Porto has so much to offer the visitor, from museums to nightlife, from wine to good food! The historic centre is not very extensive and this is where you will find the main attractions. Porto is animated by completely different neighbourhoods, so choosing the right one becomes essential to make the most of your trip! Here's everything you need to know about where to stay in Porto!
Useful tips: the best neighbourhoods to stay in
If you are visiting the city for the first time, or if you only have a few days at your disposal, the best area is the historic centre! Here you will find different neighbourhoods, each of which addresses specific needs.
Riberia overlooks the bank of the Douro river and, together with Baixa, is the centre of the evening nightlife.
A little further north is the Cadofeita district, which is very quiet and especially recommended for families! Within this district is the Boavista area, one of the cheapest in Porto and ideal for low-cost travellers! Staying here, the best option is to opt for accommodation close to a bus stop.
If you want to stay close to the beach, we recommend Foz do Douro, perfect especially for families, west of the city centre!
Finally, another recommended area is Vila Nova de Gaia, also known as the wine cellar district! Located on the opposite bank of the Douro river, it is actually a city in its own right, but part of the Porto district.
Recommended areas tosave money: Cadofeita (especially the Boavista area)
Recommended areas forfamilies with children: Cadofeita, Foz do Douro
Recommended areas foryoung people: Ribeira, Baixa, Vila Nova de Gaia
Best accommodation: We have selected the best hotels, B&Bs and hostels in Porto. Discover our recommendations and book on Booking
If you are in Porto on business or as a one-day stopover to other destinations, consider sleeping near the airport. Find the best solutions and selected hotels on booking.com
Area guide Porto
Porto, with an area of about 44 square kilometres, is not a complex city to visit and settling in is very easy. It also lends itself very well to being visited on foot, but beware of the constant ups and downs due to the conformation of the land.
From an administrative point of view, the city is divided into 7 main freguesias, which literally can be translated as 'civil parish'. In each freguesia there are then several smaller neighbourhoods. The ones that are most interesting from a touristic point of view are located in the historical centre and in the immediate vicinity, close to the Douro river, and are the Freguesia Cadofeita, where Cadofeita, Baixa and Ribeira are located, and the Freguesia Aldoar, where the Foz do Douro neighbourhood is located on the coast.
Areas to avoid: Porto is one of the safest cities in Portugal, but there are some suburbs to avoid at all costs. These include Bairro Pinheiro Torres, Bairro Aleixo, Bairro do Cerco, Lagarteiro and the northern area of Freixo Palace.
Ribeira
Ribeira is probably the most picturesque neighbourhood in Porto! It is located on the banks of the Douro river and is definitely one of the best areas to stay in the city! Moreover, staying here means being close to the main attractions: the Porto Cathedral, the Palácio da Bolsa and theIgreja de Santo Ildefonso are in the neighbourhood! In addition, the Luis I Bridge leading to Vila Nova do Gaia is located here.
Obviously, given its notoriety and excellent location, it is one of the most touristy neighbourhoods in all of Porto. It is especially recommended for those who want to stay in a central location and be at the centre of the nightlife, as this area is full of clubs that keep the early hours in the evenings!
Finally, if you stay here, you can easily get around on foot and reach different neighbourhoods and attractions. Also here is the wonderful São Bento train station, the most beautiful in the city, decorated with beautiful azulejos! The metro line D also passes through here.
Average prices in the neighbourhood range from around €60.00 for low-cost accommodation to €250.00 for high-budget solutions - comparethe selection of the best accommodation on booking
Recommended accommodations
Accommodation | Description |
|---|---|
Hostel 200 m from the Palacio da Bolsa with private rooms or dormitory beds. Shared lounge and kitchen. Ideal for young people | |
Residence with soundproofed rooms and private bathroom. Reception 24/24h and free WiFi | |
Complex of flats with river or city views, equipped with kitchen and bathroom. Ideal for couples, families and groups | |
5-star hotel on the banks of the Douro river. Spa and wellness centre, restaurant and room service. WiFi connection. Ideal for couples |
Baixa
Photo by Marcello Saponaro. The Baixa district is located next to Ribeira and is the second best area to stay in. Here you will find large boulevards such as Avenida dos Aliados and Rua de Santa Catalina, the latter being the shopping boulevard where you will also find the famous Majestic Café. Also in the neighbourhood you will find attractions such as theIgreja dos Clérigos and theIgreja do Carmo, the Lello Bookshop (which inspired some of the Harry Potter locations) and the historic Mercado do Bolhão market.
Here the costs are slightly lower than in the Ribeira, but it is still a very central neighbourhood. It is especially ideal for young people, groups of friends and anyone looking for fun and excitement, while still being close to the main attractions!
Staying in this neighbourhood also means that you can easily walk around the city! Not only that, the Baixa is traversed from north to south by the metro line D, main stop Aliados, and the São Bento central train station is a short walk away.
Average prices in the neighbourhood range from around €45.00 for low-cost accommodation to €250.00 for high-budget solutions - compare the best accommodation selection on booking
Recommended accommodations
Accommodation | Description |
|---|---|
Hotel 700 m from the Bolhao city market. Free WiFi, restaurant, 24-hour reception and communal lounge. Ideal for couples and families | |
Hostel within walking distance of the São Bento station. Fast WiFi connection, private rooms or dormitory beds, private or shared bathroom. Ideal for young people | |
Apartment complex with fully equipped kitchenette and coffee machine. Flats for 2 to 6 persons. Ideal for couples, families and groups | |
5-star hotel 4 min walk from Aliados station. Swimming pool, bar, restaurant and room service. Ideal for couples and families |
Cadofeita
Photo by Josep Renalias. Just north of the Baixa district is the Cedofeita district, the trendiest and most fashionable district in Porto! Staying in the southernmost part of Cedofeita you'll be within walking distance of the main attractions, while the northernmost part is occupied by the small neighbourhood of Boavista, a great low-cost area mainly aroundAvenida do Boavista, with the Casa da Musica!
The district is especially recommended for families with children and those looking for a quieter area, as most tourists are concentrated in Ribeira and Baixa! Here you will find great parks, cafés, shops, restaurants and art galleries! The Boavista area is also suitable for low-cost travellers, as accommodation is much cheaper than in the centre!
From here you can get around either on foot or by public transport: on foot if you are staying in the southern part of the district, by public transport if you are staying in the Boavista area, where almost all metro lines (A, B, C, E, F) run to Bolhao (Baixa district) in 5 min.
Average prices in the district range from around €40.00 for low-cost accommodation to €250.00 for high-budget solutions - compare the selection of the best accommodation on booking
Recommended accommodations
Accommodation | Description |
|---|---|
3-star hotel 3 km from the old town, restaurant, bar and parking. Air-conditioned rooms with cable TV and private bathroom. Ideal for couples | |
Guest house located on Rua da Boavista. Parking, room service, airport shuttle for a fee. Ideal for couples and young people | |
Residence of flats 10 min from Casa da Musica. 4-storey building with Nordic design flats, living area, equipped kitchen. Ideal for families and small groups of 4 | |
5-star hotel with indoor pool, spa, 8 treatment rooms, relaxation area, juce-bar and yoga classes. Reception 24/24h |
Foz do Douro
Photos by jpvargas. Further away from the centre is the Foz do Douro district, also known simply as Foz, now one of the most beautiful districts in Porto! Directly overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, it was once a small fishing village, but nowadays it is mostly taken over by tourists and locals alike during the summer months! In addition to the beach, here you can go shopping along Via Senhora de Luz, visit the old town centre and stroll along the seafront promenade, taking in the sea breeze!
It is an ideal neighbourhood for families and for those who want to stay close to the ocean. Of course, the busiest time here is in the summer, when prices also tend to rise, but it is a wonderful and ideal area to stay in at any time of the year.
Finally, if you stay here you will need to use transport: you can take tram line 1 from Passeio Alegre that runs all the way along the coast to Ribeira (20 min), or one of the many city buses!
Average prices in the district range from around €60.00 for low-cost accommodation to €300.00 for high-budget solutions - compare the selection of the best accommodation on booking
Recommended accommodations
Accommodation | Description |
|---|---|
3-star hotel facing the beach, with swimming pool on the top floor. Cafeteria, gym, parking and WiFi connection. Ideal for couples | |
Flat with bedroom, equipped kitchen, washing machine and bathroom with shower. A few steps from the beach | |
Flat of 85 m2 away from the beach, with pool and garden. Free parking, equipped kitchen, for 4 persons. Ideal for families and groups | |
5-star hotel facing the beach, with swimming pool, spa and wellness centre, bar, restaurant and room service. Ideal for couples and families |
Vila Nova do Gaia
Finally, one of the best areas to stay in is Vila Nova do Gaia, known as the wine cellar district! In reality, Vila Nova do Gaia is an actual town that is part of the Porto district. It lies on the opposite bank of the Douro river and is connected to the Ribeira district by the Ponte Luis I bridge. One of the main attractions is, of course, a museum dedicated to wine, WOW Porto - The World of Wine, but there is no shortage of green areas and wonderful panoramic terraces!
This area is especially recommended for wine lovers, but also for those who want to experience a quieter nightlife than in Ribeira and Baixa. There are plenty of wine cellars and wine bars here, the latter perfect for chatting over a glass of wine! It is also a popular area for couples looking for a romantic getaway, as the neighbourhood is very romantic.
From here, you can get around on foot or by public transport: if you are staying on the banks of the river, it takes less than 10 minutes to reach the Ribeira by crossing the Ponte Luis I bridge; alternatively, you can use the city buses.
Average prices in the district range from around €40.00 for low-cost accommodation to €350.00 for high-budget solutions - compare the selection of the best accommodation on booking
Recommended accommodations
Accommodation | Description |
|---|---|
B&B in a great location with modern rooms and private bathroom. Ideal for couples | |
Air-conditioned apartment complex with fully equipped kitchen, one bedroom and bathroom. Studio, standard or split-level. Ideal for couples, families and young people | |
Hostel with panoramic views of Porto, private rooms, suites or dormitory beds. Ideal for young people and couples | |
4-star hotel 500 m from the Gaia Funicular and the Dom Luis I Bridge. 24-hour reception, tour desk and restaurant. Ideal for couples |
Countries near Porto where to stay
Staying in Porto remains the most suitable option, especially if it is your first time visiting the city or if you are only staying for a few days. As we have seen, there are very different districts that offer all the services we need!
But if you are staying in northern Portugal for longer and don't want to stay in the city, there are several locations around Porto that are perfect to stay in, to be chosen according to your needs! You can opt for the sea or stay among the vineyards. Here are the recommended villages and towns:
Vila do Conde (30 km / 40 min): a town located on the ocean, with beautiful beaches and not far from the Vila do Conde Nature Reserve. Ideal for families and those who want to enjoy the sea. Connected to Porto by direct trano (1 h) - compare accommodations on booking
Espinho (20 km / 26 min): Holiday resort south of Porto, with wide sandy beaches and excellent fish restaurants. Ideal for families and those who want to enjoy the sea. Connected to Porto by direct train (40 min) - compare accommodations on booking
Valongo (16 km / 20 min): a wonderful location among the hills, forests and vineyards. Ideal for families and those seeking tranquillity, but also for wine lovers! Connected to Porto by direct train (20 min) - compare accommodations on booking
