Sao Joao Festival in Porto (23 June)

São João is Porto’s wildest night of the year. On 23 June, the whole city takes to the streets to celebrate Saint John: hitting each other on the head with plastic hammers, grilling sardines, dancing, and watching fireworks over the Douro at midnight. Here’s how to join in.

Quick answer: the party is on the night of 23 June, into the 24th. Buy a plastic hammer, eat grilled sardines, head to Ribeira or the riverside for the midnight fireworks, then follow the crowds towards Foz to watch the sunrise. On 24 June, a rabelo boat regatta takes place on the river. Book accommodation months ahead.

Traditions

• Plastic hammers: everyone taps strangers on the head with squeaky hammers. It’s all in good fun.
• Leeks and basil: older traditions include waving garlic leeks and giving pots of basil.
• Sardines and caldo verde: street grills everywhere.
• Fireworks: a huge display over the river at midnight.
• Dancing till dawn: people walk west along the river to the beaches at Foz to see the sunrise.
• The rabelo regatta: port wine boats race on the Douro on 24 June.

Where to go

• Ribeira and the riverside: the heart of the party and the best place for the fireworks. See Ribeira.
• Fontainhas: a traditional neighbourhood party on the hillside above the river.
• Gaia: fireworks views from across the river. See Gaia.
• Foz: for sunrise. See Foz do Douro.

Tips

• Crowds: enormous, so keep valuables secure and agree a meeting point.
• Transport: the metro runs extended hours, but many streets close to traffic.
• Book early: it’s the busiest night of the year. See the best hotels in Porto.
• 24 June is a public holiday in Porto, so expect closures.

More: the Portugal festivals calendar, Santo António in Lisbon and Porto nightlife.

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