Public Swimming Pools Porto
Your guide to Porto’s best public swimming pools
The 6 Best Public Swimming Pools In Porto
You wouldn’t think a city perched right next to the Atlantic would have much use for public swimming pools. After all, the beach is practically the local backyard. But when it feels like half the city has moved to the sand—and the other half are elbowing for space on the boardwalk—a public swimming pool can actually be a pretty refreshing change of scenery.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: public pools? Really? The smell of chlorine, cramped lanes, and dodgy changing rooms don’t exactly scream “Summer beach relaxation.” But stick with me. Porto’s got a few spots where you can swim, splash, and actually enjoy yourself without the chaos of the beach crowd or the biting Atlantic chill.
Here are my favourite public swimming pools in Porto to cool off without battling the beach crowd
TL; DR: The Best Public Swimming Pools Porto
Piscina das Marés: Saltwater, built into the coast, €8–€10 entry, about 13km from Porto centre. Take the train to Matosinhos Sul or Lavra; walking’s a no-go unless you’re on a pilgrimage. Open daily 9am–7pm during bathing season.
Piscina de Canide Norte: Heated saltwater pool right by the ocean, free entry but capped at 50 people. Open daily 9:30am–7:30pm. Located in Canidelo, Vila Nova de Gaia.
Piscinas da Quinta da Gruta: Family-friendly pool complex with splash pads, café, gardens, and playground. Entry around €8, open daily 9am–7pm. Located in Vila Nova de Gaia.
Piscina da Quinta da Conceição: Classic public pool with reasonable prices (€7–€9 adults), open weekdays 9am–7pm, weekends/holidays 9am–7pm. Great for a regular swim near Porto.
Parque Aquático de Amarante: Largest mountain water park on the Iberian Peninsula with wave pool and daily foam parties. Open 10am–7pm. A bit of a trek but worth it for waterpark fans.
The Yeatman Indoor Pool: Luxe indoor pool with arguably the best view over Porto and the Douro. Entry only with spa/massage booking, 1h30 max stay. Perfect for a posh treat.
Piscina das Marés
How to get there: Take the Linha de Aveiro train from São Bento or Campanhã to the Matosinhos Sul stop (if you’re feeling like a longer beach stroll), or the CP train to Lavra or Agudela and walk 10–15 minutes. Expect about 40 minutes of travel time in total.
I may be biased, but Piscina das Marés is probably my favourite swimming spot in Porto because it reminds me so much of the Bondi Icebergs pool in Sydney, Australia.
Similar to the Bondi Icebergs, this saltwater swimming pool (which, BTW, was designed by Álvaro Siza Vieira, aka the man who practically put modern Portuguese architecture on the global map) is built into the actual rocks of the coastline, letting the Atlantic sea crash around you without dragging you out to Spain.
It’s open every day from 09:00–19:00. On weekdays, the costs are as follows: full day adults €8 / half day €5, kids €5.50 / €3.50.
And on weekends/holidays: full day adults €10 / half day €6, kids €6 / €4.
Good to know: You aren’t allowed to bring your own beach umbrellas or chairs to Piscina das Marés. But you can rent sun loungers for €20 (€10 refundable deposit + €10 to rent) at the bar.
Read Next… The Best Beaches Near Porto
Piscina da Quinta da Conceição
How to get there: Take the metro (Line A) towards Senhor de Matosinhos, hop off at Mercado, and then it’s a short 15-minute walk. Total travel time: about 45 minutes door to deckchair.
Picture a public pool plonked right inside a leafy 18th-century estate, surrounded by stone archways and old-world charm. That’s Quinta da Conceição. Designed by the same guy behind Piscina das Marés (Álvaro Siza was busy in the ’60s), this one’s not as dramatic, but it does feel like you’re swimming in a hidden garden. It’s a great one for a mellow Summer day.
Piscina de Canide Norte
How to get there: Take Linha de Leixões toward Vila Nova de Gaia; stop at Coimbrões (~20 min walk) or grab buses like 9016/906 to “Cruz. Agro de Cima” (1 min walk)
Piscina de Canide Norte is another super cool saltwater pool that sits right by the ocean. My favourite thing about this pool? It’s 1) HEATED and 2) totally FREE. Yes, you read that right.
The pool is built into the beachfront in Canidelo, and has proper European Summer holiday feel without the European Summer price tag. This is the pool if you’re in the mood for a swim but the actual ocean feels like an ice bath.
Piscina de Canide Norte is open daily from 9:30 to 19:30
Good to know: Because it’s free, there’s a 50-person capacity limit. So if you don’t arrive early, you might end up waiting.
Piscinas da Quinta da Gruta
How to get there: Take the metro (Linha Laranja) from Trindade to Fórum Maia, then grab a bus (like the 604 or 603) or walk about 20 minutes.
If you’ve got little ones to entertain or just want a swim somewhere that’s a bit more family-focused, Piscinas da Quinta da Gruta is a solid choice. It’s got three separate pool zones — one for babies and toddlers with splashy features, one for kids, and one for adults — so no one’s getting cannonballed on by accident. There’s also a playground, café, restaurant, gardens, and even a small farm. Basically, it’s a full day out, not just a quick dip. You could genuinely spend hours here and still not get bored (or hear “I’m hungryyyyy” every five minutes).
Opening hours: Every day from 09:00 to 19:00
Ticket prices for non-residents of Maia:
– Adults (15–60): €8.22
– Children (3–15): €6.58
Tickets can be bought online here.
The Yeatman Indoor Pool
How to get there: You can walk across the Dom Luís I Bridge in about 25–30 minutes, which honestly makes for a pretty stunning entrance. Otherwise, take the yellow metro line from Trindade to Jardim do Morro and walk 10 minutes uphill (yes, uphill—but trust me, it’s worth the calf burn).
If you’re after a pool day that screams luxury rather than sunscreen and splash fights, The Yeatman is the place. It’s not your usual swim-and-go situation — access to the indoor pool is only allowed if you’ve booked a treatment or massage at their Caudalie Vinothérapie Spa. But honestly, if you’re coming all this way, why wouldn’t you?
The pool itself is sleek, serene, and wrapped in floor-to-ceiling windows that give you a cinematic view of Porto’s rooftops, the Dom Luís I Bridge, and the Douro River in all its glory. You get 1h30 of pool time with your spa booking, which is just enough to float, soak, and snap that smug spa selfie.
Parque Aquático de Amarante
How to get there: Driving is by far the easiest option — you’re looking at just under an hour on the A4. Public transport is possible, but be warned: it involves a combo of train and regional bus (usually via Livração or Marco de Canaveses) and takes about 2.5 hours. Definitely more of a full-day outing than a casual pool hop.
Parque Aquático de Amarante is Portugal’s biggest mountain water park and honestly, it goes hard. Expect everything from towering water slides and winding flumes to splash zones for kids and lazy rivers for when you’re running low on adrenaline. There’s even a daily foam party at the wave pool — because of course there is. Set against a lush, hilly backdrop, it somehow manages to feel like both an amusement park and a nature escape.
It’s open every day from 10:00 to 19:00, and whether you’re cartwheeling into chaos or just sunbathing with a beer, there’s space for both.
Ticket prices:
Adults (12–64): €27.50
Children (under 12) & Seniors (65+): €21.50
Under 4s: Free
I highly recommend buying your tickets in advance online via their official site, especially if you’re heading there on a weekend or during school holidays.
Written By
Ysabelle is the voice behind Oh My Porto, a blog that peels back the glossy pages of travel brochures to reveal the heartbeat of the city. Through Oh My Porto, Ysabelle shares everything you need to make your time in Portugal unforgettable, from cultural deep dives to travel tips you won’t get anywhere else.
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Oh, My Porto is a Porto & North Portugal-focused travel, food & lifestyle blog by writer Ysabelle Alesna.
Ysabelle shares her guides and recommendations to help travellers discover the heart of Porto and fall in love with the city just as she has.