Piscina Municipal de Espinho

Espinho is a seaside town just south of Porto, in the far north of Aveiro district. Its Piscina Municipal opened on 22 September 1982 and is run directly by the council’s sport division. It sits on the east side of the town, in a newer residential area in the parish of Anta, with a large green space and a big car park beside it.

The council describes the pool as a place for learning to swim, sport, therapy and leisure, and the building shows it: alongside the pools there’s a gym, a first-aid room, a 350-seat stand for swimming competitions and a café with indoor seating. The local club, Sporting Clube de Espinho, runs regional swimming competitions here.

According to the council’s page:

• Main pool (tanque desportivo): 25 m by 16 m, indoors, 1.18 m deep at the ends and 1.60 m in the middle. The rules list nine lanes.
• Learner pool (tanque de aprendizagem): 16 m by 10 m and 60 to 90 cm deep.

The learner pool is shallow enough for many young children to stand in, which makes it a good place to build water confidence. The rules say public swimming in the small pool can be closed when it’s needed for lessons, so the main pool may be your only option at busy times. The water is treated with chlorine.

The changing rooms are one of the better features for parents. All of them are heated and have lockers, and the council lists:

• a boys’ changing room for children up to 8, which a parent of either sex can use with them
• a girls’ changing room for children up to 8, for use with a female adult
• a mixed changing room for children up to 8, which a parent of either sex can use
• separate men’s and women’s changing rooms for adults
• accessible changing rooms for people with reduced mobility

The rules allow one adult companion per child in the children’s changing rooms, for children up to 10.

Public swimming (regime livre) means swimming without a class. The pool’s rules say at least one lane is always kept for public swimmers during the published times, with up to eight people per lane and a 90-minute session. There are single tickets and packs of 8 or 24 entries, and the rules set an “economic” and a “prime” timetable at different prices.

The council’s page currently gives opening hours of Monday to Friday 9:00 to 13:00 and 15:30 to 20:00 and Saturday 9:00 to 13:00. The rules say public swimming times can change every fortnight or month, so check the timetable at reception or phone before you go.

Children up to 12 can only use public swimming with an adult.

The council’s Escola de Natação runs classes for children and adults:

• Natação para bebés (toddler swimming): playful classes for children aged 24 to 36 months. Parents start in charge and step back gradually as the child gains confidence.
• Levels 0, 0a and 1: water confidence for beginners, built around breathing, floating and moving through the water.
• Levels 2 to 5: learning and polishing front crawl, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly.
• Natação adaptada: adapted swimming for children and adults with disabilities, in regular classes, specific classes or with individual support.

Renewals and new enrolments go through the pool’s office (227 335 868, weekdays 9:30 to 12:30 and 14:30 to 18:30, or piscinamunicipal@cm-espinho.pt). New pupils may go on a waiting list.

From the pool’s internal rules (2012, still the current version linked by the council):

• Swimsuit, swim cap and flip-flops are compulsory in the pool area. Bikinis and underwear aren’t allowed in the water.
• Parents who go onto the poolside must wear flip-flops or shoe covers.
• No balls, airbeds, rings, masks or fins, and no private swimming lessons.
• Access to the changing rooms and poolside is by magnetic user card.
• No food or drink except in the café, and no animals except guide dogs.
• The rules ask people who can’t swim not to use the pool on their own.

This is a working sports pool with classes, clubs and aqua aerobics, so public swimmers share limited space. The council’s price list wasn’t online when checked, so ask at reception.

Espinho’s seafront saltwater pool, the Piscina Solário Atlântico, was listed as temporarily closed until further notice by Turismo de Espinho when checked.

North of Espinho, the Parque Biológico de Gaia has animals and nature trails. South, the Museu do Papel Terras de Santa Maria in Paços de Brandão shows paper being made by hand.

A short drive south, the Piscina Municipal de Ovar has a small activity pool for play and public swimming seven days a week.

Is there a shallow pool for young children?

Yes. The learner pool is 60 to 90 cm deep, but it may be closed to public swimmers when lessons are on.

Do children need a swim cap?

Yes. Caps are compulsory for everyone, along with a swimsuit and flip-flops.

Can dads take daughters into the changing rooms?

Yes. There’s a mixed children’s changing room for children up to 8, and the boys’ children’s changing room can also be used with a parent of either sex.

From what age are swimming lessons?

Toddler classes start at 24 months, and children’s levels follow from there.

Is the Solário Atlântico open?

Not when checked. Turismo de Espinho listed it as temporarily closed until further notice.