The 10 Best Theme Parks in Porto

Porto is one of Portugal's most important cities and welcomes thousands of visitors every year. Many of them are looking for entertainment, fun and relaxation, which they find in the various theme parks within the city and its surroundings.

Among the best things to see and do in Porto is a visit to its amusement and theme parks. Travel back in time and learn about the history of Portugal at World of Discoveries, discover the secrets of marine life at Sea Life Porto, have fun in the small worlds of Magikland or enjoy an aquatic adventure at Amarante Water Park. The list goes on, and I'll tell you more about it below.

Sea Life Porto is a combination of aquarium, museum and theme park that you cannot miss if you spend at least three days in Porto. The place has been open since 2009 and offers an immersive experience in the aquatic world, educating visitors about marine life and promoting ocean conservation. All this while providing entertainment for its visitors.

The tour takes in various themed areas representing specific marine habitats. These include the rivers and streams area , the tropical reefs area , the kingdom of Salacia and the Ocean Grotto. Another highlight is the 8-metre-long underwater tunnel, which you can walk through while observing animals such as rays, sharks and other large fish swimming.

When you visit this place, you can see around 100 different species, with some 3,000 marine creatures. Depending on the type of Sea Life Porto tickets you choose, you will be entitled to participate in the green turtle feeding experience. You can also touch some marine invertebrates such as starfish in the touch pool. The more adventurous can even join in with shark diving.

Useful information

• Price: around €21 per person.
• Opening hours: every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (until 7 p.m. on weekends).
• Location: Rua Particular do Castelo do Queijo, Porto.

World of Discoveries is also considered by many to be a hybrid between a theme park and an interactive museum. It is an easily accessible destination, located in the historic centre of Porto. This theme park focuses on the era of Portuguese discoveries, which flourished between the 15th and 16th centuries.

When you find out how to buy tickets for World of Discoveries, you will learn that you get access to interactive exhibits on the era of Portuguese exploration. Ancient maps, replicas of ships from the period, navigational instruments and more are on display. The idea is to immerse visitors in that historical period using augmented reality technology and 4D projections.

Some of the themed rooms are dedicated to recreating the destinations explored by Portuguese navigators, such as the coasts of Africa, Brazil and India. In many cases, information is also provided on the culture, flora and fauna of each region, making it an educational as well as an entertaining experience. It is undoubtedly an ideal destination if you are in Porto with children.

On the other hand, you should know that a visit to this theme park can be combined with other activities. For example, you could join a Segway tour of Porto, which usually starts at Café do Cais, just a 10-minute walk from this wonderful place.

Useful information

• Price: tickets cost approximately €17 for adults, while for children between 4 and 12 years old the price is €11. Students and seniors over 65 pay €14, and children under 3 years old enter free of charge.
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and weekends and public holidays, until 7 p.m.
• Location: Rua de Miragaia 106, 4050-387, Porto.

Just under 50 minutes by car from Porto is Magikland, one of the best-known theme parks in northern Portugal. Open since 1997, this park attracts many families, especially those with teenagers and children, as its attractions are specially designed for them.

Inside this entertainment complex, you can explore various themed areas, designed to envelop visitors in a world full of adventure, fantasy and magic. Among the highlights are the Enchanted Forest, the Western Town and Pirate Island.

The best thing is that there are options for everyone to enjoy, from adrenaline-pumping roller coasters to carousels for the little ones. There is also a large high-speed water slide, a roller coaster for the whole family and a boat ride on an artificial river inside the park.

You can also see magic shows, acrobatics, parades, and live performances, depending on the time of year you visit. For example, if you visit Porto in the summer, the programme will most likely be more varied and it will make more sense to cool off in the pools, although fun is guaranteed at any time of year.

Useful information

• Price: approximately €19 for adults and €12.50 for children aged 4 to 12. Seniors over 65 pay €15, and children under 3 are free.
• Opening hours: from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., extending to 6 p.m. or 7 p.m. during July and August.
• Location: Rua de Santo André, no. 1279, 4560-221 Marecos – Penafiel, Porto district

Just over an hour from the centre of Porto is Diverlanhoso Park. This recreation centre has been operating since 2000 and offers an extensive list of options for recreation, entertainment and outdoor adventure.

With over 170 hectares of mountainous terrain, the park offers visitors the opportunity to have fun in many ways. One of these is the zip line experience with extensive circuits that make the zip lines among the longest in Europe, with beautiful views of the surrounding landscape.

Other activities are also offered, such as natural rock climbing, rafting, paintball, kayaking, aerial obstacle courses, hiking and much more. The options are divided according to the four elements. So, you just have to choose whether you want fun in the water, air, earth or fire (the latter used as a metaphor to express a high level of adrenaline).

The place also offers accommodation options (camping, bungalows or houses) to make the most of its attractions.

Useful information

• Price: from €10 per person, depending on the activity or experience desired.
• Opening hours: open all year round. From April to October, the opening hours are from 9:00 to 18:00 every day. From November to March, it is open Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 17:00, and on weekends and public holidays from 9:00 to 18:00.
• Location: Rua de Aldeia Nova 70, 4830-735 Póvoa de Lanhoso, Portugal.

Very close to the Atlantic Ocean and about a 32-minute drive from the historic centre is Azurara Adventure Park, another destination whose attractions combine adventure and nature in one place, with a series of unmissable outdoor activities.

Among the options offered by the park are rope courses at different heights, allowing you to glide over the wooded area at heights ranging from 30 to 300 metres. In addition, there is a water adventure on large inflatable buoys powered by a motor to move at full speed.

There are also climbing walls to test your agility, strength and fear of heights. If you are looking for more conventional land-based activities, then you can explore the mountain trails by bike or on foot. All activities are accompanied and supervised by a professional team that remains vigilant at all times to ensure safety.

Useful information

• Price: varies depending on the activities chosen. A pass for the high ropes courses usually costs around €20 per person.
• Opening hours: open all year round, with extended hours during the summer season, generally from 10:00 to 19:00.
• Location: Rua da Árvore, 611, 4480-119 Azurara, Vila do Conde.

Just an hour from Porto is the Amarante Water Park. This park has been open for approximately 30 years and has become an ideal destination for family fun with all its attractions, designed for people of all ages to enjoy.

The park is surrounded by nature, so the views of the mountains and the Támega River are exceptional from anywhere in the park. The structure consists of different slides with varying heights and speeds, to be enjoyed by different types of people.

There are play areas for children, simple water areas for small children and areas for relaxation. It is also possible to have picnics in the designated areas, in order to enjoy a day with family or friends. Safety is another essential factor in the park, which has lifeguards on duty at the various facilities.

Useful information

• Price: free for children under 4 years old. Around £10 for adults.
• Opening hours: generally open from June to September, from 10:00 to 19:00.
• Location: Rua do Tâmega, 2215, 4600-909 Amarante, Portugal.

Covering approximately 35 hectares, Gaia Biological Park is a destination that combines leisure, environmental education and conservation. Located just 12 kilometres from the city centre, it is the perfect choice if you are staying in Porto for four days or more.

This natural space is part of the Vila Nova Gaia municipal park network and is designed to give visitors an immersive journey through the typical ecosystems of northern Portugal. As you explore the park, you can see many natural habitats of various species living in semi-freedom, such as foxes, deer, otters and various types of birds.

On the other hand, you can explore the extensive forests with oak and cork trees, wetlands, cultivated areas and Mediterranean scrubland. In the park's interpretation centre, you can see various exhibitions on sustainability, ecology and biodiversity. Most of them are interactive to promote learning, mainly among children and young people.

True lovers of natural attractions can even stay inside the Gaia Biological Park, as it offers rural houses that have been restored in keeping with the typical architecture of the region.

Useful information

• Price: free for children under 6. Between €1 and €3 for young people and adults.
• Opening hours: generally open from October to March: 10:00 to 17:00. From April to September: 10:00 to 19:00.
• Location: Rua da Cunha, 4430-681 Avintes, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal.

The Pavilhão da Água is located in the Parque da Cidade do Porto area , near Matosinhos beach. The aim of this place is to educate visitors about water conservation and its importance in our lives.

What makes this place unique is the way in which this awareness-raising process takes place, using games and practical experiments that capture the public's attention, turning the visit into a fun and participatory experience.

The Water Pavilion has attractions such as the wave machine, which allows visitors to observe and create different types of waves. In addition, there is the house of the future, which showcases some innovative technologies for improving the efficient use of water in homes.

It is also worth noting the exterior of the structure, with a building that evokes the movement of water and large windows that project light and welcoming spaces, ideal for achieving the organisation's learning and interaction objectives.

Useful information

• Price: tickets cost approximately €8 for adults, €5 for children aged 4 to 12, and free for children under 4.
• Opening hours: generally open from 9.30am to 12.30pm and from 1.30pm to 5.30pm, Tuesday to Sunday (June to September) and Monday to Saturday (October to May).
• Location: Parque da Cidade do Porto. Estrada da Circunvalação nº 15443 4100-183.

Pena Aventura Park is just over an hour's drive from the centre of Porto. This place is full of attractions to test your nerves and was opened to the public in 2007, since when it has become one of the favourite options for adrenaline lovers.

The first thing that stands out about the park is the natural environment that surrounds it, as it is located in the heart of the Alvão Natural Park, in the Trás-os-Montes region. Inside, you will find the famous 1,500-metre-high zip line that can reach speeds of 130 km/h, while offering beautiful panoramic views of the valley.

There are also paintball areas, where you can engage in epic group battles. There are also off-road karts to challenge your driving skills , and canoeing and rafting trips on nearby rivers. If you are looking for a more peaceful experience, you can take part in a guided walk or bike ride along the park's trails.

Alternatively, you can stay in the bungalows of this large complex or go camping. Furthermore, if you visit Porto in October and decide to visit this park, you can take advantage of the Halloween-themed activities, which usually offer a very interesting spooky adventure experience.

Useful information

• Price: varies depending on the activities chosen. From €15 per person.
• Opening hours: generally open from 10:00 to 18:00 (October to March), 10:00 to 19:00 (April to June and September), and 10:00 to 20:00 (July to August).
• Location: Lugar da Vila, parish of Bustelo, Ribeira de Pena, Portugal.

If you visit Porto at Christmas, you should know that it is the perfect opportunity to visit the Perlim theme park. This is a seasonal facility located about 30 km from Porto, which has been open to the public since 2008.

This park is usually open from November to January each year. To this end, the Castle of Santa Maria da Feira is transformed into an enchanted kingdom with all the Christmas fantasy, mixed with some folkloric elements from Portugal.

Inside the castle, you can see themed areas such as Santa's House, the Ice Kingdom and the Enchanted Forest. A characteristic feature of the park is interactive storytelling, so that visitors can meet the characters from the stories and interact with them.

There are also immersive treasure hunts, theatre shows, Christmas craft workshops, and more. In addition, there is a wide range of seasonal cuisine, skating rinks, trains, carousels, and snow slides. In short, it is a Christmas paradise south of Porto.

Useful information

• Price: around €15 per person, although this varies each year.
• Opening hours: these may also vary each year, but it usually operates from 2 pm to 8 pm on weekdays and from 10 am to 10 pm on weekends and public holidays.
• Location: Rua dos Descobrimentos, 4520-201 Santa Maria da Feira.