Where to Stay in Porto: Best Areas & Accommodations

Looking for the best place to stay in Porto while visiting Portugal? This guide has all the top neighborhoods and places to stay!

As one of the oldest cities in Portugal, Porto is full of history, culture, and food! It’s an incredible destination for a romantic getaway, solo travelers, or just a few friends who want to take a trip together.

No matter your reason for visiting Porto, you’ll want to make sure you have nice accommodation where you can rest and relax after a long day of exploring the city.

Since Porto is a small city, finding a place to book isn’t difficult. But there are some neighborhoods and areas that are much nicer than others! This guide will cover where to stay in Porto so you feel safe and comfortable.

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Porto Accommodation Quick Guide

Need to book a place quickly? Here are my top three picks around the city:

Budget—Casa Carolina: Looking for one of the best places to stay in Porto? This budget hotel has incredible ratings and is extremely centrally located. They have complimentary breakfast and provide an airport shuttle for a small additional charge.

Mid-range—1872 River House: This excellent hotel is in one of the best areas to stay in Porto, right along the Douro River in the Ribeira district. Breakfast is free, and they offer bicycle rentals to help you explore the city.

Luxury—The Yeatman: This luxury hotel is located in Vila Nova de Gaia, one of the best neighborhoods to stay in Porto for those who want to spend their time doing Port tastings and wine tours. The rooms are private and have huge terraces. They also have a Michelin award-winning restaurant on site.

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Ribeira

When unsure where to stay, book a hotel in Ribeira. It’s the most centrally located neighborhood and is gorgeous since it’s right along the Douro River. The only major downside is that it’s the city’s top tourist neighborhood, so it lacks a local vibe.

It’s the best neighborhood for first-time visitors to stay in Porto because all the main attractions are within walking distance.

It also has some of the best restaurants in the city, so you won’t have any issues finding amazing food on the same street as your hotel.

Budget—Chic & Basic Gravity: Just an 8-minute walk from the Sao Bento train station, this budget hotel has air-conditioned rooms with free breakfast. They also have a simple bar and restaurant on site. Many main attractions, including the Oporto Coliseum and the Clerigos Tower, are within walking distance.

Mid-Range—Gran Cruz House: Just a half mile from the Clerigos Tower, you’ll find this little mid-range guest house. The rooms are small, but they have super comfy beds, and you can add on room service for a small additional cost. They also have a coffee shop and bar on site.

Luxury—Exmo Hotel by Olivia: This excellent boutique hotel has air conditioning, a restaurant, and a bar. I recommend booking a room with a terrace as all the rooms with balconies have a really nice view of the city below. All rooms have private bathrooms, a minibar, and a TV.

ribeira neighborhood, local restaurants with tables outside covered in large umbrellas, posters with menu and food items on them, residential buildings and shoppiing buildings in the back

Baixa

Baixa is also very centrally located and is the best neighborhood to stay in Porto if you want to be close to the attractions but also enjoy the nightlife.

Baixa has a huge nightlife scene full of clubs and bars. It’s also a popular neighborhood for young locals and tourists, so you’ll find more backpackers in this area. This area is full of little cafes where you can enjoy a coffee and people-watch.

Budget—The Poets Inn: This little guesthouse is extremely affordable and right next to Clerigos Tower as well as the São Bento train and metro station. The rooms are huge, with private bathrooms and Wi-Fi. There is also a shared kitchen and lounge area, which is great for meeting other travelers.

Mid-Range—Hotel Moon and Sun: If you’re looking for a mid-range hotel, this is one of the best places to stay in Porto, Portugal. The rooms are beautiful and clean, with everything you need to enjoy your stay, including TVs and Wi-Fi. Free breakfast is included; you can choose from a vegetarian, buffet, or continental menu.

Luxury—Saboaira: This luxury hotel is within walking distance of everything in the city center. They have an amazing breakfast buffet, room service, and a hot tub.

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Vila Nova de Gaia

One of the main reasons people travel to Porto is for port wine tastings if this is one of your main goals while here, you should definitely book a few nights in Vila Nova de Gaia.

Most people consider Vila Nova de Gaia as a neighborhood in Porto, but it’s actually a completely different city. It’s a little far away from Porto’s downtown area, but you can easily travel back and forth on the tram or the metro.

This area has some of the country’s oldest port warehouses and wine cellars that date back to the 17th century.

Depending on how long you’re in Porto, I recommend spending a few nights in Baixa or Ribeira so you can see all the attractions and then head to Vila Nova de Gaia for some of the best wine tastings in the country.

Budget—Park Hotel Porto Gaia: This hotel is simple, but it has everything you need at a low price. They also offer a free breakfast to fill up before heading to all the wine tastings. They have an on-site bar and a nice lounge area as well.

Mid-range—CHARM: This is one of the top recommended guesthouses in Porto. You can reach the Luis I Bridge in about 5 minutes, so it’s very well connected to Ribeira and other neighborhoods in Porto. The rooms have coffee machines and fridges. The reception area always has free coffee and snacks.

Luxury—The Lodge Hotel: If you’re looking for superior amenities and want to be treated like royalty, book a room at The Lodge Hotel. There are many different amenities on site, including a spa, a fitness center, and a coffee house.

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Bonfim

If you’re not into being close to all the places where tourists stay, check into a place in Bonfim for a more local vibe!

Most of the streets are residential, but there are still many different accommodation choices to choose from. The area is also home to trendy coffee shops and craft breweries.

If you’re looking for where to stay in Porto with family, Bonfim is also a great choice because the hotels are cheaper, and the neighborhood is quiet and safe.

Budget—Porto Alegria: This beautiful little hotel is set in a 19th-century building with traditional Portuguese tiles. They have free breakfast and the rooms are equipped with small kitchenettes, TVs, and air conditioning.

Mid-range—Eurostars Heroismo: This is one of the only chain hotels in the area, so it’s a great place to stay if you want to be somewhere that’s a little more established and has plenty of reviews. You can walk downtown in about 20 minutes. The hotel has many amenities, including a bar, restaurant, and lounge.

Luxury—Thomaz Palace: There are not many luxury places in Bonfim, but these fully furnished and fully serviced apartments are incredible. Plus, they come at more of a mid-range price. The apartment building offers free parking and free Wi-Fi. The kitchens and bathrooms are fully equipped with everything you need, making it easy to enjoy your stay here.

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Top Things to Do in Porto

Now that you have the perfect place to stay in Porto, here are the things you have to add to your Porto itinerary to make the most out of your stay in this stunning city.

Take a walking tour. To see the best of the sights and attractions in a limited time, book a walking tour. Many walking tours are free. Just make sure to tip the guide! They can be anywhere from 2 to 4 hours, so wear comfy shoes.
Clerigos Tower. If you have ever seen the Porto Skyline, you probably already know this iconic landmark. If you’re not afraid of heights, you can climb to the top of the tower and get some incredible city views.
Lello Bookstore. Make sure to visit this bookstore, as it’s the oldest in the country and opened in 1869. The interior is absolutely beautiful, with dark wood bookcases and a large spiral staircase.
Cálem Cellars. Ready to try some port wine? Cálem Cellars is the best place to do it as they offer guided tours and port wine tastings. They even have a small museum showing the history of the wine and the region.
Cafe Santiago. One thing you’ll never forget about Porto is the incredible food. Cafe Santiago is famous for its traditional Francesinha sandwich with ham, roast beef, steak, and sausage topped with cheese and a fried egg. It’s delicious and filling.
Porto Cathedral. This cathedral is the starting point for the famous Camino de Santiago. The cathedral is stunning, and you might even meet a few people beginning their pilgrimage.

Porto Cálem, barraels od calem wine stacked on top of one another — Porto Cálem

outside view of porto cathedral — Porto Cálem

How to Get to Porto

Porto has an international airport called Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport. It’s just a few miles north of the city, and you can easily take a train or bus into downtown Porto from the airport.

Since Porto is a smaller city, the airport doesn’t have a lot of direct flights from international destinations like the USA and Asia.

However, you can fly directly to Porto from other European cities. Many travelers fly into large European cities like London or Paris and then fly to Porto.

If you’re already in Europe, you can easily get to Porto by train or plane.

How to Get Around Porto

If you’re staying in Baixa or Ribeira, you can get to most places in Porto on foot. There are many public transportation options in Porto as well, including a tram system and a metro.

You can also take the bus, but they don’t come as often, so you might be stuck waiting.

orange and yellow tram coming down an alleyway of porto, porto transportation

When to Visit Porto

For the best weather, come to Porto between April and October. The weather is very sunny and warm so you can enjoy walking around and being outdoors.

Like most places in Europe, though, Porto gets busy with international travelers between the months of June and August. The main attractions will be busy during this time, and hotel prices will also be higher.

What is the best part of Porto to stay in?

This depends on what you want to get out of the experience! Most people agree that Ribeira and Baixa are the best areas to stay in Porto. This is because they are centrally located and have tons of accommodation options for every budget.

What is the main area of Porto?

The most downtown and centrally located area of Porto is Baixa. It has many main attractions and the city’s most famous landmarks that you’ll recognize from photos and postcards.

Where not to stay in Porto?

Porto is generally pretty safe, and you shouldn’t have any issues. Some parts of the city are not as safe as others, so you’ll want to be careful to avoid these areas.

Most locals will tell you to avoid Bairro de Aleixo because it can be sketchy at night, and petty crime is more common here.

Is Porto a walkable city?

Yes! Many travelers come to Porto, and they never have to make sure of the public transportation system. Using Google Maps is also very efficient as you can put it into walking mode, and it will show you exactly where you need to go.

Where to Stay In Porto- All the Best Places are Waiting For You!

By now, you probably know exactly where to stay in Porto. Even though Porto is much smaller than Lisbon, there are endless accommodation choices.

I hope this guide helped you find the perfect place to stay to enjoy your time while wandering around this amazing city.

Which of these places in Porto are you going to book?