinks. You'll need indoor backup plans, and the riverside restaurants lose their appeal when you're watching rain hammer the terrace windows. The rain tends to come in systems lasting 1-3 days rather than brief afternoon showers.
- Shorter daylight hours compress your sightseeing window - sunset hits around 5:30pm by late November, which means those famous golden-hour photos of Ribeira happen during your dinner plans, not after. Museums close by 6pm, and the city feels genuinely quiet by 7pm outside the tourist center. If you're used to Mediterranean evenings stretching until 10pm, Porto in November feels like it shuts down early.
- Ocean temperatures drop to 16°C (61°F), making beach activities pretty much off the table - Matosinhos and Foz beaches are beautiful to walk but genuinely unpleasant for swimming unless you're a polar bear enthusiast. The Atlantic wind coming off the water makes coastal areas feel 3-4 degrees colder than the city center, so those Instagram-perfect beach clubs at Praia da Luz are essentially closed for the season.
Best Activities in November
Douro Valley Wine Estate Tours
November is actually ideal for Douro Valley day trips because the summer heat is gone and the vineyards have turned spectacular shades of rust and gold after harvest. The terraced hillsides look completely different than the green summer version, and temperatures around 14-16°C (57-61°F) make the outdoor tastings at quintas genuinely pleasant rather than sweltering. Tour groups are smaller, and estate owners are more relaxed post-harvest. The drive from Porto takes 90-120 minutes, and most full-day tours run 9am-6pm including 2-3 estate visits, lunch, and a river cruise segment. Expect to pay 70-90 euros for group tours, 200-300 euros for private experiences.
Port Wine Lodge Cellar Experiences in Vila Nova de Gaia
The lodges across the river from Porto's Ribeira are perfect for November's cool, damp weather - you're spending most of your time in temperature-controlled cellars anyway, and the rain actually adds atmosphere when you're listening to barrel-aging explanations in centuries-old caves. November is post-harvest processing time, so you might see workers racking wine or preparing barrels. The crowds are manageable compared to summer's chaos, and tastings feel less rushed. Plan 90 minutes per lodge for a proper tour and tasting. Entry-level tours cost 12-18 euros, premium experiences with vintage ports run 30-50 euros.
Traditional Tasca and Mercado Food Experiences
November brings Porto's comfort food season - this is when locals pile into tiny tascas for tripas à moda do Porto (tripe stew), francesinha (the infamous sandwich drowned in beer sauce), and caldo verde (kale soup). The cool weather makes these heavy dishes actually appealing rather than oppressive. Bolhão Market, recently renovated, is covered and perfect for rainy days, with vendors selling seasonal chestnuts, blood oranges just coming into season, and fresh bacalhau. Food tours typically run 3-4 hours covering 5-7 stops, costing 50-75 euros per person. The indoor nature of this activity makes it ideal for November's unpredictable weather.
Azulejo Tile Workshop Sessions
Learning traditional Portuguese tile painting is perfect for November's rainy days, and Porto has several workshops offering 2-3 hour sessions where you paint your own azulejo tile to take home. You're working indoors in heated studios, learning about Porto's tile history while creating something genuinely personal. The workshops typically include materials, instruction, and firing of your tile (shipped later or picked up next day). This is particularly good for families with kids over 8 years old who need indoor activities. Sessions cost 35-60 euros per person depending on tile size and complexity.
Coastal Foz and Matosinhos Seafood Trail Walks
The Atlantic coastline from Foz do Douro to Matosinhos is dramatic in November - big waves, moody skies, and genuinely fresh seafood in the beachfront restaurants that cater to locals rather than summer tourists. The 4 km (2.5 mile) coastal walk along Avenida do Brasil takes about 90 minutes at a relaxed pace, and you'll want to time it for late morning on clear days when temperatures peak around 16°C (61°F). End at Matosinhos fish market and the surrounding marisqueiras (seafood restaurants) where you can watch your fish being grilled. Expect to pay 25-35 euros per person for excellent grilled fish, half what tourist-center restaurants charge.
Serralves Museum and Park Contemporary Art Days
The Serralves contemporary art museum with its 18-hectare park is ideal for November because the indoor galleries provide shelter while the outdoor sculpture park and Art Deco gardens are beautiful in autumn colors without summer's heat. November typically has fewer tour groups, so you can actually spend time with the rotating exhibitions. The park's tree collection shows spectacular fall foliage, and the cool temperatures make the 2-3 km (1.2-1.9 mile) walking circuit through the grounds comfortable. Entry costs 20 euros for combined museum and park access, 10 euros for park only. Plan 3-4 hours for a thorough visit.
November Events & Festivals
São Martinho Chestnut Festival
November 11th is São Martinho Day, when Porto locals celebrate the traditional summer of São Martinho - a brief warm spell that supposedly occurs around this date. Street vendors throughout the city roast chestnuts over charcoal braziers, and locals buy paper cones of castanhas assadas paired with água-pé or jeropiga (lightly fermented grape drinks from the recent harvest). This is genuinely local tradition, not tourist performance. You'll find the biggest concentrations of vendors near Bolhão Market, around Clérigos Tower, and in Ribeira. Expect to pay 3-4 euros for a generous cone of chestnuts. The tradition continues through most of November, but the 11th itself has the most festive atmosphere.
Fantasporto Film Festival Advance Screenings
While the main Fantasporto International Film Festival happens in February, November typically sees advance screenings and industry events as the festival gears up. Porto's cinema scene is active in November with various film cycles at Cinema Batalha and Rivoli Theatre. These are mostly Portuguese-language or subtitled international films, giving you a glimpse into Porto's cultural life beyond tourism. Tickets cost 5-8 euros, and the Art Deco Cinema Batalha building itself is worth visiting.