Leiria city guide: Best accommodation, restaurants and travel tips for Sunderland fans

Sunderland's return to European football continues in Portugal, with the Black Cats set to face SCU Torreense in their second Europa League league phase match on October 15.

Although Torreense are based at the Estadio Manuel Marques in Torres Vedras, the game is not being played there as the ground does not meet UEFA requirements. Torreense have moved their European home matches to the Estadio Dr. Magalhaes Pessoa, which is around 100km away from Torres Vedras.

Leiria is a compact city in central Portugal, with a medieval castle dominating the historic centre, a pleasant old town, cafes and restaurants around Praca Rodrigues Lobo and the stadium itself centrally located. As a result, it should make for a very attractive away day for Sunderland fans.

Here, FootballGroundGuide provides everything you need to know about Leiria.

Leiria

Leiria is a city in central Portugal, situated on the River Lis.

Its most obvious landmark is the Castelo de Leiria, which sits high above the old town and provides views across the city.

The centre is compact and easy to explore on foot. Praca Rodrigues Lobo is a square in the heart of the city and is surrounded by cafes and restaurants. From here, the old streets climb towards the cathedral and castle.

For supporters planning to stay in the city ahead of the game, you can spend the afternoon exploring the old town before making your way to the stadium as the ground is less than 1km from Praca Rodrigues Lobo.

Leiria is also a UNESCO Creative City of Music, having joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in 2019, and is famous for traditional wind bands and choirs.

What to see in Leiria

Castelo de Leiria pic.twitter.com/lj4h5HUdMk

— Henrique 🇺🇦 (@HenryMagalhanes) January 12, 2025

Castelo de Leiria

The castle is the obvious place to start.

The complex contains medieval defensive walls, the keep, the former royal palace and the Church of Nossa Senhora da Pena. It was developed considerably during the reign of King Dinis and was restored in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The walk to the castle takes around 20 minutes, but there is also an elevator that is free of charge. The castle will be open from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm in October and standard tickets for entry are priced at €2.10.

From the castle there are gorgeous panoramic views across Leiria and the surrounding area.

Praca Rodrigues Lobo

This is the centre of the city and is named after Portuguese poet and writer Francisco Rodrigues Lobo, who was born in Leiria.

The square has traditional Portuguese paving and is surrounded by cafes, restaurants and shops. Supporters are expected to gather here ahead of games and it is an ideal meeting point as it is close to the stadium.

Leiria Cathedral

The cathedral stands at Largo da Se in the historic centre and it officially became a national monument in 2014.

Construction began in the 1550s and the building suffered considerable damage due to an earthquake in 1755. One of the most unusual features is that the bell tower stands separately from the main church building.

The Old Town

The streets around Rua Barao de Viamonte and Rua Direita lead through the historic centre towards the cathedral and castle.

There are plenty of local shops, restaurants, cafes and historic buildings to visit, as well as the Freire Fountain and Largo Candido dos Reis.

River Lis

The River Lis runs through Leiria and there are pedestrian routes along its banks.

The riverside routes provide an easy way to escape the busy centre for a while, with bridges, greenery and views back towards the city.

Food and drink in Leiria

There is a number of cafes, restaurants and bars around Praca Rodrigues Lobo and the surrounding old town in Leiria where supporters can enjoy a pre-match meal or drink.

Traditional Portuguese food is readily available, with plenty of restaurants offering grilled fish and meat, bifanas, petiscos and other local dishes.

For food, some of the best local restaurants are Mata Bicho Real Taverna, Chico Lobo, Manjar do Bacalhau and Casinha Velha. For bars, Os Filipes, Vertigo, Java House and Reis Nobre are highly recommended.

Where to stay in Leiria

Staying in central Leiria is the obvious move for football fans as the historic centre, restaurants and the stadium are all within that part of the city. Therefore, you can enjoy an afternoon in the centre without having to worry about making a lengthy trip to the ground for the match.

Some of the best places to stay in Leiria are Hotel Stay Hotel, Hotel Eurosol Leiria & Jardim, TRYP Leiria Hotel and Eurosol Residence Hotel Apartamento. There are also smaller guesthouses and apartments around the old town.

Getting to Leiria

Leiria has no major commercial passenger airport, so flying into Lisbon or Porto and then making the journey to the city is recommended.

Lisbon is the probably the best option for a short football trip because of its location south of Leiria and extensive international connections.

If you are planning to hire a car, it will take around an hour and a half to reach Leiria from Lisbon's Humberto Delgado Airport and around two hours from Porto's Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport.

If you are planning on using public transport, it should take up to three hours to reach Leiria from either Lisbon or Porto. The Rede Expressos 134 coach will take fans from Francisco Sa Carneiro directly to Leiria, while it is a slightly more complex journey from Lisbon.

Matchday

🏟️ Name the city! 🤔 pic.twitter.com/IhE6shiXgg

— UEFA EURO (@UEFAEURO) February 24, 2021

Match: SCU Torreense vs. Sunderland
Competition: UEFA Europa League
Date: Thursday, October 15, 2026
Kick-off: 5:45pm
Venue: Estedio Municipal de Leiria, Arrabalde d'Aquem, 2400-137 Leiria, Portugal
Capacity: 23,888

Ticket Information

Torreense put tickets on sale for the Sunderland match on September 23, 2026.

An initial allocation of 3,990 tickets have been made available for away supporters, including 12 wheelchair spots.

Tickets in Block 4A are priced at £18, while tickets in Blocks 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E and 4D are priced at £27. It is also worth noting that seats are unreserved, meaning fans can sit in any available seat in their block.

Fans will need to collect their tickets individually in Leiria and must present their passport.

FGG Says: An ideal away day trip for football fans

Leiria should be an excellent away trip for Sunderland supporters. The city has a genuine historic centre, plenty of notable landmarks, restaurants, bars and hotels and the stadium is nearby.