Festa de São João do Porto - June 23

[jirit]

This titbit of information can apply equally for those that will arrive in Santiago and have some extra time and are wanting to visit Oporto, or others that are planning to depart or arrive in Oporto Portugal on the Camino.

One event you should not miss is the Festa de São João do Porto. It is held each year on June 23, with the major events starting at mid night and lasting throughout most the night. Many people choose to stay up until sunrise the next day. Approximately one million from throughout Portugal attend this event.

My wife and I did the Camino for the first time back in 2007 and after, we headed south to Oporto, unaware that this event was on that weekend. Fortunately we had booked a place for night. Needless to say, we had plenty of fun and very little sleep.

Wikipedia has more information on it here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festa_de_São_João_do_Porto

 

[ffp13]

Do they do what Pamplona does for San Fermen, close Albergues to pilgrims during the festival and inflate the bed price for festival goers?

 

[jirit]

I honestly do not know, since we had booked a bed and breakfast at the coast, about a 10 minute ride to the city' of Oporto. The rate for the 3 nights we were there did not seem unreasonable but I am sure the rates in the actual city would have been higher, if you could get a place.

And during the festival, all forms of public transportation shut down, so we had to walk the 5 km back to our bed and breakfast, passing what it seemed a couple dozen thousand hammer happy fesitve types. I think we finally made it back to our beds sometime about 4.00 am in the morning.