Here at Porto Events we like to understand our client’s brief and find the location that will best work for them and we completely understand that Porto itself is not right for everyone. So if you are thinking of holding an event in Northern Portugal, then please get in touch and we will find you the perfect venue!
Our company name gives away our speciality, so of course the vast majority events we organise are in Porto itself, but increasingly we are seeing requests from prospective clients for proposals for alternative venues for events in northern Portugal. There is plenty of wilderness on our doorstep if mother nature is what you are looking for (perhaps the jewel in the crown is the Geres national park, about 90 minutes north of Portugal on the Spanish border), but here we are going to look at some nearby cities that can provide an attractive alternative to Porto for an event location.
There is no getting away from the fact that Porto has become something of a victim of its own success as it joins the ranks of celebrated iconic European cities; that is to say a lot of people are coming to visit Porto, whether for corporate events or just as tourists. This brings lots of good things, most notably the tourist infractructure including a fabulous selection of 4 and 5 star city centre hotels, but also a buzzing nightlife and restaurant scente and a very well connected airport. But of course there is a ‘but’, and the ‘but’ is that with growing popularity, prices for accommodation in particular have risen steeply (at least for the more fashionable city centre hotels) and the fact that in peak season, the centre has seen a lot of tourist footfall, which may help to create a great buzzing atmosphere, but can put an end to peace and quiet if that is your thing.
if you are looking for a city centre location for an event in northern Portugal, but are looking for more value for money and a little less hustle and bustle then you may want to consider ond of these 3 options:
Guimarães – a small city just 30 minutes north of Porto, this is one of Portugal’s most historic cities (often referred to as the birth place of Portugal). Lots of cobbled streets, a fantastic castle and all sorts of ancient buildings. There are some fabulous places to stay in and around the city which can be fantastic options for small and mid-sized events. The city is small enough to be largely walkable, which gives it an intimate feel and like all the otions listed here, you can make considerable savings on the cost of holding an event here.
Aveiro – a growing city near the coast about 45 minutes south of Porto. There is a particularly charming city centre in Aveiro and it is famous for the salt lagoons that surround it and its network of canals. There is a very youthful feel to the city and it has grown from its sleepy origins to become a fun and lively location. There is a bit of a shortage of top end venues to hold events in although there have been some notable new hotels including the 5 star Montebelo Vista Alegre, which is absolutely stunning (although outside the city centre). It is also very close to some fabulous beaches if the wild Atlantic Ocean is your thing!
Braga – 45 minutes north of Porto and not far from Guimarães, this city is know for the engineering industry that surrounds it, a large student population and a historic centre with a church on every corner. Whilst it does not have the intimacy of Guimarães, it is does have some wonderful areas to visit and there are a handful of wonderful hotels to stay at that came make truly original locations to hold events. Braga is also near to the Geres National Park, which is breathtakingly beautiful and wild which can be a great location for a team-building activity if you really want to get away from it all.
Here at Porto Events we like to understand our client’s brief and find the location that will best work for them and we completely understand that Porto itself is not right for everyone. So if you are thinking of holding an event in Northern Portugal, then please get in touch and we will find you the perfect venue!
