History of Póvoa de Varzim
King Dinis granted it a royal charter (foral) on 9 March 1308 and Manuel I another in 1514. From the 18th century sea bathing made it famous, and its fishermen had been fishing off Newfoundland since at least 1506. It has been a city since 1973.
What to see in Póvoa de Varzim
Praça do Almada
The centre of the city, with the town hall and the birthplace of Eça de Queirós, born here in 1845.
Igreja da Lapa
A Baroque fishermen’s chapel (1770-1772), with a small lighthouse.
Cividade de Terroso
Castro from around 900-800 BC, Romanised after the 2nd century BC.
Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora da Conceição
A defence for the port, completed in 1740.
Population and location
The municipality has 64,320 inhabitants (2021) and about 82 km², beside the sea, north of Vila do Conde.
Festivals and food
São Pedro, on 29 June, is the municipal holiday. Its best-known dish is pescada à poveira, hake with potato, egg and a tomato and onion sauce.
The Portuguese Camino in Póvoa de Varzim
The stage ends at Praça do Almada, with all services and the terminus of line B of the Porto metro. The next day you leave along the seafront promenade towards A Ver-o-Mar and Aguçadoura.
Frequently asked questions
How many albergues are there in Póvoa de Varzim?
This guide lists 10 places to stay for pilgrims in Póvoa de Varzim, with checked prices, beds and seasons.
Is there a metro from Póvoa de Varzim to Porto?
Yes: line B (red) of the Porto metro ends at Póvoa de Varzim and goes through Vila do Conde.
