Seagulls are everywhere around Porto, and they are part of the city’s fun, lively atmosphere, especially along the river and coast.

Thousands of seagulls glide over the water, circle the port wine cellars, and follow boats, creating a beautiful landscape sky full of birds in contrast with the red-roofed houses and steel bridges you find along the Douro River.

Even in the city centre, around Bolhão and Santa Catarina, seagulls soar in large flocks at night, circling above the busy streets and adding a wild, almost theatrical element to the urban landscape.

If you want to do some bird-watching, a more relaxed and nature‑focused option is the Douro Estuary Natural Reserve on the Gaia side, a protected area where you can see dozens of seagulls and more than 200 other bird species. The reserve has wooden bird‑watching hides, and admission is free, so you can watch seagulls, herons, cormorants and egrets from a quiet spot without the crowds.