Complexo de Piscinas Municipais de Penafiel

The Complexo de Piscinas Municipais de Penafiel is the council’s main pool, on Rua das Lajes in Penafiel. It was built in 1993 and refurbished in 2013, 2016 and 2022. It has indoor pools open all year and outdoor pools that open for the summer bathing season, plus two tennis courts and fitness studios. The council also uses it for its swimming school, aqua fitness and karate.

For families, it covers the whole year: lessons and rainy-day swims indoors from September to June, and a shallow children’s pool outside in summer.

According to the council’s page for the complex:

• The sports pool (tanque desportivo) is 25 metres by 16.6 metres.
• The learner pool (tanque de aprendizagem) is 16.6 metres by 8 metres.

The council doesn’t publish indoor depths or water temperatures, so ask at reception which pool suits a child who is still learning. The price list mentions renting half of the “small pool” to groups, so parts of the learner pool may be taken by classes.

Indoor public swimming times

Public swimming (utilização livre) indoors runs:

• Monday to Friday: 9:00 to 22:00
• Saturday: 9:00 to 13:00 and 14:30 to 19:00
• Sundays and public holidays: 9:30 to 12:30

The council’s sports portal lets registered users book public swimming sessions, top up credit and pay online.

Indoor prices for 2026

From the council’s 2026 price table (Quadro 32):

• Pay as you go: €2.86 for under-16s, €3.81 from 16 (insurance included)
• Regular swimmers can join for €5.92 (membership, annual insurance and first swim), then pay €1.74 for under-16s and €2.32 from 16 per swim
• Monthly membership: €20.64 for under-16s, €27.51 from 16

Children under 6 swim free with a parent or responsible family member. If they aren’t registered at the pools, you pay the insurance.

The outdoor pools open for the bathing season, which the council gives as roughly 15 June to 15 September. In 2026 they opened on 20 June and ran every day from 10:00 to 19:00.

According to the council’s sports portal, there are two:

• A leisure pool (tanque grande de lazer ativo), 26.8 by 12.5 metres, from 1.2 to 1.7 metres deep. That’s too deep for non-swimmers to stand, so younger children need an adult close by.
• A children’s pool (tanque infantil), 10 by 7.5 metres and 50 to 60 centimetres deep, where most toddlers can stand.

Outdoor prices for 2026

From the council’s 2026 price table (Quadro 34):

Outdoor ticket	Under 16	16 and over
Monday to Friday	€2.28	€2.83
Weekday morning	€1.12	€1.39
Saturday, Sunday and holidays	€2.86	€3.41

Under-6s go in free with a responsible adult; if they aren’t registered at the pools, you pay the insurance. Holders of the council’s large-family card (Cartão Municipal de Família Numerosa) get half-price entry to public swimming. Outdoor tickets can be bought online through the council’s portal.

The council’s swimming school runs from 15 September to 30 June at this complex and at the Paço de Sousa pool. Classes last 45 minutes and are grouped by age and level, with a limit on numbers in each class.

Monthly fees in 2026 for under-16s were €9.49 for one class a week, €12.72 for two, €15.97 for three and €18.19 for four. Enrolment costs €22.87, renewal €5.70, and there’s a user card at €5.91. Private 45-minute lessons cost €14.96 for under-16s.

Discounts help larger families. Regular users get 10% off for a household of three, 15% for four and 20% for five or more, and two or more brothers or sisters in lessons get 10% off their monthly fees. Bring proof of your household. Fees are paid by the 8th of each month, or up to the 14th with a late fee. If you join after the 15th of a month, you pay half that month’s fee.

The council’s pages don’t set out the pool rules online. At most Portuguese pools children need a swim cap, flip-flops on the poolside and a shower before swimming, so pack a cap and ask at reception about swim nappies for babies.

The council also runs an indoor pool at Paço de Sousa, used by the swimming school, and two more outdoor summer pools. The Piscinas Municipais das Termas de São Vicente opened in 2026 on weekday afternoons until 19:00 and from 10:00 to 19:00 at weekends. The Complexo de Piscinas do Douro in Rio Mau opened every day from 13:30 to 19:00.

Penafiel sits between Paredes and Amarante. The Parque da Cidade de Paredes has a playground and skate park, and in summer Paredes also runs its outdoor Piscina Verde there. Towards Amarante, the Parque Aquático de Amarante has water slides, and the Casa da Abelha e do Mel is all about bees and honey. The river beach at Bitetos, on the Douro, is a summer alternative.

Is there a baby or toddler pool in Penafiel?

In summer, yes. The outdoor children’s pool is 10 by 7.5 metres and 50 to 60 centimetres deep. Indoors there’s a learner pool, but the council doesn’t publish its depth.

How much are the Penafiel outdoor pools?

In 2026, €2.28 for under-16s and €2.83 from 16 on weekdays, and €2.86 and €3.41 at weekends and on holidays. Weekday mornings are cheaper. Under-6s are free with an adult.

When do the outdoor pools open?

The council’s reference season is 15 June to 15 September. In 2026 they opened on 20 June, every day from 10:00 to 19:00.

Can we swim on a Sunday?

Yes. Indoor public swimming runs on Sundays and public holidays from 9:30 to 12:30.

Do I need to book?

Outdoor tickets are sold at the pool and online through the council’s portal, where registered users can also book indoor public swimming sessions. If you’re planning a busy summer weekend, phone ahead.