In May, we can savor the first cherries and enjoy spring in all its splendor. With the weather improving and temperatures rising, it’s already tempting to get out of the house and enjoy afternoons spent on outdoor terraces. But still don’t know what to do in Porto this month? Then check out our article.
Exhibitions, concerts, and festivals, or even free-time activities like movie screenings—in Porto and the surrounding area, there’s something for everyone. Adults and children alike, no one is left out of this essential guide that’s sure to fill your cultural calendar (and more).
During the 16th Cultural Cycle of Porto’s Cemeteries, you can explore, through 10 guided tours between May and September, two of the city’s most iconic monumental cemeteries: Prado do Repouso and Agramonte.
In this program, participants will discover the most striking sculptures, monuments, and historical figures buried there, highlighting the local heritage and history. The tours are free, but advance registration is required.
Mission to Escape in Porto challenges groups to solve puzzles, decode clues, and find the exit before the clock hits zero. The escape room experience puts your wits and teamwork to the test in high-tension, enclosed environments.
The themes of the rooms explore different narratives and scenarios. Players steal diamonds from maximum-security prisons, investigate mysteries, rescue hostages in a tactical operation, or uncover secrets in the corridors of a school of magic.
Candlelight concerts are now a constant fixture on Porto’s cultural calendar, continuing to surprise audiences with incredible musical repertoires, as well as by staging performances in iconic venues.
Throughout the month of May, you’ll have the chance to attend various candlelit concerts featuring different repertoires, but always with one thing in common: endless magic.
After nine seasons in Lisbon, Cine Society brings its outdoor movie screenings to Greater Porto. The WOW cultural quarter hosts the event, combining screenings of dozens of films with a panoramic view of the Douro River.
The initiative accompanies the screenings with food and drink available on-site. The organizers are leveraging the facilities and cuisine of the venue in Vila Nova de Gaia to replicate in the North the format that has already drawn tens of thousands of viewers in the capital.
For three weeks, from May 15 to June 7, the Festas do Senhor de Matosinhos liven up the city with major concerts, fireworks, a traditional procession, and plenty of culinary delights.
With big names like Expensive Soul and Miguel Araújo, the lineup guarantees memorable moments for all ages. Don’t miss centuries-old celebrations, such as the famous Bom Jesus de Matosinhos Procession and the fireworks display.
The 20th edition of Serralves em Festa brings 50 uninterrupted hours of contemporary art to Porto. The festival brings together around 650 artists from 34 countries, covering music, dance, exhibitions, street theater, contemporary circus, and hands-on workshops.
This year, the Serralves Foundation presents something new: the “Caravanserá” parade, led by choreographer Gustavo Ciríaco, which winds through the streets of downtown Porto the day before the official opening. The musical lineup features Mão Morta with an original, never-before-seen project, Conan Osíris, and international acts such as Cybotron and The Sabres of Paradise.
The event also features large-scale acrobatic productions. The French company Les Filles du Renard Pâle presents the show “Respire” 11 meters above the ground, while the “Tenet” project complements the main program . Families will also find dynamic theater performances and workshops designed specifically for children.
Listen to Bossa Nova in São Roque
The Casa São Roque Garden is a beautiful green space, known for being a true camellia paradise ( between February and March). But now that the “Porto flower” season has ended, there are other reasons to visit this place, such as the outdoor concerts taking place there .
For example, on May 31 at 5 p.m., there’s a Bossa Nova Concert featuring musicians Lilian Raquel (vocals), João Castro Cunha (drums), Cláudio César Ribeiro (guitar), and João Paulo Rosado (double bass). There are different ticket options, some of which include a glass and/or bottle of Alvarinho wine.
Between May and September, several green spaces in Porto transform into authentic outdoor fitness centers, offering free sessions of yoga, Pilates, tai chi, and meditation.
The municipal initiative “Dias com Energia” takes place on weekends in six iconic parks, promoting well-being and a more active lifestyle. Participation is free, but requires prior online registration through the Sports Portal.
Take the kids out to relax
They say “you have to start young.” So, take advantage of the municipal “Mini Zen” initiative and bring the kids to relax in yoga and meditation classes, every Saturday from May to September, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., in the gardens of the Palácio de Cristal.
“Mini Zen” is specifically designed for children aged 5 to 13. Participation is free, but requires prior online registration on the Sports Portal.
Portugal’s largest immersive digital exhibition transforms Porto’s Alfândega into a prehistoric setting. The Dino Experience uses cutting-edge technology to explore the lives of these giants through 360º projections, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and the country’s first metaverse dedicated to dinosaurs.
Visitors interact directly with the space: explore the interior of a dinosaur through augmented reality in the DinoAR section, listen to the creatures’ sound recreations, and experience the impact of meteors in an infinite room. The OCUBO studio is responsible for the visual and interactive design, supported by the scientific rigor of the Lourinhã Museum and the Museum of Natural History and Science at the University of Porto.
