When it comes to where to stay in Porto, it can be rather hard to choose which location to pick since the city is pretty large. From the banks of the river Douro to the busy central center you will find that there are different types of accommodation in Porto and the price range varies. In general, the price of the accommodation tends to be cheaper compared to most places in Europe.
I think that the best way to decide where to stay in Porto is to determine what you want to do in the city first. Are you a first time visitor and want to hit all the major sights in the city? Or do you prefer the nightlife? Or would you prefer to spend your time on the beach?
Let’s dig into the different neighborhoods in Porto and see which ones are the best depending on what you would like to do in the city.
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Where To Stay In Porto For First Timers – Vitoria & Ribeira
First time visitors in Porto always want to cover as much as they can in the city. That’s why staying centrally is the best option. One of the best places to stay are Vitoria & Ribeira. It’s an active part of Porto and there is always something going on in the area.
Plus there are a number of hostels. My brother loved this area and he highly recommended a couple of the hostels here. I’ve actually listed the hostels as a separate section on where to stay in Porto. If that is something that you are interested in, you can just jump right to that section.
1. Casa da Companhia
⭐️ Rating: 9.6/10 (1,611 Reviews) Price: $349 per night 📍Location: Rua das Flores n. 69, União de Freguesias do Centro, Porto Details: Read more on booking.com now!
I have always been a fan of the Marriott chain but over the years, IHG has also won my heart. The reason is because some of their hotels are the perfect balance of comfort and luxury. Casa da Companhia is one of the luxury hotels in Porto and is located right in the heart of the city. This is why it came up on my radar when I was doing my research on where to stay in Porto for myself.
It has everything that you could possibly want during your vacation included an indoor pool and an outdoor pool.
Perfect for when the weather is sunny or even when it is too cold. It has a sauna, a gym and a very nice wellness area.
If you don’t want to roam around Porto and are a wee bit too tired, fear not for there is an in house restaurant, a bar and even a terrace where you can chill at. Makes it sound pretty perfect right?
“Luxurious and upscale small urban hotel in a perfect location in Porto This is a newly built hotel in an old building. The service was absolutely perfect from the moment we arrived until after we left. The place screams high quality in every detail.”
Miki (read more reviews now!)
As far as the rooms go, they are pretty standard as far as luxury hotels go. You will find that they are spacious, airconditioned and some even have a balcony. One of the things that I liked was the amazing spread for breakfast. It allowed me to start the day at a nice leisurely pace and just indulge my senses in some of the finest Portuguese cuisine.
So if you are wondering where to stay in Porto and want luxury then this is one of the most central spots to stay in.
2. Mercure Porto Centro Aliados
⭐️ Rating: 9.1/10 (2,659 Reviews) Price: $165 per night 📍Location: Rua Do Bonjardim 95, União de Freguesias do Centro, Porto Details: Read more on booking.com now!
If you are wondering where to stay in Porto and you are a first time visitor, central is definitely the best. Now just because you want to stay centrally doesn’t mean that you won’t get luxury. I actually tumbled across the Mercure when I was wandering around the city.
Since its really popular, it did not pop up on our initial search when we were booking our accommodation in Porto since we booked ours rather last minute.
So if this is the place you want to stay at, make sure that you book in advance. This will ensure that you get a room and for a decent rate!
“The location was perfect- easy to get to everything in Porto and close to three Metro stops. The outdoor area and pool are perfect. A nice oasis away from the crowds of Porto. Breakfast was delicious with a wide selection of offerings. The staff was very helpful and friendly.”
Rachel (read more reviews now!)
The rooms here are fully airconditioned which is a big relief when you are in the middle of the summer heat. When the weather gets excessively hot, I generally wander around a bit and then head back to my room to cool off during the hottest hours in the afternoon. The location of Mercure hotel makes it very easy to do this.
Now despite being in the center of town, it also has a great outdoor pool. Its seasonal though. So if you do head back to the hotel in the afternoon, maybe cooling off in the pool is a great idea.
3. Pousada do Porto (Budget And Kid Friendly Option)
⭐️ Rating: 9/10 (1,794 Reviews) Price: $121 per night 📍Location: Rua das Flores 94, União de Freguesias do Centro, Porto Details: Read more on booking.com now!
If you are looking for budget accommodation and haven’t decided on where to stay in Porto then I would suggest taking a look at the Pousada do Porto. It is located bang in the center of the city so you can easily get to all the major attractions. It also means that you don’t spend money on transportation.
Now aside from the fact that it provides budget rooms, the other main attractions is the terrace, the indoor pool which can use in no matter what the weather is and a luxurious sauna.
I kinda like this particularly because Porto is a great destination even in winter but you do miss out on the beach which Portugal is rather famous for. So an indoor swimming pool just makes the visit perfect.
“The location was the best we could have, right in the touristic center. Although located on a crowded street, our room was quite quiet. The hotel was very nice, the room size and bathroom size were ideal, the pool was really nice as well. I would recommend and come back.”
Roxanna (read more reviews now!)
One of the other things that I really loved is that they had family friendly rooms which is I find is rather rare in many of the hotels. Since we travel with kids we tend to keep an eye for these unicorns especially if they are in the budget range.
Where To Stay In Porto For The Wine – Vila Nova De Gaia
Gaia is technically not in Porto but it is just across the river. It easy to get to by foot, by car or even by boat. If you are in the city then making a trip to Gaia is definitely one of the unique things to do in Porto. This is because there are loads of historic wine cellars in Gaia and even more wine tours. Since it is so close to the city, I definitely had to include it as one of the options.
One of the things that you need to know about Gaia is that the accommodation is generally pricier. The ambiance is a bit more upscale. Don’t get me wrong. Its really nice here which is why heading here is popular. Staying here however maybe dependent on your budget especially if you are booking last minute.
4. The Rebello Hotel
⭐️ Rating: 9.7/10 (1,071 Reviews) Price: $290 per night 📍Location: 380 Cais de Gaia, Vila Nova de Gaia Details: Read more on booking.com now!
The Rebello is one of the hotels in Gaia that screams luxury. It isn’t a very big hotel like many of the luxury brands. Everything about the space it has however is dedicated towards making the guests feel comfortable and relaxed. This makes it one of the options on where to stay in Porto that you should consider.
For example, it has a private parking area which means you don’t have to search for a convenient place to park.
If you have been to Porto or Gaia before, you will know that this can be a hassle. My recommendation would be to park here and then head out to explore the cities. If you want, you can also rent cycles from the hotel itself!
Now in addition to the parking, the property has an inhouse sauna which is pretty luxurious. You just need to book a slot in advance because it is popular. The garden, shared lounge and the terrace are great places to relax at too.
“The two bedroom suite was huge, and the room was impeccably clean. It was great to receive a stocked fridge ready to enjoy some cool beverages all included in our rate as well. It kept us from having to immediately run out to the store. Breakfast was excellent, and service throughout the hotel was wonderful. Being in Gaia meant great access to the Port Wine cellars which was very nice, and from the Rebello there are spectacular views of Porto and the bridges.”
John (read more reviews now!)
One of the highlights of the Rebello hotel is the rooms with the river views. They are more expensive than the other rooms but waking up to one of the most beautiful views in the world is certainly worth it! Definitely one of the prime hotels when it comes to where to stay in Porto.
5. The Lodge Hotel
⭐️ Rating: 9.4/10 (1,196 Reviews) Price: $237 per night 📍Location: Rua Serpa Pinto 60, Vila Nova de Gaia Details: Read more on booking.com now!
The Lodge Hotel is gorgeous! Breathtakingly gorgeous! The only downside is that since Gaia is on the opposite side of the Douro river getting to Porto can be a bit of a pain. I’m not even talking figuratively because climbing up and down the Ponte Luis I caused my thighs to ache. Luckily there’s Uber and Bolt so it isn’t too bad. And if you don’t want to use those, the bus will get you across.
You probably are wondering is all this worth it? Well, first off yes it is if you want to stay in a quieter neighborhood and still have access to all the fun in Porto. You can see why it makes one of the cool options on where to stay in Porto.
The second reason is the hotel itself. The rooms here are swanky, modern, spacious and have a feel good vibe about them that I can’t describe accurately in words.
“Staff were wonderfully attentive . I had a very early flight out of Porto and the front desk staff helped to print boarding passes, arrange for a taxi, and even sent me off with a breakfast box of food. The welcome drink was also a nice touch. Breakfast buffet was also excellent in the quality and selection of food.”
Flora (read more reviews now!)
Aside from the really cool views from the rooms, you will find that another great attraction to this particular hotel is its gorgeous outdoor swimming pool with deck chairs where you can lounge on and enjoy the warmth of the Portuguese sun. Its a nice quiet spot away from the bustle of the city and perfect for someone who is looking for a bit of R&R.
The breakfast is another thing that people rave about. It has Portuguese, continental and American options so you are pretty much spoilt for choice! Life cannot get better than this!
Where To Stay In Porto With Kids – Ribeira, Vitoria and Baixa
Now with Porto, most of the city is hilly so you better have your walking shoes no matter where you stay because you will be walking uphill at some time or the other. So staying in the Ribeira, Vitoria and Baixa are the best bets because you don’t have to walk far. Personally I like Baixa because its a bit quieter and that’s where we stayed. The trade off is that you have to walk a bit more.
I’ve already covered a few options in Ribeira and Vitoria in my section on ‘Where to stay in Porto for first time visitors’. While these are really good options, I thought I would highlight some more options of family friendly hotels in Porto here.
6. Palacio das Cardosas – Intercontinental Porto (Luxury)
⭐️ Rating: 8.7/10 (814 Reviews) Price: $378 per night 📍Location: Praca da Liberdade, 25, União de Freguesias do Centro, Porto Details: Read more on booking.com now!
Have you ever wanted to stay in a palace? In Porto you can do just that. The Palacio das Cardosas is centrally located and very convenient. If you are on the lookout for where to stay in Porto with kids and want some luxury then make sure to put this hotel at the top of the list.
First off, you will find that the rooms are very spacious and for lack of another word… Palatial! Now this makes sense because the hotel is located in a renovated 18th century palace.
Palacio das Cardosas is an IHG hotel and so you know that the chains luxury standards apply. It does however have its own unique twist to the rooms so that you feel as if you have walked back in time.
The bathrooms are also luxurious with marble tiles and finishing. There’s a separate a walk in shower and a bathtub. That should give you an idea of just how large the bathroom is.
“The hotel is well maintained, feels quality as soon as you enter, spacious room, staff at front desk a bit naive but the concierge services were fantastic. The linens – oh the linens. The bedding was amazingly comfortable and cozy. Turn down service a bonus. The room was always well attended to. Food in the bar and breakfast was delightful.”
Peggy (read more reviews now!)
There are different types of rooms that are available. Some have a seating area with plush chairs while others don’t. If you are traveling with kids you should probably look at the Classic king or one of the suites. These are larger and have more beds. The suites even have a balcony with views of the city. This alone is one of the reasons you should put it on your list of where to stay in Porto.
There are three treatment rooms and a sauna that you can indulge yourself in. There’s even an inhouse gym. If you want to treat yourself to the flavors of Portugal head to the Astoria restaurant which is well known for its well prepared food. Now if you don’t want a full meal and want to just hang out somewhere, head to the Cardosas Bar where you can hang out with friends or network with other people who are staying in the hotel.
7. Wine And Books Hotel (Mid-Range)
⭐️ Rating: 9.4/10 (494 Reviews) Price: $232 per night 📍Location: Rua de José Falcão, União de Freguesias do Centro, Porto Details: Read more on booking.com now!
I know the name of this hotel has wine in it but trust me, it is perfectly safe and family friendly. I actually came across this hotel because my brother loved the look of the building and it captured his eye. Located right in the heart of the city, you will find that it is easily accessible. It is also in a relatively quieter section of Porto which is one of the reasons why I liked it. This means that the outside noise is less likely to disturb your kids. In addition the rooms are pretty much sound proof.
That isn’t the only reason why it popped up on my radar when it came to where to stay in Porto with kids.
One of the biggest issues that I face when booking accommodation is that I have two kids. They aren’t old enough to have their room nor is it safe to leave it one.
Generally speaking that’s the option that most hotels have to offer which means that one parent gets stuck in each room. Now sometimes you do get connecting rooms but that’s a game of luck.
The Wine and Book Hotel however has a dellux room which is perfect if you need accommodation in Porto with kids. It has a sofa bed which works well and if you have a young child they will also add a spare cot in for you for free.
You can even add in an extra bed for a child in your standard room but that will come with an extra charge.
The sauna is also very popular. The best part however is the inhouse wellness center where you can pick from a variety of rejuvenating treatments. Just make sure to book your slot in advance.
“Wine & Books is a gorgeous hotel in a perfect location for exploring Porto. We walked everywhere from the hotel through such interesting neighborhoods.
It was my husband’s and my first trip to Portugal and Porto, and the front desk staff were fantastic — recommending sites to visit and one the best restaurants we have ever been to! We truly appreciated the incredibly helpful, delightful, and kind staff.
Early in our stay, we had a problem with the drapes in our room; the staff immediately resolved the issue in the nicest and most generous way imaginable. Thanks especially to manager Soraia Ribero, who could not possibly have been more helpful and thoughtful. We were upgraded and treated so specially.
The staff and Soraia, in particular, made our first trip to Porto so memorable and special. We shall never forget our trip to Porto and hope one day to return to Porto’s Wine & Books Hotel.”
Diane (read more reviews now!)
This all about how I see it as extremely family friendly. The hotel also has additional attractions to it that make it pretty attractive. It has an indoor pool for one which means that you can enjoy it even if the weather is cold or if it rains.
8. Eurostars Aliados (Budget)
⭐️ Rating: 8.9/10 (4,634 Reviews) Price: $120 per night 📍Location: 195 Avenida dos Aliados, União de Freguesias do Centro, Porto Details: Read more on booking.com now!
I think that Eurostars Aliados is one of the prettiest buildings in Porto especially in the night. It is lit up subtly but it accentuates the façade of the building beautifully. As beautiful as the building from outside is the inside is equally pretty. Its one of the centrally located 5 star hotels in Porto that doesn’t have a high price tag on each room. This means that you can fit it in on a budget pretty easily.
Remember when I talked about all the free things to do in Porto and I mentioned the Porto Town Hall? The city center square is located right in front of the town hall and the Eurostars Aliados is one of the cool historical buildings on this square.
So it really does not get more central than this. The area is very lively and that means that there is always something to do close by. There are loads of places to eat close by too.
When it comes to the rooms in the hotel, you will find that the rooms are pretty spacious so if you are visiting with a baby, you can easily book one of the Dellux rooms and add in a cot.
“Location was good with a metro station right outside. There were loads of restaurants nearby and the market a short walk away. Breakfast in the hotel was very good with plenty of choice, good times (up to 11:30 at weekends).
The spa with water massage facilities a steam room and sauna was a welcome bonus. the room layout and shower facilities in the bathroom was very good. We had a spacious room with a balcony and a great view of the plaza at the front of the hotel.”
David (read more reviews now!)
If you are headed in with a slightly older child or more than one child, opt in for the suites. They have more beds, are super spacious and give you quite a bit of value for money.
One of the best things about the hotel is that it has a pretty col indoor pool. This means that you have a spot to take the kids to no matter what the weather is. Trust me, I always am grateful for all ways that I can find to entertain my toddlers and a pool keeps them entertained while tiring them out! Win-win situation if you ask me.
Interestingly enough, the hotel also has babysitting and child services. This however comes at an extra cost. I’m not really sure how many people actually use the service because I get nervous about leaving my kids with strangers. I’m sure there’s a way to vet the people but I’m unaware of it.
Now a couple of other points that I would like to add on before closing off this article. For one, you can get parking from the hotel itself. It is at a daily cost. This does help if you are on a road trip in Portugal. We personally struggled o find parking in the city and most of the parking garages were not centrally located.
If you are a person who enjoys sauna, you will find that there is a nice inhouse sauna that you can use. There is also a wellness center, a hammam and a massage center. All these come at an additional cost though but that is to be expected. Just make sure that you reserve your slots in advance because these are popular activities in the hotel.
Where To Stay In Porto – Hostels
I have to be honest here. I have personally not explored the hostels in Porto because it just didn’t make sense to me since I was traveling with kids. My brother however was exploring where to stay in Porto and was partial to the hostels in Porto for a number of reasons.
Aside from the fact that costs are low when it comes to the accommodation, the hostels in Porto also have a great social scene. Being the social animal that he is, he loved this!
Interestingly enough, all hostels in Porto are not necessarily budget options. There are some that offer a lot of luxury too. Albeit for lesser price than you would expect in a luxury hostel. These hostels are geared more towards the experience than the budget. Kinda like how you have glamping if you don’t want to do camping.
9. Gallery Hostel (Luxury)
⭐️ Rating: 9.5/10 (2,805 Reviews) Price: $67 per night 📍Location: Rua Miguel Bombarda, 222, União de Freguesias do Centro, Porto Details: Read more on booking.com now!
The Gallery Hostel is definitely not the most price effective hostel if you are looking for options on where to stay in Porto on a budget. It does give you plenty of price to value because the hostel is swanky. The interiors of the Gallery hostel could easily pass for one of the luxury hotels in Porto. With plus modern finish and spacious rooms you hardly even realize that the Gallery hostel is located in a renovated 19th century building,
All the rooms have air-conditioning and we all know how important that is during the summer months in Porto when the temperatures climb to some insane heights. The Wi-fi here is also good so you can sit and work from here too which means that it is a perfect option if you are looking for work from home options in Porto.
Now one may wonder what’s the difference between a hostel and a hotel when it comes to the Gallery hostel. First off, it has dorms and bunk beds. The rooms are swanky but they are shared so yeah it does retain the hostel feel. On a side note, it also has private rooms so you can still opt for those if you are interested. Some rooms even have a seating area and a balcony where you can chill at.
“Great modern feel, quiet and in a nice neighbourhood away from the crowds but still walkable. Beds were comfy and breakfast was great! Would stay here again”
Anya (read more reviews now!)
It also has shared areas like the seating area, the lounge area and the fully equipped but shared kitchen. These are places that you can mix and interact with other guests from the hostel. Its a social place and one of the reasons why it is such a big hit!
Another interesting facet of this curious hostel is the inhouse restaurant hat serves up an array of different Portuguese delicacies and ones that are unique to Porto. As far as where to stay in Porto goes, I find that the Gallery hostel is pretty unique. It has a great vibe, amazing interiors, is a great place to network and have fun. Plus they hold a number of events every week for their residents so it never gets monotonous!
10. Nice Way Porto Hostel (Budget)
⭐️ Rating: 8.4/10 (1,952 Reviews) Price: $29 per night 📍Location: Rua Sampaio Bruno, 12, 3º andar, União de Freguesias do Centro, Porto Details: Read more on booking.com now!
Now among all the hostels that my brother stayed at in Porto, he was partial to the Nice Way Porto. In fact, as far as I know, he has actually stayed at this place twice over in less than a month. He kept using Porto as his base and coming back and staying in the city so moved around a bit.
Nice Way Porto hostel is located right in Aliados area. This means that all the notable sights are walking distance away from it. Even the station is just 3 minutes away on foot. Super convenient if you are heading into the city by train.
The rooms are cool too. The cost per person definitely falls within the budget range. Now while there are shared dormitories, you can also opt for the private or twin rooms. These come with their own ensuite bathroom.
The dormitories on the other hand have a shared bathroom. They are clean which is one of the things that everyone looks for when choosing a hostel.
“Comfortable bed with just enough room for the two of us. Breakfast was good and coffee is always available. It was a shared bathroom situation but with a choice of either unisex, men’s or women’s, we always had a shower available.
Location was convenient and easy to explore Porto. We stayed here before starting the Camino Portuguese and the hostel is a stop for luggage transfer, which we appreciated.”
Lynn (read more reviews now!)
Speaking of shared amenities. There is a shared fully equipped kitchen in the hostel too so you can cook up your own meals which definitely helps keep things in the budget range during your time in Porto. The hostel also has a bar where you can get your drinks and chill out!
At the end of the day there are numerous options on where to stay in Porto. I was stuck for a long while trying to figure out which place worked for me. My best tip is to understand what you need from the accommodation. Do you need something that’s central or kid friendly? Do you want budget or luxury?
You should even consider facilities that you will use. Parking for example when it comes to selecting where to stay in Porto because it can be difficult. If your hotel offers this then you know you have a winner.
Swimming pools, in house restaurants, shared kitchens, hammams, massage centers and more are all other additional benefits that could make your stay in Porto pretty awesome. Make sure you pick where to stay in Porto carefully.
Are there any hotels that you stayed at that should be on this list? Or anything that you would like to add to the information that we have on where to stay in Porto? Let us know in the comments below.
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