If you’re looking to meet people in Porto—locals, expats, digital nomads, or just like-minded folks—here are some great options tailored to a variety of interests.
Expat & International Meetups
Porto Internationals (via Meetup or Facebook): Weekly pub crawls, Friday hangouts at Terraplana café, trips, and welcome events for expats and locals.
InterNations Porto: Monthly social events and themed evenings (e.g., Chillout with Style) at venues like Dom Henrique Hotel or Boho Lounge.
Language Exchanges
Mundo Lingo: Free, informal language exchange events in Porto bars. Wear flags to show which languages you speak—an easy way to connect with both locals and internationals.
Local meetups: Portuguese–English (and other languages) often hosted in cafés and bars.
Interest-Based Groups & Activities
Meetup.com: Book clubs, wine appreciation, board games, tech meetups, pub quizzes, photography groups, and more.
Porto i/o coworking spaces: Digital nomad meetups, tech talks, and casual social evenings with freelancers and remote workers.
Cultural clubs: Teatro groups, arts associations, hiking or cycling outings, photography, and book circles.
Arts, Music & Festivals
Maus Hábitos: Exhibitions, workshops, concerts, and creative events.
Community festivals:
São João (June 23) → massive citywide street festival.
Queima das Fitas (early May) → student parades, concerts, and celebrations.
Volunteering & Community Efforts
Beach or city clean-ups.
Local charity drives.
Environmental initiatives (often shared on Facebook expat forums).
These are excellent for meeting socially conscious locals and fellow travelers.
Real Experiences & Tips
A digital nomad shared that structured events (like women-only hangouts) felt more meaningful than going solo to bars or co-livings.
Reddit users recommend:
Porto Pride Parade
Queer Porto Festival
Fantasporto Film Festival
“If you’re LGBT, the annual Pride parade and Queer Porto festival are great places to meet people! Most people let you join their group if you approach them.”
✅ Suggested Actions
What to Do
How to Start
Join online groups
Sign up for Porto Internationals (Meetup/Facebook) or InterNations Porto
Go to language events
Attend Mundo Lingo or local polyglot café evenings
Explore interest groups
Browse Meetup.com for board games, tech talks, wine tastings, etc.
Visit cultural spaces
Check event listings at Maus Hábitos, Serralves, or local festivals
Volunteer locally
Look for postings on Facebook expat pages for cleanup or charity events
🔍 Sample This Week
Friday → Porto Internationals pub crawl or Friday hangout at Terraplana
Midweek → Mundo Lingo language event at a central bar
Weekend → Photography, board-games, or tech meetup via Meetup.com
Next Festival → If you’re here in early May, don’t miss Queima das Fitas
🎉 Final Thoughts
Jumping into these events is the best way to break the ice naturally—whether you’re staying short-term or making Porto your new home.
👉 Let me know if you want help finding upcoming event links or groups in a specific neighborhood or interest category!
