On the northern outskirts of Porto, Maia is a former agricultural area that has transformed into a thriving industrial city. It’s home to beautiful Baroque churches, 18th-century estates and engaging museums, as well as one of the most popular zoos in Portugal’s North Region.
Things to do in Maia (Porto)
Both young and old will love spending a day at the Zoo da Maia, a family-friendly attraction home to tigers, zebras and capybaras. It’s particularly renowned for its reptile house filled with tortoises, iguanas and snakes and hosts sea lion feeding shows throughout the day. You can watch Eurasian eagle-owls in action during the birds of prey demonstration or let the kids run loose in the playground.
Adjacent to the zoo is the Santuario de Nossa Senhora do Bom Despacho, a charming Baroque church dating back to 1742. Its magnificent facade is adorned with blue and white tiles that glisten in the sunlight, with a three-storey bell tower off to one side. Step inside to see the gilded wood carvings that decorate the interior, together with elegant stained-glass windows.
You can delve into the local history at the Museu de Historia e Etnologia da Terra da Maia, which occupies an 18th-century mansion in Castêlo da Maia. It offers a fascinating insight into the area’s rural past, with vintage tools and equipment used for cereal and livestock farming on display. In the archaeological collection, you’ll find ancient ceramics and a prehistoric megalith.
Getting around Maia (Porto)
Maia is around 10 minutes’ drive from the centre of Porto and the same distance from Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe and North Africa. Subway services stop at the Forum Maia and Parque Maia stations while buses travel throughout the area, connecting most of Maia’s attractions.