Porto is the second largest city in Portugal. It is also home to the University of Porto, one of the most prestigious higher education institutions in Europe. This means that Porto has a large population of young students eager to explore the city and entertain themselves with any escapade.

If you’re one of those students, you’ll love these 6 things to do in Porto without spending a single euro.

1. Visit museums on Sundays

Every Sunday, admission to museums is free. However, be aware that this promotion ends at 14:00h, so if you want to explore more than one museum without spending money, you’ll have to leave early.

The city has many interesting museums. Some of the ones we recommend are:

• Serralves Foundation of Contemporary Art
• Port Wine Museum
• Museum of Photography
• Tramway Museum

All of them have interesting exhibitions to learn and entertain you for a while. You certainly won’t visit them all in one day, so you know what to do when you’re bored on a Sunday: cross one more museum off the list.

2. Afternoons at Jardim do Morro

If you like to admire sunsets, you’ll love this plan. Jardim do Morro is one of the most beautiful places to watch the sunset. You can go there an hour before sunset or set up a picnic with friends and then wait together for the sun to go down until it disappears into the horizon of the Atlantic Ocean.

Choose the best grassy area and agree that everyone should bring some food or drink to share and have a great time. You can even bring a card game or any fun board game.

3. Art and tiles in the streets

Porto is a colourful city full of art. One of its most characteristic artistic and architectural expressions are its tiles. These small ceramic pieces adorn many of the city’s buildings. Appreciating this work will give you the opportunity to learn a little more about Porto’s history and its origins.

One of the most iconic places where tiles are found is the São Bento train station. Its walls are adorned with more than 20,000 hand-painted tiles. With these pieces, some of Portugal’s historical milestones are depicted. From wartime triumphs to important events during the industrial revolution.

Other places where you can admire the art of the tiles are:

• Igreja do Carmo
• Igreja de Santo Ildefonso
• Capela das Almas

On a tour of the historic centre of Porto, you will also see some façades decorated with tiles. Especially in old buildings where these works have been preserved for their cultural significance.

4. A walk through the gardens of the Crystal Palace

The Jardins do Palácio de Cristal are a beautiful setting for a stroll and a breath of fresh air. They have a serene and relaxed atmosphere, so they are the place to relax while admiring a bit of nature.

From the terraces, you can see the Douro River and the city of Gaia. In addition, you will have 8 hectares of garden to walk around and disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the city. As you walk around, you will find fountains, sculptures, a lake and a public library.

If you’re up for it, you can climb up to the dome of the Super Bock Arena and admire a 360° view of the entire complex.

5. Free concerts in the city centre

In the centre of Porto, there is a very popular café called Café au Lait. At least one Sunday of every month, bands perform to liven up the place and entertain the audience. Most of the bands that perform are Portuguese, so it’s an excellent opportunity to get a taste of the country’s culture.

6. Beaches at the weekend

Porto is located along the coast of Portugal. Thanks to that, you have access to several beaches close to the city. In Foz do Douro, you will find a number of small beaches ideal for sunny summer days.

These beaches are somewhat rocky, so swimming is not recommended. On the contrary, they are good for watching the sunset, lying on the sand, dipping your feet in and having a good time with friends.

If you want to swim at the beach, head south to Vila Nova de Gaia. Here, the sand is whiter and softer, and the water is clearer and cleaner. To keep the costs of your day at the beach to a minimum, we advise you to bring everything you will need and eat during your stay.

From every angle, this is a wonderful city to explore and learn more about Portuguese culture. For students in Porto, the best thing is that it is very pocket-friendly and always offers things to do without spending a single euro.