Where to Stay in Porto: What You Need to Know
The city of Porto, sometimes referred to as Oporto, is the second-largest city in Portugal.
Located in the north of the country, on the banks of the Douro River and not far from the border with Galicia in Spain, Porto is a magical city, full of charming streets and lots of attractions and things to see and do.
When choosing where to stay in Porto you have to take into account some of the unique characteristics of the city. Accommodation in Porto is quite reasonably priced when compared with other cities of the Iberian Peninsula like Madrid or Barcelona and much cheaper than that of other cities in Southern Europe like Rome or Venice.
The quality of hotels is often also high in comparison, but in many cases it depends on many factors and it is best to first have look at the comments of other customers who have stayed there before. For your peace of mind, on this guide we will only offer you accommodation options with a score of 75/100 or higher.
As for the best areas to stay in Porto, the most sought after area is without doubt the freguesia (parish) of Baixa, which encompasses the neighborhoods of Cedofeita, Santo Ildefonso, Sé, Miragaia, Sao Nicolau and Vitoria.
While the city centre is the best way to explore the wonders of Porto, wine lovers will find their own personal paradise in Vila Nova de Gaia, located on the south bank of the Douro River.
Here you’ll find a comprehensive list of the best quarters to stay in Porto, as well as a short list of recommended hotels in each district.
The Best Areas to Stay in Porto
1. Best area: Ribeira & Sao Nicolau
Ribeira, located in the district of Sao Nicolau, is probably the most famous area in Porto.
This is usually the first stop for visitors to the Portuguese city. What do they come to see? The wonderful postcard view of picturesque houses in every colour of the rainbow lined up along the Douro River.
This beautiful area boasts a particular charm. The Douro river walk is a fantastic place to stroll and watch the sunset and the multitude of bars, restaurants and cafes offer unlimited leisure possibilities.
The area also offers every type of accommodation possible and every category.
This is arguably the best area to stay in Porto.
What makes this the best area to stay in Porto
- Lots of charm
- Colourful houses
- Douro River Walk
- Traditional ambience
- Lots of restaurants and cafés
- Nightlife
- Accessible on foot
Hand-picked hotels in this area
Our FavouriteDescobertas Boutique Hotel Porto is a stylish hotel located in the heart of the Ribeira district. It is a themed hotel with a decoration based on the Age of Discovery.
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Budget Option
Hotel La Bolsa is a great mid-range hotel with very low prices and excellent ratings located only 100 metres from Porto’s Palacio da Bolsa.
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Midrange Option
The House Ribeira Porto Hotel is a fabulous four star hotel. With modern decor and spacious rooms, it is one of the best options to stay in Porto.
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Luxury Option
Luxurious Pestana Vintage Porto Hotel is an exquisite five star hotel. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, it is housed in a 16th-century building with an eclectic décor.
2. Sé (Cathedral Quarter)
The true heart of Porto, the Sé District is within the area declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Sé comprises the area around Porto’s Cathedral and it’s the oldest part of the city. In medieval times, this area was inside a walled enclosure that protected it from foreign attacks.
Located on a hilltop overlooking the Douro River, Sé is an area of narrow streets with a lot of charm and medieval character.
The Cathedral of Porto, in Romanesque style and with Gothic and romantic additions, is the most important monument in this area.
From this neighborhood it is possible to visit the city on foot, so Sé is one of the top neighborhoods to stay during a visit to Porto.
What makes this the best area to stay in Porto
Medieval character
Porto Cathedral
Antique buildings
River views
Restaurants and bars
Heart of the city
Accessible by foot
Hand-picked hotels in this area
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Our Favourite
The lovely Design Palacio Flats are housed in a renovated 13th-century building. This is a very stylish aparthotel in the Cathedral quarter.
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Budget Option
Stayin Guesthouse is a modern-style guest house with minimalist décor with super-low prices in the Sé neighborhood of Porto.
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Midrange Option
Hotel Premium Porto Downtown is a modern and comfortable hotel located in the Sé neighborhood. Some rooms and the terrace offer spectacular views over the centre of Porto.
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Luxury Option
Armazém Luxury Housing is a fantastic super luxury guesthouse. It is housed in a 19th-century blacksmith’s shop and has a contemporary décor blending both industrial and traditional elements.
3. Vitória – Torre dos Clérigos
Vitória is located in the center of Porto, next to Sao Nicolau and Sé.
This small neighborhood is part of the four districts included on the list of World Heritage by UNESCO.
The most important attraction in this area is the Torre dos Clérigos, an 18th century baroque building visible from many points in town which has become the icon of the city of Porto.
The area is bordered to the east by the famous Avenida dos Aliados and the Santo Ildefonso neighborhood. It is an area accessible by metro and the train station of Sao Bento is within walking distance.
What makes this the best area to stay in Porto
- Very central
- Connected by metro
- Accessible on foot
- Torre dos Clérigos
- Lots of restaurants and bars
- Upmarket area
- Lots of accommodation options
Hand-picked hotels in this area
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Our Favourite
Rua de Trás Apartments (literally “back street”) is an apart-hotel located one minute walk from the Torre dos Clérigos. All apartments at Rua de Trás have a kitchenette and free Wi-Fi.
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Budget Option
The Potes Inn is a boutique guesthouse decorated with contemporary style located one hundred meters from the Torre dos Clérigos and four hundred from the Sao Bento station.
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Midrange Option
The Oporto House is located in an old restored house in the Vitória district. Its exquisite ambiance and modern decoration make it one of the top accommodation options in Porto.
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Luxury Option
Flores Village Hotel & Spa is housed in an old restored building dating back to the 18th century. Its decoration is blends contemporary and traditional elements and it has a spa, sauna and swimming pool.
4. Santo Ildefonso
Santo Ildefonso is part of the Porto city centre, although it is located outside the confines of the World Heritage Site.
It is an elegant and upper class neighborhood, born as an extension to the north of the city of Porto.
This area concentrates many of the attractions of the city, such as the Bolhão Market, Avenida dos Aliados, Sao Bento Station or the Majestic Café.
Santo Ildefonso is the main shopping and nightlife area of Porto and concentrates the largest amount of accommodation in the city. It is connected by metro and train.
What makes this the best area to stay in Porto
- Extremely central
- Coonected by metro and train
- Shopping areas
- Streets full of restaurants and cafés
- Great for nightlife
- Regal buildings
- Bolhão Market
Hand-picked hotels in this area
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Our Favourite
Grande Hotel de Paris is housed in a regal, belle-epoque style building that evokes the great Parisian palaces. It boasts classic French decor and offers luxury at reasonable prices.
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Budget Option
Hotel Sao Jose is located in the heart of Porto, a five-minute walk from the Bolhão Market. It offers budget accommodation close to Porto’s attractions.
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Midrange Option
The Grande Hotel do Porto is an Santo Ildefonso intitution. Housed in a 19th-century regal building, Grande do Porto is five minutes from Sao Bento Station.
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Luxury Option
Impressive Hotel Dom Henrique – Downtown is a luxury hotel located in the neighborhood of Santo Ildefonso. With a gym, a panoramic terrace and a restaurant offering traditional Portuguese cuisine, Dom Henrique is one of the best luxury hotels to stay in Porto.
5. Cedofeita
Cedofeita is located northwest of central Porto. It is connected by the city’s metro system.
It is a middle-upper-class residential neighborhood. It has a lot of accommodation options.
In the area around the Rotunda de Boavista you’ll find the emblematic Casa da Musica, one of Europe’s most important music venues and artistic institutions.
This area has a bohemian character and is full of art spaces, galleries and shops, particularly around Miguel Bombarda street. The lower part of Rua de Cedofeita is pedestrianized and contains a large number of cafes, bars and restaurants.
What makes this the best area to stay in Porto
- Artsy, bohemian district
- Connected by metro
- Great for shopping
- Rua de Cedofeita
- Nightlife and restaurants
- Casa da Musica
- Rua Miguel Bombarda
Hand-picked hotels in this area
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Our Favourite
Lovely Eurostars das Artes Hotel is a hotel-gallery housed in an azulejo-claded palace in the district of Cedofeita. Inspired by the world of art, this design hotel offers boutique accommodation and in-house temporary exhibitions.
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Budget Option
Hotel Mira D’Aire is a small and elegant hotel offering simple and functional accommodation in the Cedofeita neighborhood of Porto.
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Midrange Option
Mercador Guesthouse is a luxury family run pension with eclectic decoration located in the bohemian Miguel Bombarda street.
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Luxury Option
The stylish Baumhaus Serviced Apartments are located two minutes walk from the metro. These spacious apartments mix luxurious and functional Nordic décor with classic 19th century Portuguese character.
6. Miragaia
The old Jewish quarter of Porto.
Miragaia, is, like Ribeira, is a neighborhood of colorful houses on the banks of the Douro River, but unlike Ribeira, Miragaia was outside the main medieval city wall.
Due to its location by the river, the area was the main settlement centre for merchants and fishermen.
Its upper part is located on a high hill from where you can see the city of Gaia, on the other side of the duero. That’s where his name comes from (mira=look, Gaia=Gaia).
It is a traditional neighbourhood with excellent bars and fish restaurants and a privileged position to watch the sunset by the river.
What makes this the best area to stay in Porto
- Charming quarter
- Very central
- Great views
- Colourful houses
- Douro River Walk
- Great fish restaurants
- Boutique hotels
Hand-picked hotels in this area
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Our Favourite
Stylish Pensao Favorita is a boutique-style guesthouse in the upper part of the Miragaia quarter, on Rua Miguel Bombarda. It offers quality accommodation and minimalist and functional decoration in one of the best areas to stay in Porto.
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Budget Option
Alfandegadouro Apartment is a small apartment with kitchen and washing machine offering simple and cheap accommodation in the heart of Miragaia street.
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Midrange Option
Oporto Palace Apartments offer independent accommodation in the district of Miragaia. With a decor inspired by the world of wine, Porto Palace Apartments come with equipped kitchen and spectacular views.
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Luxury Option
Miragaia House has a funky and eclectic decor and is located three hundred meters from the Palacio da Bolsa. It is one of the top accommodations options to stay in Porto.
7. Vila Nova de Gaia
Vila Nova de Gaia is on the south bank of the Douro River.
Although Vila Nova de Gaia is technically not part of the city of Porto, its proximity and the close relationship that links them made us include it on this list.
Gaia offers the best views of Porto and it’s an excellent location for Port wine tasting. In fact, most of Porto’s wineries are located in Vila Nova de Gaia.
Being outside of Porto, accommodation prices are usually lower and the quality is higher.
What makes this the best area to stay in Porto
- Close to Central Porto
- Excellent views
- Lots of restaurants
- Wine cellars
- Douro River Walk
Hand-picked hotels in this area
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Our Favourite
Reis de Gaia is located in the historical center of Vila Nova de Gaia, opposite the Douro River, next to the famous wine cellars of Porto. Its terrace offers breathtaking views of the city of Porto across the Douro.
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Budget Option
The affordable Hotel ibis Budget Porto Gaia is a budget-yet-stylish hotel with modern and functional decor in Vila de Gaia.
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Midrange Option
Hotel Black Tulip – Porto Gaia, with an elegant and modern decoration, offers four star accommodation in Vila Nova de Gaia with connection to the center of Porto in 10 minutes by metro.
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Luxury Option
Luxury hotel The Yeatman is a five-star hotel with spa and a pool located in a wine cellar.
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