Disclosure: This post (probably) contains affiliate links. If you click on one, I may make a small commission. Of course, this will come at no extra cost to you and helps keep this site running.
Porto is one of Portugal’s best destinations and with good reason. It’s a city famous for wine and an incredibly pretty riverfront with more cultural depths waiting after that. While the appeal of visiting Porto is clear, what can stump some travellers is where to stay in Porto.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re planning a city break or visiting as part of a longer Portugal itinerary, you’ll need somewhere to stay for your Porto visit. Deciding on accommodation is always hard, from picking the right areas and neighbourhoods to booking the right place to stay. Let me help you with both so that you can move on to other things like picking day trips from Porto.
Best place to stay in Porto at a glance
Short on time and just want to know where to book without the details? Allow me to give you the highlights from everything below, tell you which area suits your visit, and give you some reliable accommodation picks.
- For the first-time visitor – areas of the historical centre such as Se are perfectly located for sightseeing.
- For the romantic getaway – stay in Ribeira down by the river to make it special.
- For the budget traveller – stay in Baixa where you get good prices without being too far out.
- For the nightlife lover – Baixa and the Miragaia neighbourhood offer plenty of bars and fado.
- For the wine aficionado – Vila Nova de Gaia with its wine cellars is the obvious choice.
- For peace and quiet – the quiet residential streets of Santo Ildefonso let you take it easy.
- For a beach getaway – the seaside streets of Foz do Douro feel a world away from Porto
The best areas to stay in Porto
If you’d like to understand why some neighbourhoods of Porto suit certain travellers more than others, you’ll need to read on. Over two trips, I’ve had the opportunity to stay in and explore the different areas of Porto. Accommodation in Porto covers most parts of the city, but below are the areas that are worth staying in as I see it.
Historic City Centre
Of course, when discussing the best places to stay in Porto it makes sense to start with the city’s historic centre. After all, that’s where so many of Porto’s attractions can be found, putting it right on your doorstep.
Looking at a map of Porto, you may see the old parishes of Se, Vittoria, Sao Nicolau and Miragaia, which together essentially make Porto’s historic centre. A little removed from the city’s riverfront, this part of the city has plenty of Porto’s trademark hills, but also loads of sights, cafes, shops and restaurants to enjoy.
For context, attractions like the Porto Cathedral, the Igreja Paroquial de Santo Ildefonso church and Clerigos church all rest close to different boundaries of the area. Little wonder then that whether you stay here or not, you’re likely going to spend a lot of time in Porto’s historic centre. With that in mind and the broadest range of accommodation options open to you, this may well be the safest bet.
Staying There – One of the main sightseeing areas for tourists in Porto, the historic centre has everything from five-star hotels to basic hostels.
Ribeira
Right by the waterfront, the neighbourhood of Ribeira may well be one of Porto’s most scenic spots. Following the northern bank of the Douro River, you’ll find just as much history and places of interest as in the historic city centre. Stay in Ribeira and you’re right amongst the action, close to many landmarks and sights, with the bonus chance of some awesome views.
Of course, you have to pay dearly for such a prime location. Most of the places to stay in Ribeira are more upmarket but still not wildly expensive. Mostly a collection of high-end boutique hotels and nice apartments, all will have been converted inside the traditional riverfront houses. For somewhere to stay on a special or romantic weekend, I can’t think of a better part of Porto to pick.
Staying There – Right along the riverfront, you’ll find a welcome combination of comfort and views from accommodation in this more upmarket part of the city.
Baixa
To the north of Porto’s historic centre, you’ll find the city’s downtown district, known as Baixa. There are no hard boundaries on many of these Porto areas but it’s generally agreed that Baixa centres on and includes landmarks like the Bolhão Market and Livraria Lello.
This part of the city still has a considerable amount of heritage to it, but there are greater hints of modernity with the occasional modern building and major roads full of traffic. It’s also part of the city where you’ll find plenty of retail stores, making it quite a popular place to go shopping and take advantage of the cheaper cost of living in Portugal.
For people who can’t or don’t want to spend a lot on accommodation, Baixa could be the first place to start looking at. The area is home to a great selection of hostels and guesthouses, plus you can save on public transport costs by walking most places. The only potential downside is street noise if your accommodation has thin walls or windows since this is a lively downtown area.
Staying There – Very central, with great services around you and plenty of affordable accommodation, the downtown area is ideal for the budget-conscious.
Santo Ildefonso
Continuing north from and uphill from Baixa you reach the neighbourhood of Santo Ildefonso. More modern again than Baixa, this area worked out to be a great place to stay during my second visit.
Even though it may be a little distance from the historic centre, it’s an affordable neighbourhood with access to everything you could need. Plus the walk down into Porto is kind of nice, especially when it’s downhill all the way.
One of the greatest selling points of Santo Ildefonso is that it’s near the Trindade metro station, the major intersection for Porto’s metro lines. This means you can get almost anywhere you want in Porto from this spot. Since it’s a mostly residential area, you also have things like supermarkets readily available, plus cafes and restaurants that are often more aimed at locals than tourists.
You’re less likely to find hotels here but instead affordable apartments, guesthouses and hostels. My time in Santo Ildefonso was spent using Airbnb, but other people I talked to staying nearby had also found the neighbourhood good for budget travellers.
Staying There – Although light on attractions, this residential area features affordable accommodation, good public transport connections and is still walkable from the city centre.
Vila de Nova Gaia
Although it’s another city, you probably wouldn’t know that the area of Vila Nova de Gaia isn’t part of Porto by looking at it. Resting on the far bank of the river from Ribeira, this area is best known for the port wineries and warehouses that have long called it home.
While one of my top Porto tips was to make sure that you visit Vila Nova de Gaia, it’s also a place you should consider when looking for where to stay.
Vila Nova de Gaia, after all, is home to quite a few attractions, plenty of restaurants and wineries, plus views back to Porto itself. Unfortunately, there isn’t a huge deal of accommodation right on the waterfront, but only a few streets back you’ll find a nice selection of apartments, hostels and guesthouses.
In fact, for those looking for fun hostels with a great atmosphere and cheap rooms, Vila Nova de Gaia might be exactly where you want to be.
Staying There – While a river separates it from the city of Porto, a collection of cheap hostels and nice apartments make the idea of crossing the bridge quite an appealing one.
Foz do Douro
For some people, when they think of Portugal the first thing that comes to mind is the beach. If being by the beach is really important to you and you’re not so keen on having the historic centre on your doorstep then Foz do Douro is the place for you. Out at the mouth of the Douro River, this is where Porto’s nearest beaches are at. About 6km from Porto’s historic centre, you can get between the two by the quaint 1 tram that follows the river.
The atmosphere of Foz do Douro is greatly different to that in the city’s heart, feeling far more relaxed and less like a city proper. There’s not a huge deal to do here besides lie on the beach, although Serralves Park isn’t too far away I suppose.
Being an unusual choice for people visiting Porto, the challenge can be in finding somewhere to stay. Most choices here are coastal apartments or holiday houses, with only the odd hotel here and there. I wouldn’t think this would be a great pick for first-timers, but you never know.
Staying There – Removed from the city centre and most of Porto’s sights, this neighbourhood nevertheless offers apartments by the beach and a relaxed atmosphere.
Other places to stay in Porto
I’ve touched on many of the more important and popular parts of Porto, but there are a few others worth mentioning. I’ve heard good things about staying in Fontaínhas, since like Ribeira it’s also close to the riverfront and quieter than Baixa.
Likewise, areas like Massarelos and Boavista are away from the busiest part of the city so they’re a little quieter too. Even still, getting from somewhere like the Casa da Musica in Boavista to the city centre can be easily done by metro or bus.
None of these would likely be my first choice, but in peak season or last minute, I think they’d work. In that scenario, I suggest looking at Airbnb and seeing what’s available.
Where not to stay in Porto
It’s not like me to write off an entire area usually, but I simply can’t recommend staying out near the Porto Campanha train station. I made that mistake my first time in Porto and regretted it. Even with good metro access to the city, there’s nothing really to see out on this edge of Bonfim and there were also few restaurant options available in the evening.
In my mind, there’s very little upside to staying out there. Others may have had better experiences out there, but if you’re seeking more residential areas there are closer choices to the city centre.
If you have been before, where did you stay in Porto and what was it like? If not, which of these areas would be your pick for your first visit? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
2 comments
Hrmm, this will definitely come in handy when we visit one day! It sounds like my area would best be Baixa or, if we’re going for a romantic weekend and feel like splurging, would definitely be Riberia! Pinned! 🙂
We stayed in Vila de Nova Gaia, only 3 minutes walk from the bridge. We found it cheaper and a lot quieter than areas in Porto. There are a huge selection of restaurants on the waterfront on the Gaia side and they are less crowded than over in Ribeira, plus we found the food and service to be better quality.